Well, this News has come sooner than I anticipated but Paramount is bailing out on HD-DVD and switching to Blu-Ray. Let's see now... I guess that only leaves Universal and then we can call "game over"! Here is the link:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64393 (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64393)
Are you ready to concede yet Rico? :roflmao
Kevin
Standered def dvds sure still do look good to me. I was hoping the format war would keep us from the manditory upgrades.
Maybe, maybe not, Paramount is trying to deny it. ::)
Paramount to abandon HD DVD in return to Blu-ray (updated)
By Katie Marsal
Published: 11:00 AM EST
Paramount Pictures is poised to drop its support of HD DVD in favor of Sony's Blu-ray format, landing a decisive blow to the Toshiba-backed next-generation DVD format and all but assuring Blu-ray's role as the future standard for all high-definition digital video discs.
The news, which comes by way of the Financial Times, arrives just days after Warner Bros. said it would switch to releasing high-definition movies only in the Blu-ray disc format, abandoning a neutral strategy that saw it's catalog available for both HD DVD and Blu-ray next-generation DVD players.
The move will leave Universal as the lone major Hollywood studio backing the HD DVD format and presumably conclude a multi-year battle for supremacy in the home entertainment market, leaving HD DVD to suffer the same fate as Sony's now obsolete Betamax video technology when it lost out to VHS in a similar format war back in the 1980s.
As noted by the FT, Paramount and DreamWorks Animation -- makers of the Shrek series of films -- came out in support of HD DVD last summer, joining General Electric's Universal Studios as the main backers of the format.
However, Paramount is understood to have a clause in its contract with the HD DVD camp that would allow it to switch sides in the event of Warner Bros. backing Blu-ray, the financial paper said, citing people familiar with the situation.
It's reportedly unclear whether DreamWorks has the same get-out clause in its contract with the HD DVD camp, but the animation studio maintains a close relationship with Paramount as the distributor of its films on disc.
For its part, Universal has remained mum on its forward looking plans for high-definition video discs and has declined to comment on the situation since Warner Bros. announced its intention to drop HD DVD support last Friday.
Update: According to Bloomberg, Paramount has denied the report by the Financial Times.
"Paramount's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,'' Brenda Ciccone, a spokeswoman for Paramount, said in an e-mail.
Meanwhile, Keisuke Ohmori, a spokesman for Tokyo-based Toshiba, called the Financial Times' report "speculative."
Quote from: Ktrek on January 08, 2008, 03:16:54 PM
Well, this News has come sooner than I anticipated but Paramount is bailing out on HD-DVD and switching to Blu-Ray. Let's see now... I guess that only leaves Universal and then we can call "game over"! Here is the link:
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64393 (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64393)
Are you ready to concede yet Rico? :roflmao
Kevin
First, the report is speculative and not confirmed. Second, all I have ever said is both will be around and I will own both formats.
Last, this isn't a contest and I have no need to "concede" anything. But thanks for pointing out yet another reason you shouldn't be so fast to trust things on the internet.
What sucks for me is that many of the movies I want to see haven't even made it to standered def dvds yet.
LONG LIVE VHS!!!
...I miss Betamax..... ;) I actually still have the very first release of Star Wars, no Episode IV A New Hope, on Beta at home. Too bad I don't have a player.
eBay my friend. Keep Beta alive!
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=betamax+player&category0=
LOL! Actually, I got a call yesterday from my brother. They are moving next week and he wanted to know if I wanted them to hold on to our old Betamax player! I told him to keep it, but it's back in CT.
I agree with you Rico, both formats will be around. If Blu-ray becomes the choice for movies, then at least that standardizes things, and everyone can move forward with producing more HD content for home entertainment. I own an HD DVD Player and some HD DVD movies, and I happy with them. In this day, I have no doubt that I will be able to watch those movies on a different machine down the road, so not really concerned. I guess it would be nice if they would start selling some discount price Blu-Ray players, as right now, if I were to purchase one, it would make more sense to buy a low end PS3. The prices right now for Blu-Ray players seem more for the enthusiast market, then the common people buying market. Interesting to see the different strategies Toshiba and Sony used, Toshiba released cheaper players to get them into peoples houses, and Sony went after locking up agreements with content producers. Both sides may have been forced to take those strategies for technical reason, but interesting to see.
On a side note, and not to really spur anymore debate, but it seems that things with more in common, then differences, tend to generate the most passionate of people on both sides, examples being:
Blu-Ray vs HD DVD (Both High Definition formats)
Mac vs PC (Both computers, that basically enable people to do the same things)
Star Trek vs Star Wars (Both Sci-Fi movie and TV franchises)
Coca Cola vs Pepsi Cola (Both Cola Soda Pops)
WWE vs TNA (or Old school WWF vs WCW) (Both professional wrestling organizations with many of the same wrestler having wrestled in both)
Champ car vs IRL (Both North America based open wheel racing series)
Kubricks vs Minimates (Both Mini Block toys based off of popular movie/tv franchises)
Just seems funny to me, that things more similar then different are cause for the most debate.
