Did Paramount Help Blu-ray Win The Format War?

[PaulGo]

It may sound crazy but I think Paramount being bought off by HD-DVD provided the needed momentum to help bring the format war to a quicker conclusion in favor of Blu-ray.

It caused the Blu-ray camp to wake up from its complacency and become much more aggressive in marketing.

It caused them to be much more aggressive in courting Warner.

It pushed them into lowering prices faster (hardware and software) so sales increased.

And finally it caused Warner to step back and take a look at what is happening in their marketing of HD media. It has made them realize that this so called stalemate does not benefit them and made them realize they need to choose Blu-ray to bring this war to an early termination.

[JasonS]

I would agree with everything you've stated. If Paramount was still neutral, there wouldn't be a TON of pressure to get Warner off the fence. I would laugh at the red fanboys extremely hard if this is how / why it ended.

[jermwhl]

Hmmm...interesting perspective!!

[dperrone]

very good points, I hope you are right

[Esox50]

It's hard to know the timing of what has happened behind the scenes. I personally am inclined to think Warner changing policy caused Toshiba to go out and get Paramount.
Here's my thoughts on the matter from previous posts...

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=59

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...postcount=1387

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

It may sound crazy but I think Paramount being bought off by HD-DVD provided the needed momentum to help bring the format war to a quicker conclusion in favor of Blu-ray.

It caused the Blu-ray camp to wake up from its complacency and become much more aggressive in marketing.

It caused them to be much more aggressive in courting Warner.

It pushed them into lowering prices faster (hardware and software) so sales increased.

And finally it caused Warner to step back and take a look at what is happening in their marketing of HD media. It has made them realize that this so called stalemate does not benefit them and made them realize they need to choose Blu-ray to bring this war to an early termination.

Excellent analysis! Never thought of it that way at all, but I beleive you are right. Remember how the studios "Jumped" and started anouncing new titles to be released in the next 3 months after Paramount jumped ship? That also spurred a huge advantage for BD. Look at all of the titles from Fox, Disney and so forth. In three months BD gained some awsome titles under it's belt!

[CapiCoo]

I'm really looking forward to Warner announcing them having their heads removed from their asses but I have to be honest, I think I'm going to be more excited if Universal decides to have the same procedure done!!

[Mystique]

Those are pretty good points that I never came to realize!

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by CapiCoo

I'm really looking forward to Warner announcing them having their heads removed from their asses but I have to be honest, I think I'm going to be more excited if Universal decides to have the same procedure done!!

Warner will go Blu exclusive with great fanfare. Universal will have to be at least duel format by the forth quarter and will also be met with great excitment and fanfare. The last true idiot standing in this HD game of musical chairs is Paramount. When they come crawling back with their tail between their legs, (probably to compensate from what really IS missing between their legs) they will be the black sheep, Benidict Arnold that will have much to overcome in the PR dept once only BD is available for HD movies. I will be very selective on what titles I purchase from them. They will have to release major blockbuster titles before they see any of my $$$. See how they like being left out in the cold for a while. A CEO head will role for damage control and a new one brought in to make amends to the only existing HD format to sell to.

[JasonR]

Hmmm. I think you have some very valid points.

[mystiksuicide]

Excellent post and points of view. Here is to a blu-future.

[upnorthsox]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

It may sound crazy but I think Paramount being bought off by HD-DVD provided the needed momentum to help bring the format war to a quicker conclusion in favor of Blu-ray.

It caused the Blu-ray camp to wake up from its complacency and become much more aggressive in marketing.

It caused them to be much more aggressive in courting Warner.

It pushed them into lowering prices faster (hardware and software) so sales increased.

And finally it caused Warner to step back and take a look at what is happening in their marketing of HD media. It has made them realize that this so called stalemate does not benefit them and made them realize they need to choose Blu-ray to bring this war to an early termination.

So what you are saying is that that was the best $150 million that the BDA never spent?

[Farout777]

Did Paramount Help Blu-ray Win The Format War?

Be carefull in referring to the war as past tense, the fat lady isn't singing yet.
There could always be something up the HD sleeve.

[Memnoch71]

Originally Posted by upnorthsox

So what you are saying is that that was the best $150 million that the BDA never spent?

That's a good way to put it.

All it has made me do is be very selective what movies I have been purchasing. I can wait on buying a lot of the Universal & Paramount releases untill they see the (blu) light. Untill then I'm more than happy to spend my money with Disney, Sony, Fox, Warner....

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Farout777

Did Paramount Help Blu-ray Win The Format War?

Be carefull in referring to the war as past tense, the fat lady isn't singing yet.
There could always be something up the HD sleeve.

I understand what you are saying, but in this case, the HD DVD fat lady has left the building. The fans just don't realise it yet.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Farout777

Did Paramount Help Blu-ray Win The Format War?

Be carefull in referring to the war as past tense, the fat lady isn't singing yet.
There could always be something up the HD sleeve.

See, I'm a glass half full kind of guy...

[dakota81]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

It may sound crazy but I think Paramount being bought off by HD-DVD provided the needed momentum to help bring the format war to a quicker conclusion in favor of Blu-ray.

I would not say that. Before the Paramount deal, I always felt Blu-ray had an easy victory to the format war based on current sales and future releases. Perhaps we'll revisit this thought when Warner makes a move one way or the other, but as of right now I feel nothing is certain.

[Brain Sturgeon]

I'm not so sure about that. If Paramount had not gone HD DVD exclusive, this 4th quarter would have been even more of an HD DVD slaughter. Transformers on BD would have definitely outsold the HD DVD counterpart by a longshot (the PS3 demographic is basically the same as Transformers target demographic) and this would have taken away the major title that has been keeping HD DVD afloat this holiday season (overall #2 selling HD disc, second only to 300 on BD).

I think if the blow out of BD over HD DVD had been worse than what it already is, WB would still definitely be looking at going exclusive and Universal at going neutral. Same end result. Either way, the writing is on the wall. The studios just have to look at what consumers have been telling them with our pocketbooks...

[The Don]

if we had Transformers....

they would be finished..

right now...

[GreenMotion]

Originally Posted by The Don

if we had Transformers....

they would be finished..

right now...

That what the HD-DUD fanboys thought as well .. I dont think this title would have made a difference at all.