The Bus

If you're buying, on average, one hi-def movie every 2-3 months, perhaps you should stick to DVDs for now.

If in three years HD DVD ceases to exist, I'll have a decent upconverting DVD player and something to play my ~100 movies on.

Keep in mind most people here that got into the format early already have dozens of titles (not 3 to 5, as you might suggest), with a few having over a hundred if not hundreds.

At worst, if HD DVD survives three years and fails to "win", there will be players supporting the format for many years, akin to players nowadays that let you play WMA or MP3s off of a disc. Not the majority but not hard to find.

I know this: if I can help it, I'll avoid watching non-HD material.

Decker

Wow. This is news to me. I'm not one to like exclusivity, but as an HD-DVD owner, this is like a lifeline to the format. For that, I'm happy. Still I don't see how it makes much sense for Paramount to limit their audience after putting discs out in both formats for a year. Maybe their BR sales were lagging behind the HD-DVD versions? How ironic is it that Warner invents a dual-format disc and it turns out no other major studio wants to go dual-format at all?

I bet they're shitting themselves over at The Digital Bits. I have to go check that out now...

JetSter735180

Well....I did not see Knocked Up, and from what I heard, it was a renter.

I saw Bourne Ultimatum, but I don't think its a movie i'll re-watch. The only Bourne movie I bought was the first.

Why would I buy Heroes, if I saw them all on TV. Don't get me wrong, it a good show, but the only show's I can re-watch are Star Trek and Seinfeld. (and sometimes Babylon 5)

Anyway....you may create a list of your own, see what movies interests you, and see what format they are coming on. Like I said, I don't care what happens on HD-DVD, I just care about Blu-Ray, and for now anyway, it doesn't affect me that much.

Josh Z

I hope that you are equally critical of Disney, Fox, and Lionsgate for "selling out" by accepting Sony's incentive packages in return for Blu-ray exclusivity.

Let's just assume that it's true that Toshiba and/or Microsoft paid off Paramount for exclusivity. The rumors range anywhere from $50 million to $150 million, so let's pretend the higher one is true. I say good for them. That means that Paramount just made $148 million more in this deal than they've made to date selling Blu-ray software. Sounds like a fine business decision to me.

Giles

New Line is is going with both HD-DVD and BluRay - since 'Hairspray' was announced as such - right?

ChrisHicks

ok, this is what I just don't understand here. HD-DVD finally does the same thing Sony does in offereing a "payoff" and they're dirty, cheating bastards. if it is good enough for Sony why not M$/Toshiba?

The Bus

I just did some quick research and it looks like, for the most part, Blu-Ray versions of Paramount movies outsold HD DVD versions on Amazon. Not by much though. Older movies seemed to have almost the same sales. Reds, for example, has probably sold poorly on both formats.

What is interesting is that sales ranks of BD titles from Paramount are all hitting records on Amazon. Suddenly there's a huge demand for Sahara. (A good movie and decent disc, to be sure).

The Bus

Yes, yes they are. You can disregard any contrary rumors as just that. Even on Blu-Ray.com's forums people (BD fans even) were stirring up rumors of WB going HD DVD exclusive. Which is pretty absurd.

mzupeman2

There's also a rumor of New Line being on both formats, but LOTR being HD-DVD exclusives.... although I doubt that will happen as well.

There's been a lot of arguing in this thread and I just don't get it. HD-DVD fans have a reason to rejoice at this news. Blu-Ray fans shouldn't worry because they still have very huge backers on their side. And the fans shouldn't fight with the 'us vs them' mentality because of these reasons. Arguing over this is pointless. Both formats are doing well enough for the time being, and nobody is forcing anybody to buy anything.

Hammer99

I only hope $150 million means a ton of releases from Paramount over the next year+.

Mr. Cinema

Did you hear Knocked Up was a rental from the high praise from the critics, or the fact that it earned almost $150 million?

Rusty James

Anyone who makes comments like this (or its mirror opposite, meaning "I don't care what happens on Blu-ray," etc.) is a format fan, not a movie fan. Plain and simple.

Which makes them a lot easier to ignore.

PLONK!

Rusty James

What I'd love to know is if Paramount agreed to release a certain number of titles on HD-DVD over the next 18 months.

mdc3000

Whoever told you that was either a liar or just trying to screw you out of seeing one of the years BEST movies.

Mr. Cinema

I think Paramount's move to become exclusive gives Universal all the more reason to remain exclusive as well. I have thought that if HD DVD had any exclusive studios throughout 2008, that both formats will co-exist. Since Paramount will be exclusive through at least Spring 2009, I'm assuming Universal will at least stick with HD DVD for all of next year. By that point, there will be lots of Toshiba players under $200.

I know Warners is the lone dual supporter and they have been vocal about both, but I'm wondering if they are going to be offered a similar Paramount deal? Don't they hold patents for HD DVD? IF that actually happened, we'd be back to having the original 3 exclusive HD DVD studios vs the original BD exclusives of Sony, Fox/MGM, LG, and Disney.

Hammer99

Fan-Bois.

JetSter735180

Well, of course I'm a format fan. I said in my first post. I own to Blu-Ray players. You think, I'm gonna go off and buy two others HD-DVD players do I can watch all movie in HD. No!

The movies that are on HD-DVD, i'll buy on DVD instead.

But that was not my point, my point is whatever happens on HD-DVD, does not affect me has a Blu-Ray buyer.

fryinpan1

http://dvd.themanroom.com/dvd-newsview.php?id=00682

Paramount Removes Remaining Blu-ray Titles From Fall Slate
August 21, 2007

Yesterday's Paramount declaration of HD DVD support, starting with 'Blades of Glory' on August 28, raised questions about the previously announced Blu-ray titles scheduled for release throughout the rest of the year. The way the press release was written seemed to indicate the exclusive titles to follow 'Blades of Glory' would be 'Shrek the Third' and 'Transformers.' Unfortunately for Blu-ray fans, that's not the case.

This morning, Paramount updated their press website with a purge of all remaining Blu-ray Disc titles. The following titles were included in the purge and should now be considered HD DVD exclusive.

Next
Top Gun (Special Collector's Edition)
The Jack Ryan Collection (Special Collector's Edition)
Face/Off (Special Collector's Edition)

The status of 'Star Trek: Season One' has not changed as it was only announced for HD DVD. Aside from Steven Spielberg-directed Dreamworks or Paramount catalog titles, expect all future high definition announcements at Paramount to be HD DVD exclusive.

Artman

Has it been established this is thru Spring of 09?

The Bus

That would make things almost squarely 50/50, with no "side" having a real advantage in content, and each of the two major players (Disney, WB) on opposite sides.

I think WB is too smart to do that and I don't think they're in need of big financial incentives as they've had a pretty succesful year (AFAIK).

And Jetster, mdc is right: Knocked Up is one of the few movies of this year that not only got huge critical acclaim, but great word-of-mouth and a lot of box office business (the other being Rataouille).

The Bus

I may dislike some of Sony's tactics, but that won't prevent me from owning those movies once BD becomes financially viable (soon).

fryinpan1

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced 'A Mighty Heart,' starring Angelina Jolie as the wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl, will be available October 16 on HD DVD.

Giles

well maybe now concentration can be had to include all discs with lossless audio DTS and Dolby Digital TrueHD.

dvdguru

And A Mighty Heart has 5.1 PCM sound as well

Artman

I think it would tip in HD-DVD's favor, esp since NL would probably follow WB.