US retailer Target has unveiled exclusive packaging for the Iron Man Blu-ray which went on sale across the pond today. The  two-disc  BD edition is housed in its very own ’shell head’ with the red and gold plastic fascia of Tony Stark’s Mk III armour staring out of the box. If exclusive packaging helps Blu-ray’s popularity, we’re all for it, although we doubt we’ll see Iron Man’s plastic Blu-ray head over here.

Since launching on 6 May Freesat has sold 100,000 units, with HD content driving take-up over the summer. MD of Freesat, Emma Scott said: “There’s no denying how much people enjoy watching in high definition once they see it for themselves and the success of Freesat proves that. Unfortunately there are still a lot of people out there who think they’re already watching in HD because they have an HD ready TV - but they aren’t.”

“We want to help everyone understand that HD Ready is not the same thing as HD now. Without an HD digital receiver connected to an HD Ready TV or an integrated TV with Freesat HD built in you can’t watch an HD TV programme. It needn’t be complicated or costly. For those people that already have a satellite dish installed, they may simply be able to take their Freesat digital box or integrated TV home and plug it straight in.”

 

Warner has announced The Clone Wars as the first Star Wars release to head onto Blu-ray. Hitting stores mid-November time, the usual Warner VC-1 transfer and English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio is a cert, while Blu-ray buyers can expect some intergalactic extras from planet ‘exclusive’. Coming in the form of “A Creative Conversation”, picture-in-picture commentary with the key players in the film’s production team this, along with a certain caped crusader, will spearhead Warners’ high def assault on the Christmas market.

“Darling, HD has made me ’sugar free’ - it’s a nightmare. I am in America for God’s sake, the home of cookies and candy, and I can’t eat a damn thing and it’s all because of bloody Hi Def!”

Who could be so enraged at glorious HD? Strictly Come Dancing judge Brono Tonioli, that’s who. Bemoaning the High-def transmissions of the upcoming US series of Dancing With The Stars, Tonioli will not be the first TV star to get a little jittery at the thought of audiences *gasp* seeing them in true clarity. Watch this space for more HD-related celeb outbursts.

 

The Panasonic-powered (see HD Review issue 9) ‘Live from Abbey Road’ music series that airs internationally in high definition, is set for a ‘Best of’ Blu-ray release that will feature highlights from the first series. Giving artists the opportunity to perform at the legendary studios,  the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Iron Maiden, Goo Goo Dolls, LeAnn Rimes and Gnarls Barkley are all likely to feature when the BD hits the US in November. No specs have yet been released, but expect some form of decent HD audio.