Paramount following Warner out the HD DVD door?
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jan 7th 2008 10:29PM
posted Jan 7th 2008 10:29PM
The Financial Times is reporting that Paramount is preparing to use a get out clause in its HD DVD exclusivity deal, and go back to Blu-ray, about 4 months after ending its dual-format release schedule. The move would be a result of Warner's switch to Blu-ray, using a "get out" clause in Paramount's promotional agreement with the HD DVD camp. No details on what it might take to rip up the contract and make Michael Bay very, very happy, but if the rumor proves true this could make the slow death he predicted for HD DVD a very, very fast one.
All Toshiba needs to do now is work out some kind of rebate on the Xbox 360 hd-dvd add on to make it free to all current users of Xbox 360. That automatically would save the format.
Boom Headshot!
Wow. I guessed they really want HD to die quickly. Up next, Dreamworks? for HD but
Ugh, we need edit buttons.
HAHAHAHAHA - Tell all the HDDVD FAN BOYS TO LOW RANK ME !!!!!!
I WAS RIGHT.
HDDVD JUST GOT CHAINSAWED IN HALF. HAHAHAHAH
In case no one can comprehend Flashpoint's post, here's a translation:
"I was right. HDDVD got owned. lol"
Wow, brutal. I didn't think it would happen that fast, I thought Universal would hop first.
Ouch.
Story is here...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/dc409afa-bd75-11dc-b7e6-0000779fd2ac.html
who-ray and halfdead-dvd deserve to kill each other
the studios have tricked you AGAIN into buying ANOTHER version of the same movies.
what happened to all those "superbit" editions?
I'll just wait for the VOD services to catch up some more and deliver full 1080p/24 - or whatever the highest level of video and audio is going to be at that time - this whole baloney about owning a piece of plastic that is instantly rendered garbage from a single gouge.
beta - vhs - laserdisc - vcd - svcd - dvd
and now we had a year pass of TWO formats screwing around.
It would be MUCH BETTER if the movies coming OUT were worth the plastic used to make the disc :[
Give me the output from the cameras that were used in the making of the movies, and the hardware to view it, nothing else could ever be true hd.
Sony is the last one I read about delivering 8K, who else is stepping up their game?
I just watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2 (awful movie, BTW) on BluRay. The movie on the disc was 25GB of H.264 1080p/24. It's going to be a long time before VOD services are going to be deliver a 25GB file over the internet. It would take most people over a day to download it and it would represent a significant issue for many people as to where to store it.
I don't mind VOD. But I don't want to lose access to high-quality video just because the disc companies couldn't work out a single format.
This news just brightened up my day. *E71 whistles on his way to work*
WOW...HD DVD should just raise the white Flag.....Yea... Blu Ray...
Ouch.
^^
I dont even own TV capable of more than 480i and my computer monitors native resolution is 1024x768.
whooooo blue ray all the way!
I don't care what analysts say, if this happens adoption of HD media is going to skyrocket. The geeks will have a side to choose, and drives to buy. Prices will still drop too; companies will compete for the lowest priced media and hardware.
Cue whining in 3...2...1...
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...
Waaaaah.
I wanted HD DVD to win pretty much because its name was practical and not a stupid marketing buzzword.
Well, I guess the law of averages was on the side of Blu-Ray. I mean, sooner or later, Sony was due to have at least one format that didn't fail.
It doesn't really matter to me anymore, I just upgraded my HTPC for Christmas:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827136133
Dual format for $300. Win/win for me IMHO. Now Newline better get to releasing HD LOTR. FFDShow upscaling only does so much.
I am just happy its over. I don't care who won, one format is enough for me.
The war, to an extent, was good for consumers. The competition brought the prices down a lot farther and faster than if only format was to be the successor to DVD. Of course, at some point a victor must be announced for the majority to consider adopting, and it looks like Blu-ray will be crowned in 2008.
@Isaac
I agree!
Amen.
Now if only we could sort out online video codecs.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! N0w finally Transformers in HD on my PS3
I came here to say the same thing.
That and Heroes Season 1 are the two things I want on blu-ray asap.
Lost on Blu Ray for me plz...
Lost is already on Bluray. Its ABC and therefore Disney.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8474313&st=lost&type=product&id=1674384
being on blueray wont' make that steaming pile of crap any better.
that masterbation scene may be the worst scene in history
Whoa
Yes, the quicker an established format arises, the better.
If this is true, then Paramount is a yellaw bellied spinless turncoat!!!!!
Long life Blu-Ray!
