http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic60f3f2e7077b9b8dc969933f25fc601

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/21/paramount-officially-blu-ray-again/#comments


Paramount seals Blu-ray sweep
Winner of next-gen format war now has all 6 majors
By Thomas K. Arnold

Feb 21, 2008
RELATED STORIES:
High-def format war ends; studios going Blu
Analysts react to HD DVD demise

All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray Disc camp, a day after Toshiba has pulled the plug on HD DVD and Blu-ray became effectively the only next-gen game in town.

Paramount Home Entertainment quietly came onboard via a statement sent exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday: "We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer," the statement reads. "As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly."

No further details were given.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment, in contrast, cast its lot with Blu-ray within hours of Toshiba's announcement Tuesday morning that it was ending the format war by ceasing the development, manufacture and marketing of HD DVD players by the end of March. Universal made a big splash with its announcement, sending media outlets a statement from division president Craig Kornblau in which he said, "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."

Janet Murray, director of Georgia Tech's masters and Ph.D. program in digital media, said a single format supported by all six major studios has a much better chance of success than two rival ones that each take only a chunk of Hollywood.

"It's a big victory for the consumer," she said.

Now that the studios are no longer battling each other over which format is best, Murray said, they can focus on generating awareness among consumers of the many benefits of high-definition media. Murray predicts "a standardization of extras" now that everyone's releasing films on a single format rather than two, each with its own set of capabilities. "This will lead to a much richer experience for viewers," she added.

Murray also foresees "much more content and much more breadth of content" now that Blu-ray is the only way to go. "When people have these higher-end screens at home, they take great pleasure in them, and this will push ahead the delivery (of movies) in high-definition," she said.

Ironically, Universal had been exclusive with HD DVD since the format's launch in April 2006, while Paramount had initially supported both HD DVD and Blu-ray. Paramount and DreamWorks switched to HD DVD-only in August, reportedly after receiving a $150 million payment from the format's supporters for "promotional consideration."

Neither studio has announced specific titles earmarked for early Blu-ray release, though both are expected to start with new theatricals coming the same day as the standard DVD, beginning in late spring or early summer.

The four other majors committed to Blu-ray are Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (along with its distributed MGM Home Entertainment label), Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video (including distributed labels New Line Home Entertainment, BBC Video and HBO Video). Mini-major Lionsgate also has been an exclusive Blu-ray backer since the start.


Enjoy People - I know I will... 

Will miss Star Trek seasons 2 and 3... Apparently the restoration was funded directly by Toshiba in an "exclusive deal" so it's history for now.

Quoting synner_man:

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Quoting Erik:

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Now, come on Criterion, come back Magnolia and The Weinstein Co., etc.

While I think Magnolia and The Weinstein Company will be Blu-ray right away, Criterion is still a while away.  Someone on the Criterion Forum asked Peter Becker (head of the company) about their Blu-ray plans and was told they are waiting for a larger user base before making the plunge.  My bet is at least another year.

Yeah, I've read a good deal about their unfortunate plans to hold out.  One of the former HD DVD/VC-1 guys was very friendly with the Criterion folks and always made sure to stop by when he was in town to get them to go HD.  "A personal mission" I think he called it.

Another year is most likely fine though, studios are already not exactly releasing too many "world cinema" or "unconventional" titles.  Which makes sense from a business standpoint, but makes film fans go: "Ugh, nothing interesting has been released on Blu!"

That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a Blu-ray copy of Days of Heaven announced tomorrow.

Quoting Battling Butler:

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Quoting Patsa:

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Will miss Star Trek seasons 2 and 3... Apparently the restoration was funded directly by Toshiba in an "exclusive deal" so it's history for now.

that really sucks

though I thought I read Toshiba is working with blu-ray now with Sony