Paramount's Switch Failed To Turn Market

Scott Hettrick of hollywoodinhidef blogs about a recent report from a Research/analyst firm, Understanding & Solutions, about Paramounts role in the hi-def movie wars and their failure to turn the market in favor of HD DVD.

Research/analyst firm Understanding & Solutions has issued a report today saying that Paramount's switch to go exclusive HD DVD has failed to turn the market in favor of that format and that Blu-ray continues to dominate the market with stronger studio support and sales volumes.
If they can't get it done with the cheapest players and three of the biggest movies of the year in "Transformers" and "Shrek the Third" from Paramount/DreamWorks and "Bourne Ultimatum from Universal," that doesn't leave them many options.

I wonder how Microsoft/Toshiba are feeling about that $150 million investment, especially since Toshiba's earnings have taken such a hit.

[gamesR4fun]

Dont know who to pity more toshiba who might go tits up over this hd dvd thing or Paramount who sold out. I mean how many paramount movie buyers have b/r vs hd/dvd... Even if it was 70-30 in hd dvd's favor I dont think they did the right thing by their customers...

edit: look fanbots personally idk
b/r hd/dvd its all the same to me sure i got a ps3 but even if b/r looses its not like sony's gonna stop making b/r games... Besides I got a 360 too not much for the hd dvd add on if we needed it. What i hate is when a company like paramount stabs its customers in the bakc by taking a bribe not to publish their movies in b/r...
Same goes for a lot of other big companies review sites in particular who are obviously willing to do anything for a quick buck. Clients be damned look at how many sites put out stellar reviews for ME without even so much has a mention of all the issues in the game... Nope if you want my respect and my dough youd better at least look like your treating us decent...

[shrimpboat]

Paramount is the Jackas of 2007

[athlon770]

nicely stated indeed. I like both my PS3 and 360, and like you said, IF hd-dvd happens to pull out and become the victor (very unlikely) I can just get the add on and watch the movies that way.

[Lord Anubis]

poor them, now they are 150m less which could've been use to buy something else.

[Jinxstar]

Or they could have given it to me.... Oh well maybe next time they wanna throw money at a useless cause I will be on top of the list... Ima send them an email now requesting my current position for their money wasting venture.

Edit: Sure dude we can split it 2 ways... They said they would get back to me... punks.... I think I am a noble enough cause...

[Phantom_Lee]

....put my name on that email too......

[genix13]

bubbles to jinxstar

[Darkiewonder]

That would have been so much better ;(

[xsteinbachx]

would you really want them owning a game company... think about it.

[Fan Tastic]

It will be good for consumers once HD DVD lite dies.

[ActionBastard]

I'm shocked.

[IntelligentAj]

I thought those movies would have sold more but one studio isn't going to turn the tide in this war.

[jonboi24]

wow really paramount, like you couldn't see this coming the day you took that $150 million for those 18 painful months in hd-hell? tsk tsk shame on you, i bet all the people at paramount are red after seeing how much of a huge failure this was. maybe after those painful months in hd-hell you can step outside and look at the blu sky and appreciate the fact you can still turn blu.

[millerlite]

They get a boat load of cash, get to sell their movies in one format for a while, then reup with Blu-Ray in 18 months to sell those same movies again.

The losers here are Toshiba and Microsoft. Nice try guys, but HD-DVD is going down. They even lost the porn wars to BD.

[sanjay09]

I think Warner Bro should just go Blue and end the silly format war :)

[go0se]

HD dvd is officially a thing of the past. I don't feel sorry for them one bit. Paramount deserves this for selling out to M$. I mean come on....only an idiot who owns a 360 would buy an EXTERNAL hd dvd drive with no outer display, especially one for $200. LMFAO, nice try M$.

[Bull5hifT]

The Matrix Series
and sin city
and scarface

[Nagthragarthoth]

Bye bye 150 mill.

What a bunch of suckers.. I seriously don't think that Paramount felt they could turn the tide with three movies.... Stack those against the Pirates Trilogy plus the Spidey Trilogy and it makes one wonder what the hell kind of retards are running these companies.

[Zinger]

Also, They both get the Harry Potter Series, which has just recently come out and been updated on both formats. Those HD movies are going to kill in sales. hmmm i wonder who is going to win that battle. Good job Sony. They really knew what they were doing by adding Blu-Ray to PS3. Like someone mentioned before, even if Blu-Ray movies would have failed, they still would be making Blu-Ray games for PS3. Also, since they are a superior tech to HD-DVD, they will easily win out in the computer industry anyways as it will be the preferred medium since they basically have the ability to hold more information. They will be coming out with a 100G disc soon and it still has the potential to make it to 200G discs. What does HD DVD max out on 60G?