This would be a good move for a even faster end to the already ending format war. I'm Sure if this turns out to be true Michael Bay will be smiling big. Maybe he will stop blog posting drunk.
who is still left on the HD-DVD side? Hope this isn't permanent something about blu-ray makes me uncomfortable.
@SamC
If Paramount/Dreamworks is able to exit their contract, that would leave Universal as the only major studio to sell HD-DVDs.
it makes me uncomfortable too...
with all the effort that Sony has put into pushing their proprietary formats over the last 20+ years, it seems like they just want to rule the world or have dastardly intentions. i won't be surprised if Blu-ray wins, and Sony starts raising prices.
@teej: Then it's good we have Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, LG, Pioneer, and more to compete with Sony.
HD DVD = Betamax
It doesn't work that way.
A few years after Beta died, those tapes were useless.
A few years from now, HDDVD's will still be playable in BRD/HDDVD/DVD/CD/VCD players.
The Beta vs VHS argument fails as an analogy to this.
Muhahaha
does this mean they'd go blu ray exclusive or back to dual formats?
This is just an analyst's SPECULATION.
Where in the article does it say that Paramount WILL use the clause, if there is one?
Where is the official Paramount press release?
WTF, Engadget? Stop spreading FUD!! This is BS!
Richard Lawrer, stop using Fox Network style reporting!
Yes, I prefer HD DVD. Flame away, but this Engadget post is pure garbage. Freaking blogs...
They're reporting on the /rumor/ that this will happen, just like the rumor that there will be a 360 with a built-in HD-DVD drive. If you don't like it, oh well.
Reporting on rumor? It's not even a rumor. The Financial Times doesn't even say it's a rumor. This is just gossip. Get real. I know it doesn't matter whether I like it or not. But hey, since this section allows me to express my opinion, might as well use it like everyone else does.
Gos•sip
— casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.
ru•mour
— a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
Now you are being chlldish by arguing semantics. Engadget posted exactly what was being reported by "Financial Times". They even put a question mark at the end of the title to demonstrate this.
"Circulating" in just one publication (Financial Times). Nice.
The question mark is a cheap way to make headlines.
Dude, it's the Financial Times. Their job is to give business news to people who pay money for the newspaper. They have a lot of influence and a lot of contacts. You think they're not basing this on anything? I guarantee they talk to people every day at the top of the ranks at Paramount. I guarantee they have a beer together sometimes in the evening. I guarantee their kids play soccer together.
Anyway, the sand called. It wants your head out of it.
FT is an incredibly reliable source; over 120 years in publication (since 1888). Its the Wall Street Journal with a larger world perspective.
They have a reputation of accuracy and have a lot of direct access to the top executives (which is likely how they got Howard Stringer's comments). They wouldn't publish this without a reliable source, and I doubt their editor would allow that either.
The fact that someone as reputable as the Financial Times thought it was true enough to be printed is enough for Engadget to stand up and have us take notice of it; it's news.
How is this a rumor? It says that they're "poised" to go to Blu-Ray yet their only evidence is becaues their contract is "understood" to have an out. I know everyone's excited about the war being over, but this article is completely useless.
I don't know JonB,by your reasoning, I'll be stuck with DVD and CRT forever because my Sony 22" CRT and Pansonic DVD player has been with me over 8 years of daily use and still ticking strong.
And Paramount denies..
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aQMGgh2LV_bU&refer=japan
This was a terrible article by Financial Times. No proof of anything.
That's right, you lefties don't like blogs. Not elitist enough for you?
Lets just hope they dont DRM the heck out of it....
Please. Please. Please. BE TRUE!!!
Please!!!
-Pie
wow, now I pity those who bought HD-DVD player on Black Friday.
meh, it was only $100. last ditch effort.
I would have paid around 100 dollars for an upconverter anyway.
Oh well, I wonder when they're going to start liquidating HD DVD supplies.
I don't want your pity, frankly.
For $99, I bought a good upconverter and I'll still be able to watch all of the HD DVDs that I have as long as the hardware keeps running. Considering some of the other consumer electronics that I have, that could be five years or more, which will give me PLENTY of time to re-purchase the movies on BD for whenever I get my PS3.
I paid for the hardware and - damn it - I'm going to get my use out of it as long as I can, which is as it should be. I have no remorse for my purchases.
I feel more pity for the people who hopped onto eBay to dump perfectly functional HD DVD hardware and software rather than keep using the thing until it stops working. THAT was a waste of money!
@John B
Just make sure you put the HDDVD player on top of your laser disc, Minidisc and Betamax players. This way it won't heat up as much and will last longer.
