Universal launches DVD/BD combo for catalog

PHYSICAL: Titles include Dawn of the Dead, Jarhead, 8 Mile

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 11/18/2009

NOV. 18 | PHYSICAL: Universal Studios Home Entertainment is launching eight DVD/Blu-ray Disc combo catalog titles, spanning Dawn of the Dead, Jarhead, 8 Mile, among others, on Jan. 5.

This marks the first time the studio has offered two-format combos with older releases.

Such sets, which include DVD and Blu-ray copies of the film in one package, are common among the studios. However, most combos are geared toward studios’ new releases, including 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s Dec. 1 release Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s Jan. 5 release Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Many of Universal’s planned combo sets have streeted earlier as straight Blu-ray titles.

But the studio likely sees value in re-launching titles around the holidays, as Black Friday kicks off an onslaught of sub-$100 Blu-ray player models on shelves.

Other upcoming Universal DVD/Blu-ray combos include Doom, End of Days, Street Fighter: Extreme Edition, The Last Starfighter and Rundown.

Each combo is priced at $22.98 and carries a Nov. 24 pre-order date.