Jan 8, 2008 by Brian Gallagher

Paramount Set to Drop HD DVD as Well?

This might be the straw that broke HD DVD's back if it turns out to be true.

According to a story from London's Financial Times, Paramount is looking at abandoning the HD DVD format it signed on with less than a year ago. The story states that there is a clause in Paramount's contract with HD DVD that would allow the studio to get out of its contract if Warner Bros. did in fact switch over to Blu-Ray exclusively. Since that scenario is now a reality, it appears that Paramount may indeed use that clause and switch over exclusively to the Blu-Ray format. It is unclear if Dreamworks Animation, which signed its deal with HD DVD at the same time as Paramount, has the same clause in its contract.

If this scenario does unfold as reported, that would leave only Universal Studios as the only major studio supporting the HD DVD format. Universal declined comment for the Financial Times story.


Sources: Financial Times

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Comments (19)

  1. Kaya Savas

    They did deny dropping HD-DVD but they did not deny picking up Blu-ray. Apparently they will make an announcement at the end of the month.

    Universal's contract with HD-DVD expires at the end of January meaning they will be open to to pick up Blu-ray, no word on if they actually will right away though.

    Obviously the two won't drop HD-DVD . . . yet, but I think becoming format neutral will actually speed up Blu-ray's victory by letting the companies compare sales like Warner did. Both companies would see a flood of sales for Blu and realize where the consumer demand really is. I have to say that if Warner was never format neutral then this war would have probably never ended. If all we had was exclusive Blu and exclusive HD then no company could honestly show strength from one format versus another. By WB selling both they could see which way the scale was actually tipping.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  2. Christine

    Hey Mark,

    At least I get laid.

    Love,
    Christine

    4 years agoby @indianajaneFlag

  3. Aaron

    In all fairness, Paramount just denied this rumor. the story is lamer than FDR's legs.

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  4. Solid_Paul

    My money is on Chuck Norris ;)

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

  5. Kaya Savas

    Haha, classic Mark. Insulting based on profile pictures yet he himself has no profile pic, nor does he have any friends here at MovieWeb. Your MovieWeb profile is as bare as an HD-DVD shelf at Best Buy.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  6. Space101

    And next arguement? LCD vs Plasma? Xbox vs Playstation? Cd's vs Mp3's? Microsoft vs Appel? Chuck Norris vs Jean-Claude VanDam? lol

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  7. Aaron

    this guy is hilarious.

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  8. markdchapman

    Wow Christine,

    You sound like a really classy lady. And your picture is great as well. I see you and Kaya go to the same school. That's nice. Um...okay, this is hard. After seeing your picture, and looking a little closer at Kaya's, it finally dawned on me. Oh, man. I have to apologize. Sorry. I didn't realize this Towson school - you know - it was a "special" school (I'm not accustom to making fun of the, well, you know, you people) I swear. I honestly didn't know. Sorry. I'm sorry.

    I hope this means WE are friends now.

    PS

    Can you count cards like Dustin Hoffman in that movie?

    To my special friend,
    Markdchapman

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  9. Aaron

    I invented BD and on behalf of my company, I want to thank Kaya for his continued support even through the darkest times.

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  10. justincase

    Outstanding!

    Christine - LOVE your reply! Nice!

    4 years agoby @justincaseFlag

  11. Space101

    I find this format war went pretty quick...just glad to see BD won...as for the prices, hopefully they will go down quick enough for the average user to enjoy it...

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  12. Kaya Savas

    Industry sources are saying that Universal is in talks with the BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association) to start releasing in Blu-ray. Steve Jobs is also in works to add BD Drives to Macs.

    Also, the following companies that back HD-DVD are switching to Blu: Fujitsu, Lenovo, Kenwood and Pony Canyon (which is a major Japanese film and music studio), plus more.

    Word at CES is that retailers will eliminate in-store HD-DVD support once all these studios make official statements.

    Check out thedigitalbits.com for the full article. HD-DVD is being dropped harder than a Saturday morning crap, looks like it won't even linger into the summer.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  13. Kaya Savas

    Why wouldn't Paramount do this? Since obviously Paramount goes where the money is this news should be official soon. Now Universal will be left standing alone in their underwear. I can't wait for Zodiac in Blu.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  14. Solid_Paul

    If this is to happen, I would assume it will be similar to Warner Bros. There will likely be a period where both formats have titles released, until contractural agreements are met, and then only produced on the single winning format. So, if this happens, it's likely that you'll see Transformers, and all the other wonderful titles Paramount can release on Blu-ray...can't wait for the Indiana Jones Series!!!

    Go Blu!!!

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

  15. -comrade-

    What does this mean for all the Paramount titles already release in HD? Reissues? Transformers in Blu-Ray?

    4 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  16. Christine

    Hey Mark,

    Nobody cares about what you are doing at home, whether it involves jacking off into your HD player or wishing that you had actual friends. You're just pissed that Kaya was right all along, so shove it up your own fat ass and get over yourself.

    Love,
    Christine

    4 years agoby @indianajaneFlag

  17. MaViNx

    Yay! I get to pay a high price for sh*tty movies!

    4 years agoby @mavinxFlag

  18. markdchapman

    Cheap HD DVD's for ALL!

    My Blu-ray player can collect dust until the summer time.

    Kaya's fat ass is gonna have a heart attack when he hears this.

    He's probably e-mailing Michael Bay right now.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  19. Solid_Paul

    Come on Paramount, end this war now for everyone!

    The Future is Blu!

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

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