Universal seen clear of obligations to HD DVD, may switch to Blu-ray
The two remaining studios backing HD DVD could soon switch sides to Blu-ray, ending the next-generation high-definition format war instantly, according to a published report.
Variety claims confirmation that Universal's commitment to endorsing HD DVD exclusively has ended. The publication further states that Paramount -- the format's other backer -- has an escape clause in its contract that allows it to release flicks on Blu-ray now that Warner Bros. has decided to throw its weight completely behind the rival digital video disc format.
Still, it's reported that neither studio is ready switch sides just yet. For its part, Universal is said to be committed to a series of upcoming HD DVD promotions, and Paramount has said its current plans are to keep supporting HD DVD, which it backed exclusively in August.
News of Universal's contractual arrangements with the HD DVD camp comes just one week after Warner Bros. said it would switch to releasing high-definition movies only in the Blu-ray disc format, abandoning a neutral strategy that saw its catalog available for both HD DVD and Blu-ray next-generation DVD players.
That news was almost immediately followed by reports that Paramount would also soon drop its support of the Toshiba-backed HD DVD format in favor of the largely Sony-based Blu-ray. Paramount, however, has denied the reports.
Should Toshiba eventually concede defeat on the format front-lines, Variety believes the decision to put HD DVD to rest would be made by both studios. Given the recent shakeup in the next-gen format wars, it's further speculated that retailers are unlikely to keep devoting premium shelf space to the ailing HD DVD format much longer, regardless of the studios' intentions.
With Warners' planned departure from HD DVD, only Paramount and Universal remain as supporters. Meanwhile, Blu-ray now boasts a lineup of proponents that include Sony, Disney, Fox, and Lionsgate, in addition to Warner and its sister companies New Line and HBO.
Last summer, Blockbuster also threw its weight behind Blu-ray.
Variety claims confirmation that Universal's commitment to endorsing HD DVD exclusively has ended. The publication further states that Paramount -- the format's other backer -- has an escape clause in its contract that allows it to release flicks on Blu-ray now that Warner Bros. has decided to throw its weight completely behind the rival digital video disc format.
Still, it's reported that neither studio is ready switch sides just yet. For its part, Universal is said to be committed to a series of upcoming HD DVD promotions, and Paramount has said its current plans are to keep supporting HD DVD, which it backed exclusively in August.
News of Universal's contractual arrangements with the HD DVD camp comes just one week after Warner Bros. said it would switch to releasing high-definition movies only in the Blu-ray disc format, abandoning a neutral strategy that saw its catalog available for both HD DVD and Blu-ray next-generation DVD players.
That news was almost immediately followed by reports that Paramount would also soon drop its support of the Toshiba-backed HD DVD format in favor of the largely Sony-based Blu-ray. Paramount, however, has denied the reports.
Should Toshiba eventually concede defeat on the format front-lines, Variety believes the decision to put HD DVD to rest would be made by both studios. Given the recent shakeup in the next-gen format wars, it's further speculated that retailers are unlikely to keep devoting premium shelf space to the ailing HD DVD format much longer, regardless of the studios' intentions.
With Warners' planned departure from HD DVD, only Paramount and Universal remain as supporters. Meanwhile, Blu-ray now boasts a lineup of proponents that include Sony, Disney, Fox, and Lionsgate, in addition to Warner and its sister companies New Line and HBO.
Last summer, Blockbuster also threw its weight behind Blu-ray.
Comments
Give me
Matrix Trilogy
LOTR Trilogy
Borne Trilogy
Both Star Wars Trilogy's
Kill Bill
Every Pixar film
in 1080p on blu-ray
and I'll die a happy man
That's unpossible! Yeah, I know you can only sign up for notification but that's a Universal title and if they had no plan to switch then that listing would be a complete paradox.
Regardless of how bad Warners switch really hurt, it has to be the perception change that makes it worse. Hopefully this can go quickly and cleanly with minimal kicking and screaming from Toshiba.
Firefly on Blu Ray?
That's unpossible! Yeah, I know you can only sign up for notification but that's a Universal title and if they had no plan to switch then that listing would be a complete paradox.
I was under the impression that the "Firefly" was under the 20th Century FOX umbrella and "Serenity" was under the Universal umbrella.
(Is FIrefly Universal? I thought it was Fox, and only the movie sequel Serenity was Universal.)
I was under the impression that the "Firefly" was under the FOX umbrella and "Serenity" was under the Universal umbrella.
I stand corrected, you are completely right.
I'm just excited at the possibility of seeing Firefly show up in a nice blue case rather than one of those brownish red ones.
Wait- it's only January?
Oh Santa Steve- Please give me a blu-ray AppleTV!!!
Wait- it's only January?
Between CES and MacWorld, my Xmas does come in January.
(Let's not forget AVN, either)
I'm glad this is going quickly. I think Toshiba should still keep the technology around but for Optical Media back ups. I really think they hurt by not releasing hd-dvd burners. There are a lot of hd-dvd / blu-ray hybrid drives out there. I would love to have 31gb backups for $1.00 each. Otherwise it would be a lot of wasted $.
Also, Microsoft is pushing hard for HD-DVD.
Two good reasons to prefer one standard over the other, don't you think?
The local Blockbuster was one of the ones "grandfathered" in to both Blu-Ray and HD DVD. Near as I can tell, no one rents HD DVD... I've never seen more than 1 disc checked out. Blu-Ray always has half a dozen checked out.
NetFlix rents both.
Blu-ray just sounds cooler than the alternative's clunky alphabet soup.
Also, Microsoft is pushing hard for HD-DVD.
Two good reasons to prefer one standard over the other, don't you think?
I think HD-DVD would have won had MS used HD-DVD in every 360. By the time Blu-ray came on the scene HD-DVD would have been to prevalent to allow Blu-ray to take hold.
I think HD-DVD would have won had MS used HD-DVD in every 360. By the time Blu-ray came on the scene HD-DVD would have been to prevalent to allow Blu-ray to take hold.
Don't be ridiculous, no one buys a game console to watch movi....oh, wait, yeah sorry my bad
Here's to the next decade of Blue-Ray DRM causing us random playback issues.
I'll let you know when I finally have one of those. 50 discs later, and still no playback issues.