How much does it cost to produce a DVD? How does it compare to videotape or CD?
Videotape, laserdisc, and CD-ROM can’t be compared to DVD in a straightforward manner. There are basically three areas of cost: production, pre-mastering (authoring, encoding, and formatting), and mastering/replication. DVD video production costs are not much higher than for VHS and similar video formats unless extra features of DVD such as multiple sound tracks, camera angles, seamless branching, etc. are employed. Authoring and pre-mastering costs are proportionately the most expensive part of DVD. Video and audio must be encoded, menus and control information have to be authored and encoded, it all has to be multiplexed into a single data stream, and finally encoded in low level format. Typical charges for compression are $40/min for video, $15/min for audio, $5/min for subtitles, plus formatting and testing at about $30/min. A ballpark cost for producing a Hollywood-quality two-hour DVD movie with motion menus, multiple audio tracks, subtitles, trailers, and a few info screens is a
