Paramount and DreamWorks give HD DVD a boost
It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up--Vince Lombardi
(Credit: codyl.com)Just when you thought the next-gen DVD war was on the verge of being over, a couple of studios decide to muck things up even further. Today, Paramount and DreamWorks Animation announced that they will exclusively support HD DVD on a worldwide basis.
According to the press release, "The exclusive HD DVD commitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment."
"The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount Home Entertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release of the blockbuster comedy hit 'Blades of Glory' on August 28th and follow with two of the biggest grossing movies of the year 'Transformers' and 'Shrek the Third'."
Until today, Paramount was putting out movies on both Blu-ray and HD DVD, so needless to say, the announcement came as a surprise. Also, all of this comes in the face of reports that on the software front, Blu-ray was outselling HD DVD by a 2-1 margin, and that both Blockbuster and Target would be pushing the Blu-ray format in stores. (Note HD DVD fans: Yes, Target will continue to carry the XBox 360's add-on HD DVD player). Consensus was that things were looking pretty bleak for HD DVD. Is this a game changer?
In the short term, probably. The move clearly prolongs the war for at least another year, which means I get to write at least another six columns on the topic. Was money a factor? Is someone getting paid off? I don't know, but no one makes these types of decisions without an economic incentive. What do you think? Is this good for the consumer or will such announcements just continue to slow the adoption rate for either format?
Update 08/21: Blu-ray camp fires back at latest HD DVD announcements.
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy oversees CNET's Home and Hardware reviews, which includes all things related to home theaters, PCs, and digital imaging. He also writes his Fully Equipped column, covering the gamut of gadgets and gizmos. E-mail David.
Makes you wonder which BD studios will jump ship next.
Makes you wonder which BD studios will jump ship next.
this year Walmart is said to be joining the
HD DVD camp and will have an exclusive HD DVD
player of there own. Not a big deal you think?
with Walmart showing over 20 percent of all
DVD sale in North America it will be. But really
at the end of the day its more the consumer that loses.
this year Walmart is said to be joining the
HD DVD camp and will have an exclusive HD DVD
player of there own. Not a big deal you think?
with Walmart showing over 20 percent of all
DVD sale in North America it will be. But really
at the end of the day its more the consumer that loses.
So I certainly hope that some economic incentives were involved. Not DVD payola, but just lower production costs for Paramount & Dreamworks.
So I certainly hope that some economic incentives were involved. Not DVD payola, but just lower production costs for Paramount & Dreamworks.
I think that if BluRay had the name HD-DVD then it would have won the war already. Older people 45+ can only understand 'High Definition' and DVD they don't understand what BluRay is. We'll see if BluRay prices can be reduced to those of HD-DVD before this is over. Ultimately Bluray is a better technology but it is more expensive.
I'm at odds with myself, I'm a PC guy but I'm also a BluRay PS3 Guy... Steve Jobs and Apple are supporters of BluRay, Apple doesn't have HD-DVD drives and Steve Jobs is on the board of Disney so parents may be more likely likely buy BluRay due to the exclusive availability.
If you're a BluRay person and you want BluRay to win, you should buy any movie you want to watch instead of renting it.
I think that if BluRay had the name HD-DVD then it would have won the war already. Older people 45+ can only understand 'High Definition' and DVD they don't understand what BluRay is. We'll see if BluRay prices can be reduced to those of HD-DVD before this is over. Ultimately Bluray is a better technology but it is more expensive.
I'm at odds with myself, I'm a PC guy but I'm also a BluRay PS3 Guy... Steve Jobs and Apple are supporters of BluRay, Apple doesn't have HD-DVD drives and Steve Jobs is on the board of Disney so parents may be more likely likely buy BluRay due to the exclusive availability.
If you're a BluRay person and you want BluRay to win, you should buy any movie you want to watch instead of renting it.
