High-Def > Blu-ray Content
Paramount and Dreamworks to Exclusively Support HD DVD!
NeilNo:
Whoa Breaking News!!! Surprise announcement from Paramount and Dreamworks!!
Paramount and DreamWorks Animation Each Declare Exclusive Support for HD DVD
Movies Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment Including Paramount
Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage,
Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be Released Exclusively in HD DVD
Exclusive Program To Begin with Release of "Blades of Glory," Followed by
"Transformers" and "Shrek the Third," Films Representing More Than $1.5
Billion in Combined Worldwide Box Office
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 -- 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.
source: http://www.viacom.com/NEWS/NewsText.aspx?RID=1042073
Paramount Drops Blu-ray Support; Does Not Include Spielberg Movies
Despite selling more movies on the Blu-ray format, Paramount has announced today that they will begin supporting HD DVD exclusively. This move, rumored to be driven by a $150M exclusivity deal with the HD DVD group, comes after Paramount began favoring Blu-ray releases with higher quality video encodings and more HD features. The deal covers all of Paramount's properties excluding those directed by Steven Spielberg.
The move will inevitably lengthen a format war which should never have been. Consumers will unfortunately suffer the most, as they will be forced to support a format which is being supported by corporations instead of consumers. No word was given as to how long the exclusivity agreement is for, but rumors indicate through 2008.
Source: http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=412
These announcements have just changed the format war in a big way! Being format neutral has some some advantages indeed! ;D
krazy:
While FOX counters Paramounts announcement by reaffirming thier Blu-Ray Exclusivity:
After months of silence, Fox Home Entertainment is planning to issue an announcement later today renewing its support for the Blu-ray format, and outlining the studio's upcoming release plans.
The move comes after this morning's shocking revelation that Paramount and DreamWorks have switched allegiances exclusively to rival HD DVD, news which has left those on all sides of the format war blind-sided.
We've just received official confirmation from Fox today that in response to Paramount's announcement, they are currently fast-tracking a press release reiterating their exclusive support for Blu-ray, as well as providing long-awaited details on their future release plans.
Though Fox (who also distributes MGM titles) was one of the early and most vocal major studio backers of Blu-ray, the studio has largely stepped out of the high-def sweepstakes for the past several months. Neither Fox nor MGM has released nor announced a single Blu-ray title on the format since 'Hoosiers' in early March. They also cancelled a huge slate of planned winter high-def releases, including such hits as 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' 'From Hell' and 'Me, Myself & Irene,' which have yet to be rescheduled.
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/MGM/Fox/Industry_Forecasts/Disc_Announcements/Fox_Set_to_Renew_Blu-ray_Commitment,_Announce_Future_Release_Plans/875
pchin:
--- Quote from: NeilNo on Aug 21, 2007 at 02:47 AM ---Paramount and DreamWorks Animation Each Declare Exclusive Support for HD DVD
--- End quote ---
Whoa...what a pleasant surprise news! A wonderful news indeed for all HD DVD purists! Phew...Transformers & Shriek 3 will be exclusive to HD DVD...
Well, I guess for all Neutrals this news has no adverse effect. :) However, Paramount's move will surely prolong the format war (and the agony)... Thus, HD DVD won't go down easily w/out a good fight!
Munskie:
The Paramount news just pulled the rug under my feet. My first gen HD-A1 just became a happier camper. The way to go now is neutral. This war aint coming to an end soon.
Unless Paramount changes its mind...the closest thing that a Transformer HD title will come to my PS3 is the downloaded HD trailer......
Mouldingo:
A $150 million Microsoft bribe is more like it for the HalfDead DVD format...
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