Last studios to drop HD DVD in weeks?
updated 11:20 pm EST, Wed January 9, 2008
Paramount and Universal
Both Paramount and Universal are biding their time and follow Warner's switch to Blu-ray within a matter of weeks, according to established movie writer Bill Hunt of Digital Bits. Sources "second to none" allege that these two remaining major supports of HD DVD are ready to switch to releasing Blu-ray movies but are waiting on the right conditions to announce the move, regardless of obligations. While Universal is waiting on its current contract to expire by February, Paramount is simply waiting to have one or more titles ready before it exercises its now corroborated opt-out clause from its HD DVD exclusivity deal, the insiders say.
If accurate, the transition would all but immediately end the conflict between Blu-ray and HD DVD, placing all major studios in support of the former HD disc standard. The Warner shift is already understood to have given roughly 70 percent of all HD movie releases to Blu-ray and resulted in the HD DVD Promotional Group postponing its keynote for this week's Consumer Electronics Show, which has now been canceled outright.
It's all in the name
01/10, 12:02am reply
This war had nothing to do with technology. It had everything (mostly) to do with the name. HD DVD was too generic. BluRay sounded good. Sounded positive and unique.
Jeffhalmos
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Joined: Jan 2008
The HD Format War Is Over
01/10, 07:48am reply
Bill Hunt has been getting it right for many years, not just by accurately predicting that Blu-ray would win over HD DVD some time ago, but also going all the way back to the other format war between DVD and DIVX (not the codec) circa 1998-1999. HD DVD fanboys may not have liked what he's said over the past year, but he's been dead on correct, and that's what counts.
MacnTX
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Joined: Apr 2004
Finally
01/10, 08:18am reply
At least we can now get past this whole Beta/VHS-esque affair and move on so that wary consumers can commit. This will allow volume of sales to go up and prices to come down. We should have been past the point of "recouping" R&D costs long ago and on to more reasonable pricing. Just hope most Blu-Ray manufacturers will realize that slow adoption wasn't all about format, but also the high cost of adoption.
TomSawyer
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Joined: Jan 2008
Microsoft's next move
01/10, 01:26pm reply
Should be to roll out a Blu-Ray dongle player just like they did for HD-DVD. Will it be $199? Would be nice otherwise I'm going to be looking at getting a PS3 sometime this year...
legacyb4
Mac Elite
Joined: May 2001
The Days
01/10, 11:09pm reply
of 5" disks are coming to an end, period. Regardless of it's format... Blu ray will be forgotten in 4-5 years. *Also, Reggie Jackson will join the cast of two & 1/2 men as Charlie Sheen's long-lost, scheming uncle.
chotty
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Joined: Jan 2003
yup..
01/21, 05:40pm reply
all is in name...
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
consider
01/21, 06:23pm reply
it ended
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
???
01/21, 06:24pm reply
not going to be remebered
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
Microsoft's next move
01/21, 06:37pm reply
Should be to roll out a Blu-Ray dongle player just like they did for HD-DVD. Will it be $199? Would be nice otherwise I'm going to be looking at getting a PS3 sometime this year...
thewebdrives
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007