Five software entertainment and seven hardware companies have announced plans to launch DVD video in Europe at the beginning of next year. In a concerted introduction plan, Warner Home Video, Columbia Tri-Star, Polygram, MGM Home Entertainment and Universal have all said that they will release DVD movies in Europe in the first quarter of 1998. Meanwhile Philips Electronics NV, Sony Corp, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd with its Panasonic brand, Thomson Multimedia SA, Hitachi Ltd and Toshiba Corp plan to introduce players and multichannel receivers. The industry expects to have about 100 titles available at launch time. By the end of 1998, the total number of titles is expected to exceed 250.