Always two there are. Yeah, you could make a huge list of competing duos that are all still around and going:
McDonalds vs. Burger King
Home Depot vs. Lowes
Target vs. WalMart
Cats vs. Dogs
Jedi vs. Sith - hehe
the list goes on and on.....
...PC vs Mac
The prices are still pretty high on the BR players. Will we have 4 versions now ?
HD widescreen, HD full, BR widescreen and BR full ?
I think there is something to be said for a dominate video format for when we go in the store and rent something. There is a combo player that plays both but it's really pricy. Right now the LG BH100, sells for about 600-800. When those come down to the $200 range then we could call the format wars over.
Quote from: markinro on January 09, 2008, 08:24:27 AM
...PC vs Mac
The prices are still pretty high on the BR players. Will we have 4 versions now ?
HD widescreen, HD full, BR widescreen and BR full ?
Blu-Ray is just a different type of disc and player. It's still HD content the same as HD-DVD. Capable of 1080p resolution if your HDTV can do that.
Here you go....
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-13855_1-9846712-67.html?tag=cnetfd.mt
Quote from: jedijeff on January 09, 2008, 06:44:21 AM
Old school WWF vs WCW
Now you've gone to darn far WCW was clearly the best wrestling in the early 90's!!!!!!!!!
I am kidding of course :)
Quote from: Blackride on January 09, 2008, 04:33:55 PM
Quote from: jedijeff on January 09, 2008, 06:44:21 AM
Old school WWF vs WCW
Now you've gone to darn far WCW was clearly the best wrestling in the early 90's!!!!!!!!!
I am kidding of course :)
LOL hee hee. I actually felt both had their merit, WWF had better Uppercard performers, and WCW midcard was great with the Cruiserweight division.
:)
Yeah, I actually think this is going to be more Beta vs. VHS, with the winner becoming the ONLY format.
This was interesting news, it seems Blu-ray is taking an early lead in this format war. I'm glad I got a PS3 for X-mas. I still think as soon as the dual format players become priced at an affordable level for the masses the whole issue will become moot.
I hate to say it, but I don't think a dual format DVD is going to work for consumers.
HD DVD Backers to Switch to Blu-ray Soon?
Source: Variety
January 10, 2008
Variety reports that the two remaining studios backing HD DVD could switch sides soon, ending the high-def format war instantly.
The trade has confirmed that Universal's commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended. And Paramount has an escape clause in its HD DVD contract allowing it to release films on Blu-ray Disc after Warner Bros.' decision to back that format exclusively.
Neither studio is ready to throw in the towel immediately, however. Universal is committed to a series of promotions for the high-def format in coming months, and Paramount has said its current plans are to keep supporting HD DVD, which it backed exclusively in August and the deal was to run through this year.
Should Toshiba concede defeat on the format, the decision to drop HD DVD would be made for both studios. But Toshiba doesn't appear ready to do that.
But retailers may force the HD DVD camp's hand: They're unlikely to keep devoting premium shelf space to a dying format, and at this point, the odds are not in HD DVD's favor. With Warners' defection, only Paramount/DreamWorks and Universal remain in the HD DVD camp; Sony, Disney, Fox, Lionsgate remain ardent Blu-ray backers. Warner sister companies New Line and HBO are also shifting allegiance to Blu-ray.
I'm not choosing sides here, I have neither a HD DVD or Blu-Ray.. I think both formats can exist in this world.. but talk around town (entertainment industry) is HD DVD is on it's way out. But only time will tell.
Quote from: StarTrekFanatic5 on January 09, 2008, 10:55:17 PM
I'm not choosing sides here
I think it is silly that these topics turn into people feeling that they need to choose sides. I am not saying you, Kenny or anyone else on these boards are doing that but if you read other articles it's like this is a a Good vs. Evil debate.
In reality these formats are not different in the quality they produce and that's what matters to me.
Quote from: Blackride on January 10, 2008, 05:09:20 AM
In reality these formats are not different in the quality they produce and that's what matters to me.
Actually that's only partially true. Blu-Ray holds about 20 gigs more data which will allow interactive game features and other things and not to mention that HD-DVD has to compress the sound much more than Blu-Ray and from what I have heard from a friend who has both there is a noticeable difference in sound although there is not in picture.
I do think that both formats could exist together but I also think the general public does not want to have to buy two players just to watch their movies. Most people do not have the kind of cash to lay out for that kind of an investment. The one advantage I did see for HD-DVD is that several titles provided both the HD and SD versions on a single disc. That way people who felt like they wanted to someday purchase a player when they could afford one they could still enjoy the movie on their current SD player.
