Paramount/Dreamworks go HD DVD exclusive
#326
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Hammer99
Just cancelled Blades of Glory, Face Off, Jack Ryan Collection, & Top Gun BDs on Amazon, & ordered them all in HD DVD. No big deal, life goes on & things are cool when you support both formats. ![Cool](/images/smilies/cool.gif)
![Cool](/images/smilies/cool.gif)
Also, those wanting to order Face/Off should note that the list price shows as 36.95 but is still being sold at 19.95 - a 46% discount. If you plan to order it I would do so now in case Amazon raises the price.
#327
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Wars have been fought and won by those who have been outnumbered more than 2:1. This is something I've never understood 2:1 is not nearly enough to call a victor.
Jesus, you'd think Blu Ray was selling 5 million units to 2.5 million.
The numbers of Blu Ray "winning" are a speck on the fanny of standard definition DVD right now. This "war" is in its infancy, and today went a long way to establishing HD-DVD as a major player now in terms of content in addition to its obvious cost advantages.
#328
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by Jason1
There are thousands of movies that will not improve in picture quality on HD-DVD or Blu Ray. DVD is as good as it gets. For example, someone listed movies they want to buy in high definition-- will any of these titles look better in HD or is it limited in picture quality when it was made?
Friday The 13th box set 1-8
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Beverly Hills cop 1 & 2
Smokey and the Bandit
TV shows shot in 3:4
Friday The 13th box set 1-8
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Beverly Hills cop 1 & 2
Smokey and the Bandit
TV shows shot in 3:4
#329
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: CANADA
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BuckNaked2k
I would tend to agree with you, but I see that Casablanca was one of the early titles released in hi-def. I wouldn't think that a 50+ year-old movie would benefit from an HD transfer. Maybe someone who has it/seen it can comment?
I own, and have watched all 3 a number of times. Be assured, older films CAN and DO benefit from the HD treatment.
#330
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Earth
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by QuePaso
I agree with the people saying that this was a desperate attempt to keep hd-dvd alive through this holiday season. Most Paramount releases are selling 1.5-2.5:1 on blu-ray vs hd-dvd, and other then uni titles, hd-dvd had NOTHING to counter the onslaught from the blu-ray side this holiday season. With the help of Microsoft's deep pockets, they bought themselves some time, and paramount is punishing its very loyal supporters who have been buying their blu-ray discs this entire time for some monetary profit. Paramount sold out, it is that simple. Sad, but this is a war.
Rob Moore, president of Paramount Worldwide Distribution, said market data shows that people who own gaming consoles buy fewer movies than those who invest in a movie-only player.
#331
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by waporvare
I think this is just the first shoe to drop as it were. Now HD-DVD needs some retailers to be in the exclusive HD-DVD camp.
I've been saying it for a while, I'll say it again, Wal-Mart will go HD-DVD exclusive for the holiday season, if the rumors of their cheap Chinese players prove to be true.
I've been saying it for a while, I'll say it again, Wal-Mart will go HD-DVD exclusive for the holiday season, if the rumors of their cheap Chinese players prove to be true.
Walmart will not go HD-dvd exclusive as they will not leave any Disney/Pixar money on the table.
Good news knowing that Paramount is not interested in breaking any hi-def records since Transformers was well on it's way to doing that. It will be nice to have an opening weeks sales of only a 100k. Thanks Paramount for bowing to Microsoft. Bravo!
Last edited by tonymontana313; 08-20-07 at 10:46 PM.
#332
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: CANADA
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GMan2819
Maybe you missed this quote from the Yahoo Press release:
Apparently, HD DVD supporters are more loyal - enough to cause Paramount to go exclusive. I've been reading the forums for awhile now, and I've noticed that BD supporters tend to be primarily interested in the latest releases while HD DVD supporters are interested in current releases as well as catalog titles. I guess Paramount found enough data to support that theory and made the decision accordingly.
Apparently, HD DVD supporters are more loyal - enough to cause Paramount to go exclusive. I've been reading the forums for awhile now, and I've noticed that BD supporters tend to be primarily interested in the latest releases while HD DVD supporters are interested in current releases as well as catalog titles. I guess Paramount found enough data to support that theory and made the decision accordingly.
Exactly. I know AICN isn't a trusted source, but the quotes from the CTO at Paramount are tell-tale:
Next, I talked with Alan Bell, the Chief Technology officer for Paramount. He's been in charge of the technological decisions and realities for Paramount, since the advent of DVD. I asked Alan if he was happy with this decision, or if this was something that was being forced upon them.