I am sorry, I have seen both HD-DVD and BluRay in action, and HD-DVD is the better choice honestly. Any reputable souce will tell you that in picture quality they are about the same, if not HD-DVD edging BluRay out...it is also cheaper for consumers, cheaper for movie studios, has standardized specs for EVERY machine, and the features are astounding! My friend has a PS3 and naturally leans toward the BluRay camp, but is definately rethinking his loyalty to Sony and it's hardware and format choices.
Here is the million-dollar question: How could anybody support a company that lost 3 formats wars to date: UMD Disc, Minidisc, Betamax.....and UMD format is not that old people!
I am sorry, I have seen both HD-DVD and BluRay in action, and HD-DVD is the better choice honestly. Any reputable souce will tell you that in picture quality they are about the same, if not HD-DVD edging BluRay out...it is also cheaper for consumers, cheaper for movie studios, has standardized specs for EVERY machine, and the features are astounding! My friend has a PS3 and naturally leans toward the BluRay camp, but is definately rethinking his loyalty to Sony and it's hardware and format choices.
Here is the million-dollar question: How could anybody support a company that lost 3 formats wars to date: UMD Disc, Minidisc, Betamax.....and UMD format is not that old people!
This piece fails to mention that Steven Spielberg's movies under the Paramount label are apparently excluded from this particular arrangement. Shrek the Third and Transformers were good movies, but thanks to this wise, i.e. "paid off", decision by Paramount executives-I'll just rent 'em thru Netflix.
taken by the repo man.
big business people are home in the corner setting in there underware in the dark sleepless night sick worried everything is gonna go to hell .
mistakes like the toy industry that produced all those toys in china .50 cents apeice and were gonna sell them in america
at $100.00 apeice have to eat all that now - times is not good in big busness christmas in 2007 could be a bust .
for paramount and dreamworks its about business and what the consumer can afford and will buy they no moneys gonna be very tight - till Bush and the good old boys goes away .
and the consumer still owes for last Christmas and the last
before its over paramount and dreamworks may have to bring back the VHS format because people will only be able shop in flee markets and garage sales for christmas ...2007
get those old VCR's out folks the could be gold soon ...
- Thanks for prolonging this idiotic war...
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by RRosal
August 21, 2007 5:50 AM PDT
- And yet another idiotic decision to add to consumer's confusion and have them sit longer on the fence. I'm sorry, but Microsoft and Sony fanboys rants aside, all this really does is just recreate the DVD-Audio/SACD stupidity from a while back and basically kills the prospect of the standard DVD format going away anytime soon and kills any chance that the high definition age will kick in with a unified format. While everyone gloats about the HD-DVD camp scoring a point or the Blu-Ray camp scoring a point, everyone misses the big picture in that there will be losers on either side: HD-DVD or Blu-Ray regardless.
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- low lifes in big business
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by raremood55
August 23, 2007 11:59 AM PDT
- and how they can pay less and get more bucks , will determine the winner ... and what the consumer is willing to pay those high gas prices folks in default on there homes as well as businesses in default folks cars are being
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See all 479 Comments >>This piece fails to mention that Steven Spielberg's movies under the Paramount label are apparently excluded from this particular arrangement. Shrek the Third and Transformers were good movies, but thanks to this wise, i.e. "paid off", decision by Paramount executives-I'll just rent 'em thru Netflix.
taken by the repo man.
big business people are home in the corner setting in there underware in the dark sleepless night sick worried everything is gonna go to hell .
mistakes like the toy industry that produced all those toys in china .50 cents apeice and were gonna sell them in america
at $100.00 apeice have to eat all that now - times is not good in big busness christmas in 2007 could be a bust .
for paramount and dreamworks its about business and what the consumer can afford and will buy they no moneys gonna be very tight - till Bush and the good old boys goes away .
and the consumer still owes for last Christmas and the last
before its over paramount and dreamworks may have to bring back the VHS format because people will only be able shop in flee markets and garage sales for christmas ...2007
get those old VCR's out folks the could be gold soon ...