Wall Street Journal - Universal quiet, Paramount staying

[LynxFX]

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.

[HighDefChief]

Originally Posted by xo151

Penton Man basically said this is pretty much BS in the Insider's thread.

Well that is one insiders word against another's. Either way it doesn't matter since that didn't happen.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by vladittude0583

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?

Warner Bros. has stated many times that their move would be at least partially based on the idea of pushing an end to the format war. To go HD DVD would have split the 6 major studios (Sony, Disney, Fox/MGM, WB, Paramount/DW, and Universal). WB needed to make this a 4 on 2 situation. So, they obviously thought they would try to get one of the three BD studios of Sony, Disney, or Fox to go with them to HD DVD. Look at it 1 by 1...Sony no way going HD DVD...Disney staunch BD supporter...the next alternative is a desperate move to get Fox.

This is where "reality" probably diverges from "HD DVD fanboy wetdream". Reality most likely was that, sure, Fox probably listened to what WB had to say, and maybe they even met with Toshiba/Paramount/Universal. What good business wouldn't listen to what the other side has to say? The "HD DVD fanboy wet dream" is "ZOMG, Fox was about to give up on Blu-Ray and we were THIS CLOSE to winning until the big bad BDA screwed us with a 500 zillion dollar bribe."

Penton-Man has already spoken on this matter. As he has once again proven, Penton-Man's word is THE WORD. Everything else, including the words of Dave Vaughn, most likely has an HD DVD slant. As we've seen, DVs sources seemed to be pro-DVD. So anything they tell Vaughn is going to already be slanted.

I'm not surprised Paramount re-affirmed support of HD DVD. The interesting one is Universal, at this time, has chosen to remain silent. Combine that with "different circumstances" around their Fall BD facility investigations, and what Bill Hunt posted...hmmm. The only question is how soon...

[Blu As Hell]

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.

[Blubaru]

when/where at CSS would universal change sides?

When is the blu-ray conference?

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Warner Bros. has stated many times that their move would be at least partially based on the idea of pushing an end to the format war. To go HD DVD would have split the 6 major studios (Sony, Disney, Fox/MGM, WB, Paramount/DW, and Universal). They needed to make this a 4 on 2 situation. So, they obviously thought they could get one of the three Sony, Disney, or Fox to go with them to HD DVD. Take them 1 by 1...Sony no way going HD DVD...Disney staunch BD suporter...the next alternative is a desperate move to get Fox.

This is where "reality" probably diverges from "HD DVD fanboy wetdream". Reality most likely was that, sure, Fox probably listened to what WB had to say, and maybe they even met with Toshiba/Paramount/Universal. What good business wouldn't listen to what the other side has to say? The "HD DVD fanboy wet dream" is "ZOMG, Fox was about to give up on Blu-Ray and we were THIS CLOSE to winning until the bid bad BDA screwed us with a 500 zillion dollar bribe."

Penton-Man has already spoken on this matter. As he has once again proven, Penton-Man's word is THE WORD. Everything else, including the words of Dave Vaughn, most likely has an HD DVD slant since. As we've seen, DVs sources seemed to be pro-DVD. So anything they tell Vaughn is going to already be slanted.

I'm not surprised Paramount re-affirmed support of HD DVD. The interesting one is Universal, at this time, has chosen to remain silent. Combine that with "different circumstances" around their Fall BD facility investigations, and what Bill Hunt posted...hmmm. The only question is how soon...

GE has been putting huge pressure on them since back in the late summer to release on Blu-ray. I think this may be it... I can't wait!

[JohnAlden]

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

[rub]

I don't believe the rumor that Fox was considering going HD DVD exclusive. I think they own patents on some of the Bluray technology.

[WickyWoo]

Well that is one insiders word against another's. Either way it doesn't matter since that didn't happen.

Um, no it's not

It's a tried and true insider who has been tested and has always come out with good information

Versus a 2-bit reporter who likes to feel big because Kevin Collins and Amir call him up and feed him the information they'd like to be public and can't say themselves

So no, Vaughn has never had even a shred of actual credibility that he made himself. A good reporter doesn't tell 90% of the stuff he knows (even over PM, as DV is so fond of doing), but instead uses it as leverage to pry out more goodies with his sources. DV on the other hand couldn't keep his yap shut on anything if his life depended on it, and he has no other sources who aren't deep in the red camp.

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

This was discussed at HighDefDigest, a Vaugn and other insiders said Toshiba was getting close to getting Fox and Warner Bros. The situation would be completely reversed if that had happened.

As for Paramount, it is time for them to stop, hopefully they release as few HD DVDs as they are contractually obliged to. Maybe they will be able to break a few months early in time for holidays '08

You're new here, but be aware the Vaughn is not considered an "Insider" on this site.

Read what I've bolded from this article:

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

So let's put two and two together here and get the real story.

Toshiba approached Fox. That doesn't mean Fox ever considered going HD-DVD.

