D-VHS FACT SHEET

On January 30th, 2002, JVC, along with the support four major studios - Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, DreamWorks, and Artisan - announced the new D-VHS "D-Theater" software platform for High-Definition (HD) prerecorded content.

On January 31st, 2002, DVDFILE and a number of other journalists were invited to a private demo of the new platform, followed by a Q&A with representatives from JVC and all four participating studios. The following is a "fact sheet" of the main features and highlights of the D-VHS format. (For this writer's personal impressions of the format, please see today's Viewpoint.)

(Note that all the following information was released by JVC and the consortium of studios at today's conference, and as of this writing, is accurate. But as no software has yet been released, it is possible some of these released details may change.)

The JVC HM-DH30000 D-VHS video recorder with D-Theater

Hardware availability

As of this writing, D-VHS hardware is very limited. The flagship player is the JVC HM-DH30000, available since September 2001. List price is a cool $1,995.95.

Currently, this model is the ONLY one available that will play D-Theater-encoded software. (See below for more on D-Theater.) Past D-VHS decks by JVC and other manufacturers are not D-Theater-ready. JVC plans to introduce more models in the future, and support by other manufacturers is "expected."

A look at the HM-DH30000

Perhaps the most confusing aspect of D-VHS is what tape formats it will support, its storage capacity, connection options, and what HD formats and resolutions it can output.

Though there is no telling with future models, the HM-DH30000 is a versatile machine. It can play material recorded in D-VHS, D-VHS with D-Theater encryption, and VHS. It's storage is an impressive 44 Gigabytes of data, or roughly 4 hours of HD material encoded at full bit rate (which tops out at 28 Mbps, and surpasses the 19 Mbps ATSC standard for over-the-air HDTV broadcasts) and a whopping 50 hours of material recorded at VHS quality.

While you will need a HDTV monitor to receive the full benefit of D-VHS software recorded in HD, the HM-DH30000 offers multiple output options. The platform and the HM-DH30000 are capable of outputting native 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and 1080p signals, and on the HM-DH30000, via component or S-Video outputs. So, even if you don't own a HDTV-capable monitor, you can still enjoy D-Theater-encoded D-VHS material if you have a compatible input on your current monitor, albeit downconverted to 480i/p.

The HM-DH30000 does, however, feature digital outputs, called "iLink," though not FireWire, though little in the way of real info exists at this point on how iLink will work. (Stay tuned.) And the studios currently supporting D-VHS claim they will not cease support of the platform when more fully digital-output-equipped players arrive.

Audio options

D-VHS with D-Theater (but not, importantly, D-VHS) is fairly versatile in what audio formats it will support, and D-VHS with D-Theater hardware and software has the capacity to offer multiple audio tracks. While Dolby Digital 5.1 is the chosen carrier for D-VHS, content providers can elect to encode D-VHS with D-Theater titles with optional soundtracks, including DTS. Currently, the HM-DH30000 can "throughput" a DTS signal, but does not include a built-in DTS decoder.

But, it is very important to remember that support for non-Dolby Digital-encoded soundtracks is also hardware specific, D-VHS hardware from other manufacturers, or other JVC models aside from the HM-DH30000, may not provide DTS support even if a D-Theater-encoded title includes the option.

Just what is "D-Theater?"

Adding a new wrinkle to the D-VHS format, D-Theater is a robust encryption and decryption technology developed by JVC to protect high-quality prerecorded content. It is a "two-step" process; i.e., D-VHS software encoded as D-Theater can only be played back on a D-VHS deck that is equipped with D-Theater. In other words, no D-VHS decks before the HM-DH30000 will play D-Theater-encoded titles.

All of the four participating studios are not necessary supporting the D-VHS format per se; rather, they are ONLY releasing D-VHS titles encoded in D-Theater.

What is the benefit of D-Theater?

