Universal: 'current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format.' Currently.

Universal Studios issued a terse statement today, denying rumors that the HD DVD stalwart is looking to take advantage of that lapsed exclusivity contract and jump ship for cross-town high-def adversary, Blu-ray. Ken Graffeo – veep of HD strategic marketing at Universal and also co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group – said simply "Universal's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format." That Universal's response was almost verbatim to HD DVD ally Paramount's should come as little surprise. How about this, movie executive types: let us know about your future plans and we'll skirt this whole song and dance, okay?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

[madeforidiots @ Jan 10th 2008 6:37PM]

This is why their logo is on the Bluray logo board at their CES booth?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/blu-rays-ces-2008-booth-tour/

[Adam @ Jan 10th 2008 6:51PM]

still don't see it...you mean WB?

[Kyrra @ Jan 10th 2008 6:57PM]

Gotta look at the large photo to see it:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/blu-rays-ces-2008-booth-tour/573640/

It's in the center between Fox and WB.

[SJT @ Jan 10th 2008 7:00PM]

That's actually Universal Music Group. It also appears at the Blu-Ray website.

[James @ Jan 10th 2008 7:03PM]

That is very interesting. Why would they have the Universal logo slap bang in the middle of the "big supporting names" board when they aren't supposedely interested?

The only reason I could think of would be the Bruce Almighty film that Universal did with Buena Vista - it's been released in Europe on Blu-Ray.

[James @ Jan 10th 2008 7:05PM]

Oh! SJT answered the question, it is indeed Unviversal Music.

[Eros @ Jan 11th 2008 3:55AM]

Universal Music group is completely separate from Universal Studio.

Universal Music group owned by Vivendi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group

Universal Studios owned by GE's NBC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Universal

[Eros @ Jan 11th 2008 3:56AM]

Universal Music group is completely separate from Universal Studio.

Universal Music group owned by Vivendi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music_Group

Universal Studios owned by GE's NBC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC_Universal

[FK @ Jan 10th 2008 6:46PM]

Universal/Paramount : Damnit, knock it off. Switch over and end this stupid format war. All consumers will thank you by showering you with greenbacks for your sub-par films.

[Darrol @ Jan 10th 2008 7:27PM]

Actually, they would probably get more consumers with HD-DVD as it costs less than HD-DVD. The whole thing with HD-DVD is that it will appeal to a larger group because it includes those that do not have money to throw out the window left and right.

[Darrol @ Jan 10th 2008 7:27PM]

Actually, they would probably get more consumers with HD-DVD as it costs less than HD-DVD. The whole thing with HD-DVD is that it will appeal to a larger group because it includes those that do not have money to throw out the window left and right.

[Temple @ Jan 10th 2008 8:11PM]

'Supporting' HD-DVD doesn't mean that they can't support "Blu-ray'. Regardless if they stop releasing HD-DVD or not, the important thing is that they release it on Blu-ray and the consumer gets a singular format.

[Jeff @ Jan 10th 2008 9:57PM]

Darrol, what the hell are you blathering on about? BD discs and HD-DVD's cost the same. BD players are only $60 more than HD-DVD players on the bottom end.

Ok, so you don't have $60 to "waste" on a format with 70% exclusive industry support. You get what you pay for. Get a job.

[SteveMB @ Jan 10th 2008 11:40PM]

"$60 more" And what models are you comparing?

[animeGhost @ Jan 11th 2008 12:48AM]

he's comparing the toshiba hd-a3 ~$279 to the samsung bd-p1400 ~$299

[SteveMB @ Jan 11th 2008 10:48PM]

You can get the HD A2 for $150.

[Rick wilson @ Jan 10th 2008 6:49PM]

The universal logo is for universal music group.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=51

[jason w @ Jan 10th 2008 6:54PM]

Damn Engadget how many of these stories can you run. These guys will go one day just now now. They may go dual but until then its just HDDVD. Get over it. How many post can you run that says the same things over and over.

QUE THE BLURAY Fangirls who yell "This needs to be over!!! COME ON BLUE RULEZZZZ!"

[Christopher Grant @ Jan 10th 2008 6:56PM]

Dad?

[jared @ Jan 10th 2008 6:57PM]

I think you might mean "cue" the fangirls.

[Drakkhen @ Jan 11th 2008 10:48AM]

Err...nooo...