Warner realized that Fox would never go HD-DVD and if Warner had gone HD-DVD exclusive there would be a stalemate.

So let's put all the FUD aside. There was never any imminent Fox deal. Anything you hear to the contrary is from HD-DVD leaning sites and owners who want to believe HD-DVD had a fighting chance

[HighDefChief]

Originally Posted by Spankey

You're new here, but be aware the Vaughn is not considered an "Insider" on this site.

Read what I've bolded from this article:



So let's put two and two together here and get the real story.

Toshiba approached Fox. That doesn't mean Fox ever considered going HD-DVD.

Warner realized that Fox would never go HD-DVD and if Warner had gone HD-DVD exclusive there would be a stalemate.

So let's put all the FUD aside. There was never any imminent Fox deal. Anything you hear to the contrary is from HD-DVD leaning sites and owners who want to believe HD-DVD had a fighting chance

You may not consider Vaugn an insider but many do, you do not know for sure if there was any Fox deals and if there was it clearly didn't materialize. All that the insider here confirms is that Toshiba was talking to Fox, hence a deal could of been in the works. I have no doubt that Toshiba was actively trying to court new studios to release on HD DVD and it isn't far fetched that Warner told Toshiba to get another studio so Warner could go exclusive.

As I said before it doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is what happens, nto what could of happen.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

You may not consider Vaugn an insider but many do, you do not know for sure if there was any Fox deals and if there was it clearly didn't materialize. I have no doubt that Toshiba was actively trying to court new studios to release on HD DVD and it isn't far fetched that Warner told Toshiba to get another studio so Warner could go exclusive.

As I said before it doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is what happens, nto what could of happen.

Believe me, Vaughn is NO Insider. He just has a couple of contacts on the HD-DVD side of things. He has gotten his information wrong on numerous occasions due to misinformation that he propagated from his "sources".

[HighDefChief]

Originally Posted by sj001

Believe me, Vaughn is NO Insider. He just has a couple of contacts on the HD-DVD side of things. He has gotten his information wrong on numerous occasions due to misinformation that he propagated from his "sources".

Your source even confirms what Vaugn said

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

That is basically exactly what Vaugn said, Toshiba was working to get Fox and Warner, and when Warner saw that Fox wasn't going to move Warner went Blu-Ray. I don't what other point you are trying to make.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

Your source even confirms what Vaugn said



That is basically exactly what Vaugn said, Toshiba was working to get Fox and Warner, and when Warner saw that Fox wasn't going to move Warner went Blu-Ray. I don't what other point you are trying to make.

Just that he is not an Insider?

How does what you posted make him an Insider?

He has to work INSIDE the industry to be one. He is just a "journalist/reviewer", nothing more.

That is all I will say on DV.

[HighDefChief]

Originally Posted by sj001

Just that he is not an Insider?

How does what you posted make him an Insider?

What you posted just confirmed what Vaugn said about Toshiba trying to get Fox and Warner Bros to go HD DVD. I posted what he said on other forums and you confirmed with an insider here. That is all.

[LynxFX]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

Your source even confirms what Vaugn said

I can't find what Vaugn said specifically but based on what other sites are continuing to spin based on it I believe he was actually implying that Fox was ready to HD DVD along with Warner. They had a verbal agreement and then Fox backed out at the last minute causing Warner to do the same. That is not what happened based on what our insiders here have stated and what that quote from the WSJ just said.

DV twisted the information to make it more HD DVD favorable and that is what pissed off a lot of people here. Perhaps you can find his original comment somewhere and not any where he may have backpeddled after learning he was off.

[stockstar1138]

In the wall street journal for monday this was written,

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

[JasonS]

I think we will be hearing something very soon from Universal. I bet that will be the trigger that also let's Paramount out. Tomorrow nights BDA conference could be very interesting!

[HighDefChief]

Originally Posted by LynxFX

I can't find what Vaugn said specifically but based on what other sites are continuing to spin based on it I believe he was actually implying that Fox was ready to HD DVD along with Warner. They had a verbal agreement and then Fox backed out at the last minute causing Warner to do the same. That is not what happened based on what our insiders here have stated and what that quote from the WSJ just said.

DV twisted the information to make it more HD DVD favorable and that is what pissed off a lot of people here. Perhaps you can find his original comment somewhere and not any where he may have backpeddled after learning he was off.

Read it at high def digest. But like I said before it doesn't matter because the only thing that matters is what happens. I don't know why sj001 got all defensive about it

[sj001]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

What you posted just confirmed what Vaugn said about Toshiba trying to get Fox and Warner Bros to go HD DVD. I posted what he said on other forums and you confirmed with an insider here. That is all.

We know that HD-DVD probably approached FOX/Warner. That's pretty certain. Fox is a hardcore Blu-ray supporter, they would never release on HD-DVD.

However, the way he implied it is that FOX was getting ready to jump over to HD-DVD along with Warner, then got cold feet at the last second. Total Hd-DVD leaning spin. Not fact at all, FUD.