Will Paramount/Universal come to Blu-ray?

[david2189]

I'm new to the whole blu ray thing, basically all i'm wondering is will they be moving over to blu ray any time soon? What is it thats actually keeping them on hd dvds side? any comments on this matter are welcome

[stringent]

They were paid $50 million to exclusively support HD-DVD. Although tolling around on the HD-Forums they say this isn't true (no reference). They are in contract for 18 months at time of moving. So we would have to wait till the end of next year.

[tron3]

Sensivie topic around here. 1 month ago they accepted a 150 million dollar payoff from Toshiba to stay HD-DVD exclusive for 18 months.

We all got pretted ticked. Especially me as I bought my player the week prior PRIMARILY in anticipation of TRANSFORMERS. Spiderman 3 to a lesser degree.

But we are all confident, right now, that blu will win, so we enjoy DISNEY, SONY and others while shunning DVD and HD-DVD alike. I have no regrets.

We still walk on eggshells concerning Warner. But are optimistic because they didn't take that same buyout with Paramount. They are waiting until Q4 to be over to decide. So, we buy blu like crazy to co-erce them.

[stringent]

Actually, how long is Universal tied into HD-DVD?

[david2189]

does this mean sony could do the same when their contract with toshiba ends?

[CptGreedle]

According to the sources (which include New York Post), the contract is for 18 months. That was about 2 months ago. We got a little over a year till they can leave BUT they released a statement claiming the report to be false and that they are not bound to a time limit... however the wording of that announcement seems to me like they are likely to consider dropping the HD-DVD exclusive contract early, sometime before next shopping season, because they will loose more money if they stick with HD-DVD through 2 Holidays than if they support both again.
We'll have to wait and see what happens.

As for Sony.. what ARE you talking about? You mean could sony strike Paramount a deal?
I don't think they would, but who knows.

[buckshot]

WE have the power to get uni and para to come to blu. I suggest we hold the biggest, most extravagant bake sale the world has EVER known. mwahahahaha. I make a wicked chocolate fudge peanut butter explosion brownies. with the money we raise we can get them to our side.


I can only agree with what everyone else has said already. unless toshiba finally admits they've lost they have paramount for the next 17 months, or is it 16 now? uni continues to stand by hd dvd firmly and no one knows for sure if they're under contract or if they are run by drunk monkies. my guess is the latter.

[jw]

Sony is the driving force behind Blu-Ray they will never side with HD-DVD. They have way to much to lose as far as financial stake. All the Sony PS games use this format as well as play the movies as well. Sony is the captain of the ship so to speak and will go down with the ship...lol

[PSV]

Originally Posted by david2189

I'm new to the whole blu ray thing, basically all i'm wondering is will they be moving over to blu ray any time soon? What is it thats actually keeping them on hd dvds side? any comments on this matter are welcome

Universal is 100 % HD DVD, their guy is the head of promotional group for HD DVD or something similar. I don't think they will be moving soon. On the other hand, Paramount is only with them for 18 months, and after that they will release movies on Blu Ray again. At least we hope so.

[david2189]

yeh what i meant was cant sony pay that 150$ dollars and get exclusivity for blu ray next year with paramount/dreamworks. anyway thanks for the replies guys, pretty much answers my questions.

[stringent]

Payoffs are wrong, people should support of their own will not because of a pay cheque.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by stringent

Actually, how long is Universal tied into HD-DVD?

some rumours i've heard is 2 years. And according to the same rumour, it ends 18 October 2007. They can't say anything about BD until the contract ends. We'll wait and see

[jw]

waiting..............patiently............for Oct 18

[The Guardian]

Didn't someone on the Insider's Thread (one of the Insiders even?) say that the Universal contract was possibly over after 100 movie releases? Hence why Universal has been pumping out so many crappy releases as fast as possible?

[E-Dogg]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Didn't someone on the Insider's Thread (one of the Insiders even?) say that the Universal contract was possibly over after 100 movie releases? Hence why Universal has been pumping out so many crappy releases as fast as possible?

If that is true, keep em coming!

[jason_grumpy]

Originally Posted by stringent

They were paid $50 million to exclusively support HD-DVD. Although tolling around on the HD-Forums they say this isn't true (no reference). They are in contract for 18 months at time of moving. So we would have to wait till the end of next year.

Until the NYT issues a correction on the $150 million article, I would accept that figure as known fact. Lawsuits have been brought up on court over false allegations for much less. The silence on that article from Viacom only cements that fact even more. In the end, without a correction from the NYT, we can know for a fact that at least $150 million was paid, or perhaps even more. It's been over a month now, and I have a feeling no correction will be made.

As far as the internet poopoo heads who say they weren't paid off, perhaps it's time to wake them up from dreamland. Even Toshiba's rep admitted that money was exchanged. Although, they can't use that as that Toshiba rep also said that they chose the wrong technology.

[dobyblue]

P-Man also said in the insiders thread that nobody is expecting Uni to start releasing on Blu-ray next year.



I think January 2009 is a more likely time for both P/DW and Uni to change their support. After all I think Warner is going to go Blu-exclu next year and that will speak volumes to the people in charge at P/DW and Uni.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

After all I think Warner is going to go Blu-exclu next year and that will speak volumes to the people in charge at P/DW and Uni.

This is most intrigueing coming from you and all; you've had good authority on Warner before.

I sure hope so; we need to force the inferior format out. I hope retail stores make a power play after this December as well.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Musashi

This is most intrigueing coming from you and all; you've had good authority on Warner before.

I sure hope so; we need to force the inferior format out. I hope retail stores make a power play after this December as well.

I think those are the two key potential "happenings" next year as well:
1.)see which way WB goes
2.)let some of the bigger retailers drop one of the formats

It's obvious that we'll see nothing from Paramount/DW, other than Spielberg films, until 09 at the earliest. We all know what Penton Man has said about Universal, so I wouldn't expect to see anyting from them until later in 2008 at the earliest either.

The next 6-9 months are absolutely critical. 4Q sales will lead to decisions re #1 and #2 above. How that pans out will determine what happens leading into 2009.

Like I said before, I'm giving the BDA til the end of 2008 to knock out HD DVD.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I think those are the two key potential "happenings" next year as well:
1.)see which way WB goes
2.)let some of the bigger retailers drop one of the formats

It's obvious that we'll see nothing from Paramount/DW, other than Spielberg films, until 09 at the earliest. We all know what Penton Man has said about Universal, so I wouldn't expect to see anyting from them until later in 2008 at the earliest either.

The next 6-9 months are absolutely critical. 4Q sales will lead to decisions re #1 and #2 above. How that pans out will determine what happens leading into 2009.

Like I said before, I'm giving the BDA til the end of 2008 to knock out HD DVD.

personally, I'd like to see warner picking side Q1 2008. I hope they have not announced any titles for either format for next year, as this can serve as indication that warner is ready to pick side, and don't want to disappoint customer by cancelling titles just like what paramount did to us.

Blu-ray is gaining support every week (this week- adobe) (either exclusively, or non-exclusively), while HD DVD is losing exclusive support slowly.