01/08/2008, 8:35am, EST
Tuesday, January 8thParamount to return to Blu-ray?
Film studio Paramount is likely to return to the Blu-ray camp after Warner's highly publicized abandonment of HD DVD, according to sources reportedly in touch with the Financial Times. Those "familiar with the situation" claim that the Hollywood firm has a clause that will let it drop its months-long HD DVD contract for exclusivity in the case that Warner defects. This will save the company from having to produce HD movies in the disc format regardless of whether genuine support exists, says the report. DreamWorks Animation, whose movies are distributed by Paramount, may also follow suit.
As late as yesterday afternoon, Paramount spokespeople had drawn attention by noting that the studio would continue to support HD DVD but yet decided against announcing any movies that use the format at CES. The company has yet to comment on the latest speculation.
If announced, a conversion back to Blu-ray would all but end conflict between the rival formats. Warner's backing of Blu-ray has left HD DVD with just 30 percent of the market, split chiefly between Paramount and Universal. The effect has not deterred Toshiba and others from announcing HD DVD-based products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but is widely acknowledged as having shaken the confidence of the format's supporters. The HD DVD Promotional Group canceled its keynote for CES shortly after the Warner announcement and has not rescheduled the presentation for later.
Such a move could also hasten the adoption of Blu-ray in computers and movie readers, as manufacturers that are not committed solely to one format (such as Sony and Toshiba) have either had to avoid Blu-ray or HD DVD altogether or else offer both at the same time, such as the option of either standard for HP's new desktops or LG's Super Multi Blu multi-format movie player.
Filed under: industry
Other story tags: sony, blu-ray, Toshiba, HD DVD, Warner, Paramount
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Shame on HD DVD, shame on DVD+R...
and we could extend that to... Pepsi, Windows, etc... all copy-cats.
Those Pepsi drink'n Chevy drive'n Windows usin' HD DVD watch'n DVD+R users... themz is the worst kind!
The Shuttle chassis is much bigger than a Mac mini, and from what I've seen more expensive by the time you configure it.
But who knows? Maybe this price increase is making the way for a new desktop.
How does trying to pick a format for the next generation DVD turn into choosing a side in a fight? You make it sound like they chose one poorly, when, in fact, both parties made their decisions long ago, before either had any semblance of knowing who was going to 'win'.
Digital is coming on strong and both formats stood to lose if they kept sitting in the corner and bickering.
See: http://www.iSights.org/2008/01/the-blu-rayhd-d.html
Lack of competition has never resulted in lower prices. Don't get me wrong - I love Blueray. But just don't expect it to get cheap anytime soon.