He means "QUEUE"

you hit balls with a cue...

[andrew.l.wood @ Jan 11th 2008 1:11PM]

no, he means 'cue' as in 'that's your cue, Mr. Brosnan'.

[James @ Jan 10th 2008 6:57PM]

Why don't they just give up and follow the others. HD-DVD is now most certainly on the slippery slope - just take a look at the sale figures, Blu-Ray movie sales are approx. double HD DVD sales. Okay, I understand that things such as the Xbox 360's HD DVD accessory and people that have bought HD DVD players come into account but this really has to be resolved - I'm not going to splash out $900 to get a dual format playback device.

Blu-ray FTW.

Final.

[SJT @ Jan 10th 2008 7:03PM]

Lol. Just because you write "Blu-Ray FTW. Final.", it does not mean Toshiba and HD DVD will suddenly collapse into themselves. Just sayin'.

[SJT @ Jan 10th 2008 7:05PM]

Lol. Just because you write "Blu-Ray FTW. Final.", it does not mean Toshiba and HD DVD will suddenly collapse into themselves. Not yet... Just sayin'!

[Eddie @ Jan 10th 2008 7:05PM]

I'll never support a format with more DRM and unfinished specs. Those are two strikes, and I don't care which movies I do and don't get on HD DVD. I'll never pay $ony to tell me where when and how I can use the content I bought, so if that means killing HDM, then so be it. I'll buy HD DVDs until they stop selling them.

[James @ Jan 10th 2008 7:09PM]

I didn't say or mean "Toshiba and HD DVD will suddenly collapse into themselves".

The point I'm trying to make is that Blu-Ray is currently higher up the ladder and I think that it'll probably remain that way with HD DVD going further down.

[Joseph @ Jan 11th 2008 2:40AM]

Toshiba outsold other HDDVD players and blu-ray players combined last year. Check their CES keynote. 51% - gotta imagine they sold some disc too.
Where do your numbers come from?

[Bill @ Jan 10th 2008 7:13PM]

Patience people. Huge corporations like this don't make sudden changes overnight. Even when the right path is blaringly obvious, it takes a little time for the huge wheels over there to turn, and they ain't going to tell us JACK until they are friggin completely done with their decision, and all the details for implementing it.

[James @ Jan 10th 2008 7:16PM]

You're right. Got a little heated there, sorry!

It would be great to have one single HD format though - would make the whole next generation of buying movies a whole lot easier.

[MasterCKO @ Jan 10th 2008 7:20PM]

good point.

[Nathan @ Jan 10th 2008 7:20PM]

As Public Enemy said "Don't believe the hype"

[Mystic @ Jan 10th 2008 7:23PM]

Wow, the fanboy blogs Engadget and Gizmodo just can't leave this alone and continue to spread rumors. How does it feel being a sheep of corporations and brands Lam?

[Conda @ Jan 10th 2008 7:24PM]

I think they were just waiting, so the poor people manning the HD-DVD booths during CES didn't just break down and cry in their booth through the show

[haixin @ Jan 10th 2008 9:14PM]

well keep in mind SONY did introduce us to CDs and DVDs that you use so if you hate Sony so much you'd be surprised as to what they own......and they own alot.....probably one of the most influential technology companies out there.

[Carbonize @ Jan 11th 2008 8:45AM]

Sony did not introduce us to CDs or DVDs. Both were the result of collaborations and not a single company.

[Carbonize @ Jan 11th 2008 8:46AM]

Sony did not introduce us to CDs or DVDs. Both were the result of collaborations and not a single company.

[Michael Yingling @ Jan 10th 2008 7:41PM]

I hope Blu-ray loses. Not because I give a shit about the discs themselves, but because I don't want Sony (who developed Blu-ray discs and co-founded the BDA) to control a major media format. Between rootkits and BD+ DRM, I'll wait until Super High Def discs come out and skip Blu-ray altogether if it wins.

[un_peacekeeper @ Jan 10th 2008 8:31PM]

If you hate Sony that much, stop using CDs, they were developed by Sony and Philips. Oh, and the 3.5" floppy disks back then, Sony. It's not like every Sony format dies (Beta, MD, UMD).

[DrArkaneX @ Jan 10th 2008 7:45PM]

Doesn't matter, Universal and WB are separate companies, but they both work for each other. Universal will change their mind in a few and go all Blu-Ray. Mark my words.

