Paramount/Dreamworks sides with HD-DVD in the Hi-Def war

[WorthyStevens]

No Transformers for Blu-Ray. :tear:

From the front page:

Paramount & DreamWorks to Release Only on HD DVD
Source: Paramount Pictures; DreamWorks Animation
August 20, 2007


Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG each announced today that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. 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. These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.

"The combination of Paramount and DreamWorks Animation brings a critical mass of current box office hits to consumers with a line-up of live action and animated films that are perfect for HD DVD," stated Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, which is currently the leading studio in domestic box office. "Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience. I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount."

"We decided to release 'Shrek the Third' and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience -- families," stated DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. "We believe the combination of this year's low-priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home."

The studios said, "With the rapid increase of HD TV screens in households, and audiences wanting to enjoy the total entertainment experience, HD DVD has emerged as the most affordable way for consumers to watch their movies in high definition. In addition to pristine quality, HD DVD also offers consumers the chance to personalize the movie-watching experience, to interact with their movies and even to connect with a community of other fans."

Paramount Home Entertainment will issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD. Today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

The first sign that HD will win the war.

 

[FatA$$]

haha blu-ray sux

 

[killingfields]

no mameis....looks like i gotta cancel my PS3 because i only got it for it being compatible with Blue-Ray DVD's...mmmm

but then again. Blockbuster video stores only carry Blue_Ray

 

[WorthyStevens]

So far, that makes it...

HD-DVD
Paramount
Universal
Weinstein Co.

Both
Warner
New Line

Blu-Ray
Disney
Fox
Lionsgate
Sony

 

[StrainedEyes]

This is so stupid. As long as they keep making dvds i'll be fine. I don't feel like buying 2 different High Def players just so I can watch movies from Sony and Paramount.

 

[Speedball]

Oh...
Looks like I'm not getting a high-def version of the Star Trek movies, cause all I have is a Blu-ray player right now. And it looks like I won't be able to get a high-def version of Transformers either. Screw you, Paramount and Steven Spielberg.

 

[ShaneHelms]

This is so stupid. As long as they keep making dvds i'll be fine. I don't feel like buying 2 different High Def players just so I can watch movies from Sony and Paramount.

 

[Tempest19]

Wait- am I fckin' god damn hearing this right?!!!

Transformers, Shrek 3, etc. will ONLY be released on HD-DVD?!

WHAT THE FCKIN' HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM?!!!!!!!

If that is true I am too pissed off for words to comprehend, that would be the dumbest move since- since- since we elected Bush or Nixon as President!

 

[Dark_Lord]

It is true. Its an official announcement. Look at the source... Paramount Pictures; DreamWorks Animation.

Also, why is it a stupid move? I could say the same thing about another studio going Blu-Ray exclusive.

 

[Tempest19]

To not release a movie on regular DVD?! How is that not a fckin' stupid move?!

Fck blu-ray, fck Hd, fck their god damn wars!

Why do the rest of us who haven't "updated" yet-to see how this whole thing turns out- are thrown into the mix now with Transformers not being (if I read this right) on regular DVD as well? That's fcking BULL****!

As said I hope I fckin' read that wrong, because that goes beyond stupidity on their parts to only make HD-DVD now and not regular.

 

[WorthyStevens]

The article means that Paramount will only release it on HD-DVD as well as regular DVD.

They're just not going with Blu-Ray.

 

[Tempest19]

The article means that Paramount will only release it on HD-DVD as well as regular DVD.

They're just not going with Blu-Ray.

Article could have been clearer.

And hopefully that's the case.

 

[JackBauer]

Wait- am I fckin' god damn hearing this right?!!!

Transformers, Shrek 3, etc. will ONLY be released on HD-DVD?!

WHAT THE FCKIN' HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM?!!!!!!!

If that is true I am too pissed off for words to comprehend, that would be the dumbest move since- since- since we elected Bush or Nixon as President!

that's what you get for not waiting till this "war" is over.

heh, I see you edited smart guy

 

[Tempest19]

I don't have Blu-Ray or HD, well I have blu-ray just never use it (PS3)

Just have regular DVD, so I am and still- unless they actually did mean HD exclusives to the extreme- will. But really hoping they just meant in terms of HD vs. Blu-Ray rather than throwing regular DVD into the mix as well.

 

[chaseter]

I have both HAHA SUCKAS!

 

[WorthyStevens]

I don't have Blu-Ray or HD, well I have blu-ray just never use it (PS3)

Just have regular DVD, so I am and still- unless they actually did mean HD exclusives to the extreme- will. But really hoping they just meant in terms of HD vs. Blu-Ray rather than throwing regular DVD into the mix as well.

That's what they meant. It will be available on HD-DVD and DVD.

DVD's still too profitable to just not release it on there.

 

[killingfields]

why cant companies do what they do best? triple dip. you get:

Movie X DVD
Movie X Special Edition DVD ( a few months later)
Movie X HD DVD
Movie X HD Special Edition DVD
Movie X Blue-Ray
Movie X Blue-Ray Special Edition

not to mention box sets in all three formats, collectors crap in everything...jeez.

 

[DorkyFresh]

boooooo......bad movie paramount/dreamworks. blu-ray's ahead, why would they side with hd-dvd?


how stupid...they'll cross over eventually.

 

[StrainedEyes]

boooooo......bad movie paramount/dreamworks. blu-ray's ahead, why would they side with hd-dvd?


how stupid...they'll cross over eventually.

Why would anyone side with Blu-Ray?

The whole "war" is stupid.

 

[Rac]

Blu-Ray
Disney
Fox
Lionsgate
Sony

Tartan is also at the Blu-Ray camp.

http://www.tartanvideo.com/
http://www.tartanfilmsusa.com/

 

[Symbiotic]

"Today's announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format."

um, yeah. Where were they when Close Encounters Of The Third Kind got announced for Blu-ray but not HD? I'd call that pretty exclusive.

 

[Downhere]

I have both HAHA SUCKAS!

Way to be!


And for those who are saying this sucks, the same could be said for those Blu-ray exclusive studios. Fact is, while BR is ahead, it's still a small percentage of the Home Media business, HD DVD and Blu-ray combined only make up about 1.5% of the market...things are still early so it comes to no surprise that this move has taken place. Both sides are in this to win...and will fight with everything in their might.

 

[Penismightier]

Once the player that plays both formats becomes more affordable then this whole war is going to be pointless. Just like DVD+R vs. DVD-R.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

So far, that makes it...

HD-DVD
Paramount
Universal
Weinstein Co.

Both
Warner
New Line

Blu-Ray
Disney
Fox
Lionsgate
Sony

And Blu-Ray has Blockbuster and PS3 on their side.