Alan then went into a very complicated series of statements about how HD DVD was the format that makes sense for Paramount. It's not just a matter of the amount of space that one format has over another. That's a gross simplification between the two formats. You see, HD DVD was built upon... not just the technology of DVD, but the programming software and other aspects. When we began talking about the cost issues - Alan stated it's very very complex, but that the replication facilities that have been built for the mass production of DVD - it's much cheaper and simpler to convert for HD DVD mass production.
For those of us consuming these products - it's easy to simply believe decisions are made due to just advertising incentives, but when you speak to the technology guys inside these studios - you hear that HD DVD is cheaper, serves the technological needs of the High Definition format, that the programming languages are an extension of the established DVD format - so it is easier for them to work with. This decision is about more than an intial Toshiba advertising incentive - the decision was made at a tech level, an economic level and about a cost delivery level to the public. Paramount made this decision from the tech guys up.
Alan then went into a very complicated series of statements about how HD DVD was the format that makes sense for Paramount. It's not just a matter of the amount of space that one format has over another. That's a gross simplification between the two formats. You see, HD DVD was built upon... not just the technology of DVD, but the programming software and other aspects. When we began talking about the cost issues - Alan stated it's very very complex, but that the replication facilities that have been built for the mass production of DVD - it's much cheaper and simpler to convert for HD DVD mass production.
For those of us consuming these products - it's easy to simply believe decisions are made due to just advertising incentives, but when you speak to the technology guys inside these studios - you hear that HD DVD is cheaper, serves the technological needs of the High Definition format, that the programming languages are an extension of the established DVD format - so it is easier for them to work with. This decision is about more than an intial Toshiba advertising incentive - the decision was made at a tech level, an economic level and about a cost delivery level to the public. Paramount made this decision from the tech guys up.
#333
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GMan2819
Maybe you missed this quote from the Yahoo Press release:
Apparently, HD DVD supporters are more loyal - enough to cause Paramount to go exclusive. I've been reading the forums for awhile now, and I've noticed that BD supporters tend to be primarily interested in the latest releases while HD DVD supporters are interested in current releases as well as catalog titles. I guess Paramount found enough data to support that theory and made the decision accordingly.
Apparently, HD DVD supporters are more loyal - enough to cause Paramount to go exclusive. I've been reading the forums for awhile now, and I've noticed that BD supporters tend to be primarily interested in the latest releases while HD DVD supporters are interested in current releases as well as catalog titles. I guess Paramount found enough data to support that theory and made the decision accordingly.
Bottom line is that BR titles sold better than hd-dvd titles for them. Giving the company line about owner loyalty is utter bullshit.
#334
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: CANADA
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Bottom line is that BR titles sold better than hd-dvd titles for them. Giving the company line about owner loyalty is utter bullshit.
#335
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Greenville, South Cackalack
Posts: 28,757
Received 1,865 Likes
on
1,228 Posts
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Loyalty doesn't mean a damn thing now that all bets are off. What happened to Paramount giving BR the better specs on titles as of late
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Bottom line is that BR titles sold better than hd-dvd titles for them. Giving the company line about owner loyalty is utter bullshit.
#336
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Paramount titles you can mark my name down for:
Every Indiana Jones movie
Beverly Hills Cop (possibly II as well)
The Godfather I/II
Team America: World Police
Escape from L.A.
48 Hrs. (possibly Another as well)
Forrest Gump
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (I don't give a shit if it ain't HD-caliber, best comedy EVER)
Scrooged
Star Trek II/IV/VI (maybe III)
The Elephant Man
Chinatown
The Two Jakes
Apocalypse Now
The Conversation
Death Wish
Zodiac
Braveheart
Also might be game for some Friday the 13th, definitely Jason Lives and The New Blood.
For DreamWorks:
Saving Private Ryan
Road to Perdition
Collateral (BADLY NEEDED IN HD)
American Beauty
Every Indiana Jones movie
Beverly Hills Cop (possibly II as well)
The Godfather I/II
Team America: World Police
Escape from L.A.
48 Hrs. (possibly Another as well)
Forrest Gump
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (I don't give a shit if it ain't HD-caliber, best comedy EVER)
Scrooged
Star Trek II/IV/VI (maybe III)
The Elephant Man
Chinatown
The Two Jakes
Apocalypse Now
The Conversation
Death Wish
Zodiac
Braveheart
Also might be game for some Friday the 13th, definitely Jason Lives and The New Blood.