First and foremost, D-Theater eases the fears of content providers by offering a strong encryption technology to protect their high-value, high-quality prerecorded content. According to the released press materials from JVC, there are four main benefits:

1. D-theater high-definition software will be recorded in the D-VHS HS (high Speed data rate) mode. The HS mode is the optional mode in the D-VHS format that will allow HD content recording.
2. An advanced proprietary encryption system is employed to achieve content protection - tapes with genuine data can only be created on duplication equipment licensed and approved by JVC.
3. D-Theater video software, identified by a prominent D-Theater logo on the packaging, will be playable only on D-VHS video recorders bearing the same D-Theater logo.
4. D-Theater compatible D-VHS video recorders will be fully compatible with conventional recordings made from D-VHS video recorders in the HS and STD modes, as well as other similarly equipped modes. D-Theater compatible D-VHS video recorders will also play back VHS material recorded in SP, LP and EP modes.

So, is there any real benefit directly for the consumer with D-Theater? Yes. Aside from offering a copy protection studio safe enough to compel the studios to release HD material as prepackaged media at all, D-Theater adds two notable interactive features to the D-VHS format:

1. D-Theater-encoded titles can include "chapter stops," which allows for easy fast forward and rewind access.
2. D-Theater titles also allow for multiple audio tracks. Unlike DVD, however, they are entirely dependent on data capacity; in other words, a D-Theater-encoded D-VHS title can have nearly unlimited alternate audio tracks, space permitting. These could include DTS, director commentaries, or other foreign language and soundtrack options.

Studio support

As of this writing, four major studios have announced D-VHS with D-Theater support - Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, DreamWorks, and Artisan. The remaining major studios - Warner, Columbia TriStar, MGM, New Line, Paramount and Buena Vista - have stated they have no plans to support the D-VHS format at this time.

Though none of the participating studios would release exact arrival dates, full specs, pricing or availability information, the following details were revealed at today's conference:

• All four studios intend to release their first waves of titles in early summer, most likely June 2002.
• No exact titles were announced. However, Fox indicated they plan release 10 catalog titles in their first waves. All the studios indicated that they will reveal their full software plans via press release in late winter/early spring.
• Packaging will clearly differentiate D-VHS with D-Theater titles from both VHS and DVD product/
• No exact pricing for software has been set. However, the buzz floating around demo floor was an expected range of $30-$50 per title.
• No studio currently plans to include DTS tracks on their first releases. However, none have ruled it out, and the inclusion of extras such as audio commentaries, featurettes and other value-added materials is still being decided.
• No studio has committed to "day & date" with VHS and/or DVD releases, instead preferring to focus exclusively on "spectacle" oriented catalog titles that would most show off the capabilities of HD. However, D-VHS "day & date" releases are a distinct possibility in the future pending market acceptance of the new platform.

What were the titles that were demoed? The lucky five were The Sound Of Music and X-Men from Fox, U-571 from Universal, and Basic Instinct and Total Recall from Artisan. While no titles were confirmed for release, the studio reps present at the demo indicated that including the demo titles, some possible D-VHS candidates are Independence Day and Die Hard from Fox, GalaxyQuest from DreamWorks, and Terminator 2 from Artisan. (The Artisan rep also included the first Terminator in there, but since that is currently an MGM property, your guess is as good as mine on that one!)

One other notable fact revealed at the demo is that due to issues with encoders, all the initial D-VHS releases from the studios will be encoded in 1080i, not 1080p. However, all the studios indicated they will support 1080p native encoding when available.

Lastly, given the high-end market they are hoping to attract, all the participating studios pledged a commitment to preserving original theatrical aspect ratios on all their D-VHS releases. So, unlike "HD HBO," material shot in such widescreen formats as 2.35:1 will not be cropped down to 16x9 dimensions.

Odds & Ends

Question: Will D-VHS with D-Theater be region coded?

Answer: Yes and no. While the new platform allows for region coding, at this time none of the studios has decided whether or not they will adopt a region-coding-type practice.

Question: Will there be a European or overseas launch of D-VHS with D-Theater?

Answer: At this time, no. D-VHS with D-Theater is a domestic-only product, and no plans exist to introduce the platform outside of North America.

Question: Does D-VHS still suffer from NTSC to PAL/PAL to NTSC conversion problems?

Answer: Yes. And at this time, JVC has no plans to introduce a dual NTSC/PAL D-VHS with D-Theater deck.

Question: Where can I buy D-VHS with D-Theater software?

Answer: Unknown. The studios have not yet announced marketing plans or product availability.

Question: Does this mean the end of DVD?

Answer: Not likely...but read my editorial for more!