It should be a no brainer who the winner will be in the long run. It's to bad MS pushed their system out so fast they couldnt include HD-DVD's internally. As the gaming and movie industry keeps moving along and requiring higher capacity discs, Blu-Ray will only need one disc, where those with HD-DVD will need multiple discs.

360 will be left short in the future with games that require more disc space (GTA). They will need multiple discs where it will only need to come on one disc for PS3 (Blu-Ray)

Sorry MS, you had your chance with Next Gen and missed the boat. Instead of delivering something for the long term, they decide to get a year start and go for the short term (money). Original XBox is no longer a supported system. 360 will be going that route as well. Look for xbox360.5 with Blu-Ray drives in the future.

[Bull5hifT]

better than hd' they should make it 3D like at the imax theater when
i went to see it

[jonboi24]

matrix for imax would be crazy.

[gamesblow]

Basically the blu-ray camp made a whole lotta eggs and then thru them on Paramount and main HD-dvd backer Toshiba's FACES!!

I only buy Blu-ray now. That's the way it's always going to be too... well, until something better comes along for us.

[Fototherapist]

I bought The Bourne Ultimatum on HD DVD for the simple fact that I wanted it in HD. Normally, I buy only blu-ray. I also bought At World's End on blu-ray. Fantastic.

[eagle21]

Once entry level Blu-ray players hit: FINAL BLOW. Around 9 million PS3's by January all FULL HD 1080P, hdmi 1.3. It's over. Nobody can change it.

[aiphanes]

We all know the PS3 will be able to go to Profile 2.0...and that 9 million people who have the potential to buy a bluray movie...that is a lot of people...microsoft only sold 300k of HD-DVD addons....and Toshiba only sold like 600k maybe 800k standalone HD-DVD players and not all of them are 1080p and HDMI 1.3a...do not tell me people do not want 1080p because they do...and you can get a sony 60 inch 1080p rear projection LCD with 24fps support and HDMI 1.3a for around $1700....and 1080p tvs will drop in price at least 20 percent by end of 2008...

And they will sell another 9 million PS3s in 2008....its all over..

[weezeru2]

I wonder what will happen when Indiana Jones wants to come to Hi-Def but since Paramount backs the movie but Steven Spielberg directs and produces... I wonder what will happen? After Paramounts contract with HD-DVD is up they will start throwing all their movies out on Blu-Ray. It will happen.

[gamesblow]

Speilberg is a huge backer of blu-ray, as is Lucas... He's said none of his movies will hit HD-dvd anytime soon. So, that means that until the contract is over and he can move them to Blu-ray legally.

[ITR]

GL would never release just on one format. If anything he'll wait for the format war to end or force a two format sale. Toyboy Lucas is like WB..they want it all and I don't blame them.

[IntelligentAj]

Hell!!I want Equilibrium in HD

[ITR]

You can on HD DVD as an import from Japan.
Bale is freakin awesome in that movie.

[Fototherapist]

that movie was such a Matrix rip-off. Christian Bale is the man, though. Can't wait for The Dark Knight.

[Bull5hifT]

yes it was unbelievable, i nearly jizzed my pants from all the action it the mansion stairs fight and going to the amazing freeway part,

it makes you feel WOW!!!!!!!

the part where trinity jumps out of the building , with secret floor...looks awesome in 3D

the fight with NEO and the infinity smiths.......was O.K., i hate the talking ......i understand it

but it feels like work, trying to act intrested in it

[DJ]

And it's not even 2008 yet (the last 12 months of their exclusive deal). Looks like they got ripped off big time. Too bad Microsoft's check didn't really do much.

[freediro]

your so very true! Paramount cant get either Spielberg nor Coppola to release their films because they wont let them unless they release it on Blu-Ray and since Paramount isnt Blu-Ray well they are screwed. Then there is Lucas and Peter Jackson waiting for the format war to have a clear winner before they tell their studios they can release their movie on whatever format.

WB needs to go full support for Blu-Ray then Universal needs to go neutral and then Paramount will be the sole lone supporter of HD-DVD, sales will soon reflect poorly for HD-DVD then Lucas and Jackson will let their movies come to Blu-Ray then people will really want Blu-Ray, then the format war will be over!

