Universal Video Blu-Ray-Any Predictions??

[thebluemax]

I predict by summer 2007, if not earlier, Universal will go neutral and release both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs, until HD-DUD dies.

[DTMoney84]

The absolute soonest they would go neutral I think would be in time to release in December for the holiday season.

[Polyh3dron]

They won't become Blu-Ray cheerleaders overnight when they decide to release BDs, they'll dip their feet by releasing 1 or 2 Z-list movies with the same low bitrate VC-1 transfers their HD-DUD counterparts have. It'll be similar to when Warner started doing BD but it'll be a slower progression I think.

[No_Touchie]

I think IF, the time comes that HD DVD goes the way of Betamax, Universal will be the last to sign on to Blu-Ray. Even Warner isn't 100% behind Blu-Ray they have several Titles only on HD DVD that have special features you cant get on BD. Not one of there Titles with there "In-Movie Experience" is on BD. And this may be the wrong place to put this, but whats going to happen when Warner releases there Total HD disc this summer.

[marine92104]

The Warner titles don't have the "in movie experience" because they can do picture in picture on HD-DVD & not on Blu-ray. PIP in HD-DVD uses IME & Blu-ray uses BD-J (Java) which doesn't include picture in picture. That's why Warner hasn't put it on the Blu-ray versions.

[thebluemax]

To be honest there is hardly anything from Universal that I would want to upgrade to BD. Perhaps a couple of Hitchcock titles, so I don't really care what they do, just out of principle all BD supporters should BOYCOTT ALL UNIVERSAL TITLES!!

[phloyd]

I predict that they will see the sales at Xmas and as a result announce BD at CES 2008 and release titles in the Q2 time frame.

[PS3Maniac]

Originally Posted by thebluemax

To be honest there is hardly anything from Universal that I would want to upgrade to BD. Perhaps a couple of Hitchcock titles, so I don't really care what they do, just out of principle all BD supporters should BOYCOTT ALL UNIVERSAL TITLES!!

Already doing so. My last Universal movie in theatres was Smokin' Aces, and I won't be touching their DVD's until they give up.

[frankc4s]

Is a huge source of entertaiment to me how the hd-dvd brigade hero worship Universal as the saviour of their doomed format.
And how do Universal reward the faithfull, by releasing mostly mediocre tripe with the occasional half decent title thrown in. I would love to see Blu Ray prevail without the assistance of Universal.

[marine92104]

Have you seen the Universal release list for 2007? The only release list I've seen has titles going to June.

I don't think you'll see the Blockbusters until the holidays. I know they're releasing the American Pie series along with the Bourne Trilogy before Christmas.

As far as Speilberg titles no one knows for sure but that list was taken down mighty fast on the HD-DVD website listing the Spielberg titles. I don't think they would have listed them if they hadn't planned on releasing them. But I don't think they wanted the thunder stolen before the holidays.

Universal isn't the saviour of HD-DVD. Thank God they don't have Fox. No that would probably kill a format with what they've done this year. They should get a reward for most pulled titles in a year.

And theBlumax I will hold you to that 2007 summer Universal going neutral. They have already said that won't happen & they're holding to the 100 titles released this year.

Talk to you again this summer.........

As far as the neutral studios. Warner is still releasing some titles in Dolby TrueHD on HD-DVD (Happy Feet being the most recent) & Dolby Digital on Blu-ray. If you're listening to the sound on the analog outs on the player you can tell a huge difference.

Paramount is still releasing 640 kbps sound on Blu-ray & 1.5M sound on HD-DVD. Again you can tell a huge difference if you have a decent home theater system. I've done a side by side with the different sound & it's a big difference.

I'm not sure you would still call them neutral studios as long as they're releasing better sound on 1 format than the other.

[gandley]

summer is too early for a turn around, if BD can maintain it sales advantage and hurry up and get players out with full BDlive capabilities etc, then i would expect universal will make a move to BD in 2nd-3rd quarter 2008. But BD must continue to press its sales ratio higher. If sales maintain as they are, then HD-DVD will actually be a very profitable format for universal due to the lack of competetion from rival studios.
However if BD went 5:1 or higher at crimbo, then there will be alot of pressure on universal to switch, and i think then they will have to.

BD thou cant afford to let HD-DVD have a resurgence.

[Scorxpion]

they will release title in blu-ray today or later Because it is obvious and clear for all that BD sales profit are smashing craking destructing HD-DVD on the other side.Now UNIVERSAL is feeling and touching this temperature and they are loosing profit and revenue day after day.

[Blu_Ray_UK2007]

I see them starting to release around this time next year.
I think it's going to take the PS3 to take off worldwide.. and the mass public to start taking an intrest in blu-ray.

Christmas this year will be big for BR, and once Universal see that they are pretty much the only company not beneifting from the profits.. they will take BR more seriously.

Universal cant save HD-DVD.. as much as some HD-DVD Fanboys would like to think otherwise.

[Esox50]

I'm guessing that we'll see an announcement from Universal late in the 2nd Quarter or early in the 3rd Quarter (maybe around the VSDA?) for product to be on the shelves by October of this year.

I expect it will be a "mix" of catalog titles, probably from the early/mid 2006 HD DVD releases. These titles will be straight ports of the HD DVD versions (much like Warner Bros. releases on BD). In this sense, the titles are basically "done" already and the hardest thing for Universal may be to get replication time. However, I would assume the BDA would "bend over backwards" without pissing off the "core BDA studios" to make sure Universal can have BD product on the shelves for 4th Quarter of this year...given the implications of such a move/desire by Universal.

In the end, none of this speculation here matters. Universal will be on board sooner or later. It is inevitable...

[jorg]

Originally Posted by phloyd

I predict that they will see the sales at Xmas and as a result announce BD at CES 2008 and release titles in the Q2 time frame.

i agree with you perfect timming to

[dialog_gvf]

I'm predicting they'll go neutral in Japan in Q3. Microsoft is undoubtedly throwing enough money at them to stop it occuring in North America until things are a lot clearer.

I doubt they need to worry about North America until 2008, unless they really care about customer service.

Gary

[BIGSAPOTEER]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but why doesn't Universal support Blu-ray? Why is it exclusive to HD DVD? To be honest, I would only buy around 5 of Universal movies, compare to 15-20 of the "other" movie studios.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by BIGSAPOTEER

I'm sure this has been answered before, but why doesn't Universal support Blu-ray? Why is it exclusive to HD DVD?

Because MS gave them a truckload of money, simply put.

[Knight-Errant]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Because MS gave them a truckload of money, simply put.

werd

[dobyblue]

The difference on the Paramount audio has only shown up on a few titles.

I think Universal will go neutral at CES 2008.