Paramount and Gaumont-SONY join forces in France

[pro-bassoonist]

In a shocking move which is likely to create a wave of speculations as to where the French HD market is heading earlier today Italian news site AVMAGAZINE published an official article announcing a massive distribution agrrement between Paramount-France and Gaumont (SONY). Given the current HD allegiances the two powerhouse have announced: HDDVD exclusivity for Paramount and Blu-Ray exclusivity for SONY this is likely to be a grandiose affair, if nothing else at least for the fact that it does indeed bring the two camps together. As noted by the article this is viewed by analysts as a historical agreement. It is important to highlight that via Pathe Gaumont has always been closely related to Fox, a staunch supporter of Bu-Ray.

Thus far the initial announcement addresses only DVD but make no mistake: this could be an excellent opportunity for SONY/Gaumont-France to nudge Paramount back where they were placed initially, in the middle, though this time around knocking on their overseas office door, leaving the US gurus scrambling to figure what happened.

I provide the full article in Italian...and a quick altavista crippled translation as I have no time to reword everything. (Ciao, Pro-B)

Anche se la notizia non ci riguarda direttamente, l'annuncio di un accordo di distribuzione tra Paramount e la francese Gaumont è comunque di significativa importanza. In primis, chiaramente, per il mercato francese e indirettamente potrebbe influenzare altre scelte. Gaumont è una storica, nonché una delle più attive case di produzione cinematografiche francesi che annovera tra i suoi titoli i capolavori di Luc Besson (Grand Bleu, Nikita, Leon, Subway, Il Quinto Elemento), ma anche "Il tempo delle Mele" o i più recenti "I Fiumi di Porpora" e "36 Quai des orfèvres".

Fino ad oggi esisteva per il mercato francese uno strettissimo legame tra Gaumont e Columbia TriStar al punto da condividere le distribuzioni in sala e home video sotto l'unico nome di "Gaumont Columbia TriStar" e questo anche per i titoli della major americana (che nel frattempo ha cambiato nel resto del mondo la denominazione in Sony Pictures). Anche i Blu-ray distribuiti da noi da Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, vengono in Francia distribuiti da GCTHV (Gaumont Columbia TriStar Home Video).

E' notizia di oggi l'annuncio ufficiale da parte di Paramount France della sigla di uno storico accordo di distribuzione con la casa francese che vedrà le due aziende unire le proprie forze sia per il mercato in sala che per quello Home Video. La prima immediata conseguenza la potete trovare qui e riguarda il cambio di denominazione di uno storico cinema parigino il "Paramount Opéra" in "Gaumont Opéra". Per quanto riguarda l'Home Video, per ora l'annuncio menziona unicamente il mercato DVD, ma tutti conosciamo la scelta esclusiva di Paramount a favore dell'HD DVD e quindi vedo molto difficile che dopo questo accordo Gaumont possa scegliere una strada diversa.

Volendo poi allargare il discorso, sappiamo che Gaumont ha in essere diverse collaborazioni (catalogo e sale cinematografiche) con un altro importante produttore francese, la Pathé, da parte sua storicamente legata alla Fox per quanto riguarda la distribuzione Home Video: secondo attendibili indiscrezioni in circolazione in questi giorni, la Fox sarebbe piuttosto indispettita dall'insuccesso del sistema di protezione BD+ del Blu-ray (che ha sostenuto fino ad oggi in maniera esclusiva) che potrebbero prefigurare cambiamenti nelle scelte commerciali (vedi un'apertura nei confronti del meno oneroso HD DVD?). La situazione francese in evoluzione, in virtù tra l'altro, del suo non indifferente peso sul mercato (la Francia è il secondo mercato Home Video europeo dietro la Gran Bretagna) potrebbe forse influenzare scelte più globali: leggi Pathé che segue Gaumont e quindi Fox sulla stessa linea? Le mie sono personalissime deduzioni, ma non sarei tanto sorpreso di scoprire, tra qualche mese, che la realtà è stata capace di superare la mia immaginazione...

crippled AltaVista translation

Even if the news does not regard to us directly, the announcement of an agreement of distribution between Paramount and the Gaumont French is however of meaningful importance. In primis, clearly, for the French market and indirectly he could influence other choices. Gaumont is an historical one, let alone one of the most active French cinematographic houses than production that numbers between its titles them the capolavori of Luc Besson (Grand Bleu, Nikita, Leon, Subway, the Fifth Element), but also "the time of Apples" or the most recent "Rivers of Porpora" and "36 Quai DES orfèvres".

