Im supporting Paramount in Aug. 08

[stockstar1138]

Here's my reasoning, i will not buy any dvd or hd dvd, however i will go see there movies in the theaters. by aug 08 all movies coming out in theaters should be released after there little contract with hd dvd is over. thus, all movies out by aug 08 will be day-and date releases on blu-ray with the hd dvd and dvd versions. so really they've got about 10 months left of movies that will get day-and-date releases only on hd dvd, whoopdeedo. that is not worth 150 million.

[Elandyll]

Actually, Tosh not being totally brain dead, they got Paramount to sign an 18 months contract. Amazingly, that let them cover all of '08 (contract should expire end of Dec. 08), thus probably all their strong releases for '08 (like Beowulf, Iron Man and "Cloverfield". Possibly Star Trek as well). Fortunately, Indy 4 should still be out of the equation.

Looking forward to Transformers, TF2 and all other Paramount titles in 09 on Blu-Ray, unless HD DVD crumbles even faster than expected

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

Here's my reasoning, i will not buy any dvd or hd dvd, however i will go see there movies in the theaters. by aug 08 all movies coming out in theaters should be released after there little contract with hd dvd is over. thus, all movies out by aug 08 will be day-and date releases on blu-ray with the hd dvd and dvd versions. so really they've got about 10 months left of movies that will get day-and-date releases only on hd dvd, whoopdeedo. that is not worth 150 million.

Technically an 18 month deal would put them exclusive through 1st qtr 2009.

They definetly paid for Paramount/Dreamworks 4th qtr movies. There is no way they are going to allow Iron man for instance release on BR (assuming HD doesn't fall apart early next year).

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

Technically an 18 month deal would put them exclusive through 1st qtr 2009.

They definetly paid for Paramount/Dreamworks 4th qtr movies. There is no way they are going to allow Iron man for instance release on BR (assuming HD doesn't fall apart early next year).

i think there is a very good poisibillity it does. if we see a studio shift again (waner or uni) that could really slow down hd dvd sales and if ps3 takes off and blu-ray players get cheaper, i can't see how paramount can just lose out on 4q sales, by then hd sales should account for id guess 10% of the the overall market, thats a lot of $ to throw away, and you look like a dick.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

Technically an 18 month deal would put them exclusive through 1st qtr 2009.

They definetly paid for Paramount/Dreamworks 4th qtr movies. There is no way they are going to allow Iron man for instance release on BR (assuming HD doesn't fall apart early next year).

well they signed it in mid-aug. so that would put the deal ending in mid-feb. so about halfway through q1. however, lets also remember the 18 month exclusivity deal could have started from the day of their last blu-ray release which then would have been shooter which was out in july, which would make it jan. and then ppl could just be rounding to 18 months instead of saying a little over 17. therfore, there is a good chance that the deal expires midnight Dec. 31 2008.

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

i think there is a very good poisibillity it does. if we see a studio shift again (waner or uni) that could really slow down hd dvd sales and if ps3 takes off and blu-ray players get cheaper, i can't see how paramount can just lose out on 4q sales, by then hd sales should account for id guess 10% of the the overall market, thats a lot of $ to throw away, and you look like a dick.

I think it will be up to Toshiba and MS at that point. If Universal goes neutral or Warner goes exclusive (which it looks like they are going to choose a side), the contract is still valid unless they have some kind of clause that Paramount can opt out so they are not the last man standing. I doubt Paramount or Dreamworks is going to give the bribe money back to Toshiba so it'll come down to them giving up. Since they have invested so much into fight I doubt they are going to just throw their hands up in the air. More than likely something is going to have to force them to throw in the towel.

Paramount was just shortsighted.....an 18 month contract is a lifetime IMO and seeing BR dominating has to be making them sweat just a little.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

I think it will be up to Toshiba and MS at that point. If Universal goes neutral or Warner goes exclusive (which it looks like they are going to choose a side), the contract is still valid unless they have some kind of clause that Paramount can opt out so they are not the last man standing. I doubt Paramount or Dreamworks is going to give the bribe money back to Toshiba so it'll come down to them giving up. Since they have invested so much into fight I doubt they are going to just throw their hands up in the air. More than likely something is going to have to force them to throw in the towel.

Paramount was just shortsighted.....an 18 month contract is a lifetime IMO and seeing BR dominating has to be making them sweat just a little.

i think tosh will stick around til 08. they've got the funds and hd dvd is still selling a couple of thousand units a week, they've made some longterm investments (paramount) and they won't just cut their losses. its too bad at all the money they are going to lose.

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

i think tosh will stick around til 08. they've got the funds and hd dvd is still selling a couple of thousand units a week, they've made some longterm investments (paramount) and they won't just cut their losses. its too bad at all the money they are going to lose.

At some point financially this is going to come to an end. The good thing for Sony is they haven't taken the losses that Toshiba has (standalone player wise). If the low end players fail to energize the sales of HD software, I can't see them continuing just for the sake of continuing.

So my point is they will cut their losses if it looks so bleak it only makes sense to give up. That's why the next two months is very important for BR....it needs to be a slaughter. Any defection from Universal or Warner could be the breaking point.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

Technically an 18 month deal would put them exclusive through 1st qtr 2009.

They definetly paid for Paramount/Dreamworks 4th qtr movies. There is no way they are going to allow Iron man for instance release on BR (assuming HD doesn't fall apart early next year).

To hell with them - Sony has Iron Man in Spain and Japan, which means Region A and Region B encodes with lossless PCM.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

At some point financially this is going to come to an end. The good thing for Sony is they haven't taken the losses that Toshiba has (standalone player wise). If the low end players fail to energize the sales of HD software, I can't see them continuing just for the sake of continuing.

So my point is they will cut their losses if it looks so bleak it only makes sense to give up. That's why the next two months is very important for BR....it needs to be a slaughter. Any defection from Universal or Warner could be the breaking point.

actually sony has lost more than any company in this war if you consider the ps3.

[zombieking]

If hd-dvd is still around in 18 mths, I wouldn't be surprised if Toshiba-Microsoft gave them another incentive to stay exclusive, and I don't remember ever reading that it was a 18 mth contract to begin with.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by BluOgre

I think it will be up to Toshiba and MS at that point. If Universal goes neutral or Warner goes exclusive (which it looks like they are going to choose a side), the contract is still valid unless they have some kind of clause that Paramount can opt out so they are not the last man standing. I doubt Paramount or Dreamworks is going to give the bribe money back to Toshiba so it'll come down to them giving up. Since they have invested so much into fight I doubt they are going to just throw their hands up in the air. More than likely something is going to have to force them to throw in the towel.

Paramount was just shortsighted.....an 18 month contract is a lifetime IMO and seeing BR dominating has to be making them sweat just a little.

Maybe, but at this stage of the transition to a new format, $150 million is a lot of money. My personal opinion is that Paramount is playing Toshiba/Microsoft for suckers. And laughing all the way to the bank.

[Maxell]

Even if they do come back there's only a few titles I would get from them, mostly from Dreamworks.

[cartier]

If they ever want to delay releasing a movie they will simply announce it with features, not put features on the disk, send it to distributors, recall it and put it out 3 to 6 months later with different packaging.

[Manco]

Originally Posted by zombieking

If hd-dvd is still around in 18 mths, I wouldn't be surprised if Toshiba-Microsoft gave them another incentive to stay exclusive, and I don't remember ever reading that it was a 18 mth contract to begin with.

I agree. I don't think we can seriously put a hard date on this obligation.