[blackmagic]

Peter Jackson's King Kong was released on HD DVD last November, it was bundled with many HD DVD players and is still bundled with the HD DVD Add-on. Jackson has also released The frighteners on HD DVD. I would say he is a strong supporter of HD DVD. I think the question, if one is to be asked, is will he let New Line publish Lord of the Rings on Blu-ray.

Lucas is completely non-comittal on either format:
http://www.supershadow.com/...

The Good Sheppard and Sleepy Hollow were released on HD DVD which were produced by Coppola and Lost in Translation was released on HD DVD which was directed be Sofia Coppola (daughter) and produced by Coppola.

Speilberg is the only one you mentioned that is pro Blu-ray.

[Snukadaman]

reading some of those answers he comes off like such a pompous ass...talking about not being into video games but only caring about the enormous profits...

[harv052]

Not a lot of HD-DVD followers replying to this thread it seems...

[jonboi24]

true they must be real sad now that their only hope failed when paramount couldn't save hd-dvd. i mean seriously what can save them?

[ITR]

Lord of the Rings/Star Wars/Indiana Jones trilogy/Star Trek Ultimate movie collection.
Get those 4 and make them exclusive to a format and you've got your self a winner with all the fans out there.
Too bad no-one knows which will go where. SW is in limbo because of the format war.
LR and Indiana seem to be on standby for HD or BD and the same for ST collection.

[aco]

I hope blue ray win .. Not because I am big fan of HD movies... becasue I have seen more Blue Ray movies comming on the market than HD-DVD.... And I have PS3 so I also have Blue Ray... The only movie that I wanted From Paramount was Transformer.. And I think we will se it on Ble Ray next year when the exclusive HD DVD end....

[chfthnder26]

i hope you know that the deal was for 18 months which started in aug. so the earliest you blu ray fans can get those paramount and dreamworks movies is early 2009

[athlon770]

well, you have that plus there is a report that there is a clause letting the studio out if Blu-Ray sales get above 80% of market. So if that is true, we could be watching the few hd-dvd movies we want on blu-ray a lot sooner than you think.

[Shaka2K6]

Its a proven fact.

Paramount cant wait to go back where the money is at.
The Blu side.

[Snukadaman]

Im all for fairness in reporting news but this is ridiculous..dudes just a glorified bluray fanboy...give me a break.

[Fighter]

He's blogging about the research a group did on HD DVD failure to capture the market when they bought Paramounts support.

[lodossrage]

So don't try to make it seem one-sided.

And secondly, you might have missed the point of the article itself

[Tryst]

Absolutely not. This is a middle of the road article and is giving his opinion on WHAT IS EXACTLY HAPPENING in the HD world.

Unlike sites like 1UP which blatantly sit on the 360 side of the fence. That preview they done of GT5 Prologue is one of the biggest XBot reports I have ever read. It makes you sick to the bone that gaming sites let Fanboy writers cover games they have no intention of playing (or liking for that matter).

[Snukadaman]

lol...you go too the website and it says "built by blu-ray by blu-ray supporters".nahh no reason too call him a bluray fanboy right....Im talking about when a article is from a blog that points too a negative light every ps3 fanboy comes on and spouts his opinions on how its just a fanboy blog....now all of a sudden its ok too use them..thats called hypocrisy....I dont care for this guys opinion im just pointing out the fact that some of you complain of blogs yet when its positive for ps3 then its all right to use them.

DO YOU [email protected] TALKING ABOUT WHERE ITS COMING FROM AND HOW PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT INFO FROM FANBOY BLOGS....REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS BEING TYPED... 3 of you think im disputing the info ...lol funny how im asked if i read the post when its only obvious you didnt read mines.. talk about mindless....

[TheTwelve]

This blogger is posting about an INDEPENDENT research finding. This finding was not sponsored nor paid for by anybody in the Blu-Ray camp.

R
E
A
D.-----12

[gamesR4fun]

did they really do anything with this bribe? Personally I dont think the Paramount lineup was enough to have a big impact...

[miked808]

HD DVD will be around for a long time. I've been hearing for over a year how HD DVD is dead but I still seem to find new movies to buy. I think I'll pick up that Bourne Trilogy tomorrow.

[chfthnder26]

i hear you man i just bought the kingdom and it is bad a** in hd

[ITR]

I bought Bourne 3 and new Harry movie.
Stardust and bladerunner is my next purchase.

[TheTwelve]

Enjoy your investment in HD-DVD while it lasts.----12

[Ri0tSquad]

End this war already.

