The Hollywood Studio came in for hefty criticism when the disc was released last September, with home cinema enthusiasts complaining that the film suffered from an excessive amount of digital noise reduction, spoiling the high-definition transfer.
A brand-new encoding has gone on sale in the Netherlands, and is expected to replace the current disc in UK stores soon.
In the meantime, Universal says it will offer those who have already bought the disc a replacement. In a statement the company says:
'Universal Pictures UK has been pleased with the success of Gladiator on Blu-ray, which has resulted in a high level of customer satisfaction.
"However, whilst there was no technical fault on the original Blu-ray master, a small number of enthusiasts have expressed a preference towards slight technical alterations. After careful consideration, we have revisited the mastering process to address those concerns.
'If you wish to exchange your original UK purchased DVNR (digital video noise reduction) feature disc we ask that you send us just your Disc One in an envelope with your name and address enclosed. Please keep your original packaging and we will post you out a new Disc One.
'Please note new discs will not be available in the UK for approximately one month. We will ship disc back to any country as long as they were purchased from a UK retailer.'
You should send your original disc to:
Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd
‘Gladiator Exchange'
Prospect House
80-110 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1HB
