The Recordable DVD Council (RDVDC) rallied consumers to demand "Real DVD" as they launched a new DVD Recordable awareness campaign today during the RDVDC press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show. Staying one step ahead of the hottest industry in Consumer Electronics history, RDVDC is dedicating 2003 to helping consumers understand and embrace recordable DVD technology through feature-rich, easy-to-use cutting edge products from CE giants including Hitachi, Matsushita (Panasonic), Samsung, and Toshiba. Generating momentum behind "Real DVD" -- products that support the reliable formats of the DVD Forum -- Hitachi, Panasonic, and Samsung launched exciting new recordable DVD products, showcasing the best in Recordable DVD with unmatched compatibility for both the AV and PC worlds. In addition to product introductions, RDVDC chairman Bon-Guk Koo, Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., highlighted industry trends, while Andy Parsons, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Pioneer U.S., discussed DVD-R's market penetration and technology advantages. In addition, Danielle Levitas, director, consumer devices and technologies and interactive services, IDC, and Rick Doherty, director of Envisioneering, delivered their third-party insight into the market today and for the future.

"DVD players and DVD-ROM drives have been touted as some of the hottest electronics products in the industry's history. We believe that the 'Real DVD' recordable DVD products will follow these products as household commodities and dominate the electronics products industry in 2003," said RDVDC Chairman, Bon-Guk Koo, Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. "In 2003 RDVDC will work to help consumers embrace and understand recordable DVD and the many benefits of 'Real DVD' -- reliable formats, interoperability and ease of use for consumers."

Members of the RDVDC provided an impressive display of new hardware products that support "Real DVD": recordable DVD formats approved by the DVD Forum. Highlights included new sleek DVD-RAM/R camcorders from Hitachi and Panasonic, as well as innovative new DVD-RAM/R recorders and players from Samsung and Panasonic -- all set to hit store shelves in mid-2003.