[killer_trap]

just checking, pirates of the caribbean is on blueray isn't it?

[resistance100]

Yep blu-ray exclusive as its made by disney

[killer_trap]

thats all i care about.......jack sparrow the greatest character ever by one of the uhhh....weirdest actors ever.

bubbles man(like you need any!!!!!).

[aceman7]

The format war to end.

[Bolts]

Console war = good for gamers
Format war = A total waste of time and money for everyone.

Bluray need to the hurry the hell up and drive the nail in the coffin. I own both format and have since stopped buying anything HDDVD. I want this war to be history as soon as possible. HDDVD is doomed, there's no point in draging it out.

[N4Flamers]

as soon as this war is over prices can come down, like I need to pay 30 dollars for a movie. Damn did you see the simpsons on blueray the lines were so clear, and the yellows oh my god. There just arent that many movies that deserve to be High def. With that said I do love the simpsons. I struggle against the logic of seeing Will Ferrel any clearer. So when the war is over I can buy the few movies that deserve my full viewing experience at a reasonable price.

[MK_Red]

Paramount may have failed to turn the market but it succeded in preventing Blu from winning and made this stupid war last longer.

[MaximusPrime]

LOL

[Gantrfaxx]

Resistance is futile. You will be asimilated!

[Meus Renaissance]

Where are the plastic HD-DVD supporters here who never owned, or were never interested in buying a HD-DVD player, but supported anything against the PS3 - where have they all gone? I want to know how Blu-Ray is going to lose the format war

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Everytime someone post news about Blu-Ray, you boys pep-rally with pom-pom's and give each other at least 4-5 agrees. If Blu-Ray is so dominate, Studios would have cut support some time ago. Like I said before (fcuk percentages and graphs), take an estimate number of a blockbuster movie (Pirates 3, Shrek, Transformers) and compare total numbers for Blu-Ray and see what you have. Example, Pirates 3. 8 million to 160,000 sold first week?!! And you screamed "Go Blu-Ray"?!
Just like you boys praise all these AAA PS3 games (that you don't even buy) those numbers are weak!!! You have good games like Drake and you mofo's still don't buy them!! I swear it seems you boys are pushing more than this format rather than the support for the games for the PS3. I have a PSP, and I will get my PS3 next month getting ready for Final Fantasy and Metal Gear next year. Stop slapping each other on your azzez and recognize. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD sales are still weak. The format war is HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray vs. DVD9. What is the use of one Blu-Ray beating HD-DVD (software sales) and no gain of one Hi-Def format against DVD9?! The #1 Blu-Ray player is the PS3. Is Blu-Ray pushing the PS3, or the PS3 pushing Blu-Ray?!! I think that's one of the reasons Hollywood has a problem with. Both format's have a way to go.

[bigshynepo]

"If Blu-Ray is so dominate, Studios would have cut support some time ago."

Come on, you are completely talking two different stories. You talk about how format "sales are still weak" but then hate on Blu for not having full industry support already?

The playstation 3 launched in November of last year (I know, I bought one on day one). It was the first introduction to Blu-ray mass market North America really got. Blu-ray is winning industry support but tainted Toshiba/Microsoft money has slowed the process.

Why aren't you crucifying HD-DVD for not being dominant even though it's been out longer, with cheaper players, "supposedly finished spec", just as large of a library as Blu-ray and is apparently the "look and sound of perfect"....in Dolby 5.1.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

"The playstation 3 launched in November of last year (I know, I bought one on day one). It was the first introduction to Blu-ray mass market North America really got. Blu-ray is winning industry support but tainted Toshiba/Microsoft money has slowed the process".

How do you sound right about now?!

HD-DVD was developed first, Blu-Ray came second. Blu-Ray and Sony pushed the format with the PS3 which is the key factor of Blu-Ray sales today. When the PS3 first came out, there were no games to play. Instead, there were more good movies than games. Panasonic, Samsung, and other companies are developing on the technology of Blu-Ray. Now you're telling me that just because the PS3 pushed Blu-Ray that everyone should go with it?!! HD-DVD never had the jumpstart like Blu-Ray did. The only thing Hollywood cares about is who is going to sell more movies. They realize that the PS3 is a gaming console first and a movie player second. And don't go there with the spec's. Now you have plexiglass DVD holding 1 Terabyte. Now you have a new format holding 5x more data than the 200mb Blu-Ray disc.

