Blu-ray Disc Association Establishes a China Task Force

During the SinoCES trade event staged in China and at a specially convened press conference in Beijing, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) announced several important developments in the establishment of the Blu-ray Disc format within this strategically important market.

The BDA has established a China Task Force with 14 Board of Director member companies actively supporting it. Until recently, the main focus of the Task Force has been to establish and foster communication and strong relationships with various government groups. Also, the Task Force has organized a successful series of technical seminars and lectures designed to help companies start to develop their Blu-ray Disc business models.

“The series of announcements last week – from the incorporation of Chinese-developed technology within the Bluray Disc format to the opening of a Blu-ray Disc testing centre and companies such as Sony investing in BD production resources in China are very important milestones for this country,” commented Sumitaka Matsumura, Chairman of the BDA China Task Force and Executive Director of the Pioneer Corporation. “Our announcements have been very well received and have been widely reported in Chinese national newspapers and trade & technical magazines.”

The BDA believes that the Chinese market is at a critical stage in its acceptance of Blu-ray Disc. “We are obviously very excited about the market potential for Blu-ray Disc in China: the huge population coupled with tremendous economic development presents fantastic opportunities for us now,” remarked Matsumura. “Until now, we have focused our efforts on increasing the understanding of the Chinese government and industry people, but now, we also feel that it is critical that we expand our efforts on consumer awareness and education,” explained Sumitaka Matsumura. “Just as in many other regions throughout the world, in order to enhance consumers’ HD experience, the market for large-screen displays in really exploding in China. We are expecting a corresponding development for BD products as consumers demand the best HD experience.”

Matsumura-san is enthusiastic about Blu-ray’s long-term potential in China. “Again, the huge population and tremendous economic growth offer unmatched market potential,” concluded Sumitaka Matsumura. “I see similar trends to Japan, the U.S., and Europe in terms of the increase in large-screen TVs to accommodate High Definition content and the influx of digital broadcasting. These trends in China are currently slightly behind other regions, but already, we are seeing sharp increases in the uptake of products and services and we are excited about the opportunities that the sheer numbers indicate.”