[carl @ Jan 10th 2008 7:56PM]

HD-DVD is probably talking to Universal about a contract renewal, and Universal, well they are still listening.

Hopefully, Universal gets smart and goes for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD. But it would be nice if they go Blu-ray exclusively..

[hemmy @ Jan 10th 2008 8:39PM]

Universal's contract, like Warner's, runs through May. They're going to honor it until then, unless HDDVD collapses at retail and forces a bailout.

[Randy @ Jan 10th 2008 9:11PM]

Has anyone considered that maybe Engadget is part of the problem... I own both and quite tried of reading the ongoing soap opra BS.

Let the consumers decide. We're BTW the ones buying the product - not Engadget.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 10th 2008 9:31PM]

I don't get why you guys are sayin' that Universal and Paramount should make the switch. Why in the FUCK would anyone in their right mind seriously want Blu-Ray to win? Yeah, its technically superior- but not by much, and it includes more expensive players, DRM to the brink, and it's main supporter, and pretty much creator, Sony, would rape us all with it.

HD-DVD has practically equal quality for today's movies and the storage sizes are comparable (at least in a practicality standpoint).

HD-DVD is THE choice for consumers, and Blu-Ray is that of studios and corporations. Do whats RIGHT for the consumer, and skip this Blu-Ray bullshit.

[Kamakzie @ Jan 10th 2008 9:41PM]

Its over dude..

[Spider1981 @ Jan 10th 2008 9:49PM]

"HD-DVD is THE choice for consumers, and Blu-Ray is that of studios and corporations. Do whats RIGHT for the consumer, and skip this Blu-Ray bullshit."

Zeus, I just wanted to let you know, since you live in your own 'special place' that consumers HAVE chosen Blu-Ray over HD DVD 2 to 1, 3 to 1, 4 to 1, 9 to 1, and then some depending on where in the world you look.

**Gives you a fanboi medal of honor**

[Jughead @ Jan 10th 2008 10:10PM]

You mean consumers chose to buy a PS3 that just so happened to play Blu-ray discs. Other than the PS3 there is very little stand-alone player purchasing support of the format. The PS3 was just a good marketing tool for the format. Consumers who bought an HD-DVD player or the 360 add-on chose to support that format for video purposes. Take the PS3 out of the equation and numbers change drastically. Most PS3 owners are repeat Playstation brand customers.

[jitty @ Jan 10th 2008 10:42PM]

Jughead, a ps3 is technically not a stand alone player. Nobody is forcing PS3 owners to buy blu-ray movies for it. It does a lot more than play blu-ray movies. But Since it was so cheep and such a relatively high end features consumers chose to buy blu-ray for it. It's like if there were was a good HD-DVD laptop that everyone bought and watched Hd-DVD movies on. Just because it's not a stand alone player doesn't mean it's shouldn't count and doesn't mean the sales don't really help the format. As long as sales of discs are good, stand alone sales don't matter yet. And they won't matter until we have a clear established winner. If blu-ray clearly wins, sales of blu-ray player will drastically increase since there is no more consumer confusion. And HD-DVD player sales will die off very quickly

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 10th 2008 11:08PM]

Are you kidding? HD-DVD vs Blu-Ray, comparing the specifications and price, its HD-DVD all the way. The difference in performance and quality is not worth the difference in price.

Lol, I'm a fanboy? Are you daft? If anyone here is a fanboy, its clearly you. HD-DVD is the better choice, its just Sony has been buying out all the studios, rather than letting them stick with their choice.

There are still more standalone players for HD-DVD than Blu-Ray, and that definitely means something. Either HD-DVD really is more popular, or the PS3 is the only thing preventing HD-DVD from becoming the "winner".

Whatever. You're just a retard, apparently, and if you could remove Sony's shaft from your mouth, you would realize how stupid you're being. Blu-Ray is BAD for the consumer.

[animeGhost @ Jan 11th 2008 1:04AM]

first... how do you figure there are more stand-alone hd-dvd players, last i checked toshiba is the only manufacturer of those... also the reason the ps3 is so important (and i kno i sell these things for a living) is because a lot of consumers have been buying them primarily for their excellent blu-ray playback... and btw who are u to tell me an informed consumer whats bad for me, im a grown ass man i can make that decision on my own!
P.S. in case you havent gotten the memo hd dvd payed a shit load for paramount