[Nipplestiltskin]

Get real! Who's marketing their product more? Sony. Who's being supported in the video stores more. Sony. Blu Ray has ALOT more hype and a more memorable format to the average joe consumer, and saying HD-Dvd is very confusing to the average consumer. HD DVD is all but dead. Period. As is DVD-A vs. the successful format SACD- Super Audio CD by Sony. Why? Marketing. marketing. marketing.

[bigshynepo]

"The only thing Hollywood cares about is who is going to sell more movies."

Yeah, and it seems like Blu-ray is selling more, why? because of their larger install base. Just goes to show that one studio can't take away Blu-ray's momentum. Studios look at players and regardless if PS3 owners are using their consoles for movies now, they may very well down the road. That's what you get for going with a future-proofed device like the PS3.

"Now you have plexiglass DVD holding 1 Terabyte. Now you have a new format holding 5x more data than the 200mb Blu-Ray disc."

You are quoting pre-CES news you heard a few days ago, come off it. What do you think that this technology is actually going to go mainstream anytime before 2010? You have no argument so now you're going off topic. I'll end with one last quote..."Forum Rules
- Keep your comments relevant to the news story."

[Cherchez La Ghost]

WTF?! Everything I just said you said. You saying that the word HD-DVD is confusing consumers?! No, it's both formats. Hell, Sony CEO wished he could go back in time and change this. Price is a factor for this Hi-Def war. What percentage gain has HD-DVD or Blu-Ray over DVD9?! Not that much!! Only thing Hollywood cares about who will sell more Hi-Def players and movies. Pricing is a key to this format. Hell, both formats are giving away at lest 5 free movies. Hollywood is concern about there movies selling and who is manufacturing affordable players for consumers.

[Cherchez La Ghost]

Please give me some info about how much Blu-Ray movies sold since day one. I don't want to see no graphs or percentages comparing against HD-DVD. I don't give a (*&^ what you say. The numbers are small. I bet you 1 blockbuster movie sold 2-3 fold over Blu-Ray sales since launch. Example, Pirates 3. 8 million for DVD9, 160,000 for Blu-Ray on first week. WTF?!

[GodsHand]

Soylent red and Soylent yellow, high energy vegetable concentrates, and new, delicious, Soylent green. The miracle food of high-energy plankton gathered from the oceans of the world.

[Arkham]

Bu-bu-but it's PEOPLE!

Bubs for you. (I want to fatten you up before eating you.)

[THE_JUDGE]

Paramount f'd up and is making the blu-ray community pay for it. I would have bought some of their movies had they been on Blu but since there not, I won't buy them at all. Paramount does have a chance to redeem themselves slightly, next summer there are a bunch of pretty big movies coming out on the HD-DVD side so they had better capitalize if they want to stay in the game.

[go0se]

What was Paramount thinking?? If they were in doubt why wouldn't they just release on both formats and see which is better for sales? O ya I remember, M$ conned them into it with there usual buying off technique. I got two words for Paramount/M$, SUCK IT!!!

[Altair-HD]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA LOL LOL LOL LOL F - A - I - L - E - D
NIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCEEEEEEE EEEEE

[jorellpogi]

Paramount and WB should go blu to end the format war.

[mistertwoturbo]

gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooodbye HD-DVD

[stennexxx]

BOOOOYAAAHHHHH!

[MonkeyOne]

Who cares about the stupid format war from a consumer perspective.

First of all at $10 a pop and the ability to burn and return them, DVD's will continue to dominate the marketplace - and they still look pretty darn good. Most people don't have High Def equip yet.

Secondly, the longer the "format wars" go on the less anybody will care since HD-DVD and BluRay players are getting cheaper and / or there are players that will play both.

The only people who care about the formats are the greedy electronics conglomerates.

[Nipplestiltskin]

Actually, MOST consumers with money care. ALOT. The format wouldn't be blowing up a huge as it is without people spending scads of money on it. Discerning viewers who have the monitor to tell the difference are blown away by either format. To say it's all about the corporate conglomorates is near-sighted and narrow-minded. The quality increase for the money is a huge value. Period. Read any of the 50 magazines that cover video and it's their main focus in almost every issue, and this includes magazines all around the world- Europe, Asia, the US. Just because YOU dont care, doesnt mean that everyone else doesnt. THEY DO.

[rushbd]

why??

because already have the best bluray player in my home . duh!!!

did i mention it also plays awesome games like UT3 and Uncharted :D ??

