Universal ends HD DVD support with March 18 releases

[Jimbo976]

Universal Studios Home Entertainment's support of HD DVD finally has an end date of March 18. Ironically enough, the studio most loyal to the now defunct high definition format will close its multi-hundred run of releases with Atonement.

Previously we were led to believe Charlie Wilson's War would bring a close to HD DVD at Universal after the studio had released cover art and disc specs prior to an official title announcement. Now Universal has removed any sign of an HD DVD version of Charlie Wilson's War from their website, passing the last title honors to Atonement.

Universal's decision may have been influenced by Paramount's move last week. Rather than draw out HD DVD for another month or two, Paramount chose to abruptly end their support with Things We Lost in the Fire and Into the Wild on March 4. Other planned HD DVD titles such as Bee Movie, Sweeney Todd, The Kite Runner, The Jack Ryan Collection, There Will Be Blood, and Cloverfield were canceled. It's widely believed all these titles will appear on Blu-ray Disc by this summer.

Universal has dropped no hints as to when they'll announce their first Blu-ray Disc title, other than to say they will be supporting Sony's high definition format and are working on getting titles ready for release. We'll be sure to inform you of the big announcement once it's made.

http://dvd.themanroom.com/news/Atone...D_Support/2237

So it is Warner left holding the bag.

[Luis_A51]

Interesting. I would think Warner will continue thier support for the time frame they gave. Isnt it ironic that they only have Warner movies to look forward to past the 18th hahaha.

[Blubaru]

W00t!

[Toxa]

About time, good to hear that

[SpaceDog]

I have to imagine that Warner will end support sooner. While they committed to the May date, if it becomes a non viable prospect they'll make the right business decision and cease releasing. They will release what's been replicated so far. No more, no less.

[Jim Morrison]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

http://dvd.themanroom.com/news/Atone...D_Support/2237

So it is Warner left holding the bag.

Rather ironic considering they were the catalyst for bringing about HD DVD's sudden demise.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by SpaceDog

I have to imagine that Warner will end support sooner. While they committed to the May date, if it becomes a non viable prospect they'll make the right business decision and cease releasing. They will release what's been replicated so far. No more, no less.

True, at ther time of their original announcement Toshiba was still supporting HDDVD. Now that thats changed im sure they can use that to cut off support sooner. But I can see them going until April 1 atleast.

[Sonny]

^^^I hope WB does this too, its dumb for them to keep this hddvdcrap going any longer than need be...

[emm7th]

Just shows how fair Warner is to their customers... unlike Paramount (switching allegiance very quickly again)... haven't you realized that the first to announce Blu-ray exclusivity is the last to drop HD DVD, and the last to support Blu-ray is the first to drop HD DVD???!!!

[CptGreedle]

Funny that WB ended the war, and yet are the only ones still releasing to HD DVD! HA! Well it is all over now and I could care less if they release their titles to HD DVD, just as long as they start to boost the quality of their BD releases now.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

True, at ther time of their original announcement Toshiba was still supporting HDDVD. Now that thats changed im sure they can use that to cut off support sooner. But I can see them going until April 1 atleast.

No, I think you can expect an announcement from WB soon enough. It's just not smart business to produce a product that's not supported by anyone. I imagine they will sell through existing titles already produced, but expect an announcement by the end of the week.

[CassilineKnight]

Originally Posted by Jim Morrison

Rather ironic considering they were the catalyst for bringing about HD DVD's sudden demise.

They were the beginning of the end but Toshiba destroyed their chances a long time ago with sh*tty advertising, etc...

Toshiba/HD DVD seriously had a good shot of winning the war if we're all honest with ourselves. They had a LOT going for them (except for the too many syllables...lol) but they managed to screw it all up somehow.

However looking back I think Bluray was and is the ultimately better format just because it haas/will have ALL the stuff that HD DVD owners claimed made HD DVD superior plus the bigger space and ablility to provide the high def features with better performace.

Still though its interesting how Warner is the very last studio that will be releasing HD DVD movies...

Isn't there a site that has a timeline of the whole war? I really would like to read it. EngadgetHD's wasn't that good IMO. I know there's a better one out there. I just can't remember the name of the site.

[unreal1080p]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Universal ends HD DVD support with March 18 releases

http://dvd.themanroom.com/news/Atone...D_Support/2237

So it is Warner left holding the bag.

Whoo Hoo!

Die DUD Die



P.S. Now that this has happened, I think whatever has'nt gone through the replication process at Warner will get cancelled and the end of DUD will come before June

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by unreal1080p

Whoo Hoo!

Die DUD Die



P.S. Now that this has happened, I think whatever has'nt gone through the replication process at Warner will get cancelled and the end of DUD will come before June

The strange thing is that Warner keeps announcing more and more HD DVD releases - a few last week. It makes little sense to me.

[unreal1080p]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

The strange thing is that Warner keeps announcing more and more HD DVD releases - a few last week. It makes little sense to me.

Unless they're contract is till the end of May (carried over 3 weeks in June because of the delay) and they would be financialy negatively impacted ending support earlier... but that's harder to believe now after what we just saw Paramount, Dreamworks and Universal just pull...

Toshiba stops selling DUD's at the end of March... So to I think will Warner (IMHO)

[bhampton]

Hey,

This is great. I remember reading the format war would be ended before the holliday season 08 and I thought,... Man,.. Why so long? Why can't this get wrapped up quicker? Why should it take all year?

Glad to see things did move quicker. There was never any reason for HD DUD and the sooner it's forgotten the better.

-Brian

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

The strange thing is that Warner keeps announcing more and more HD DVD releases - a few last week. It makes little sense to me.

I'm thinking there will be a Warner announcement soon.

I doubt they will be releasing HD-DVDs until the end of May when no other company is.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by CassilineKnight

Toshiba/HD DVD seriously had a good shot of winning the war if we're all honest with ourselves. They had a LOT going for them (except for the too many syllables...lol) but they managed to screw it all up somehow.

Just curious...why do you say? I never thought they had much going for themselves. I'll grant them that it may have been slightly cheaper to manufacture and replicate than Blu-ray (initially), but they heavily subsidized their units to keep them cheaper. I think Blu-ray always had more overall advantages.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Just curious...why do you say? I never thought they had much going for themselves. I'll grant them that it may have been slightly cheaper to manufacture and replicate than Blu-ray (initially), but they heavily subsidized their units to keep them cheaper. I think Blu-ray always had more overall advantages.

Check out his earlier posts. He reluctantly went Blu when he realized HD-DVD's days were numbered.

[pscoop]

Man, how many times can a corpse get *****-slapped and kicked.