Universal Studios under pressure to support Blu-ray?

[WriteSimply]

Here's the link to the full article.

While it certainly didn't help the HD DVD camp, Blockbuster's announcement last month that it will exclusively support rival Blu-ray in 1,700 of its stores probably won't do much to end the high-definition disc format battle.

No major retailer seems intent on abandoning HD DVD right now, even though its titles are being outsold by Blu-ray at a ratio of about 2-to-1, according to numerous estimates.

"I don't see any resolution (to the format battle) coming until at least the end of the year," Envisioneering Group tech guru Richard Doherty says.

Basically there's only two people quoted for the article - Doherty and Graffeo. However, this is Variety. The presence of anything represents a rumor in Hollywood, not in Redmond.


fuad

[Blu-dock Saint]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Here's the link to the full article.



Basically there's only two people quoted for the article - Doherty and Graffeo. However, this is Variety. The presence of anything represents a rumor in Hollywood, not in Redmond.


fuad

I saw this a little earlier on dreaded hd digest, it was an interesting read. I would think that by next year sometime that Universal will be pushed to go neutral. Do they really have much a choice left? Not like they have any more big blockbusters coming out to keep hd dvd going still.

[dialog_gvf]

"If I'm a filmmaker, and I'm going to make a movie that's going to make half of its money in home entertainment, would I want to make it at Universal, and be with the wrong format?" Doherty wonders.

Ooooo. Interesting point. And not one a hit-challenged studio can ignore.

[What'sHD]

^^

What he said

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by Blu-dock Saint

I saw this a little earlier on dreaded hd digest, it was an interesting read. I would think that by next year sometime that Universal will be pushed to go neutral. Do they really have much a choice left? Not like they have any more big blockbusters coming out to keep hd dvd going still.

Blu-dock, welcome to the forum! I think this holiday season will be an eye opener. Universal will go neutral as they'll hemorage 80% of the market to the other studios in Blu-ray's court...and I wouldn't be at all suprised to see some high ranking Universal execs canned for their poor choices and execution. I say start with Graffeo.

[GasCat]

Someone will figure out if they give more shelf space to a product that is selling it will mean more profit.

[efralope]

Warner has also mentioned the filmmaker/producer element in the past... seems like having the greatest reach in HD media sales by supporting both formats has garnered them an advantage in that area...

[patrick99]

A headline like that in Variety is going to get some attention, I would think.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Originally Posted by GasCat

Someone will figure out if they give more shelf space to a product that is selling it will mean more profit.

That is exactly what HMV do here - the shelf space is proportional to sales, so they split the BD/HD section 70% BD 30% HD. And the store as a whole is split perhaps <5% BD/HD >95% DVD.

[Spankey]

"I don't see any resolution (to the format battle) coming until at least the end of the year," Envisioneering Group tech guru Richard Doherty says.

All that needs to be said. They know 4th quarter is going to be a rout, but they are going to use those numbers as justification. It's over. Universal does have the Mr. Bean blockbuster coming. Look out!

[Spankey]

Is it me or does this guy look like a little twit?

[Coltboy]

Originally Posted by sltmag

Is it me or does this guy look like a little twit?

he looks like a HD-DVD fan lol

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by sltmag

All that needs to be said. They know 4th quarter is going to be a rout, but they are going to use those numbers as justification. It's over. Universal does have the Mr. Bean blockbuster coming. Look out!

I think Universal Biggest title this year at the cinema will be The Bourne Ultimatum, well at least for me. It might be out on HD-DVD by the holidays.

It's sad that Universal is the only supporting HD-DVD, but most of the top ten HD-DVD titles this year are from WB.

[movies3]

Originally Posted by MasterXeus

I think Universal Biggest title this year at the cinema will be The Bourne Ultimatum, well at least for me. It might be out on HD-DVD by the holidays.

It's sad that Universal is the only supporting HD-DVD, but most of the top ten HD-DVD titles this year are from WB.

i dunno if universal will release the bourne series this holiday. They are prolly saving all there good stuff until they go to the blu side.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by movies3

i dunno if universal will release the bourne series this holiday. They are prolly saving all there good stuff until they go to the blu side.

Exactly. Everyone knows it's over.

Universal will technically continue to honor their contract with HD-DVD by continuing to give them a bunch of mediocre discs that even HD-DVD favored sites like High Def Digest have been giving 3's and 3.5's to left and right.

The Look and Sound of Mediocrity will go out with a whimper by year's end, indirectly thanks to Universal flooding them up with crappy discs of mostly crappy movies that most people don't want anyways.

What was that last HD-DVD they put out that got something ghastly like a 1.5 at High Def Digest of all places? I think I felt the ground rumble when I saw that.

It's over. The fat lady is clearing her throat and she's walking towards that pumpkin pie as we speak.

[MasterXeus]

Originally Posted by movies3

i dunno if universal will release the bourne series this holiday. They are prolly saving all there good stuff until they go to the blu side.

Well, I looked it up

The Bourne Identity is coming to HD-DVD July 24
The Bourne Supremacy is already on HD-DVD
So it's possible The Bourne Ultimatum could be out by Christmas.

I wish you were right. I would love to buy these movies , if only they were Blu

[dialog_gvf]

^^ They will be. Somewhere.

Even sticking to their guns here, Universal needs to decide whether they will be in the disc business in Japan in a few years. That's 96%+ Blu-ray.

Gary

[HDTV1080P]

Officially Universal Studios still says it has no plans to support BLU-RAY, but this article suggested that Universal Studios executives behind the scenes might be negotiating to maybe consider going BLU-RAY at a future date.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/universal071607.htm
QUOTE
“"We understand there is a lot of persuading going on right now," Variety quotes Envisioneering Group's Richard Doherty, who adds that Universal executives might negotiate with Blu-ray backers at this summer's investment conferences.”

If Universal Studios goes neutral BLU-RAY would then win the format war since it would have 100% studio support. Also there would be no need to own a combo player and the market for combo players would die.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

If Universal Studios goes neutral BLU-RAY would then win the format war since it would have 100% studio support. Also there would be no need to own a combo player and the market for combo players would die.

This is so true. One studio and its all over.

[Dadds]

This is the best news of the day.