Paramount says yes to both Blu-ray and HD DVD

Toshiba and the rest of La Familia HD DVD must thought they had this one on lockdown, but Paramount Pictures announced yesterday that they're going to hedge their bets and release movies in both Blu-ray and HD DVD (up until yesterday they were committed solely to HD DVD). So far they're the first — and only — biggie to say publicly that they're going to release movies in both formats, but now that it's a virtual certainty that both HD DVD and Blu-ray are going to make it to market we wouldn't be at all surprised to see at least couple more studios announcing that they're gonna swing both ways.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this one in]

[Samuel McConnell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I just ordered Star Trek: Nemesis from Amazon.com, completing my Special Edition DVD set of Star Trek movies...just in time for them to star re-releasing High-def remasters of the movies.... x.x

[meddle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Why not? They release the movie in both formats, then later, when one format is gone, people rebuy the movie in the survivng format. The more confusuion in the marketplace, the better for the company.

[Steven @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

They just need to come up with one freakin format.
This going to be stupid and confusing to customers.

Imagine having to dig through movies to make sure you're getting the "blu-ray" version. Stupid.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

the biggest problem is that one format will definitely die, so everyone who supported that format will have wasted their money. Including the film companies who will have to re-release movies to the surviving formate if they originally opposed it.

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

The real solution would be to make a DVD player that reads both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs.

Will this ever happen?

Only in my dreams.

[Master misChief @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

@ #4:

Yes, and Samsung has already announced that it'll have a universal player capable of playing both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in one device. So, there is still hope.

[KC @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

#4 - yes it will. Samsung has already shown off prototype dual format player that was reviewed by engadget awhile ago. From the looks of things at this point Samsung is going to sell ALOT of those dual format boxes.

But I for one am gonna sit back and watch the fight until I can see a clear victory ahead for one format.

[ginnal @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Dear God why?
Do you really think the average DVD buyer will be able to figure out what format they are buying for? and Eventually no matter what one format will become the defacto standard, screwing everyone who bought the losing standard with have to buy their media again.

But I guess that's the point eh.

[Jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Actually, I think the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray format war is less like VHS/Betamax and more like DVD Audio/SACD, since in the former there was no established standard for getting your (video) content on magnetic tape. The public had to go with one or the other. Whereas with DVD Audio/SACD, there was an established standard (CD), so rather than choose between the two confusing new formats, people continued to buy their music content on traditional CDs. Long live DVD!

[flipmyx @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

try explaining to the mainstream consumer why there are two more new "DVD" formats.... we havent seen a consumer marketing blitz regarding "HD" the same level as gaming is (i.e. M$ "new age of HD" hype w/ the XBox 360) considering these two formats are about to be released... as soon as the average Joe Consumer realizes that a proper investment into High Definition Entertainment involves $4,000 televisions, $500 players and game consoles, a similarly expensive HiFi sound setup, they will hold on to their $25 wal-mart DVD player so bad, that there will be some 'soul-searching' amongst these hardware and content conglomerates... but then again, nobody ever lost money betting against the American public's ignorance and sheep-like acceptance (WMD's anyone?)

[ginnal @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

flipmyx,

This is Exactly why I have forgone HD on my new HTPC and TV, I was putting together a box specifically for HD and planning to buy a HDTV now I'm just putting together an SDTV box and opting for an HD Capable TV. As far as I'm concerned HD can curl up in a ball and die before I fork over my hard earned money to line the pockets of these greedy corporate whores.

[Eternal Sunshine @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

If anything, news that Paramount will release movies in Blu-ray makes it more realistic that there will NOT be a format war as HD-DVD's chances are dwindling fast and they may never make it to market, at least not for long or in a meaningful way.

[mop @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6262261.html

Of course you always have to take articles with a grain of salt, but apparently Warner was on the verge of doing this, which is why Intel and MS made their announcement (so late) to try to help HD-DVD. And then Paramount went ahead with their announcement after hearing about Warner. Not looking good for HD-DVD.

[Hitchcock @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Quite frankly, I don't care. I don't currently have an HD TV set, and I have no plans to rush out and buy one. Its just TV for cripes sakes. I don't need resolution so good I can see the black heads on Maggie Graces nose or the horrible sores/bug bites on the latest batch of Survivors. My current 32" TV is doing just fine at providing me entertainment and when it finally gives up the ghost, I'll probably buy a used TV from someone who just upgraded to HD.

[John Doe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

I call BS. Sure they may hedge their bets for a year or two but releasing in both formats it going to get expensive damn fast when one format outsells the other. So what happens when BR Star Trek Generations outsells HD Generations but Braveheart HD outsells BR Braveheart which ends up with stock on the shelf and in the warehouse somewhere of a ton of one title and a ton of another. That is going to add up to some expensive crap all in the name of playing both sides of the fence. Watch by fall of 2006 as Paramount makes up their mind one way or another.

[Kane @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

this isnt good news for ms as paramount is doing the halo moive and it looks as if ps3 owners will be able to watch it on thier machine once its released to hd-dvd and blu-ray.

[Ray Morris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Isn't Disney on both sides?

[Ray Morris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:20AM]

Another point.. How soon would Paramount, Disney, Columbia and DVD manufacturing/distributing companies like Image, Alpha Video ect. continue producing Standard DVDs? If they all stopped with today's DVDs and immediately started in with whatever next-generation DVDs, leaving only old stock DVDs left to exhaust, consumers would be somewhat forced to make a quicker decision, and perhaps bringing sooner, a truce to the HD DVD/Blu-Ray war. Otherwise most people would just continue buying Standard DVDs and leaving the higher definition DVDS to a smaller "Laserdisc"-type cult following!
Has any one heard anything on this, by chance?