Dreamworks Animation Drops HD DVD, Won't Make Blu-ray For Now

[rlj1010]

I would really like to see Madagascar on Blu-Ray in the near future.

But now, who knows...

[Blu As Hell]

I really don't give a damn about Dreamworks Animation as long as we get Dreamworks SKG. You can have a damn Bee Movie.

[Sylin]

I honestly don't see what the problem is here. Just release movies on Blu-ray. The likelihood they'd be sued by Toshiba is slim to none. I can just see that court case:

Judge: So, Toshiba claims Dreamworks shouldn't release movies on Blu-ray, and only on HD DVD?

Toshiba: Yes, that's our claim.

Judge: But... you scrapped your HD DVD product. It's not available. Even if Dreamworks wanted to, they can't release on HD DVD because it's not being sold anywhere.

Toshiba: Yes, that's right.

Judge: And so you terminated the product, but now you want your bribe money back that you paid Dreamworks to exclusively support a product that you yourself no longer support?

Toshiba: Sums it up nicely, your honor.

Judge: Case dismissed!

[MerrickG]

Im pretty glad that this article came out. Its gives us SOMETHING to talk about while we wait for Paramount and Universal title announcements.

[Spankey]

You mean HD-DVD isn't "THE BEST PICTURE YOU CAN GET"? A product Dreamworks believes so highly in, it was paid to support. Fools!

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

I honestly don't see what the problem is here. Just release movies on Blu-ray. The likelihood they'd be sued by Toshiba is slim to none.

I think it has less to do with being afraid Toshiba will sue them, and more about them wanting to continue getting paid, or having to give the money back.

Since JK doesn't believe HD will really take off, and the fact that they have only one more DVD release before their 18 month contract is up anyway, the $100 million is the smartest bet.

Besides, does anyone really think that the possibility of a lack of "Kung Fu Panda" will really hurt Blu-ray this Christmas as long as every thing else is available?

~Alan

[richard lichtenfelt]

Dreamworks animation is not owned by Paramount. Dreamworks skg is an offshoot of Dreamworks animation that is owned by Paramount.
If Spielberg leaves Paramount at the end of this year, as is expected, he will probably take the Dreamworks name with him.

http://www.reuters.com/article/indus...17882820070920

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/17/bu...en&oref=slogin

"DreamWorks Animation, run by Jeffrey Katzenberg, is an independent company with a deal to have its movies distributed by Paramount until 2012."

[Spankey]

I wonder if saying they have to wait this out till the end, might mean they are delayed until Toshiba pulls the plug in March.

[blu-backer]

Wow, so Toshiba pays Dreamworks. Toshiba cans HD-DVd format.

Dreamworks wants to release Blu-Ray, but it sounds like Toshiba says they can't because of the contract, maybe even telling them they can but they have to give the money back.

Hmm, sounds like Dreamworks is in okay shape here, though they could probably sell a good number of discs if they release BDs. It also sounds like Dreamworks' lawyers were asleep at the wheel when they accepted the money. They should have put some verbiage like "as long as Toshiba supports the HD-DVD format".

[MerrickG]

If you think this is interesting wait until you see the talk going on in this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...3&postcount=93

Originally Posted by BLU for Blue

UPDATE: BEE MOVIE IS COMING TO BLU RAY (definetly)

I was at work today (im a music vendor for a company called Handleman and I work at Walmart) I went in the back for a box of CDs to put out and I saw a box labeled Bee Movie High Definition so I took a peek. And there it was, Blu Ray copies. Unfortunetly I get paid to much to risk my job to take a picture for you guys, youll just have to take my word

I wont believe it until I see a pic.

[SGRSBSKIER]

Here is a list of all Dreamworks Animation titles:

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
Chicken Run
El Dorado
Flushed Away
Joseph: King of Dreams
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Over the Hedge
Shark Tale
Antz
Madagascar
Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
The Prince of Egypt
Shrek
Shrek 2
Shrek the Third
Bee Movie
Kung Fu Panda

Thats all Dreamworks Animation titles on video by the end of the year. So $100 million for 17 movies, thats almost enough to completely finance one of their movies. Is there really any title that you must have this year and would really hate to wait until 2009?