@jivetrky:
Snide comments like yours really are pathetic. Just because a particular technology is old does not mean that it's useless or of no value to anyone. I hope that you don't have the same attitude towards people that you do towards technology, because you're going to be miserable as you get older.
Everyone in this thread needs to realise that HDDVD's are the same size as CD's, DVD's, VCD's and even BRD's. Players made in the future will be able to play HDDVD's.
It's ridiculous to suggest that HDDVD vs BRD is the same as Beta vs VHS.
sweet deal. Cue the Universal switch in 5...4...3...2...
Feel the love !!! Transformers on my PS3 will be a must !!! Also, time for the HD DVD supporters to admit they lost the war (Toshiba, Microsoft...)
Transformers and Battlestar Galactica on BR on my PS3 = me not buying an HD-DVD player.
Wow.
If this is true, that was fast.
Here's the article:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/dc409afa-bd75-11dc-b7e6-0000779fd2ac.html
Vanguard.
I knew that waiting for PS3 Blu-ray would become true one day =P
i meant Transformer to blu-ray =P
Good to see this war over, now everyone can concentrate on convincing consumers on HD media adoption rather then fighting amongst themselves. There shouldn't have been a war to begin with.
I completely, and thoroughly, hate Sony. However, after just buying my first large HDTV (Samsung 4671 LCD) I would like to see this format war over. I am seriously considering a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player, but I would like more of my movies to make it over to BR first.
i just wana say i called it
I'm sure if its true we'll hear something about it in the next few days. Nothing tonight will be confirmed. If they do come over to Blu I'll be buying more movies. Paramount has some sweet movies I'd like to get.
Financial analysts predict that following the announcements at CES on the endorsement of Blu Ray by major film companies...investors have pulled entirely out of HDDVD and reinvested in MARSHMALLOW PEEPS !
Well yeah, I will support a new marshmallow based media format.
As others have pointed out, this article is just a couple of guys talkin'. They make some interesting points, but it's not even "Sources within Paramount have said..." level of gossip.
hahaahahaha
Ugh, guess it's time to cancel that A35 that is on backorder...
i havent bought heroes or transfers on dvd because I WANT IT ON BLU RAY!!! I hope those people read all theses comments and just listen to the market. sheesh
About time..we need an end to the HD battle..and soon
Let's take this moment to feel bad for HDDVD supporters who used their money to support the format for whatever reason they may have chosen. Imagine you in their position. Format Wars are no fun. I'm just glad I made the right choice. And like many of you up there, my reaction was something like "that looks painful."
Hey, I'm trying to show some respect here. Please take my most sincerest regards for your HDDVD. I know Toshiba worked hard on polishing all those features and having their format fully capable of achieving many things I don't know how long before Blu-Ray. Facts are facts though, Blu-ray has more capacity; it's just the more logical step (in my opinion).
Yes it is a sad moment for the minority of people who thought that HD DVD was the right choice.
If i had invested the amount of money i did with blu-ray into hd-dvd, i would be jumping out the window. Fortunately i did not, so i am a vary happy man!
But to prevent further money loss, this format needs to end NOW and Today!... well asap.
If there is a God, this will go through.
if there is a God, he has made a deal with the Devil!!!
nice. now hopefully there will be no prideful going down with a slow sinking ship type garbage and HD-DVD will just give up. and screw digital downloads without a physical medium like discs there wouldn't be any overstock-based 5 dollar DVD deals that we all enjoy now.
This is unbelievable.
Blu ray may have won against HD DVD but Blu Ray and its biggest supporters such as panasonic warner bros disney and sony themselves are against the greatest medium that can cause the shift in movie sales and that is the hard drive and digital downloads. Many companies and corportations that make up the BDA arent even sure about Blu Ray themselves like APPLE and FOX who both agreed to make Fox movies downloadable off of ITUNES in standard and in High DEF. Now we will son finally have a unified format bluray but can blu ray beat digital movie downloads? I think Digital Downloads will kill blu ray. Digital downloads will contain DRM.
exactly why people wont download movies, people want to OWN what they BUY.
And no one wants to wait 1hour for a download when 1hour will take you back and forth from the movie theater, blockbuster or best buy and will give you a better x100 experience, or a hard copy that you can watch on ANY tv/computer instantly.
Downloads aren't killing Blu-Ray any time soon. You try downloading 50GB worth of data. I could get a Blu-Ray disc by mail faster.
