DISNEY BLUE RAY VS DREAMWORKS ANIMATION HD-DVD

[REINIER]

hi, is it just me or do you guys agree that due to the different release formats that both disney (blue- ray) and dream.animation (hd-dvd)
are offering they are trying to avoid each others competition in sales.

They both state that their format is the absolute best and is the best choice in terms of audio/video as well as pricing.

What do you make of this?

[DarthPrime]

No I don't see it as competition, or avoiding each other at all. Remember up until this week Dreamworks was neutral (HD DVD and Blu-ray). Paramount went HD DVD exclusive so that left Dreamworks with HD DVD as well. Both are going to say their format is the best because they want you to buy the players and discs.

[2099net]

I think that there could be some truth to this. After all, everybody was like "Huh?" at Paramount's defection and yes, money and incentives obviously sweetened the deal, but maybe another reason was Paramount/Dreamworks didn't want Shrek 3 to go against the Pixar releases.

I mean, Blu may have more players, but people don't have infinite money. At the moment Blu sales are approx double HD DVD sales (but in all likelyhood, this will be increased towards the holidays as more PS3s are sold). Shrek 3 was competing with Cars and Ratatouille on Blu (as well as Surf's Up) - realistically the best it could do was sell equal numbers to Ratatouille, most likely less. Shrek 3 on HD DVD no direct competition and little competition in general - one of the format's main failings of lack of studio support translates to lack of family films on the format in general.

Will Shrek 3 on HD DVD outsell Ratatouille? I doubt it - even if it is bundled with all HD DVD player purchases pre-Christmas. Will it be the biggest seller on HD DVD this Christmas? Probably. Is the PR potential of this significant? I think so.

[REINIER]

that's a valid point, altough i doubt that shrek 3 dvd sales will ever reach those of shrek 2, the critics as well as many viewers (among them myself)
found it to be a lesser movie than it's predecessor's.
In the new HD format it might do well, since it will be the first to introduce such picture and sound.

I wonder wether they shoulden't first release shrek (1) so as to cash in and ensure further sales.

As far as Disney, again I don't think Cars is the way to go.
Nemo would definitely do well though.
But let's just wait and see.