If all Dreamworks movies were covered (like Transformers) I would be mad but I can deal with waiting a year for any of those titles.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by SGRSBSKIER

Here is a list of all Dreamworks Animation titles:
...
If all Dreamworks movies were covered (like Transformers) I would be mad but I can deal with waiting a year for any of those titles.

I'd get Chicken Run, El Dorado, Flushed Away, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Over the Hedge, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, Shrek 2 and Kung Fu Panda.


fuad

[pro-bassoonist]

I am with Toshiba on this one!!

Not because I believe they are right about what they did but because at the time of the deal they were a competitor whose long-term plans were to retain Katzenberg and Co. in their camp for a number of titles they would release exclusively. Now, even though they have terminated their business I am pretty sure that the deal Katzenberg signed was similar to the one Universal had -- providing a set number of titles. As such were not delivered I believe that Toshiba has moral grounds to seek a pro-rated restructuring of their "compensation" for the time frame their deal was active.

The scoundrel here is Katzenberg not Toshiba!!

Dr.A

[Phatferd]

Is Transformers Dreamworks or Paramount?

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

I honestly don't see what the problem is here. Just release movies on Blu-ray. The likelihood they'd be sued by Toshiba is slim to none. I can just see that court case:

Judge: So, Toshiba claims Dreamworks shouldn't release movies on Blu-ray, and only on HD DVD?

Toshiba: Yes, that's our claim.

Judge: But... you scrapped your HD DVD product. It's not available. Even if Dreamworks wanted to, they can't release on HD DVD because it's not being sold anywhere.

Toshiba: Yes, that's right.

Judge: And so you terminated the product, but now you want your bribe money back that you paid Dreamworks to exclusively support a product that you yourself no longer support?

Toshiba: Sums it up nicely, your honor.

Judge: Case dismissed!

LOL!!! How can you argue with that? Another classic example of Toshiba mentality!

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I am with Toshiba on this one!!

Not because I believe they are right about what they did but because at the time of the deal they were a competitor whose long-term plans were to retain Katzenberg and Co. in their camp for a number of titles they would release exclusively. Now, even though they have terminated their business I am pretty sure that the deal Katzenberg signed was similar to the one Universal had -- providing a set number of titles. As such were not delivered I believe that Toshiba has moral grounds to seek a pro-rated restructuring of their "compensation".

The scoundrel here is Katzenberg not Toshiba!!

If Toshiba decided to END the format, then Katzenberg shouldn't be blamed as long as he was prepared to follow through with the contract... at least IMO...

Also, if they were supposed to provide a certain number of titles, couldn't they simply release a buttload of titles this Summer and be out of the contract by Fall?

~Alan

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Phatferd

Is Transformers Dreamworks or Paramount?

A co-production/financing of both studios. Developed under Dreamworks and paid for and distributed by Paramount.

But we're talking about Dreamworks Animation and not Dreamworks.


fuad

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Phatferd

Is Transformers Dreamworks or Paramount?

DreamWorks SKG... but don't get that confused with DreamWorks Animation which is what we are discussing here.

~Alan

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

If Toshiba decided to END the format, then Katzenberg shouldn't be blamed as long as he was prepared to follow through with the contract... at least IMO...

Forget about the format. The deal the two parties signed, I am ready to bet, is very similar to what Toshiba probably did with Warner and their red-exclusives - - a set number of titles which must be delivered on the market. Consequent developments do not come to play here.

And...during the war Katzenberg delivered only one title, not titles.

So, I can see why Toshiba would approach them for a pro-rated restructuring.

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Also, if they were supposed to provide a certain number of titles, couldn't they simply release a buttload of titles this Summer and be out of the contract by Fall?
~Alan

Yes, here I agree with you, they can if they wish to snub Toshiba and keep the "compensation". Once again, it is pretty obvious who is playing dirty here. At least as far as I am concerned.

Dr.A

[lnh_boy]

My guess is that it will go to arbitration and some settlement will be worked out. Obviously, Toshiba doesn't want to keep financing Dreamworks Animation to release HD-DVDs through the end of the year to the tune of $100 million. That's throwing rotten money at putrid money. They would have a legal argument if Dreamworks held their feet to the flame. Dreamworks also has a point... they never pulled out of the deal. And as for the argument that they only released one title, they could argue that they had every intention to fulfil the contract (X # of titles before the end of '08), Toshiba pulled the plug with 10 months to go.