January 10th, 2008
Universal, Paramount, Preparing to Defect to Blu-ray?
Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
The rumors of Paramount dropping HD-DVD in favor of Blu-ray were dispelled - at least temporarily - earlier in the week when Paramount flatly denied it was leaving the HD-DVD camp. But a report in Daily Variety confirms that Universal’s commitment to HD DVD has expired. And with Paramount having an escape clause based on Warner Bros.’ defection to Blu-ray, how long will the two studios hold out?
Currently both studios publicly state they will continue supporting HD-DVD, and Universal has some upcoming promotions, as well. Ironically, Paramount switched exclusively to HD-DVD last August, amid payoff rumors.
We Say: Would anyone who’s been reading the news lately be interested in going in and buying an HD-DVD player right now? They’d have to have been asleep all this time.
And how do you think Microsoft is feeling right now? I wonder how many of those external HD-DVD players they’ve sold for the Xbox 360? Looks like Microsoft backed the wrong camp.
Update: Today, New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video announced a switch to Blu-ray only.
Update:At 5 PM EST the following statement was issued by Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment and also co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group:
“Contrary to unsubstantiated rumors from unnamed sources, Universal’s current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format.”
superdynamite says:
Who will be the last holding the dead cat?
Which ever it is, Paramount or Universal, they will go down in history. Forever to be known as, “The Last to Jump the Sinking ship.”
The one with the LEAST amount of vision for the future.
January 10th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Michael Forry says:
Vision of the future my arse. They are all jumping ship because Sony is shellong out TONS of cashand incentives! Sad that MS wont do better and put Sony down once and for all - just keep the PSP going
Mike
Now lets see if the bluray prices come down or not with basically no competition.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:55 am
ShadoeWolfe says:
Just to make sure everyone has the right news - Paramount has refuted the story by Variety.
http://www.betanews.com/article/Universal_Were_staying_with_HD_DVD/1199974983
The question is, how much money is Sony actually throwing at these companies? The argument is always that the consumer will decide the format, but the numbers don’t show a clear a preference, IMHO.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:35 am
CollegeGuy says:
Ok now this is getting stupid. If Universal and Paramount are no longer bound to HD-DVD and Blu-ray has over 70% studio support, why would they still support HD-DVD? There is no doubt now that Blu-ray has won. There has to be more money from Microsoft behind this one. The more time and confusion they can buy, the more appealing downloadable HD content may be. Michael Bay was probably right.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm