Sonic Showcases Future of Advanced Interactivity for Blu-ray Disc; Demonstration Highlights Huge Potential for Integrated Bonus Features and Connectivity in High-Definition Movie Titles

Sonic Solutions(R) (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digitalmedia software, today announced that it is unveiling a breakthroughdemonstration illustrating the interactive capabilities of BD-J, theBlu-ray Disc (BD) specification, enabling advanced interactivity forBDMV (movie) titles. Presented in Sonic's IBC booth, the demonstrationoffers show attendees a compelling preview of the future ofinteractive HD entertainment, when set-top players will supportinteractive bonus features similar to those now available only via PCplayback of DVD-Video discs enabled with Sonic's widely distributedInterActual(R) Player. The presentation also underscores Sonic's roleas a key source of tools, techniques, and information for theprofessional authoring community in preparation for the upcomingrollouts of interactive, HD-capable optical disc formats.

The BD-J specification allows content providers to enhance the HDexperience with set-top support for interactive bonus features thatare synchronized directly to the main feature, contextually-integratedmenus that offer an uninterrupted movie-viewing experience, andcontent updating via Internet connectivity. The demonstration'selegant, movie-centric navigation combines seamless video playbackwith graphic overlays offering instant menu access to chapters, systemsettings, and special features such as synchronized annotations. Thepresentation also shows how content such as trailers may be kept freshand relevant via Internet updating, allowing studios to developongoing customer relationships that build loyalty and createadditional revenue opportunities.

"Sonic is helping the content industry visualize how to takeadvantage of all the exciting content and creative capabilities madepossible by interactive BD," said Hans D. Henseleit, Managing Directorof Hamberg, Germany-based DVD pre-mastering studio, EnteractiveEntertainment GmbH. "Because Sonic has such deep expertise inauthoring both standard and interactive content for DVD, theyunderstand the production workflow as well as the new challengespresented by this rich and complex new format. That makes Sonicuniquely qualified to supply the tools that the authoring communitywill need to fully realize the interactive potential shown in thedemonstration."

Many of the features highlighted in the Sonic BD-J demo build oncapabilities that are already supported in Sonic's industry-leadingauthoring and workflow solutions for interactive DVDs, and are beingintegrated into Sonic's new title development systems for HD-baseddiscs to facilitate the planned launches of next-generation formats in2005 and 2006. Sonic is providing its customers with early access tothese encoding, authoring, advanced interactivity, and workflow toolsvia the High Definition Authoring Alliance, the first and onlyworldwide association dedicated to preparing authoring facilities forthe launch of new high-definition optical disc formats.

"Support for advanced interactivity will be crucial to the successof new high-definition formats like BD," said Rolf Hartley, seniorvice president and general manager of Sonic's professional productsgroup. "Sonic is showing content providers how BD-J can take viewersbeyond simple games and bonus features to bring them into a new erawhere interactivity is designed into the core storytelling experience.We're also giving title developers a taste of the kinds of advancedfeatures that Sonic intends to support in its HD-ready tools, so thatHDAA members and others can begin thinking now about how best toprepare for the exciting title creation opportunities offered by BD."

The Sonic BD-J demonstration is showing in the Sonic booth(#7.731) at IBC.

About Sonic Solutions

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC)(http://www.sonic.com) is the leaderin digital media software, providing a broad range of interoperable,platform-independent software tools and applications for creativeprofessionals, business and home users, and technology partners.Sonic's products range from advanced DVD authoring systems andinteractive content delivery technologies used to produce the majorityof Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio(R)- andSonic-branded CD and DVD creation, playback and backup solutions thathave become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers and businessusers worldwide.

Sonic products are globally available from major retailers, onlineat Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs, after-marketdrives and consumer electronic devices. Sonic's digital media creationengine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by majorsoftware and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft,Scientific-Atlanta, Sony, and many others. Sonic Solutions isheadquartered in Marin County, California.

Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, InterActual, and Roxio aretrademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions or itssubsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All othercompany or product names are trademarks of their respective ownersand, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license.

Forward Looking Statements

The above paragraphs of this press release may contain forwardlooking statements that are based upon current expectations. Actualresults could differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements as a result of various risks and uncertaintiesincluding, among others, the timely introduction and acceptance of newproducts, costs associated with new product introductions, thetransition of products to new hardware configurations and platformsand other factors, including those discussed in the Company's annualand quarterly reports on file with the Securities and ExchangeCommission. This press release should be read in conjunction with theCompany's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q andRegistration Statement on file with the Securities and ExchangeCommission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company'sbusiness including risks and uncertainties that may affect futureresults. The Company does not undertake to update any forward lookingstatements.