Wall Street Journal - Universal quiet, Paramount staying - Blu-ray Forum

LynxFX · 01-07-2008, 03:07 AM

Quote:

The outcome of the high-definition DVD battle remained uncertain until the final days before the annual Consumer Electronics Show, kicking off now in Las Vegas, where both sides like to make big announcements concerning their formats. Toshiba was still working hard last week to court Warner and News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox to use HD DVD exclusively. Warner was considering it, people familiar with the matter say, but when it realized Fox wouldn't leave Blu-ray, decided to go with Blu-ray exclusively as well, to bring an end to the format war. A Blu-ray win is important for Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer, who made it part of his mission to beef up the content and software offerings in a notoriously hardware-centric company when he took the helm 2½ years ago. As Sony nears completion of a three-year turnaround plan, Mr. Stringer also told reporters in Tokyo last month that driving innovation would be his next goal.

Over the last couple of years, Mr. Stringer, a former movie executive, was involved in many discussions with studios Sony was courting, people familiar with the matter say.

Toshiba, which conceded Friday that the Warner Bros. move is a "setback," is expected to continue making its case for HD DVD, at least for awhile. Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc., plans to continue to support the HD DVD format, a spokeswoman said yesterday. The other remaining Hollywood supporter, General Electric Co.'s Universal Pictures, declined to comment.

Looks like Paramount is stuck with their deal until something else comes up to trigger an out clause. Univeral appears to be the one that is about to make that happen. Hopefully we will hear from them very soon.

ryoohki · 01-07-2008, 03:08 AM

Ohhhhhhhh release 30 movies a year .. that's a big deal. Even when they were Neutral they released almost nothing..

LynxFX · 01-07-2008, 03:11 AM

Yeah with that switch HD DVD gained 14 titles, with this one, they lost 125.

makingmusic476 · 01-07-2008, 03:13 AM

It doesn't say they won't support Blu-Ray, just that they will support HD DVD.

dialog_gvf · 01-07-2008, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makingmusic476

It doesn't say they won't support Blu-Ray, just that they will support HD DVD.

I was going to say the same thing.

Notice, Universal declined to comment, meaning they wouldn't even commit to continued support for HD DVD.

JohnAlden · 01-07-2008, 03:38 AM

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8d56c2a8-bc8...0779fd2ac.html, Paramount can go back to blu-ray.

LynxFX · 01-07-2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makingmusic476

It doesn't say they won't support Blu-Ray, just that they will support HD DVD.

Good point, plus it isn't like they will have much choice as sales play out over the course of this year.

Hassoon · 01-07-2008, 03:23 AM

I seriously doubt that either studio would hold out much longer.

At its simplest, HD-DVD is now not a general movie format ( I think we've had enough fun calling it HD-DUD

), but just a format to watch Universal and Paramount movies in HD. If they want to remain stagnant, they might as well call it Uni-Para-DVD.

It doesn't make the slightest business sense to either the studios OR the consumer.

By the way, I don't think it's just Warner that will sway Paramount into shifting Blu. I believe that honor now goes to Universal.

After all...who wants to be the only guy waving the losing team's flag

?

Blu As Hell · 01-07-2008, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STI Jaguar

I don't want Paramount/Dreamworks to switch over- NOT YET anyways. I seriously hope that they don't have a clause to do so. It will be fun to watch them suffer and pay for a while by not getting into the fun- Selling BD disks. The price of being a turn-coat.

Universal however is welcomed.

+1

I will more than be welcoming to Universal, but Paramount...that BS they pulled back in August is unforgiveable, they deserve to be the last HD DVD exclusive studio and made to suffer a little for their folly. Hey Toshiba if you want a little extra cash to recoup your losses I say stick up Paramount.

zipbags · 01-07-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makingmusic476

It doesn't say they won't support Blu-Ray, just that they will support HD DVD.

Exactly. If they are neutral...They still support hd-dvd. Also, Universal's no comment speaks volumes.

LynxFX · 01-07-2008, 03:28 AM

When would be the most opportune time to hear an announcement from Universal or even Paramount? Would that be at tomorrows BDA conference? So far we have heard zero from either about new titles on any format, that isn't normal.

Blubaru · 01-07-2008, 03:29 AM

when/where at CSS would universal change sides?

When is the blu-ray conference?

amayzin54 · 01-07-2008, 03:12 AM

why would fox studios even consider going from being exclusivly blu to being exclusively red?

STI Jaguar · 01-07-2008, 03:12 AM

I don't want Paramount/Dreamworks to switch over- NOT YET anyways. I seriously hope that they don't have a clause to do so. It will be fun to watch them suffer and pay for a while by not getting into the fun- Selling BD disks. The price of being a turn-coat.

