Paramount/DreamWorks are HD DVD exclusive

[hyperdine]

They're also not a big fan of THD...

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6422671.html

The capacity issue they laid out at CES was the equivalent of a single-layer on both formats,” said Mandato. “The guiding rule we use for going to dual-layer on Blu-ray is that when the running time for a movie is beyond 105 or 110 minutes, it is pretty much pushing the envelope to needing a BD-50 disc. The average running time for our last 20 or so movies was 124 minutes. So, unless a flipper disc from Warner can accommodate that, I don’t think there will be that much interest.”

[Maximus]

Maybe Paramount are preparing to go BD exclusive, laying the foundation for the move now, and announce it in a few months. This would be a mighty blow to HD DVD.

[DTMoney84]

If Paramount went Blu-ray exclusive it would essentially be an end game move. Frankly I'm still shocked HD-DVD hung around with only the support of Universal for this long.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Maybe Paramount are preparing to go BD exclusive, laying the foundation for the move now, and announce it in a few months. This would be a mighty blow to HD DVD.

It would end it, regardless of what Universal does.

HD-DVD simply can't afford to lose another inch on anything.

[dialog_gvf]

I'm sure the faithful would point out that Paramount has done little, so they are no big loss. Universal is all a format needs. They are the only studio with titles any discerning HD enthusiast must have.

You really can't debate with such zealotry. The denial/hatred is beyond reason.

Gary

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Snip... You really can't debate with such zealotry. The denial/hatred is beyond reason.

Never argue with idiots...

The first thing they do is drag you down to their level....

Then they beat you with experience!

[dialog_gvf]

Has MS-Toshiba paid a studio for more exclusive support for HD DVD?

Is This A Desperation Move & Cash Grab? Or Bloodier Blu-ray/HD-DVD Format War?


Claimed to be from a confidential analysts memo:

"Based on conversations with multiple sources, we believe that Paramount is set to make the vast majority of its catalog available exclusively in the HD-DVD format (unclear whether that includes titles from its sister studio DreamWorks).

While Paramount (owned by Viacom) has some on-going commitments to release new release titles in Blu-ray, it is unclear how long that commitment lasts and how comprehensive the agreement is.

Then the "sources" have a rather different spin:

Sources tell me that Paramount, which has been publishing on both Blu-ray and HD DVD, will receive $50 million to continue publishing in HD. "The deal is that anything they release on Blu-ray, they'll have to release in HD," a source told me. In addition, the studio will give the HD format exclusivity for some older titles in its catalogue.

And $100 million to Dreamworks Animation

But the $100 million from HD-DVD for DreamWorks Animation is a huge $$$ infusion for that still struggling public company. Sources tell me the money is for "promotional consideration" on future titles beginning with Shrek The Third. "Exactly what 'promotional consideration' means is that if there's an ad running for the Shrek The Third DVD, it'll mention that the pic is available on HD as well Blu-ray," an insider told me. The deal also applies to 3 or 4 future DWA titles. The HD/DreamWorks Animation deal is especially interesting because earlier this year, Jeff Katzenberg told a Bank of America conference that he expected "neither" high-def DVD format to win the war "because they're not going to become the next platform."

[JTK]

All Paramount needs to do is look at sales figures.

Honestly, this would be mind bogglingly stupid for them to do.

What benefit is it to Paramount to go quasi HD-DVD exclusive like this would suggest?

[MrVorhees]

i really wont doubt at all that HD DVD will win this war, because those MS son of b***** pay every fu****g studio .

GREAT LET THE TECHNICAL SUPERIOR FORMAT (blu-ray) LOSE !!!

pfff....sad, if HD DVD would win because the admission of M$

[JTK]

Originally Posted by HiddenDeths

i really wont doubt at all that HD DVD will win this war, because those MS son of b***** pay every fu****g studio .

GREAT LET THE TECHNICAL SUPERIOR FORMAT (blu-ray) LOSE !!!

pfff....sad, if HD DVD would win because the admission of M$

I've said this probably a million times the last two years or so and I'll say it again:

The COMBINED might, wealth, and resources of the entire BDA makes even Microsoft look small.

Use it. Beat them at their own game if you have to. Buy out, bid out...whatever. Don't let this kind of stupidity happen.

[krinkle]

HD-DVD has become very desperate at this point, Microsft feels it cannot let Blu-ray become the standard, but as long as Disney remains Blu-ray only we have no worries.

Microsoft is behind this, plain and simple. It is their $$$ going to Paramoun/Dreamworks.

[dialog_gvf]

Amount claimed to be given to Dreamworks Animation: $100 million
Amount Sony alone is going to spend to promote high-def: $100 million.

Realize, that neither side can actually pay for true exclusivity. That would be anti-trust. They can only pay to encourage their side.

Gary

[What'sHD]

So, the theory BD lovers had about paramount going exclusive being the best way to end the war is a worry evidently felt by the hd-dvd group

Thus, the alleged cash to ensure that para. keeps releasing hd-dvd titles for the short-term. My Q is which company's balance sheet is the dough coming from?

Nothing says dead format walking more eloquently than the reek of desperation that comes off this. If MS et. al. had spun it well, it might have played better in the news but the article above makes hd-dvd seem slightly pathetic. Damage control time!

This is so friggin good it has to be fattening

[gvortex7]

It seem that the only thing Toshiba and MS have left in their bag of tricks is to try to bribe studios into being exclusive to HD DVD. This is definitely a desperation move on their part, but in all honesty the only logical thing left for them to do. If that fails, then so will their format.

[Esox50]

If true, let me guess, the rally cry for HD DVD'ers will now be that studio exclusivity is "ok". For the past 1.5 years, they've een crying all studios should be neutral.

Let's see how fast they change their tune now.

[maximus2323]

Very intresting but this sounds just like Warner Brothers set movies that they have promise us. Now they are showing up now like Polar Express.

[scott87]

i dont think this is a big deal that everyone is making it out to be!There has been no official annoucements just chinease whispers its a load of bs really! there is no actual sources named! i aslo dont think paramount are that stupid! Have they not started to favour the blu camp more now! I also dont see losing DWA a big deal so what we loose Shrek 3!What would you rather have shrek or transformers? but as i say this is nonense and i dont think the bda would let this happen they would counteract it somehow!

[E-Dogg]

What is the point in HD-DVD to give away all this $ when the sales figures are showing that the people prefer Blu-Ray to HD-DVD? They are being outsold at least 2-1 and I expect the trend to continue. They are throwing away $ which is a good thing. They are putting themselves out there and allowing their format fail even easier. Let's hope the bankrupt themselves by being the idiots we know they all are.

[dialog_gvf]

$100 million / $200 cost = 500K players

Why not simply give away 500K players? That's 166% more HD DVD players than exist now. Or, how about a million add-ons?

Giving it to Dreamworks Animation doesn't seem to be money well spent, if it is true.

[Longshot]

I doubt this is true. If you are MS and want to throw that kind of cash at a studio why not throw the whole $250 million at Disney? At least that would make some sense.

Even if it is true how much do you think Universal is going to want to stay HD DVD exclusive?

What this blog tells me is that camp HD DVD is in serious trouble and they know it.