ABOUT THE DVDS: DVDs released by Roadshow
will be Anamorphic Widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround if they received a
theatrical release in Australia.
Roadshow started off using a semi-transparent case similar in design to CTS's, but rather
than a push button in the centre, there is a clip that locks onto the edge of the disc.
People have made two complaints about this choice of casing. One is that the
case is not see-thru enough to see the information contained on the inside of the cover
(due to the grain like appearance of the case), and the other is that the DVDs tend to
"pop" out of the snap lock.
The case design changed with the release of The Wedding Singer.
This design is similar to the old, however it features a centre press button to secure the
disc and there is the addition if side clips for a booklet (like in amaray cases).
The case is also made from the same opaque grainy plastic as the original.
VR have also used, with the release of I Know What you Did Last Summer, the Brackley Case
as used by CTHV Australia.
With a few changes to DVD staff at Roadshow....DVDs have taken a slight change of
course.....the DVD slick layout has been overhauled with the inclusion of a Deluxe
Widescreen Banner on the top front page....and the features listing is now in
purposely misplaced boxes on the screen (the look actually grows on you after a
while)..and they now mention if a DVD is in the 16:9 Enhanced Widescreen format....yay!!!!
They also dropped the MPEG 5.1 Audio track in favour of a Dolby Digital 5.1 track(now the
Default) and a if available and required, a DD 2.0 (Dolby Stereo)...
Roadshow use Digital Betacam for their video masters (which can be taken straight from
Telecine OR down-converted from various higher grade professional formats, seeing as they
distribute in Australia and New Zealand for the likes of New Line Cinema, Dimension,
Madalay, Cinergi, and several others)
The movie audio tracks are sourced from the multichannel audio stored on a DA88 (Hi8
digital tape)
These Digital Audio Tapes can contain upto 8 separate tracks and so the 5.1 and 2.0 tracks
are usually included on the one tape Mid 2001 has seen Roadshow planning for the release of DVDs not only with
Dolby 5.1, but also Dolby 5.1 Surround EX, DTS and DTS-ES Discrete 6.1.
Se7en will be Roadshow's first DVD with BOTH Dolby Surround EX AND
DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 (it's also the FIRST region 4 DVD to offer DTS-ES Discrete 6.1)
The Standard Retail prices for Roadshow DVDs are $AU34.95 and $39.95 |