Universal however is welcomed.

Gio · 01-07-2008, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STI Jaguar

I don't want Paramount/Dreamworks to switch over- NOT YET anyways. I seriously hope that they don't have a clause to do so. It will be fun to watch them suffer and pay for a while by not getting into the fun- Selling BD disks. The price of being a turn-coat.

Universal however is welcomed.

im with you

suffer you sell-outs

Hassoon · 01-07-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gio

im with you

suffer you sell-outs

I'd rather let bygones be bygones

.

sj001 · 01-07-2008, 03:27 AM

Universal is uncharacteristically quiet. I betcha GE is putting HEAVY pressure on them right now to go neutral.

daringdogcow · 01-07-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STI Jaguar

I don't want Paramount/Dreamworks to switch over- NOT YET anyways. I seriously hope that they don't have a clause to do so. It will be fun to watch them suffer and pay for a while by not getting into the fun- Selling BD disks. The price of being a turn-coat.

I don't really think that's fair. Content partnerships are forged by the few executives at the top. We shouldn't punish good folks below that have always been Blu-ray-friendly. People like Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay, for example.

vladittude0583 · 01-07-2008, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LynxFX

Looks like Paramount is stuck with their deal until something else comes up to trigger an out clause. Univeral appears to be the one that is about to make that happen. Hopefully we will hear from them very soon.

Wow, interesting read regarding Fox and WB. I seriously doubt Fox would've even considered switching given their stance on BD's features. Surprisingly, I find it interesting that WB decided to go BD due to Fox not budging (if this is a valid reason for their exclusivity).

Just out of curiosity, is there a special relationship between FOX and WB as to why WB needed Fox to sway HD-DVD for it to be done the same?

What do you guys think?

cartier · 01-07-2008, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vladittude0583

Wow, interesting read regarding Fox and WB. I seriously doubt Fox would've even considered switching given their stance on BD's features. Surprisingly, I find it interesting that WB decided to go BD due to Fox not budging (if this is a valid reason for their exclusivity). What do you guys think?

Agreed, Fox has made their stance clear. Maybe it was a ploy to get close to WB and encourage them to go Blu.

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01-07-2008, 03:08 AM	#2
ryoohki Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:6 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:5	Ohhhhhhhh release 30 movies a year .. that's a big deal. Even when they were Neutral they released almost nothing..

01-07-2008, 03:11 AM	#3
LynxFX Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007	Yeah with that switch HD DVD gained 14 titles, with this one, they lost 125.

01-07-2008, 03:13 AM	#4
makingmusic476 Active Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:New Orleans	It doesn't say they won't support Blu-Ray, just that they will support HD DVD.

01-07-2008, 03:38 AM	#6
JohnAlden Active Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Kearney,Nebraska	http://www.ft.com/cms/s/8d56c2a8-bc8...0779fd2ac.html, Paramount can go back to blu-ray.

01-07-2008, 03:23 AM	#8
Hassoon Active Member Member since:Sep 2007	I seriously doubt that either studio would hold out much longer. At its simplest, HD-DVD is now not a general movie format ( I think we've had enough fun calling it HD-DUD ), but just a format to watch Universal and Paramount movies in HD. If they want to remain stagnant, they might as well call it Uni-Para-DVD. It doesn't make the slightest business sense to either the studios OR the consumer. By the way, I don't think it's just Warner that will sway Paramount into shifting Blu. I believe that honor now goes to Universal. After all...who wants to be the only guy waving the losing team's flag ?

01-07-2008, 03:28 AM	#11
LynxFX Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2007	When would be the most opportune time to hear an announcement from Universal or even Paramount? Would that be at tomorrows BDA conference? So far we have heard zero from either about new titles on any format, that isn't normal.

01-07-2008, 03:29 AM	#12
Blubaru Expert Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Tonight! you!	when/where at CSS would universal change sides? When is the blu-ray conference?

01-07-2008, 03:12 AM	#13
amayzin54 Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:chi-town	why would fox studios even consider going from being exclusivly blu to being exclusively red?

01-07-2008, 03:12 AM	#14
STI Jaguar Active Member Member since:Mar 2007	I don't want Paramount/Dreamworks to switch over- NOT YET anyways. I seriously hope that they don't have a clause to do so. It will be fun to watch them suffer and pay for a while by not getting into the fun- Selling BD disks. The price of being a turn-coat. Universal however is welcomed.

01-07-2008, 03:27 AM	#17
sj001 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Rochester, NY Blu-ray collection:317 DVD collection:17 Trading Score:5	Universal is uncharacteristically quiet. I betcha GE is putting HEAVY pressure on them right now to go neutral.

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