The Blu-Ray Upcoming, News & Info Thread

SSC_Nerd · 02-19-2008, 12:09 AM

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2008_02/pr1903.htm

Stick a fork in them. They're done.

Since Toshiba gave up, I'm sure other companies are allowed to leave HD DVD exclusivity and go Blu.

RoboDad · 02-19-2008, 12:32 AM

They are. There is an automatic exit clause in their contracts triggered by the death of the format.

What remains now to be seen is:

1) Whether Warner will still complete its announced schedule of HD DVD releases through May. My guess is, no. Anything that is sufficiently far enough along the development/production cycle will probably be released (the money on those titles has already been spent, so why not recoup it?), but anything else will likely be scrapped, in favor of a Blu-ray-only release.

2) How quickly Paramount can get re-ramped up on Blu-ray production. We know that several titles were already well into development for Blu-ray (some even pressed) before the company aligned itself with HD DVD, so many insiders expect to see at least some Paramount Blu-ray titles on store shelves within 3-4 weeks.

3) What will become of Universal? There is a lot of bad blood between Universal and Sony. Will that be enough to keep the studio at arms length? And if so, for how long?

SSC_Nerd · 02-19-2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoboDad

3) What will become of Universal? There is a lot of bad blood between Universal and Sony. Will that be enough to keep the studio at arms length? And if so, for how long?

Well, they'll just be hated in general if they don't put movies out. Hell, they mastered a lot of movies in HD, so why not just release them and make the moolah. There are a lot of movies that Blu people will certainly buy. King Kong and Bourne spring to mind pretty quick. Money is money. Bad blood be damned.

Sick Boy 82 · 02-19-2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoboDad

They are. There is an automatic exit clause in their contracts triggered by the death of the format.

What remains now to be seen is:

1) Whether Warner will still complete its announced schedule of HD DVD releases through May. My guess is, no. Anything that is sufficiently far enough along the development/production cycle will probably be released (the money on those titles has already been spent, so why not recoup it?), but anything else will likely be scrapped, in favor of a Blu-ray-only release.

2) How quickly Paramount can get re-ramped up on Blu-ray production. We know that several titles were already well into development for Blu-ray (some even pressed) before the company aligned itself with HD DVD, so many insiders expect to see at least some Paramount Blu-ray titles on store shelves within 3-4 weeks.

3) What will become of Universal? There is a lot of bad blood between Universal and Sony. Will that be enough to keep the studio at arms length? And if so, for how long?

Damn, this sucks. I have a super nice stand alone HD-DVD player and tons of movies. Crap.

1. They will release what they have and just re-release them in Blu-Ray.

2. Yeah, they will just start releasing all the HD-DVD movies they have released so far on Blu-Ray, as will all the other studios.

3. No, probably not, as they want to make money like everybody else!

darthviper107 · 02-19-2008, 01:27 AM

I'm still wondering about what will happen to the HD-DVD exclusives that were planned, I don't know how long it takes for them to develop the discs so it might be worth it to just release them--but again, I don't know.

Paramount and Universal will definitely rerelease their HD-DVD exclusives on Blu-Ray, no reason not to since they can make a good amount of money off it.

darth dypshyt · 02-19-2008, 02:30 AM

It will take some time, but I am sure that Universal and Paramount will be releasing Blu-Ray movies before the end of the year. How stupid do Paramount feel about deciding to go HD-DVD a few months back..