Interesting Conversation (Universal)

[beatboy77]

Last night I had the opportunity to speak with my contact at Universal for quite a bit of time. We were basically talking about this format war and feelings of Universal going neutral.

She then brought up a very good point. She mentioned that essentially the "higher-ups" at Universal despise those at Paramount for the failed DreamWorks deal from not so long a go. She also mentioned that in her eyes there was no way she could see Universal "partnering" with Paramount much longer as HD-DVD's only exclusive studios. She mentioned there are still quite a few hard feelings between the two companies.

Finally she said that no more major studios will shift support one-way or the other this year to her knowledge, however she fully expects Universal to go format neutral in the beginning of 2008.

~Josh

[Bond007]

Originally Posted by beatboy77

Last night I had the opportunity to speak with my contact at Universal for quite a bit of time. We were basically talking about this format war and feelings of Universal going neutral.

She then brought up a very good point. She mentioned that essentially the "higher-ups" at Universal despise those at Paramount for the failed DreamWorks deal from not so long a go. She also mentioned that in her eyes there was no way she could see Universal "partnering" with Paramount much longer as HD-DVD's only exclusive studios. She mentioned there are still quite a few hard feelings between the two companies.

Finally she said that no more major studios will shift support one-way or the other this year to her knowledge, however she fully expects Universal to go format neutral in the beginning of 2008.

~Josh

Nice!!!

[JTK]

Originally Posted by beatboy77

Last night I had the opportunity to speak with my contact at Universal for quite a bit of time. We were basically talking about this format war and feelings of Universal going neutral.

She then brought up a very good point. She mentioned that essentially the "higher-ups" at Universal despise those at Paramount for the failed DreamWorks deal from not so long a go. She also mentioned that in her eyes there was no way she could see Universal "partnering" with Paramount much longer as HD-DVD's only exclusive studios. She mentioned there are still quite a few hard feelings between the two companies.

Finally she said that no more major studios will shift support one-way or the other this year to her knowledge, however she fully expects Universal to go format neutral in the beginning of 2008.

~Josh

I'm honestly surprised, given the constant Red Kool Aid-isms we see from Universal people in the press, even to this day.

I would have expected you to tell us that Universal was smiling big today and feeling more emboldened than ever.

I had forgotten about the rift between Universal and Paramount over the whole Dreamworks thing. That is rather interesting...

[skyfire1973]

A battle has been won.....
But we need to end this war......

As for Universal.... What movies can we except on BLU for next year then???

[scott87]

this is intresting lets hope your source is right?

could someone tell me please what happened between paramount & universal?

[Maximus]

Hollywood people have got long memories. Well the execs have anyway.

Interesting nonetheless. I will see what I can find out at work on Thursday, I didn't go in today and came home very early yesterday. Apparently my boss had to go to LA on Tuesday to close a deal between a major Hollywood studio and ourselves before his contact disappears on holiday for two weeks. That leaves me little to do but this stuff. Unfortunately the whole trip was very short notice and I couldn't go, prior engagements and all that, I wish I had gone now .

[mike_schultz]

If Universal would put out The Bourne "Thrillogy" on Blu at the beginning of 08, that set would fly off the shelves and rake in a bunch of cash for Universal. That would make those "Higher Ups" look like very smart people.

[The Guardian]

Actually if they were to go neutral I wouldn't be surprised for one of the first titles announced to be a Spielberg... sort of gives them an excuse? And they have quite a few in their catalog don't they?

P.S. Anyone have a good link to read up on this Universal-Paramount-Dreamworks spat?

[Bond007]

Originally Posted by mike_schultz

If Universal would put out The Bourne "Thrillogy" on Blu at the beginning of 08, that set would fly off the shelves and rake in a bunch of cash for Universal. That would make those "Higher Ups" look like very smart people.

That would be great. Bourne on BR!!!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by scott87

could someone tell me please what happened between paramount & universal?

DreamWorks had an agreement with Universal that they would get first refusal should Spielberg ever put the studio up for sale. Universal didn't put up enough money for Spielberg to agree straight away, but after that their right for first refusal was gone.

Viacom came in with the big bucks and Spielberg agreed to terms straight away.

The thinking is that Universal given another month would have come up with a much better offer than the original one and they were pissed at Viacom for sticking their nose in where it wasn't wanted. They basically back-stabbed Universal.

I skipped a lot of the backstory, but that about sums the story up.

For a more detailed account I would look towards Penton-Man.

[mcy_999]

The fact that Paramount's being bribed into the HD DVD exclusive camp, it actually provides a golden opportunity for Universal to switch into format neutral camp. They wanted to do that for sometime, but don't want to be blamed for killing HD DVD. Now with sucker Paramount joining the exclusive camp, Universal finally got a chance to get out the awkward situation and let Paramount to take the blame. Making a change after the holiday season makes perfect sense.

[Hanzaki]

Originally Posted by beatboy77

Last night I had the opportunity to speak with my contact at Universal for quite a bit of time. We were basically talking about this format war and feelings of Universal going neutral.

She then brought up a very good point. She mentioned that essentially the "higher-ups" at Universal despise those at Paramount for the failed DreamWorks deal from not so long a go. She also mentioned that in her eyes there was no way she could see Universal "partnering" with Paramount much longer as HD-DVD's only exclusive studios. She mentioned there are still quite a few hard feelings between the two companies.

Finally she said that no more major studios will shift support one-way or the other this year to her knowledge, however she fully expects Universal to go format neutral in the beginning of 2008.

~Josh

I'm sorry to saying it but it's really hard to believe you (and your "contacts") anymore. I prefer true insiders like Penton or Paid. I'm quite tired of your constant "good news soon" rumors, which news somehow never realized...

[Deane Johnson]

If Universal wanted to "stick it to Paramount" over the bad feelings, they could announce going format neutral right away, leaving Paramount as the lone bad boy.

[CptGreedle]

It is a good point.... what does your "insider" do? How involved is she in the decisions?
How important is she in the biz?
In other words... what's her job title?

[beatboy77]

Originally Posted by Hanzaki

I'm sorry to saying it but it's really hard to believe you (and your "contacts") anymore. I prefer true insiders like Penton or Paid. I'm quite tired of your constant "good news soon" rumors, which news somehow never realized...

I completely understand your frustration as often the news I hear does not come to fruition. It frustrates me too. I do however get MANY PM's both here and AVS encouraging me to post what I am hearing.

~Josh

[ussrelativity]

I'd like to hear some more solid good news. With the recent rumors this time around, it seems that the executives at Universal, like Graffeo, haven't been as fast to shoot down these rumors this time around. Remember how most responses from the HD-DVD camp were from Universal?

[beatboy77]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

It is a good point.... what does your "insider" do? How involved is she in the decisions?
How important is she in the biz?
In other words... what's her job title?

She is a Manager in the Marketing/Publicity Department.

~Josh

[The Guardian]

They could announce now that they're going neutral in Jan '08... it wouldn't affect their HD DVD sales much.

[ussrelativity]

A potential announcement won't probably come until the 4th Quarter.

[erowe83]

I will believe it when I see it.