Paramount, Universal Pressured by Retail to Go Blu

[Porfie]

Interesting article

Another report has surfaced, despite denials by Paramount, that it and Universal will soon announce Blu-ray support. Retailers are apparently putting on the pressure.
Posted by James Brightman on Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Earlier this week a story in the Financial Times surfaced that indicated HD DVD supporters Paramount and Universal would be defecting to Blu-ray following the Warner Bros. decision. Shortly after the story made waves, Paramount quickly denied it, noting that the studio's "current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format."

Now Bill Hunt, editor for the Digital Bits has sparked the rumor mill once again. "We remain convinced that both Paramount and Universal are moving towards announcing Blu-ray Disc support soon, and we have real reason for that belief, not the least of which is that our sources in this situation are second to none," claims Hunt. "Announcements could happen tomorrow, they could happen next week, they could happen next month. We'd be surprised if it took longer than a month or two. We're hearing that Universal may not announce until February at the earliest, as we're given to understand that their contract period with the HD DVD camp expires at the end of January."

He continues, "Rest assured, sources continue to tell us that Paramount and Universal are going Blu, but sorting out all the legal details and organizing the logistics takes time. The Warner move was apparently well planned, but Paramount and Universal have only just started that process. They may or may not continue releasing HD DVDs for a time - we'll have to wait and see. But retailers are now seriously pressuring these studios to go Blu, and we'd be surprised if many mainstream stores still have HD DVD hardware and software on their shelves come next Christmas."

For more on how this likely Blu-ray victory will affect the PS3, check out our recent analyst round-up.


http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/ne...u/19031/?biz=1

[DrinkMore]

"we'd be surprised if many mainstream stores still have HD DVD hardware and software on their shelves come next Christmas."

I love it! Thanks for the info.

[Marcusarilius]

Amazing. The domino effect is kicking in across the planet in favour of Blu-ray!

[The Don]

just as we were saying before...

shelf space is key here...by supporting both, they waste space..

[Porfie]

Originally Posted by The Don

just as we were saying before...

shelf space is key here...by supporting both, they waste space..

I agree and if 1 more studio goes blue retailers are going to be under more pressure to go blu as well. They can't deny the power of THE PS3 with blu-ray!

[hc666]

Out of sight out of mind.

Just like cigerettes here in Nova Scotia... must be hidden anywhere they are sold.

[RHINES4]

I hope Paramount swtiches soon so they can release Titanic on blu ray.

[becomingwater]

I can't believe it took Paramount and Universal this long to see what they have been causing. I bet they really feel stupid.

[cartier]

Most of the same info but a slightly different take: http://www.electronista.com/articles...and.universal/

Both Paramount and Universal are biding their time and follow Warner's switch to Blu-ray within a matter of weeks, according to established movie writer Bill Hunt of Digital Bits. Sources "second to none" allege that these two remaining major supports of HD DVD are ready to switch to releasing Blu-ray movies but are waiting on the right conditions to announce the move, regardless of obligations. While Universal is waiting on its current contract to expire by February, Paramount is simply waiting to have one or more titles ready before it exercises its now corroborated opt-out clause from its HD DVD exclusivity deal, the insiders say.
If accurate, the transition would all but immediately end the conflict between Blu-ray and HD DVD, placing all major studios in support of the former HD disc standard. The Warner shift is already understood to have given roughly 70 percent of all HD movie releases to Blu-ray and resulted in the HD DVD Promotional Group postponing its keynote for this week's Consumer Electronics Show, which has now been canceled outright.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by RHINES4

I hope Paramount swtiches soon so they can release Titanic on blu ray.

In the mean time, you can get the Celine Dejan concert to hold you over!

[PLASMA-1080P-FULLHD]

about time

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by becomingwater

I can't believe it took Paramount and Universal this long to see what they have been causing. I bet they really feel stupid.

I don't know... everyone has a price and $150M was the price for Paramount and Dreamworks. I think that's hard to pass up this early in the game. What did they really have to lose? At least from the sounds of it they're not seeing the value in keeping the money and are switching back.

[Leon Kennedy]

Originally Posted by RHINES4

I hope Paramount swtiches soon so they can release Titanic on blu ray.

I thought FOX owns the rights now?

[Malosch78]

This article makes sense ... thanks

[sardaukar1977]

Originally Posted by Leon Kennedy

I thought FOX owns the rights now?

paramount owns the US distribution rights to Titanic.

[jurassic_pork]

By the way have I've been the only one to notice so many Paramount Blu-ray titles in retail stores lately? Could these really still be leftover or could they be leaking slowly into stores?

Just yesterday at two different best buy locations I noticed a ton of Disturbia, Four Brothers, Italian Job, Flags of our Fathers and Black Snake Moan. I haven't look for others but I'll keep my eye open when I go get Sunshine.

Let me know if its just me or if these could have been possibly in some best buy warehouse all these months (i'm not talking about 1 blu per title either).

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by jurassic_pork

By the way have I've been the only one to notice so many Paramount Blu-ray titles in retail stores lately? Could these really still be leftover or could they be leaking slowly into stores?

Just yesterday at two different best buy locations I noticed a ton of Disturbia, Four Brothers, Italian Job, Flags of our Fathers and Black Snake Moan. I haven't look for others but I'll keep my eye open when I go get Sunshine.

Let me know if its just me or if these could have been possibly in some best buy warehouse all these months (i'm not talking about 1 blu per title either).

not just u

[saljr]

Only thing I can do is Go Blu.

[Nathan_Drake]

I too have started noticing more of them in stores. Hmmm.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Amazing. The domino effect is kicking in across the planet in favour of Blu-ray!

It's amazing how fast these things can take place nowadays thanks to the internet. What great times ahead for movie lovers