Microsoft and Sonic Unveil DVD Authoring Application For Windows Media Video High-Definition

LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2004 — Today at NAB2004, Microsoft Corp. and Sonic Solutions unveiled DVD Producer (TM) — WMV HD Edition, a special version of Sonic’s award-winning professional authoring application that supports the production of DVD titles using Microsoft® Windows Media®
Video High-Definition (WMV HD). WMV HD delivers dramatically superior image quality with high-definition video at data rates comparable to standard-definition DVD video.

Sonic is launching a beta program for DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition to provide high-end professional facilities with early access to this groundbreaking technology so they can build exciting high-definition experiences using WMV HD for playback on Windows®
XP PCs. Production companies interested in joining the beta program may contact Sonic via e-mail at [email protected].

“Millions of consumers are using Windows Media Player 9 Series and Windows XP for video and DVD playback; WMV HD is a great way to deliver high-definition video content to a large audience today,” said Rolf Hartley, senior vice president and general manager of the Professional Products Group at Sonic. “DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition and our new beta program will allow high-end post facilities and the Hollywood film community to get involved with WMV HD in order to create stand-alone titles and exciting HD bonus content for standard-definition feature film DVDs.”

“We’ve been providing our clients like MGM and Lion’s Gate with high-definition services for some time, and Microsoft’s WMV HD provides us with a solid way to deliver content in HD,” said Morgan Holly, managing director at Ascent Media DVD in Santa Monica, Calif. “Sonic DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition will allow us to build on the power of this exciting technology for our most demanding customers.”

“Sonic’s DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition leverages Sonic’s many years of industry-leading DVD-authoring expertise to provide video production facilities and content providers with a powerful solution for creating high-definition DVD content for playback on Windows-based PCs,” said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. “Sonic’s beta program will serve to jump-start WMV HD title creation in the professional authoring industry.”

Sonic is showcasing DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition in the Sonic booth (Booth No. SL4736) and Microsoft booth (Booth No. SL5445) at NAB. The demonstration highlights tight integration with Avid Technology Inc.’s nonlinear video workstations and focuses on the preparation of high-definition video and authoring using Sonic’s new application. DVD Producer — WMV HD Edition is targeted for release in September of this year.

About Windows Media

Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, used by consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations throughout the world. The Windows Media 9 Series platform includes Windows Media Player 9 Series; Windows Media Services 9 Series, the powerful streaming server feature in Windows Server (TM) 2003 for distributing content; Windows Media Encoder 9 Series for content creation; Windows Media Audio and Video 9 Series for the best-quality audio and video; Windows Media Digital Rights Management to help protect content; and the Windows Media Software Development Kit for software developers to develop digital media products and services. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is now the leading media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .

About Sonic Solutions

Based in Marin County, Calif., Sonic Solutions (Nasdaq “SNIC”) ( http://www.sonic.com/ ) is the world’s leading supplier of DVD creation software for professional, industrial and consumer applications. The majority of major film releases on DVD have been produced on Sonic’s professional DVD authoring systems in studios around the world. Sonic’s MyDVD® and DVDit!® are the most widely used DVD creation applications by consumers and video enthusiasts and are the solutions of choice among the key PC and after-market drive suppliers. Sonic’s RecordNow! (TM) is a leading solution for audio and data mastering. Sonic’s AuthorScript®
, the DVD and CD formatting and burning engine that underlies Sonic’s applications, is the most widely deployed DVD software engine and has been licensed by Adobe, Microsoft, Sony and many others.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft, Windows Media, Windows and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Sonic, the Sonic logo, Backup MyPC, CinePlayer, PrePlay, DVD Producer, Edit-on-DVD, HyperMux DL, NoNOISE, Sonic PrimeTime, RecordNow! Simple Backup, Sonic JumpSafe and Sonic SmartBalance are trademarks of Sonic Solutions. AuthorScript, AutoDVD, DVDit!, DVD Fusion, MyDVD, OpenDVD, PrePlay, ReelDVD, Scenarist, Sonic DVD Creator and Sonic Solutions are registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions.

All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic under license. Specifications, pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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