I suppose what we may see if Blu-Ray does come out a decisive winner that some incentives will be given to people who have already purchased the HD-DVD units and movies.
I think the pressure from the big retailers who invest in these products to sell is also going to have a huge impact. There will likely be a move by retailers to push Blu-Ray over HD with the situation as it currently lies and that will diminish HD-DVD even further.
And even though, as I said, I do think both formats could co-exist, I really wish that it would go one way or the other. I'd prefer the industry be standardized. It will mean lower prices quickly on players and movies and the consumer is the one who will benefit from that.
I saw some pictures from the CES convention and it was kind of sad to see only a couple of people at the HD booth and the Blu-Ray booth was packed.
Kevin
I meant picutre when I said there was not a difference, my mistake. I have both and to be honest unless you have a high end audio system you will not tell the difference. I have a lot of money in my audio systems and can tell a difference between Blu-Ray audio and HD-DVD audtio based on which compression or un-conpressed options you use. I am not sure anyone would notice a difference on something below 2k in audio. Just my opinion as always :)
Sadly, I think this will have a huge impact.
http://www.t3.com/news/blu-ray-porn?=35064
Quote from: space_invader64 on January 10, 2008, 03:00:14 PM
Sadly, I think this will have a huge impact.
http://www.t3.com/news/blu-ray-porn?=35064
That will drive Blu-Ray...
"After all, Betamax got beaten down because VHS embraced the filth" From the story....
Again, there will NOT be 2 formats out there. HD-DVD's market penetration isn't nearly large enough to sustain it if the studios back content on Blu-Ray, so we can forget that pipe dream.
So did porn industry get a half billion dollar check from Sony as well? ;)
Actually Sony has been doing everything they can to not support the porn industry in Blu-Ray. They have refused to even work with the porn industry and that industry has had to find manufacturers on their own if they wanted to use Blu-Ray. If HD-DVD is but a byword then that will change.
Kevin
Just read this blurb on Slice of Sci Fi
In the ongoing HD DVD/Blue-ray battle, Toshiba announced today that it will be cutting the price of its HD DVD players 40 to 50 percent.
I don't know if I want to see porn in 1080p. Think of the wrinkles, stubble, extreme close ups, etc..
Anyhoo, I am now begrudgingly in the Blu-Ray camp. We got a free Sharp BD player with the 42 inch Aquos we bought on Sunday.
I will mourn HD-DVD.
Quote from: The IC on January 22, 2008, 01:34:26 PM
I don't know if I want to see porn in 1080p. Think of the wrinkles, stubble, extreme close ups, etc..
Anyhoo, I am now begrudgingly in the Blu-Ray camp. We got a free Sharp BD player with the 42 inch Aquos we bought on Sunday.
I will mourn HD-DVD.
You would be amazed how make-up can mask anything..... :)
The demise of HD DVD
Price cuts by Toshiba on its HD DVD players in the U.S. earlier this month may prove to be "useless resistance" in the battle against the rival Blu-ray Disc optical disc format, according to Gartner.
The market research firm predicts Blu-ray Disc to win the battle against HD DVD by the end of the year.
Following a loss of support from Hollywood studio Warner Bros., Toshiba said it will cut the price of its HD-A3 player in half, to $149.99 from $299.99, while its higher end models, the HD-A30 and HD-A35 will sell for $199.99 and $299.99, respectively.
Online retailer Amazon.com is already reflecting the price cuts, and then some. It's listing the HD-A3 at $126, with the HD-A30 and HD-A35 priced at $153 and $239, respectively.
It's fun being an early adopter! You are always on the edge of your seat.
I bit the bullet and jsut settled with a Pioneer upscaling DVD player. The HDDVD player was about 40 dollars more but things are not looking good.
The only thing now is we will have to wait for HD-DVD titles to be converted to the Blu-Ray format.
Ihave a PS3 so I am hoping Blu-Ray wins out just to avoid buying yet another player. PLus I really wanna see Star Trek in HD.....so Paramount defecting woudl be super sweet.
Last Paramount/DreamWorks HD DVD Releases Next Tuesday
Source: Video Business
February 29, 2008
The March 4 releases Into the Wild and Things We Lost in the Fire will be Paramount Home Entertainment's last titles in the HD DVD format, reports Video Business.
The studio pulled the plug on the HD DVD versions of other titles that had been announced for the format, including DreamWorks Animation's Bee Movie, due March 11, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, due April 1. Their standard DVD versions will come out as planned.
Paramount also has slated There Will Be Blood for standard DVD release on April 8. No HD DVD will be released.
The studio has not yet said what its first Blu-ray Disc releases will be.