Until today tightest tie between Gaumont existed for the French market one and Columbia TriStar to the point to share the distributions in knows it and home video under the only name of "Gaumont Columbia TriStar" and this also for the titles them of major the American (than in the meantime it has changed in the rest of the world the denomination in Sony Pictures). Also Blu-ray distributed from we from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, comes in France distributed from GCTHV (Gaumont Columbia TriStar Home Video).

E' news today the official announcement from part of Paramount France of the acronym of one historical agreement of distribution with the French house that will see the two companies to join the own forces is for the market in knows it that for that Home Video. The first immediate consequence you can find it here and regards the change of denomination of one historical cinema Parisian the "Paramount Opéra" in "Gaumont Opéra". As far as the Home Video, for hour the announcement only mentions market DVD, but all we know the exclusive choice of Paramount to favor of HD DVD and therefore I see much difficult one that after this Gaumont agreement various road can choose one.

Wanting then to increase the speech, we know that Gaumont has in being various collaborations (catalogue and knows them cinematographic) with an other important French producer, the Pathé, from part its historically tied to the Fox as far as the Home distribution Video: according to reliable indiscretions in circulation in these days, the Fox rather would be indispettita from the failure of the system of protection BD+ of Blu-ray (that it has supported until today in exclusive way) that they could prefigure changes in the choices trades them (you see an opening in the comparisons of less oneroso HD DVD). The French situation in evolution, in virtue between the other, of its not indifferent weight on the market (France is according to Home market the European Video behind Great Britain) could perhaps influence total choices: you read Pathé that it follows Gaumont and therefore Fox on the same line? Mine are most personal deductions, but I would not be a lot surprised to discover, between some month, than the truth he has been able to exceed my imagination...

Pro-B

[darinp2]

I think France is somewhat interesting because the biggest movie of the year is Ratatouille and it looks like they may have over 400k PS3s sold there by the end of the year. I could see that country skewing way toward Blu-ray.

Honestly, if Warner and New Line really go to Blu-ray I don't think there is much to worry about. Universal would then likely make the only business decision that makes sense (although I guess they could choose between neutrality and Blu-ray exclusivity). And Toshiba could end up asking Paramount and Dreamworks to get out of the contract just so they don't have to pay whatever incentives it calls for.

--Darin

[Elandyll]

France is also where WHV has joined Blu Ray Partners, an association intent on seeing Blu Ray disc domination over HD DVD

[w_tanoto]

right. I don't have the time to read all the article (yet). Well, it's good if para titles get released in blu, but it's very very bad if Sony titles do the opposite, released in HD DVD. I hope the latter won't happen

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

right. I don't have the time to read all the article (yet). Well, it's good if para titles get released in blu, but it's very very bad if Sony titles do the opposite, released in HD DVD. I hope the latter won't happen

Doubt it very much, Para isn't "tied" to HD DVD (except in the US by a contract that'll last another 12 months), Sony is very much so. They sell hardware that is exclusively Blu Ray (standalones and PS3).
I doubt they'd shoot themselves in the foot hehe.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Doubt it very much, Para isn't "tied" to HD DVD (except in the US by a contract that'll last another 12 months), Sony is very much so. They sell hardware that is exclusively Blu Ray (standalones and PS3).
I doubt they'd shoot themselves in the foot hehe.

Para is tied to HD DVD "on international basis". check out their press release when they announce HD DVD exclusive

[Azumi]

I have a few info on this agreement that I can add:

- First of all, this deal doesn't concern Sony movies in *any* form. Columbia France and Gaumont have a longstanding agreement on homevideo and created a joint-venture called GCTHV, which releases both catalogs on video. If Gaumont joins Paramount, this only concerns their movies. It's likely that after the split, GCTHV will be renamed Sony France (or something like that).

- I heard that several things still have to be sorted out, so it won't happen overnight. It looks like Gaumont wants to expand their catalogue offerings and the reissues of the Godard and the early Luc Besson movies.

- Right now, Gaumont is Blu while Paramount is Red, so this brings the 64,000 $ question Touchy subject. We can expect some bargaining to take place behind the curtains.

- On a side note, while Gaumont goes away, Sony France made a business win and will release the Francetélévision titles (FTD) form Jan 1, which holds a quite large catalogue. FTD was previously with Warner and was HD DVD exclusive in hi-def. Well, not anymore. Sony clearly won't pick their red titles for re-release.