For DreamWorks:
Saving Private Ryan
Road to Perdition
Collateral (BADLY NEEDED IN HD)
American Beauty
#337
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jason1
There are thousands of movies that will not improve in picture quality on HD-DVD or Blu Ray. DVD is as good as it gets. For example, someone listed movies they want to buy in high definition-- will any of these titles look better in HD or is it limited in picture quality when it was made?
Friday The 13th box set 1-8
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Beverly Hills cop 1 & 2
Smokey and the Bandit
TV shows shot in 3:4
Friday The 13th box set 1-8
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Beverly Hills cop 1 & 2
Smokey and the Bandit
TV shows shot in 3:4
#338
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Damed
Better sales numbers don't = profit if the cost of producing the media is considerably more.
#339
Banned by request
We should all remember not to feed the trolls. Anyone taking this personally needs to sit back and reevaluate their priorities.
And the idea that DVD is as good as it gets is beyond laughable.
And the idea that DVD is as good as it gets is beyond laughable.
#340
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: CANADA
Posts: 2,020
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
I realize producing BR discs are slightly more expensive but I'm most sure that it is NOT considerably more. If you can provide actual info to prove me wrong, please be my guest.
Last article I read had it pegged at 4x more. Higher for a BD50.
I'll see if I can dig it up in the AM.
#341
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
Once? On a title that's apparently not even seeing the light of day?
Calm down. You're acting ridiculous.
Calm down. You're acting ridiculous.
#342
DVD Talk Legend
oh what a day... I needed a few beers to unwind.
Business is business, I understand that and all. My problem is that this isn't about a company going neutral and offering consumers more choice, this decision takes the choice away from a group of consumers - and that pisses me off. Here I am ready to give my money to a company, and they tell me to fuck off.
Business is business, I understand that and all. My problem is that this isn't about a company going neutral and offering consumers more choice, this decision takes the choice away from a group of consumers - and that pisses me off. Here I am ready to give my money to a company, and they tell me to fuck off.
#343
Suspended
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Why even print the specs on the title with actual cover art if you had no intention of releasing it?
#344
Suspended
Originally Posted by Artman
oh what a day... I needed a few beers to unwind.
Business is business, I understand that and all. My problem is that this isn't about a company going neutral and offering consumers more choice, this decision takes the choice away from a group of consumers - and that pisses me off. Here I am ready to give my money to a company, and they tell me to fuck off.
Business is business, I understand that and all. My problem is that this isn't about a company going neutral and offering consumers more choice, this decision takes the choice away from a group of consumers - and that pisses me off. Here I am ready to give my money to a company, and they tell me to fuck off.
#345
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Greenville, South Cackalack
Posts: 28,757
Received 1,865 Likes
on
1,228 Posts
Originally Posted by tonymontana313
Why even print the specs on the title with actual cover art if you had no intention of releasing it?
#346
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Because if they didn't it would raise to many questions early on. Paramount was 'neutral' up until a few days ago when they announced a revised Face/Off for Blu-Ray/HD DVD. That's off now. So is Transformers. Blades of Glory. Shrek 3. Jack Ryan Collection. And many...many...many others. You will either have to deal with Blu-Ray having only 50% or so exclusive titles, or buy a HD DVD player. Your choice...no one is forcing you to.
#347
So if HD DVD is the format best suited for Paramount because it's cheaper, etc...why did they even release in Blu-ray in the first place? Why not remain exclusive to HD DVD like they were originally planning to?
#348
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
As a fall-back in case the deal they've almost certainly had in the works for a good while now didn't pan out?
#349
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Is it because YOU, a Blu-Ray supporter has less of a choice today, or is it because you're chosen format may in fact fail? Remember, Paramount and WB to an extent were once HD DVD exclusive and left to become neutral. Looks like Paramount came home.
This scenario is completely different - up until now we've had studios go from exclusive to nuetral, this is about going from more to less. See the difference?
#350
Banned by request
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
...So what Sony, MGM, Fox, Disney and Lionsgate is doing is OK since they release on Blu-Ray, but how DARE Paramount stop releasing on Blu-Ray and only on HD DVD? Is it because YOU, a Blu-Ray supporter has less of a choice today, or is it because you're chosen format may in fact fail? Remember, Paramount and WB to an extent were once HD DVD exclusive and left to become neutral. Looks like Paramount came home.