Paramount to offer movies in HD DVD

[SRW1000]

From Yahoo News:

LOS ANGELES - Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG announced Monday that they will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format rather than Blu-ray, a move that further complicates the race between the competing technologies.
 
The move by the two studios will include the upcoming blockbuster "Shrek the Third" and 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.

"Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience," said Brad Grey, chairman and chief executive of Paramount Pictures. "I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount."

The competition between Blu-ray and HD DVD has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Studios and retailers have been choosing sides.

"Spider-Man 3" will only be available in the Blu-ray DVD format when it is released by Sony Pictures.

Likewise, people with Blu-ray players won't be able to enjoy the action-thriller "The Bourne Ultimatum," which Universal Pictures will release only in HD DVD.

Looks like the battles in the format wars are starting to heat up.

Scott

[SRW1000]

From the official press release:

Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSE: DWA), 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."

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.

Very interesting news.  It will be interesting to see if this has an impact on Blockbuster or Target and their earlier exclusivity announcements.

Scott

[CrashCamomilli]

I'm content to still watch from the sidelines.

The headlines often give the impression that this is a large battle, but until the sale volume increases several fold, these companies are still fighting over a mole hill, and preventing any true growth of the HD movie market

[Steve Mann]

Just as I was ready to make a commitment to Blu-Ray... I'm glad I waited. Looks like the war is just getting started.

[klwillis45]

Bring on the cheap, reliable dual-format players and end this silliness already.

[gparris]

klwillis45:
I am waiting for the new dual format player from Samsung to come out for review and I will post it's operation and features in the listings I have created in this forum.

For those fence-sitters: Good  for you, wait it out.

But for the rest of us, a HD-A1 used will do for your HD "fix" AND if you can find a upgraded Samsung BD-P1000 for Blu-ray, too, it must might work for now for having BOTH FORMAT PLAYERS:
Many discounts abound on these players and then:
You have both types of discs to play...and are "format neutral".
Many folks have XBOX 360s and have added that HD-DVD drive (now price-reduced), along with buying a PS3 (for games and Blu-ray), including some forum members.

All Paramount/Dreamworks did is make HD-DVD a bit more "out there" instead of Universal/Focus Pictures/NBC just hanging all by itself.

Probably a "universal" HD-DVD/Blu-ray player (that supports all audio codecs unlike the first one by LG) is right around the corner with this latest news, maybe coming at that pricepoint coming sometime next year.

[Bebop]

From the official press release:



Very interesting news.  It will be interesting to see if this has an impact on Blockbuster or Target and their earlier exclusivity announcements.

Scott

I don't see any impact either ways. The percentage of BR and HD DVD owners are just too small right now to matter.

This is really strange. Either there was money changed hands between Toshiba or Sony somehow pis*ed Paramount off that we don't know of.

[JDrama]

Looks like things are getting interesting in the HD format wars. Especially in light of the amount of the announced victories for Blu-Ray in the press in the past month (Blockbuster and Target). I just find it funny that people are speculating that Toshiba paid off Paramount and Dreamworks for the exclusive rights to the their titles. That is obviously part of the game in gaining the upper hand in the marketplace.
 
  I certainly recall after buying my XA1 walking into Best Buy and seeing the first version of the Blu-Ray being displayed on the most prominent display in their showcase theatre. I recalled how crappy it looked as if you remember Sony had some major problems with the video on their first players. But every salesperson was talking about how far superior Blu-Ray was to HD DVD. They had no explanaion for the crappy picture saying they thought it looked great and it was 1080p not 1080i like HD DVD.  The Toshiba HD DVD palyers were hidden over an isle off the beaten path with no display.  Sony obviously had paid major money to Best Buy for the product placement and to talk up the product. Best Buy knew that Blu-Ray was not a superior product but this is America and in America money talks.

  This announcement is obviously not going to decide the format wars and the market penetration is still not signifigant. But with the prices of HD DVD players dropping coupled with  the amount of households with HD TV's increasing this could make for an interesting holiday selling season.

[SRW1000]

I don't see any impact either ways. The percentage of BR and HD DVD owners are just too small right now to matter.

This is really strange. Either there was money changed hands between Toshiba or Sony somehow pis*ed Paramount off that we don't know of.

I think this will certainly have an impact.  Although the percentages are low today, this agreement is said to be effective for 18 months.  That's two holiday season's worth of sales.

If the rumored HD DVD price cuts (via cheap Chinese players) actually happen this year, the HD media market could see a big shift.  I don't think Target or Blockbuster will be willing to walk away from that money, considering the box office hits from this summer.

As far as money goes, according to this New York Times article:

Paramount and DreamWorks Animation together will receive about $150 million in financial incentives for their commitment to HD DVD, according to two Viacom executives with knowledge of the deal but who asked not to be identified.

The incentives will come in a combination of cash and promotional guarantees. Toshiba, for instance, will use the release of "Shrek the Third" as part of an HD DVD marketing campaign.

That seems like a fairly good bargain for the HD DVD group, in what may be the defining years of the HD media wars.

Scott

[Bebop]

I just can't picture kids crying to their parent they wanted a HD version of Shrek or Transformers instead of regular DVD.  

It's either a good deal or delaying the inevitable (who knows:confused: ).  Universal was the lone HD DVD hold out till yesterday.

I don't really care who wins, just get it over with. I already have a HD DVD player and don't minded getting a BR player for under $200.

[Bebop]

Here is an interesting take on the Paramount's deal from the director of Transformers.

First the response was negative and now his post is no where to be found.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6228

The next day he posted this:

http://www.michaelbay.com/blog/index.html

[flash]

I am waiting for the new dual format player from Samsung to come out for review and I will post it's operation and features in the listings I have created in this forum.

I think you should pick up 2 of them and give me one. :rock:

HERE is the new Samsung player and I'll jump on it when it drops to a few hundred dollars.