Perceived lack of Enthusiasm

[Bullseye]

It’s been over a month now since the two studios Paramount and Universal announced they were dropping HD-DVD in favour of Blu Ray. The announcements were pretty low key and indistinct. To be fair I appreciate that the insiders here cannot really comment on what is happening in any great detail.

I don’t think I am alone in thinking both Universal and Paramount are that enthusiastic about releasing films in Blu Ray. Paramount for their obvious embarrassment but Universal is somewhat confusing. They have been very positive about hi definition and its future. I was looking forward to Ken Graffeo’s enthusiastic pushing of the BD format but it just has not happened.

Before people start talking about how long it takes to prepare a film for BD, we all know that. This does not stop other studios like Fox, WB, Sony or Disney from making announcements for their future releases as far away as November. So why then do Universal and Paramount not at least announce release dates?

Have they formally joined the BDA? What is happening?

[GregBlu5]

One has to wonder how much the public at large cares about the whole Hi Def experience at this stage and how this impacts the studio support that you refer to.

I know I watch every commercial about new films coming to "DVD and Blu-ray" and get excited just to see the emphasis and the Blu disk laying on top of the SD box. I watch all the previews of Blu-ray releases whenever I watch a new Blu-ray disc and continue to marvel at the PQ of upcoming or existing titles--I've bought not just a few Blu-ray discs just because they looked fantastic as a preview.

I also note that there are but one or two Warner Red titles left on the New Releases section of amazon for the next several months and realize even more fully that the war is so over that one begins to wonder why Warner even bothers to release Twister or Bonnie and Clyde on anything other than Blu.

So, is it because Universal and Paramount are working very hard--behind the scenes--to create some of the best titles possible when they finally do go fully Blu? I would hope so. And perhaps that's what I expect.

The Hi Def market appears ready to fuly explode in the next year or so, and I don't anticipate that either of these studios wants to be left behind.

They are both late, or late again, to the Big Blu Dance. They have a great deal of momentum to make up for.

So, I do anticipate that we're going to be pleasantly pleased and perhaps even a bit surprised when they do fully announce what they've each got coming. It just takes time to do it just right.

At least we can hope.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

It’s been over a month now since the two studios Paramount and Universal announced they were dropping HD-DVD in favour of Blu Ray. The announcements were pretty low key and indistinct. To be fair I appreciate that the insiders here cannot really comment on what is happening in any great detail.

I don’t think I am alone in thinking both Universal and Paramount are that enthusiastic about releasing films in Blu Ray. Paramount for their obvious embarrassment but Universal is somewhat confusing. They have been very positive about hi definition and its future. I was looking forward to Ken Graffeo’s enthusiastic pushing of the BD format but it just has not happened.

Before people start talking about how long it takes to prepare a film for BD, we all know that. This does not stop other studios like Fox, WB, Sony or Disney from making announcements for their future releases as far away as November. So why then do Universal and Paramount not at least announce release dates?

Have they formally joined the BDA? What is happening?

All of the other studios have delas with the BDA, I am sure that Universal and Paramount are trying to negotiate the best deal they can, It is all about the $$$.

[Bullseye]

How much time do you think they have? Their titles important for the success of HD media. Do you think they are waiting for specifical sales periods?

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

All of the other studios have delas with the BDA, I am sure that Universal and Paramount are trying to negotiate the best deal they can, It is all about the $$$.

So you think that negotiations with the BDA have not actually been finalised?

[jsteinhauer]

The US economy is in the tanks, and it's not looking to get brighter any time soon. With demand for consumer electronics shrinking somewhat and prices for everything (fuel, food, health care, everything imported (due to weak dollar) growing, I can understand why there would not be much enthusiasm to invest in a new product line that is a luxury.

[sardaukar1977]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

The US economy is in the tanks, and it's not looking to get brighter any time soon. With demand for consumer electronics shrinking somewhat and prices for everything (fuel, food, health care, everything imported (due to weak dollar) growing, I can understand why there would not be much enthusiasm to invest in a new product line that is a luxury.

yeah, things are pretty grim these days.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

So you think that negotiations with the BDA have not actually been finalised?

