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Paramount and Dreamworks have both announced deals to release their films exclusively on HD DVD format.
At a time when most of the major film studios are backing Blu-ray, the rival format, this may come as a strange move. Until now, only Universal were fully supporting HD DVD exclusively, with Warner Bros sitting on the fence and releasing films in both formats. However, when you take a look at the details, Paramount were offered $50 million and Dreamworks $100 million to only support HD DVD, you can see that this move by the HD DVD camp (namely Toshiba and Microsoft) is more of a desperate move to shift the balance back from Blu-ray.
So far Blu-ray rentals have shot past HD DVD in terms of numbers, helped by Blockbuster starting to stock only Blu-ray. Blu-ray players including the PS3 outnumber HD DVD in the home, though without PS3 it works out the other way around. But the issue here is that while neither format shows sign of winning again many consumers won't go near HD formats.
Had Paramount kept to releasing on both formats it would arguably by only a matter of time before Blu-ray took over. Michael Bay reacted strongly on his own site to the news that Transformers would only see an HD DVD release, but then retracted his comments, explaining that he had been to a dinner party with 3 Blu-ray owning friends that night and they were upset over the decision. Stephen Spielberg has reportedly asked that his films are still available on both formats, which Paramount seem contractually obliged to do.
Despite both formats having many pros and cons, it will only be a matter of time before one of them wins out and becomes the dominant format. Of course, by then some of the early adopters will have bought all their films on the other format and will be looking at replacing them all over again…
At a time when most of the major film studios are backing Blu-ray, the rival format, this may come as a strange move. Until now, only Universal were fully supporting HD DVD exclusively, with Warner Bros sitting on the fence and releasing films in both formats. However, when you take a look at the details, Paramount were offered $50 million and Dreamworks $100 million to only support HD DVD, you can see that this move by the HD DVD camp (namely Toshiba and Microsoft) is more of a desperate move to shift the balance back from Blu-ray.
So far Blu-ray rentals have shot past HD DVD in terms of numbers, helped by Blockbuster starting to stock only Blu-ray. Blu-ray players including the PS3 outnumber HD DVD in the home, though without PS3 it works out the other way around. But the issue here is that while neither format shows sign of winning again many consumers won't go near HD formats.
Had Paramount kept to releasing on both formats it would arguably by only a matter of time before Blu-ray took over. Michael Bay reacted strongly on his own site to the news that Transformers would only see an HD DVD release, but then retracted his comments, explaining that he had been to a dinner party with 3 Blu-ray owning friends that night and they were upset over the decision. Stephen Spielberg has reportedly asked that his films are still available on both formats, which Paramount seem contractually obliged to do.
Despite both formats having many pros and cons, it will only be a matter of time before one of them wins out and becomes the dominant format. Of course, by then some of the early adopters will have bought all their films on the other format and will be looking at replacing them all over again…
But surely having mostly Blu-ray in shops means the PS3 is more useful, anyway?
Besides. I still love my PS3...
Anyway, who buys HD discs in shops? Far too expensive, especially in GAME. If you've got an HD DVD player you might as well import half the discs from the US (all region free) and save money. The rest you can get online from Play, Amazon etc for £10-£19. Sendit has a good selection for a decent price too (though a few are still over priced).
Anyway. No sign of the tide turning in the short term, both formats currently have their strengths in the market, though Blu-ray is still outselling HD DVD.
Besides. I still love my PS3...
Anyway, who buys HD discs in shops? Far too expensive, especially in GAME. If you've got an HD DVD player you might as well import half the discs from the US (all region free) and save money. The rest you can get online from Play, Amazon etc for £10-£19. Sendit has a good selection for a decent price too (though a few are still over priced).
Anyway. No sign of the tide turning in the short term, both formats currently have their strengths in the market, though Blu-ray is still outselling HD DVD.
GAME focuses mainly on Blu-Ray (to my knowledge). I'd like to see more HD DVD out and about, especially as it will give people less reason to buy the Sony Doorstop...I mean... PlayStation 3.
This side of the pond it looks as if Woolies have gone Blu-ray exclusive. It's not really any sort of major blow to the HD DVD industry, being as the UK sales of discs are not greatly significant in the whole scheme of things, but if we see this trend being rolled out across the US as well then it will make a difference.
Having discs on shop shelves increases the visability and awareness of the format and if only one format is being displayed this will eventually lead to it becoming dominant. No-one is going to buy the hardware, however cheap, if they don't see the support from the movies and if you ignore the technological early adopters then most people, even if they eventually buy online, will look to the trends of the high street.
Having discs on shop shelves increases the visability and awareness of the format and if only one format is being displayed this will eventually lead to it becoming dominant. No-one is going to buy the hardware, however cheap, if they don't see the support from the movies and if you ignore the technological early adopters then most people, even if they eventually buy online, will look to the trends of the high street.
More like a blow to dreamworks and paramount then really.
Paramount and Dreamworks have both announced deals to release their films exclusively on HD DVD format.
At a time when most of the major film studios are backing Blu-ray, the rival format, this may come as a strange move. Until now, only Universal were fully supporting HD DVD exclusively, with Warner Bros sitting on the fence and releasing films in both formats. However, when you take a look at the details, Paramount were offered $50 million and Dreamworks $100 million to only support HD DVD, you can see that this move by the HD DVD camp (namely Toshiba and Microsoft) is more of a desperate move to shift the balance back from Blu-ray.
So far Blu-ray rentals have shot past HD DVD in terms of numbers, helped by Blockbuster starting to stock only Blu-ray. Blu-ray players including the PS3 outnumber HD DVD in the home, though without PS3 it works out the other way around. But the issue here is that while neither format shows sign of winning again many consumers won't go near HD formats.
Had Paramount kept to releasing on both formats it would arguably by only a matter of time before Blu-ray took over. Michael Bay reacted strongly on his own site to the news that Transformers would only see an HD DVD release, but then retracted his comments, explaining that he had been to a dinner party with 3 Blu-ray owning friends that night and they were upset over the decision. Stephen Spielberg has reportedly asked that his films are still available on both formats, which Paramount seem contractually obliged to do.
Despite both formats having many pros and cons, it will only be a matter of time before one of them wins out and becomes the dominant format. Of course, by then some of the early adopters will have bought all their films on the other format and will be looking at replacing them all over again…
At a time when most of the major film studios are backing Blu-ray, the rival format, this may come as a strange move. Until now, only Universal were fully supporting HD DVD exclusively, with Warner Bros sitting on the fence and releasing films in both formats. However, when you take a look at the details, Paramount were offered $50 million and Dreamworks $100 million to only support HD DVD, you can see that this move by the HD DVD camp (namely Toshiba and Microsoft) is more of a desperate move to shift the balance back from Blu-ray.
So far Blu-ray rentals have shot past HD DVD in terms of numbers, helped by Blockbuster starting to stock only Blu-ray. Blu-ray players including the PS3 outnumber HD DVD in the home, though without PS3 it works out the other way around. But the issue here is that while neither format shows sign of winning again many consumers won't go near HD formats.
Had Paramount kept to releasing on both formats it would arguably by only a matter of time before Blu-ray took over. Michael Bay reacted strongly on his own site to the news that Transformers would only see an HD DVD release, but then retracted his comments, explaining that he had been to a dinner party with 3 Blu-ray owning friends that night and they were upset over the decision. Stephen Spielberg has reportedly asked that his films are still available on both formats, which Paramount seem contractually obliged to do.
Despite both formats having many pros and cons, it will only be a matter of time before one of them wins out and becomes the dominant format. Of course, by then some of the early adopters will have bought all their films on the other format and will be looking at replacing them all over again…