Universal's commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended

[richard lichtenfelt]

Originally Posted by darinp2

I think there are multiple ways to read what that article says.
The article later says that Universal isn't ready to throw in the towel, but maybe they are saying Universal is open to going neutral.

--Darin

No matter how you read it it still says that they are no longer hd dvd exclusive.
That can only mean that they are now on board with blu-ray, no maybe about it according to Daily Variety.

[Seretur]

You can take whatever Daily Variety says to the bank.

Did they say Universal is turning Blu? Did they say Universal is issuing a press release? No, they said that their "commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended", and that's where we are right at the moment.

(Just because it's not called Hollywood Reporter, it doesn't mean it's not actually reporting from Hollywood... )

[Grubert]

Originally Posted by Manco

The news of this will take off like a California wildfire come morning time on the West Coast. Thursday will be a very interesting day in the format war.

The plot thickens.....................

And a good way to wrap CES with a bang.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by darinp2

I think there are multiple ways to read what that article says. When I first read it I thought it meant that they had a contractual commitment that ended. But reading it again I think maybe what it means is that Universal is no longer saying, "We are HD DVD only" and maybe even told Variety that they will not be HD DVD only going forward.

That's what I meant. The broadest interpretation is that they're no longer HD-DVD exclusive.

Being non-HD-DVD exclusive could mean three things: they are neutral, they are BD exclusive or they're just not going into HDM anymore. The last option is highly unlikely but the first two are likely. Either way, good news from Variety.


fuad

[181]

Originally Posted by cvm

...The two remaining studios backing HD DVD could switch sides soon, ending the high-def format war instantly...Neither studio is ready to throw in the towel immediately, however...

It's not over until Paramount/Universal has a press release stating:

1) "We are supporting both formats starting on X"
2) "We are supporting Blu-ray exclusively starting on X"

I'm getting tired of these misleading thread titles.

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by 181

It's not over until Paramount/Universal has a press release stating:

1) "We are supporting both formats starting on X"
2) "We are supporting Blu-ray exclusively starting on X"

I'm getting tired of these misleading thread titles.

I agree about some of the other thread titles I've seen, but this one was taken directly from the article and the thread starter asked in the first post what it means. I still think the article leaves quite a bit open to interpretation with the way it is written, since it says their commitment to HD DVD exclusivity has ended, but also says they could switch sides soon. Just seems that if Universal said they are now neutral, the article should have said that and then saying they could "switch sides" would be a little strange, since they would be neutral today.

--Darin

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Being non-HD-DVD exclusive could mean three things: they are neutral, they are BD exclusive or they're just not going into HDM anymore. The last option is highly unlikely but the first two are likely. Either way, good news from Variety.

There's at least a fourth possibility: they're no longer contractually obligated to be HD DVD exclusive but they may, for the moment, remain a de facto supporter of that format.

[richard lichtenfelt]

The definition of confirmed from dictionary.com - made certain as to truth, accuracy, validity, availability, etc.

This is more than a rumor. It's either true or a gigantic journalistic faux pas.

The could part refers to both of the hd dvd exclusive studios switching sides.
The article itself doesn't say that either studio is switching sides. It says that Universal is no longer hd dvd exclusive which means that they are going to be supporting both hd formats.
If they were dumping hd all together they would have said so rather than declaring an end to exclusivity.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by 181

I'm getting tired of these misleading thread titles.

It's not misleading. It didn't say Universal is backing BD exclusively or being neutral. The title just states the fact that the commitment for exclusivity is over.


fuad

[JohnGalt]

Doubtless this is part of the media blitz that began the other night with the Financial Times article. I'm sure a few insiders "very reluctantly" answered questions for this one. Though a lot of these articles seem to be rumor and speculation the sources for the original material (FT, LAT, and now DV) are pretty solid & reliable shops. Just sit back and enjoy the show as the dominos continue to fall.

[darinp2]

I'm still not sure what the article means. It seems like it could simply mean that Universal said they are now open to listening to offers from Sony, where before they were not (they were committed to HD DVD exclusivity no matter what Sony said). That would seem to be consistent with saying that they could switch sides, but aren't committed to backing HD DVD exclusively.

Of course, if any of these companies demand what they could have gotten a month ago, they won't be taken seriously (like trying to sell a stock for last month's price, after it crashed). So, if the article is just saying they are open to going neutral, that doesn't mean they will. But maybe it means they are going neutral. I'm confused.

--Darin

[Jack]

Originally Posted by darinp2

I'm still not sure what the article means.

--Darin

It actually means that the contract between Universal and Toshiba has expired. I think this is a fact, that is confirmed by many sources now.
So now there is a possible chance of negotiating with the BDA...

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by darinp2

I'm still not sure what the article means. It seems like it could simply mean that Universal said they are now open to listening to offers from Sony, where before they were not (they were committed to HD DVD exclusivity no matter what Sony said). ...
--Darin

Sorry for the OT, but why do you say Sony? Don't hit me for this question, but I just had a discussion about an article in a local newspaper about the Blu-ray leader Sony. I was under the impression that Sony was 'only' a big member of the BDA, not their 'leader'. Am I wrong?

[richard lichtenfelt]

The BDA is actually headed by a Panasonic employee.
Panasonic also has more blu-ray patents than Sony.

[cyberknight]

I hope this is true... but I am more on the side of caution. If Universal says that they are releasing blu-ray disks, I will be a happy camper. Until I have the first Universal title in hand, I will not totally believe it....

[GregBlu5]

You know what? I'm tired of all this "Let's Be Cautious" crap. Our Mods are telling us. Our insiders are telling us. More than one media source now is telling us. We got this same cautious crap about Warner for weeks and it was all wrong. Forget cautious.

Those three studios (including Dreamworks) are switching. Who cares if it's to neutrality for five minutes or five months? Once they switch, they won't go back and they won't stay neutral for long because the retailers will stop carrying HD to make more room for the winning format: Blu! Why would they do otherwise?

Folks, toss that cautious crap to the winds and then get out of the way. It's coming hard and fast and everyone who is "in the know" knows it.

-Greg

[Bullseye]

Do you think they will make a film about this in a few years time If they can make "Insider" with Russel Crowe exciting can you imagine this

[X-Man777]

What do they mean "Blu-Ray could win the Hi-Def Battle"?

[monkyman]

Come on, if we just go over to AVS, i'm sure you'll read that this is all part of their Master Plan. LOL

[Grisle]

I think I like their Master Plan...it includes all studios going BD exclusive.