Aug. 20th-21st, 2007, biggest battle of the format war!!!

[calgarymarc]

Originally Posted by funkybudda

yes,

Im curious to see an actual statement post myself, please share the link, or it will just be bs...

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news..._Uncertain/878

Confirming mounting speculation, we've got exclusive word this morning that Steven Spielberg is indeed "a big supporter" of Blu-ray, and that yesterday's carve out in the Paramount/DreamWorks HD DVD announcement was designed to allow the legendary director to release future titles on Blu-ray.

With many of his early blockbusters distributed by Universal Pictures ('E.T.,' 'Jurassic Park' and 'Jaws,' among them), it was once assumed that the combination of Steven Spielberg's classic titles and Universal's exclusive HD DVD support would be one of format's biggest weapons against rival Blu-ray, but a series of developments have led many to speculate that perhaps Spielberg himself has other ideas.

The first hint of trouble for HD DVD came back in February when the HD DVD promo group issued a public apology to Spielberg after listing several of his titles in a "Coming Soon" list that was apparently never approved by the director.

Then, just last month came news that the very first Spielberg high-def title -- a 30th anniversary edition of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' -- would be released on Blu-ray, not HD DVD. (That release is due November 13, day and date with the standard-def DVD edition.)

Finally, yesterday's stunner of a Paramount/DreamWorks HD DVD exclusivity press release included a conspicuous one line carve-out, stating that Spielberg's DreamWorks films would be exempt from the terms of the HD DVD exclusivity arrangement, opening the door to the possible future release of more recent Spielberg blockbusters on Blu-ray.

So what's the deal? We put that question to the source for all things Spielberg -- his longtime spokesman and DreamWorks marketing exec Marvin Levy. Speaking exclusively with High-Def Digest, Levy confirmed Spielberg's active support of Blu-ray with the selection of 'Close Encounters' for his next-gen debut.

"It was important to Steven that if any of his films were to be released [first] on high-definition, that it would be a classic," said Levy. "Steven is big supporter of Blu-ray, and chose 'Close Encounters' to be the first of his films on either format."

Spielberg approved the new high-def transfer made for the film, and among the Blu-ray's supplements is a new introduction recorded by the director specifically for the release, as well as a storyboard comparison.

Levy further clarified the Paramount/DreamWorks press release, saying that "...his movies, like 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'War of the Worlds,' are not included in that deal. They are not exclusive to HD DVD, nor [are they] planned for that format at this time.'"

Levy went on emphasize that beyond 'Close Encounters,' Spielberg has no other films in the high-def pipeline on either format. "At this moment, there are no plans for something further [on either format]. Anything in the future will be decided on a title-by-title basis. There certainly won't be more titles in 2007."

[AustinSTI]

damn dude if you are gonna spread this kind of garbage and inaccurate information back it up with links...

Fox was always Blu-Ray exclusive and just re-commited to the format.
Speilberg wasn't quoted as threatening to sell dreamworks.
Bay wasn't quoted as calling HD-DVD the weaker format.

I'm all for blu-ray but let's keep this honest...and stick to fact.

[MrVorhees]

yes!!!!

and its a shame i cant read all the coments of all Blu-ray supporters, there are soooo many, i'd like to read all of them

BTW increbible cohesion of all the Blu-ray fans

[funkybudda]

Originally Posted by calgarymarc

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news..._Uncertain/878
Levy went on emphasize that beyond 'Close Encounters,' Spielberg has no other films in the high-def pipeline on either format. "At this moment, there are no plans for something further [on either format]. Anything in the future will be decided on a title-by-title basis. There certainly won't be more titles in 2007."

hmm,

thanks for the link, but judging by the last paragraph, I really cant feel that he's a big "supporter" of blu-ray format. Title by title is just a fence sitter, imo.

We might get encounter this year, but he might just switch to release saving private ryan next year on some other format...

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by funkybudda

hmm,

thanks for the link, but judging by the last paragraph, I really cant feel that he's a big "supporter" of blu-ray format. Title by title is just a fence sitter, imo.

We might get encounter this year, but he might just switch to release saving private ryan next year on some other format...

LOL yeah.. they'll tell us before the press what movie he wants in HD... LOL we will know it the same time as the other. Speilberg greenlighted it and recorded new HD video of him. I'am sure will see more in 2008

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by funkybudda

hmm,

thanks for the link, but judging by the last paragraph, I really cant feel that he's a big "supporter" of blu-ray format. Title by title is just a fence sitter, imo.

We might get encounter this year, but he might just switch to release saving private ryan next year on some other format...

Are there any other major Spielberg films with Sony, Disney or Fox?

If he has to release on HD DVD (and the risk that implies) I don't think I blame him for wanting to take this on a title by title basis.

Gary

[funkybudda]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Are there any other major Spielberg films with Sony, Disney or Fox?

If he has to release on HD DVD (and the risk that implies) I don't think I blame him for wanting to take this on a title by title basis.

Gary

perhaps,

Im not trashing the guy, but he is one of the few individuals in the industry that CAN end the format war early, if he truly believes 1 format over another.

I will buy alot of his films if they are out on Blu-ray that's for sure.

[krinkle]

Call them!!!

Brenda Ciccone
Paramount Home Entertainment
Phone: (323) 956-5000
Phone: (323) 956-8091
Email: brenda_ciccone@paramount.com

5555 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197

[Anthony P]

If it were illegal for Paramount to accept financial consideration to support HD-DVD exclusively, as dialog_gvf has said elsewhere, why would Viacom executives admit having done it to the New York Times? Why would the SEC be interested? And what could they do to reverse this? BTW, I hope you're right.

it is illigal, it falls under anti competitive practices. If Paramount received money (or any incentive) with the condition they support HD DVD exclusively, then that is illigal. Or else any one could just buythemselves into a monopoly, a baker could go to the supermarket and tell them "If you only buy bread from us then I will give it for free for 3m and 1/2 price after that." if he does it with all the supermarkets then other bakers will go out of buisness and eventually he will have a monopoly. At that point the baker can charge whatever he wants because he as control and the price of bread skyrockets for the grocer and consumers.

Even though it is illigal, it happens all the times because it is extremely easy to hide and hard to prove. For example going back to the previous example, the baker instead of making a contract with exclusivity would make one where he gives "promotionaly" bread free for 3 months and then a decent price for large quantities the rest will be a wink wink and a handshake. Giving lots of money is easy, MS can over pay for movies, they can give promotional free encodings to advertise VC-1, the replicator could give free or discounted replication......

The point is that even if all studios that have taken sides have done so because of incentives to be exclusive (incentives for support are not illigal), it is impossible to prove. Fox, Disney... can give reasonable reasons and rais reasonable doubt that it is exclusivity agreements (i.e. "BD has more then 60% of the market, we are not morroins this was bound to happen and we knew it", "we think that 30GB and 36mbps is not enough HD DVD cannot offer what we want", "HD DVD does not have the security features we beleive to be important"......) even Universal can fake it (i.e. "we picked HD DVD because we thought consumers would buy into it because of price, it was the decision we made back then and the market is too small to support both so we will stick with the original decision").

The problem is that Paramount can't make a reasonable excuse. (why pick the side that is producing less revenue and has less market share now) It also makes it harder since it looks like some people are not happy with this dishonest choice and are willing to talk.

As for the consequences?
1) any agreement would be null (i.e. the money or incentives will need to be removed
2) both sides will be fined
3) it will put Paramount and the HD DVD under much more scrutiny.