Wall Street Journal - Universal quiet, Paramount staying

[mystiksuicide]

Id be shocked if by April Universal or Paramount haven't started to make blu-disc.

How much money are they willing to lose to prove a pathetic point?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by HighDefChief

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.

The conflict is between the interpretation. DV and HTF seem to be spinning that Fox was close to moving. That's not at all the same thing as Warner going Blu because they saw Fox was NOT going to move.

Fox (or Disney I suppose) was undoubtedly a condition imposed by Warner on Toshiba. Warner would have wanted certain success for HD DVD before moving exclusively to it. Toshiba couldn't deliver Fox.

Just because you talked to the free agent doesn't mean you were close to signing him.

Gary

[alkalinesi]

ill say this right now. and you can flame me i dont care. paramount screwed us last year, but i would deff welcome them back with open arms. i want vanilla sky, war of the worlds, without a paddle. plus itll just bring uni to the blu side faster.

[Kendall]

Originally Posted by miokti

Paramount never had confidence in HD-DVD since the beginning... if they did, their contract wouldn't say "18 months only". Think about it, if Paramount really believed the HD-DVD is the best... their contract should say "forever" or something... they switched for the money, with every intention of coming back to Blu or neutral after the 18th month. They probably guessed that HD-DVD had 18 months to go... which was way off... HD-DVD had considerably less...

Good point about the timed contract - Warner didn't say they were going Blu-Ray exclusive for 18 months, they just said they were going Blu-Ray exclusive and basically implied that was for good. Why announce a timeframe unless you intend to revert in the first place?

Paramount just basically got a very expensive thrill ride where now that the cart is down at the bottom they are free to exit out the back, legs a little wobbly from the experience.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by xwingsct

There's no way that a company as big as Paramount will lock themself in a contract without exit strategy. We just didn't hear the whole detail of the contract.
Paramount is calling the shot here not Toshiba they can just say no thanks. It's probably written in a contract somewhere that if the sale of the content is not what they're expected they can get out. Otherwise they'll end up loosing millions.
After friday's news I don't think they'll be that many poeple buying HD-DVD movies now.

i doubt 90% of people who own hddvd will even know warner switched and if paramount stays by the time warner leaves they will probably make more then before cause theres nothing else for hddvd people to buy lol

[pro-bassoonist]

Paramount will be welcomed back home.

Dr.A

[d_rob1031]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

Id be shocked if by April Universal or Paramount haven't started to make blu-disc.

How much money are they willing to lose to prove a pathetic point?

Sad thing is, they don't have a point to make anymore.

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

I don't think silence is evidence of anything. However, I can't see how they could possibly think there is a future in their folly. It's over and they know it. They are just going to look for a respectable way out.

Silence at the cash registers when HD-DVD sales crash will resonate the most.

It doesn't matter how stubborn Toshiba, Paramount or Universal are, fact is HD-DVD hardware and software sales will dry up within weeks as word spreads.

[crystal_sun]

It's all about money guys...Universal declined to comment because they are WAITING for $$$$ from Toshiba to stick with them. Universal know that if they move to Blu-Ray, then it's done deal. They are pressuring Toshiba to throw some money to them just like Paramount. It's obvious....

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by Jumong

It's all about money guys...Universal declined to comment because they are WAITING for $$$$ from Toshiba to stick with them. Universal know that if they move to Blu-Ray, then it's done deal. They are pressuring Toshiba to throw some money to them just like Paramount. It's obvious....

It may have worked in the past, but even Toshiba are having a hard time justifying continuing, hence their non commital press conference.

[crystal_sun]

You never know.

If I was Universal, then I'm going to hint Toshiba that "hey...you give me money to stay with a dead format or I'll go to Blu-Ray and make some money". Universal knows that they can't sell their movies with this outcome...no way. Toshiba is in trouble now...either they shell out money to Universal to cover the potential loss of revenue in Blu-Ray or SEEYA LATER.

It all comes down to Toshiba now....bribe Universal or throw in the white flag.

I would want more than $150 million to stick around since I'll be the deciding factor to their future. Probably ask $500 million for 1 year contract

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

It may have worked in the past, but even Toshiba are having a hard time justifying continuing, hence their non commital press conference.

[HeavyHitter]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Paramount behind Divx instead of DVD initially? I don't know, they've always seemed like jackasses to me and I agree their support, overall, has been weak for HD DVD.

[w_tanoto]

paramount to continue to support HD DVD? does that includes neutrality (supporting HD DVD and BD)?

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Paramount behind Divx instead of DVD initially? I don't know, they've always seemed like jackasses to me and I agree their support, overall, has been weak for HD DVD.

Yes, I believe Paramount was Divx exclusive for some time, as well as Fox. It had to do with encryption protection I believe.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Hopefully Universal will wake up and smell the coffee. There is cash in my pocket that could be winging it's way to Universal if only they released on BD.

IMO it is now a no brainer. Unfortunately some executives also meet that classification.

Paramount, I would welcome back with open arms. It is all about content, and I want some of their content.

[greekjgg]

This was in the Wall Stree Journal this morning

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1199...googlenews_wsj

"Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc., plans to continue to support the HD DVD format, a spokeswoman said yesterday. The other remaining Hollywood supporter, General Electric Co.'s Universal Pictures, declined to comment."

Looks good for Universal, maybe Paramount is tied more then we thought by the $150 mill?

[SpaceDog]

If Universal starts supporting Blu and Paramount is contractually obligated not to without an out, they're up s***s creek until 2009.

[tiger roach]

As we saw with Warner, the studios are going to hold to the "business as usual" line until their decision to go Blu is fully made. And if Paramount is bound for the full 18 months to HD-DVD, well, it serves them right IMO.

[binarymelon]

Continued support for HD DVD does not mean they cannot support Blu-ray as well.

Edit: I'm sure Paramount has some sort of out clauses that can allow them to release in Blu. My guess is that it's tied to Universal's exclusivity.

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by tiger roach

As we saw with Warner, the studios are going to hold to the "business as usual" line until their decision to go Blu is fully made. And if Paramount is bound for the full 18 months to HD-DVD, well, it serves them right IMO.

Well for Toshiba to announce that they are still in the war last night, they must have gotten some positive reinforement from both Uni and Paramount otherwise there would be no point?