Paramount snubs BluRay

ntlbell

with paramount chosing to snub blu ray and choose HDDVD will this have any impact on PS 3 sales?

savemejebus

doubtful seeing as fox decided to snub hd-dvd on the same day

upscaled DVD for the win

projectmayhem

really strange move by paramount. they must have sales figures to warrant such a move, but all the sales movements right now (stateside & europe particularly) is that blu-ray software is the dominant format, while hd-dvd hardware sales are more dominant (though ps3 sales don't seem to count)

LookingFor

It is a strange move if you look at disc sales, but if you look below the surface, you can see more of what's going on.

Apparently Paramount and Dreamworks were paid $150m to release titles exclusively on HD-DVD for up to 18 months. And the deal doesn't include all titles - certain titles, like Stephen Speilberg's, can be released on Blu-ray in those 18 months or whatever. It's basically just the HD-DVD camp coughing up a lot of cash for some temporary perception improvement.

Why it makes sense, is that there isn't a huge amount of money to be made in either format right now, so taking $150m upfront in exchange for 18 months of Blu-ray sales probably isn't a bad deal for them. They can make all the money they want on Blu-ray from the end of 08 or so, and by then the market should also be much bigger, so it's not really a losing situation for them.

I don't really see it affecting PS3 at all when you look at the full details of the deal, and that Blu-ray is still easily the more attractive format from a studio support point of view. There was a time when Blu-ray didn't have any support from either Paramount or Warner, but it still was more attractive even then.

projectmayhem

LookingFor wrote:

I don't really see it affecting PS3 at all when you look at the full details of the deal, and that Blu-ray is still easily the more attractive format from a studio support point of view. There was a time when Blu-ray didn't have any support from either Paramount or Warner, but it still was more attractive even then.

indeed, and with fox shifting focus to blu-ray (i assume "shifting focus" means they didn't get a handsome pay off) it makes blu-ray more attractive to studios, with the mentality being "well if they're doing it..."

hopefully the fox move brings high-def 24 boxsets to us

stereo_steve

- $4+ BD50 replication costs
- Pain in the ass BD-J development
- Creating titles for players that don't exist
- Gamer crowd as consumers as opposed to a solid base of standalones that keeps growing with off-the-chart attachment rate.
-Costs about $300 to retool an existing DVD line to print HD DVD's ( ~40,000 titles a day)
-Blu-ray requires $1 mil + ( ~10,000 titles a day)

These reasons alone are enough to justify their complete support for HD DVD.

I personally want blu-ray to dissapear so that we can all get on with HD. The public don't feel safe buying into HD media at the moment.

Sony got Foxes support and Disneys support through lying about their format. I wouldn't be suprised if Sony pushed them to HD DVD more than Toshiba. The PS3 hasn't delivered like they said it would. BD50's are a ridiculous price and the rumour is that there is something like a 40% failure rate at the moment.
There isn't even a player in existence at the moment that supports the format!

mathias

Both of the new HD formats are dead ducks if you ask me , they will both end up as connoiseur only formats , much like DVD audio and SACD. ( both of which have never taken off like CD)

The move from analog to digital , thats VHS to DVD , was a major one with the value of the move seen by most people , there is no percieved value in switching from DVD , people just dont see anything wrong with DVD that needs changing.

The other killer blow to the HD format switch is the need for an expensive flatscreen or projector to appreciate it , so its not just the cost of the media and the player , you are talking a major investment here ,

But whatever chance either of these formats has of permanently establishing itself , there is practically none with the studios squabbling as they are.

The sales figures for these HD formats tells the story ,Blu ray may be outselling HD-DVD , but both combined sales added ,they are a pittance compared to DVD , and are likely to stay that way.

If its not broke dont fix it , I know very few people that are interested in either format , most people just dont care !

