Paramount drops Blu-ray

[TM2-Megatron]

In the end, it won't really matter who drops what now. If Blu-Ray does eventually win out, Paramount will just have to revert back. Neither format will beat out DVD in terms of popularity for some time to come. Hell, it took DVD quite a while to supplant VHS; even as recently as a year or two ago, many people clung to their VCRs. Now, with DVD players going for as low as $15 and the benefits the format brings to picture quality on regular every-day TVs, it's a no-brainer.

But formats with players still in the $400-$900 price range, and requiring a new, expensive TV (which also usually precipitates upgrading your cable service, unless your eyes are poor enough not to be bothered by a 480i signal trying to fill a 40"+ screen that's incapable of altering its resolution) to take any advantage of? What's the point for 90% of the population?

Paramount does seem to be making a mistake, though. As much as I generally dislike Sony, Blu-Ray does seem to be the more popular HD format. And I have to agree that it's much more technically advanced than HD-DVD, which mostly seem to be DVDs with somewhat higher storage capacity. Although, under the home video standard, Blu-Ray isn't nearly as consumer-friendly as HD-DVD when you take into account the additional DRM, lack of certain audio/video standards as mandatory, etc. I'm looking forward to getting a Blu-Ray burner for my computer eventually, though. Paramount's move doesn't surprise, me though. They always did seem to take a long time to catch on to releasing half-decent DVDs, as well. And even now, they have a tendancy to overcharge. They certainly aren't my favourite studio.

[DarthPrime]

Well the rumors had it that Warner Bros would announce something on Friday, now this has happened.

Steve Nickerson, Warner Home Video's ubiquitous next-generation disc guru, is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities that will be announced shortly.

This could be interesting. I've read that Nickerson was supportive of both formats, so why did he leave? Still a huge rumor, but I feel Warner is going to go exclusive before long. Either Blu-ray or HD DVD.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... abfedf8b53

[2099net]

Well the rumors had it that Warner Bros would announce something on Friday, now this has happened.

...

This could be interesting. I've read that Nickerson was supportive of both formats, so why did he leave? Still a huge rumor, but I feel Warner is going to go exclusive before long. Either Blu-ray or HD DVD.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... abfedf8b53

Now this is interesting. On the face of it Warners have lost their biggest HD DVD supporter - and it's worth noting Nickerson's previous position was with Toshiba (a major HD DVD supporter). So it could be that Warners are going to swing Blu.

On the other hand, don't forget Time-Warner hold major patants on DVD and HD DVD technology. I can't see them abandoning a potential cash-cow now that the format has been thrown a life-line via Paramount's deal. (And no, that doesn't mean I see them swinging Red either - just carrying on as they are).

He was also the originator of the TotalHD concept - which on the face of it now seems next to useless with Warners/New Line being the only neutral studio(s). They'll never get the price low enough with such limited custom.

This is a very exciting time for HiDef formats. I've never been as excited as this week!

But I think the major announcement is nothing more than the Harry Potter set - which may have HD DVD exclusive extras (we all know Goblet of Fire has an IME for example - because its out in Europe and I have a HD DVD copy)

[DarthPrime]

Yeah thats true Warner does have major patents on DVD/HD DVD so I don't see them leaving HD DVD.

After Paramounts move early this week everything is getting interesting, and really anything can happen. I don't see TotalHD happening. It has already been delayed and with Warner/New Line the only ones that could possibly use it right now it just doesn't seem likely that it will be released and used. I guess it could be used if they got the costs down, and other studios decided to go neutral.

The rumored news is probably something like Harry Potter, or another movie.

[DarthPrime]

Looks like all the major Friday Warner news was just a big rumor. Still a very interesting week for the HD formats.

[jeremy88]

Darn...That means I won't be able to get the Tomb Raider movies on Blu-Ray...Oh well At least the Disney Classics are coming to blu-ray...I figure I'd only buy my favorite ones, since I have most of the DAC's on DVD already anyways.

[2099net]

Darn...That means I won't be able to get the Tomb Raider movies on Blu-Ray...Oh well At least the Disney Classics are coming to blu-ray...I figure I'd only buy my favorite ones, since I have most of the DAC's on DVD already anyways.

You can get the 1st on Blu-Ray if you're quick. Once its sold out in the shops, it won't be repressed!