And believe me, the iTunes thing is going to get a lot of hype but like Apple TV, it's going to amount to nothing. Nobody watches full length movies on computer *unless they're on a disc*, and even that's not that common... just a few people watching movies on a laptop on airplanes. The iTunes downloads will mostly be intended for Apple TV owners... and there are only 400,000 of them.
So what it comes down to is you have to buy a new box to hook up to your TV, which only works with iTunes and only downloads the limited selection they have. *Or* you can buy a BD player or PS3, which will play every DVD ever made, every Blu-Ray disc ever made and in the case of the PS3, will also someday support movie downloads (just wait until the pending Netflix deal - yeah, you heard it here first).
Which do *you* think is the smarter choice?
Downloads will probably *eventually* supplant physical discs. But remember how people were saying music downloads were going to replace physical CD sales back in the early 1990's? It's still not even close to happening. That's the stage we're at right now with movies. It's going to be 15-20 years at the very least.
From how I feel and what from what I know others love, people collect things, especially fancy blu-ray discs (I LOVE THEM) and cases with cool inserts and covers and such. There is a reason they dont come with the name just slapped on the front of the box. People LOVE to OWN things! And they love it when they're designed nicely to show off an extensive blu-ray collection.
I get the feeling there will never be an HD-DVD collection to show off.
The only downloaded movie I ever watched was Austin Powers on XBOX360 when it was free. I'm not buying stuff I don't have in my hands (or could ever produce to be in physical form). Ever.
Errr...right, I'd love to use my capped 20GB bandwidth allowance to download 1 movie when I can use it to *gasp* surf the internet like it's intended for.
@Jeff-
"Downloads will probably *eventually* supplant physical discs. But remember how people were saying music downloads were going to replace physical CD sales back in the early 1990's? It's still not even close to happening. That's the stage we're at right now with movies. It's going to be 15-20 years at the very least."
Well that was in the late 90s since Napster didn't exist until 1998.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/business/media/04music.html
lets hope the quote tag works:
[quote]
A total of 500.5 million albums in the form of CDs, cassettes, LPs and other formats were purchased last year, down 15 percent from the unit total for 2006, said Nielsen SoundScan, which tracks point-of-purchase sales.
The decline in album sales drops to 9.5 percent when sales of digital singles are counted as 10-track equivalent albums.
The number of digital tracks sold, meanwhile, jumped 45 percent, to 844.2 million, compared with 588.2 million in 2006, with digital album sales accounting for 10 percent of total album purchases.
Overall music purchases, including albums, singles, digital tracks and music videos, rose to 1.35 billion units, up 14 percent from 2006.
[/quote]
You know... downloading music is one thing. You can burn it to CD. Downloading video? I think everyone who keeps going on about that pipe dream either a) doesn't have an HDTV; b) has not used something like Unbox on a TiVo; c) haven't the foggiest idea how much time it will take 50GB of HD goodness to download; and/or d)unless we're talking rentals, the video download industry will make a KILLING on selling storage media so you can store more than two or three movies on a 120GB hard drive.
Please, people, be realistic. We need drives with cheap multiple terabytes in them before building true HD media servers is ever going to be a possibility. And that's just on the storage end... let's not even go down the questions of bandwidth (both inside and outside of the house).
Somebody get me a violin.
I traded in my xbox for the 360 add-on, so no big loss for me. Plus I currently only have five HD DVDs.
While I do like some Sony products, something about Sony proprietary leaves me uncomfortable, can anyone say rootkit? ATRAC? Memory Stick?
Serious comment here:
If this does happen, and HD DVD does get dropped, will its movies be re-released on Blu-Ray?
i VERY much doubt they wouldn't.
Most likely, since there will be one unified format to deliver content. And consumers will want that content.
Think LaserDisc. My parents still have classics on LaserDisc.
I imagine if they leave they will like Warner release for a few months on HD DVD before switch but go neutral right away. Or they can do what they did to Blu-ray destroy all HD DVDs and break their contract.
Well it looks like the end is nigh. I'm glad this format war is finally over. While I supported HD-DVD for its consumer friendliness, I have no real problem joining the Blu-ray camp, as it's probably gonna be the only camp out there.
Finaly I can get Star Trek for my PS3!
GO SONY!!!
Haha... Well when the hammer falls, it falls hard. I'll be happy when this is over!
Here is a another article you fanboys should read:
Paramount/DreamWorks: "Still Supporting HD DVD" [UPDATED]
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/show/DreamWorks/Paramount/CES_2008/Paramount/DreamWorks:__Still_Supporting_HD_DVD_[UPDATED]/1345