I don't really see how it would put people off buying a PS3. It would affect standalone blu ray players more. Silly decision though, all it will do is drag out this annoying format war when it looked like it was coming to a close.

notahappycamper

I'm reeeeeeeeeeeeally pissed about this was hoping to get "Blades of Glory" on 3rd September but more importantly it looks like "Transformers" will be a HD DVD exclusive :eek: :eek: :mad:

AnCapaillMor

Been going on for a while, universal have some deal with them too. The most important one is that the first high res prono came out on blu-ray. the movie exclusive will be going on too, Lord of the rings will hd-dvd exclusive, Lucas announced a while back(even before blu-ray was out) that Starwars will be blu-ray. You'd dell, sony behind blu-ray at the start and Miscosoft and Warner, Warner have chaged over already. Expect afew more studios to jump to either, hd-dvd's had to pull out something out to keep up.

Theres still some hope for Transformers. The deal with paramount is for 18 months. If blu ray can mainain the lead it has had over HD DVD lately it could get released on blu ray when the deal is up.
This would totally depend on Sony slashing the price of its stand alone blu ray players and shifting a few more PS3's during the next 18 months though.

AnCapaillMor

The answer to all our problems dual format players. Ain't seen any proce on em yet. 725 cheapest on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/LG-BH100-SUPER-BLU-RAY-DISC-HD-DVD-DUAL-COMBO-PLAYER_W0QQitemZ200143673971QQihZ010QQcategoryZ15077QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

RE*AC*TOR

mathias wrote:

Both of the new HD formats are dead ducks if you ask me , they will both end up as connoiseur only formats , much like DVD audio and SACD. ( both of which have never taken off like CD)

The move from analog to digital , thats VHS to DVD , was a major one with the value of the move seen by most people , there is no percieved value in switching from DVD , people just dont see anything wrong with DVD that needs changing.

The other killer blow to the HD format switch is the need for an expensive flatscreen or projector to appreciate it , so its not just the cost of the media and the player , you are talking a major investment here ,

But whatever chance either of these formats has of permanently establishing itself , there is practically none with the studios squabbling as they are.

The sales figures for these HD formats tells the story ,Blu ray may be outselling HD-DVD , but both combined sales added ,they are a pittance compared to DVD , and are likely to stay that way.

If its not broke dont fix it , I know very few people that are interested in either format , most people just dont care !

QFT.

xanthor

Deleted User wrote:

Theres still some hope for Transformers. The deal with paramount is for 18 months. .

^ What he said. There a (fairly) good chance that by the time the second movie hits cinemas the first will be on Blu-Ray.

notahappycamper

xanthor wrote:

^ What he said. There a (fairly) good chance that by the time the second movie hits cinemas the first will be on Blu-Ray.

Can't wait that long!!

Why can't they just cater for all their customer needs both HD DVD and Blu ray? Movies will still be released by certain studios for both formats.

FutureGuy

savemejebus wrote:

upscaled DVD for the win

You said it. Bough a 1080p upscaler recently, and tbh there ain't a whole lot of difference.

Theboinkmaster

FutureGuy wrote:

You said it. Bough a 1080p upscaler recently, and tbh there ain't a whole lot of difference.

Seconded - even the ps3 is an excellent upscaler

I'm just ignoring the whole blu ray -vs- hd dvd and am quite content with my upscaled dvds as most people are

A new 3rd format will emerge in a few years with full support and will offer the leap from dvd which vhs to dvd did

I don't understand seeing on lots of different forums, people arguing why one format will beat the other, quoting sales figures etc. Such a waste of time - both will ultimately lose

jamieh

Interesting stuff from transformers director:

Yesterday:
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/9544/10568/michael-bay-blu-ray-hddvd-paramount.phtml

Today:
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/9572/10596/michael-bay-u-turns-transformers-sequel.phtml

AnCapaillMor

Bet he drove in and flew out in a newly aquired gulf stream.

WarZoneBrother

xanthor wrote:

^ What he said. There a (fairly) good chance that by the time the second movie hits cinemas the first will be on Blu-Ray.

maybe they will release both movies on 1 dual layer blu ray disc..