HD DVD is getting its metaphorical bum whipped lately and things do not look to be getting any brighter.
The Financial Times has cooked up the latest HD DVD versus Blu-ray rumor and are claiming that Paramount may be close to announcing that they're going Blu-ray exclusive and abandon their multi-million dollar partnership with the HD DVD camp. The rumor is based on sources close to Paramount's deal with Toshiba saying that there is a clause in the contract that allows Paramount to back Blu-ray in the event Warner Bros. goes blu. And wouldn't you know, last week Warner did just that. If Paramount were to jump to Blu-ray then Sony would have a massive choke hold on the HD format war further pushing their movie studio support higher than their current 70% rate. The other question mark in the equation is Dreamworks who are best buds with Paramount and are said to have a similar contract with Toshiba. Oh well, there's always Universal. They got HD DVD's back ... don't they?
[Via Gizmodo, Thanks DjDATZ]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1-08-2008 @ 2:35PM
carl said...
As much as I want to see this happen and become true...
Paramount confirmed that they will not jump ship back to Blu-ray....
Dun Dun DUUUUN
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:43PM
fidgetwidget said...
Trouble is, Warner said the same thing in December, that the rumor of them moving to Blu-ray wasn't true. Its all a money game, and right now Paramount has more to gain staying with HD-DVD for at least a little while longer.
1-08-2008 @ 3:12PM
E.J. said...
Paramount is waiting for THEIR $500 million from Sony to go Blu.
Once the check cleared for Warner, they said a quick good-bye to the HD-DVD format.
1-09-2008 @ 1:42AM
carl jenkins said...
If xbox 360 or the wii came with hd-dvd then hd-dvd would have 4-1 sales advantage.
Bluray sells more because every ps3 comes with one.
The ps3 is a flop but still has a couple of million units sold if half of those users buy one disc it still puts blueray at advantag.
If the wii or 360 came with hd-dvd it would be a whole different story.
As the 360 is thewinner of this generation.
1-08-2008 @ 2:40PM
Oorang said...
The question is, did the consumer decide which HD format they preffered or were they forced to accept what the studios dictated?
Its obvious HD DVD is the better format and that consumers dont really want blu ray (or any other hd movie format for that matter)...consumers just arent ready to move on from SD DVD. Its sad when multi national dictate the terms and dont listen to what the consumer wants.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:49PM
carl said...
You said that the consumers want HD-DVD and not Blu-ray yet the sales are 2:1 in favor of Blu-ray. In terms, yeah the consumer did decide. They werent forced to use Blu-ray on the PS3. They had a choice to either buy a PS3 or not. Thing is, Blu-ray isnt only for movies and it is merely a necessity for the PS3 for Disc Space. (Example of this is Metal Gear Solid 4).
At the end of the day, its what sells, and sorry to tell you but Blu-ray sells more. Consumers buy more Blu-ray than HD-DVD.
1-08-2008 @ 2:54PM
Michael Paul said...
Aw, come on.
Blu-Ray came with the PS3. It's not like a gamer could have picked a BR-free model so his gaming would have been cheaper.
Someday I'll get a PS3, and then I'll be able to use a High Definition DVD player far inferior to my Sampo to play really good looking videos, and I'll still use the Sampo for everything else I own because it's BETTER. The HD-A2 HD-DVD player I have also sucks compared to the Sampo, but that's life...
1-08-2008 @ 2:43PM
bigd7387 said...
They (Paramount) released a statement today that they were staying HD-DVD only. For what it's worth.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:44PM
ze said...
who cares..I bought mine for the games.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 3:43PM
MrKniceGuy said...
Exactly. and you are why that "70% market share" statistic is skewed.. you have a Blew-Ray player but you don't use it to watch movies! In case you didn't realize, Warner is in the movie business, not games. So while Sony is saying "we've got more players out there" YOU aren't using it!
The HD-DVD addon for 360 is a more reliable number because anyone buying one will be watching movies with it! Personally, I will not be buying a Blew-ray player until SD DVD is gone (which isn't going to happen for a long, long time) and I'm going to get all those leftover HD-DVD movies for hella cheep. :)
1-08-2008 @ 2:47PM
Josh said...
I could really care less who wins the format war...as long as there's an overall winner so the consumer doesn't have to suffer through it.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:49PM
Project Ekim said...
Personally i think it should be blu ray that wins its just all around better, more capacity, more space, however i think it should be called HD dvd, i mean it makes more sence if we go from VHS to DVD to HDDVD to mostlikely digital Downloads. I think the average person could see the difference more easily between DVD and HD DVD and realize that "o it says HD so its better. Now we have blu ray which does not even spell the word blue properly its just going to screw people up.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:52PM
sambob117 said...
the list for HD DVD's studios is dwindling. who's left?
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 2:53PM
carl said...
Actually Fidgetwidget, Warner Hold out on moving to Blu-ray till this past week is because they are waiting for the Holiday Numbers to kick in. And the clear winner was Blu-ray so they said that it make sense to go Blu-ray because it was giving in more profits to the company..
Paramount could probably do the same with there 'Clause'. But dont expect an announcement any time soon.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 3:00PM
UNSCleric said...
This site sure loves reporting Blu-Ray news. Good thing they're a sponsor.
Reply
1-09-2008 @ 7:06AM
jango fett said...
weblogs inc is owned by aol which is owned by time warner. either that or the writters of x3f dont realise it and do give them publicity for free without being forced to.
1-08-2008 @ 3:05PM
Tony said...
I'm glad I've waited on all of this. For me it mostly comes down to the simple fact that I just don't want to spend 2 to 3 times as much on a high definition format instead of a plain old DVD. I just don't care enough.
So waiting has two good benefits. I wind up avoiding the format wars and I will probably get in when the prices match normal DVDs more. In the meantime, no thanks.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 3:15PM
robbie said...
that is why i sold my hd-dvd player on ebay about a year ago....i saw this coming a mile away. I love my xbox for the games and my ps3 for the movies.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 3:16PM
Tom said...
HD-DVD and Blu-Ray can both suck it.
Digital downloads are the future.
Reply
1-08-2008 @ 5:06PM
Stephen said...
Word!