That is what I think. The insiders will not comment on this, why not? Just because HD DVD is gone, it does not mean that Universal and Paramount are out of barganing chips.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

That is what I think. The insiders will not comment on this, why not? Just because HD DVD is gone, it does not mean that Universal and Paramount are out of barganing chips.

This probably is the case. But they would have a pretty weak hand in poker wouldn't you say

[greekjgg]

The problem is that your misinterpreting silence as lack of enthusiasm!! If they wait a month or two to start announcing titles, etc then they get their own press coverage regarding this news versus being lumped in with the old news "the war is over" stuff. Really, would it be a surprise if they announced today? No, we know its coming so they are just creating a little distance between themselves and all the news that hit last month. They want their own stage when they start announcing stuff, not to be part of another.

[syncguy]

Although we see only silence, there could be significant activities internally to release movies on blu-ray. It takes time for a large company to redirect and refocus on a new direction. Normally, they have some momentum - so it takes time to apply breaks and turn.

[UTVOL06]

I'd like some sort of announcement of titles by Paramount and Universal. Things seem a bit stagnant at the moment with High-def news.

[Blaumann]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

It’s been over a month now since the two studios Paramount and Universal announced they were dropping HD-DVD in favour of Blu Ray. The announcements were pretty low key and indistinct. To be fair I appreciate that the insiders here cannot really comment on what is happening in any great detail.

I don’t think I am alone in thinking both Universal and Paramount are that enthusiastic about releasing films in Blu Ray. Paramount for their obvious embarrassment but Universal is somewhat confusing. They have been very positive about hi definition and its future. I was looking forward to Ken Graffeo’s enthusiastic pushing of the BD format but it just has not happened.

Before people start talking about how long it takes to prepare a film for BD, we all know that. This does not stop other studios like Fox, WB, Sony or Disney from making announcements for their future releases as far away as November. So why then do Universal and Paramount not at least announce release dates?

Have they formally joined the BDA? What is happening?

I think Universal was leading the HD DVD PG. Not sure about how much of a surprise Toshiba's decision to pull the plug was to them. So after being deeply rooted in HD DVD, they might now be in the process of "reevaluating" their future strategy, setting up plans, figuring out how they want to design the BDs in general etc. before coming to market with BD films.

Toshiba's ceo said, they were really thinking about pulling out starting with the Warner move in january, so my guess would be that the thinking process started there. January is not so far back and we are in the slow season anyway, so i think they are just taking their time with it.

just my 2ct.

[syncguy]

Paramount and Universal could be still in commercial negotiations with Sony. Sony could be less enthusiastic to encourage Paramount and Universal as they did with Warner before format war ended. If this is the case, Paramount and Universal cannot make a public announcement at this stage.

Just speculation.......

[blu2]

Originally Posted by syncguy

Paramount and Universal could be still in commercial negotiations with Sony. Sony could be less enthusiastic to encourage Paramount and Universal as they did with Warner before format war ended. If this is the case, Paramount and Universal cannot make a public announcement at this stage.

Just speculation.......

What's to negotiate at this point?

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by blu2

What's to negotiate at this point?

Maybe both of those companies need some extra incentive ($$$) to get the ball rolling with their Blu-ray releases.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Maybe both of those companies need some extra incentive ($$$) to get the ball rolling with their Blu-ray releases.

I hope not.

Either Paramount and Universal see a business case in releasing on Blu Ray or not.

[WickyWoo]

It has nothing to do with anything other than trying to make sure the other former HD exclusive company takes the tail end charlie position when they do move

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It has nothing to do with anything other than trying to make sure the other former HD exclusive company takes the tail end charlie position when they do move

Hope this is the case and we would see some announcement from Paramount and Universal in the near future. Other possibility is for them to flex their muscle to boost HD-VMD (which is an inferior technology).