HD-DVD and BLU-RAY - Format wars ending?

MiCkEy · #1 08-20-2007, 03:09 PM

If this does go through, it will suck big time.
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Paramount and DreamWorks Animation Each Declare Exclusive Support for HD DVD

Movies Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment Including Paramount

Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage,

Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be Released Exclusively in HD DVD

Exclusive Program To Begin with Release of "Blades of Glory," Followed by

"Transformers" and "Shrek the Third," Films Representing More Than $1.5

Billion in Combined Worldwide Box Office

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 -- Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSE: DWA), each announced today that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. The exclusive HD DVD commitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount Home Entertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release of the blockbuster comedy hit "Blades of Glory" on August 28th and follow with two of the biggest grossing movies of the year "Transformers" and "Shrek the Third". These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.

"The combination of Paramount and DreamWorks Animation brings a critical mass of current box office hits to consumers with a line-up of live action and animated films that are perfect for HD DVD," stated Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, which is currently the leading studio in domestic box office. "Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience. I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount."

"We decided to release "Shrek the Third" and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience -- families," stated DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. "We believe the combination of this year's low-priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home."

With the rapid increase of HD TV screens in households, and audiences wanting to enjoy the total entertainment experience, HD DVD has emerged as the most affordable way for consumers to watch their movies in high definition. In addition to pristine quality, HD DVD also offers consumers the chance to personalize the movie-watching experience, to interact with their movies and even to connect with a community of other fans.

Paramount Home Entertainment will issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD. Today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies and DreamWorks Studios. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution.

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haigha · #2 08-20-2007, 03:39 PM

I waited a while before making my choice. I got the HD DVD add-on for my XBOX 360 on August 1st. The difference in video quality on my 65" set over a regular DVD is amazing. The price reduction to $180 and five free movies (plus King Kong and the XBOX media remote) made the decision easy. I have noticed that there are more movies on Blu-ray on NetFlix but not enough to convince me to get a PS3 as well. The announcement from Universal may affect that balance. Plus, I've got a number of XBOX 360 games I haven't played yet and I enjoy playing Hold'Em on XBOX Live.

Of course, Sony can claim the advantage in units sold with the PS3. Toshiba should have cut a sweet deal with MS on the drives if they wanted the advantage. One thing that I haven't seen the analysts consider though is that often the video game console is in the kids room and/or hooked up to the kid's TV. Anecdotally, one of my golfing buddy's kid has a PS3, a XBOX 360 and a Wii and my buddy has never watched a Blu-ray movie.

trueX5er · #3 08-20-2007, 03:44 PM

interesting, I've heard from other places (like cnet) that Blu-Ray is taking the lead, and HDDVD was lagging behind. I place my $ on Blu-Ray.

PLAYERPRO · #4 08-20-2007, 04:12 PM

..christ.. i got 2 blue-ray drives...

noncom23 · #5 08-20-2007, 05:10 PM

Good post Mickey. I've been waiting for any signs of a sway either way.

zerochief · #6 08-20-2007, 06:05 PM

Some high-end DVD players support BOTH formats. I bet future players will do the same at reasonable cost.

Eric5273 · #7 08-20-2007, 11:29 PM

Soon enough (within the next 3-5 years) there will be no need anymore for any "format" or any physical media. With internet speeds increasing exponentially, there will be no need to have it on a physical disc. You will simply be able to watch whatever you want whenever you want to. It is already happening with music, and it will happen with movies soon enough. Physical media will go the way of the floppy disk.

X5-RWK · #8 08-20-2007, 11:45 PM

HD DVD has sold a lot more DVD players than Blue-Ray since the first of the year. You can pick up a HD DVD player for under $300 and only recently Blue-Ray dropped the price of the cheapest unit to around $500 down from $700. This is not over buy a long shot but Microsoft is backing HD DVD and that cannot be ignored as well.

LeMansX5 · #9 08-21-2007, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueX5er

interesting, I've heard from other places (like cnet) that Blu-Ray is taking the lead, and HDDVD was lagging behind. I place my $ on Blu-Ray.

I have read that too. Blu-ray is in the lead.

haigha · #10 08-21-2007, 08:49 AM

I think the bottom line is that Toshiba and Sony screwed this one up big time. Time Warner is the only major player that will release in both formats now. I'll live with what's available on HD DVD and use Netflix. I'm not going to buy a PS3 just for a Blu-ray player and its crappy selection of games although maybe I'll need to if my XBOX 360 goes south at some point

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