Something seems .. fishy..

So I've spent my day at work here hitting the refresh button on google news. I keep waiting to see an official announcement from Paramount/Dreamworks. Given that Paramount had previously released Blu Ray disks I would've assumed that they would've been the first to announce their role re-reversal.

The Universal announcement has come to past and that leaves only Paramount which I'm sure can do nothing but make their announcement as well..If that's the case, then why not announce it now?

Is there something else going on? Just seems a little ... fishy..

Uni

Most popular rumor I've seen is that Paramount wants to announce titles (and street dates) when they announce they're going Blu Ray. So that will take a bit more time.

The other more popular idea is that, while Universal only had to consult with one entity (Universal itself), Paramount has to consult with not only DreamWorks brass but also wanted to drop a line to Spielberg and Michael Bay. Again, only rumor.

Jason

And I just noticed THIS NEW REPORT confirming (per a DVDTOWN inquiry) that Warner will STILL support HD-DVD with those announced titles, thru May 31. So, none of those previously announced titles will be cancelled.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

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And I just noticed THIS NEW REPORT confirming (per a DVDTOWN inquiry) that Warner will STILL support HD-DVD with those announced titles, thru May 31. So, none of those previously announced titles will be cancelled.

We can only hope that the other studios share the same stance.

Not to get too terribly off track, but I really don't see any good reason for WB or Universal or Paramount to continue releasing HD DVD's. All it's going to lead to is the inevitable threat of class action lawsuits by some idiots who bought the HD DVD and then realized the format isn't being supported anymore.

Frankly, unless there's some kind of contract we don't know about still in force, everything should be discontinued and announced for Blu Ray. Sure, some of the discs are pressed, but did that really stop Paramount last year?

Jason

I, for one, will be wholely pi$$ed if Paramount/Universal cancel their announced titles. I'm dying to get Beowulf, Sweeny Todd, Fletch, Justice League and a couple others.

Please just allow me to purchase those and then I'll happily slip back to SD.

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Paramount has to consult with not only DreamWorks brass but also wanted to drop a line to Spielberg and Michael Bay. Again, only rumor.

I hardly doubt the studio needs to consult Spielberg or Micheal Bay about going bluray exclusive.

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Frankly, unless there's some kind of contract we don't know about still in force, everything should be discontinued and announced for Blu Ray. Sure, some of the discs are pressed, but did that really stop Paramount last year?

Personally I would love to see HD DVD's continue being released for big releases. There are over a million players out there so there's some kind of market for the movies. Remember how long it took for VHS movies to stop being produced and even Laserdisk. The market may not be as big as bluray but it's still there. We will see.

Hey Jason... it's just a CYCLE. Time flies by. Movies announced for HD-DVD over the next 3-4 months are so LOW in number compared to a studio's DVD offerings. So, it's not big deal (or expensive) for a studio to go ahead and release those already-announced titles, as before you know it, summer will be here... and no more titles will be forthcoming. To cancel now would just hurt some of the 'good will' the studio had with it's HD-DVD customers.

However, I do sympathize with those like yourself, who were definitely counting on that 2nd season STAR TREK set, but at least now you should be able to get all 3 seasons later on Blu-ray, whereas with HD-DVD, would Paramount be inclined to put the 3rd season out later?

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Feb 20, 2008]

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I hardly doubt the studio needs to consult Spielberg or Micheal Bay about going bluray exclusive.

I didn't say they were consulting with SS or MB, now did I? All I said is that they probably want to drop them a line as they are two of the bigger names in their directing stable.

Jason

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but I really don't see any good reason for WB or Universal or Paramount to continue releasing HD DVD's

Maybe the fact that HD DVD still holds up about 1/3 of the HDM market, and that they will continue to make money from it.

HD DVD has not been discontinued as a format, Toshiba simply said that they would no longer manufacture players.

Samsung and LG are proceeding forward making dual format machines, so there is still HD DVD player support.

Universal, Paramount, and Dreamworks were, and still are, voting members of the HD DVD Promotional Group, and although they are probably working on Blu releases, there is no indication that they are planning to actively support the BDA, or drop support for HD DVD.

Their exclusivity contracts were with the HD DVD Promotional Group, which still exists, not Toshiba directly.

The only thing Toshiba did was they decided to stop manufacturing HD DVD players.

Again, might I remind everyone here that the HD DVD Promotional Group still exists....

http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/

The HD DVD group has not discontinued the HD DVD format, Toshiba ONLY STOPPED MANUFACTURING PLAYERS.

Toshiba remains a member of the HD DVD Promotional Group, but they don't own it, it operates as a separate entity where members get individual voting rights.

Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, Micro$oft, Intel, HP, Acer, and the DVD forum still are members of the HD DVD Promotional Group.

Some people here are really thick when trying to understand how the HD DVD organization is set up, they are, and will remain an extension of the DVD Forum.

DVD itself has not been discontinued either, although I am sure the BDA will be issuing a release marking DVD's demise shortly as well.

VHS releases didn't halt the instant that DVD started winning a greater market share, so why would HD DVD releases suddenly stop if they are still making profits for the studios that release them????

Nothing seems 'Fishy' at all, maybe Universal and Paramount have some serious issues with paying royalty fees to $ony and the BDA, and maybe those royalty percentage numbers have not been worked out quite yet.

And you can't blame them for not wanting to line the pockets of their competitor, $ony owned Columbia Pictures, where they don't have to.