[Zinger]

Blu-Ray is already outselling HD-DVD's 70-30. Here's what needs to/will happen for the final blow:

First price drop on players(already seeing the success with the price drop on PS3)

Then Paramount comes back over.

Here's the big one: Blockbuster finishes their test markets for Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD (Blu-Ray is outdoing 66%-34% currently in test locations) Blu-Ray will naturally win out here and all BB locations will load up on Blu-Ray discs putting Blu-Ray sales through the roof. Note: A good number of Blu-Ray sales currently are already going through BB (online and test locations). It's only a matter of time. i bet this will dwindle down by 2009.

R.I.P HD-DVD. Sucks to be you MS (yes, all cumputers will be going to Blu-Ray eventually because it can hold more). So long xbox360, glad you jumped the gun on next gen to get a year head start and failed to include HD-DVD internally for games and movies. I will be laughing in the future when i only need to put one disc in for future games on my PS3 and you will be putting in multiple discs (GTA i hear).

[SSCOOLCHEA]

But why didnt they just side with blu ray and just keep it as one format in the first place? Seriously did they think they were going to pwned sony ? Every company has come out with a blu ray player , but none for HD DVD .

[AuburnTiger]

It wouldn't surprise if Microsoft decided to buy all studio exclusive rights just to win this war. If you ask me, Microsoft is our their way to another Antitrust lawsuit.

[Diabloz]

all i have to say is OWNED

[HondaSIRowner]

NOW this is the time WB needs to go Blu-Ray, Right now! or Jan 7th 2008.

I don't understand WB at all though. They said that if HD-DVD fails to make a difference from their losing point, then WB will talk BR/form a meeting!

Make that switch and end this Pissy war!

HD-DVD paid 150 mill and nothing happened, Toshiba introduced those cheap HD-DVD players for $99.99 and nothing happened.

Their three biggest movies aren't doing anything at all.

HD-DVD is a hack, a flop a piece of S**t.

Paramount is sooo messed up right now.

BR has won almost Flawlessly!

[sak500]

Whatever makes you guys happy on purchasing an expensive BD player. I can d/l HD movies and watch on my 360 either from Market place or on my pc. Too bad your divx support is only limited to 2gb.

Edit: @zinger

I work in IT industry and there are huge number of pcs still with dvdrom or combo drives being sold. Even the higher end models are coming with DVDRWs not BD or HD, unless someone specifies. The BD or HD will not reach this sort of penetration till maybe 2009/2010, i.e. if there is a decided winner. So by that time new consoles would be already on horizon and then we'll have xbox 720 with the next gen media format.

So keep this bull of BD is the right format "NOW" to yourself and your SOny bosses.

[Zinger]

You will soon understand the magnitude of Blu-Ray and the format war when your xbox360 becomes obsolete and is upgraded to xbox360.5 with internal blu-ray as most computers will be containing these drives in the future. I wonder how much Sony will charge MS in the future for that technology.

[TheTwelve]

You can go through an incredibly long download process via the 360 marketplace, and only download one at a time because your HDD doesn't have so much space, and then you can't even keep the movie.

I feel for you.

Actually, I don't since I got a PS3. I really have no idea how you feel but I'm figuring it sucks.----12

[HondaSIRowner]

Senseless comments like your makes me LMAO.

Hows this..

"too bad you can't put in a bigger hard drive in your 360 other than the ones provided by MS, you will need the extra space for content"

Also, Sony is might come out with a movie downloading service to, So keep talking smack!

Also, don't make a dumb comment like Sony is copying MS with the movie service.

Sony is a media giant, everything from A-Z, so it's only RIGHT for them to have a service like that.

Also, with BR closing in on the K1ll in the format war, they can actually make the movie downloading service come true.

Sony is in a pretty good position right now, you'll have to realize that now!

[sak500]

WTF are you smoking? Which comment are you rambling about?

[Testo]

How long does it take to download those?
How big are the files?

[sak500]

I have unlimited 2Mbps connection so i'm not worried about speed. One movie may take 6-8 hours if its HD 720p 6-8gb.

[TheTwelve]

lol...and with that connection you supposedly have? Let's get real. I can't believe you're bragging about that.

And we're talking mass-market here. Very few people will have the connection you have to even wait 1/3 of a day for a movie anyhow.----12

[athlon770]

My buddy has Mediacom cable service and has 15meg down and 1meg up service. Still, I am on a DSL service with 3meg down and 800k up, I would not and will not RENT my movies from Microsoft. Nor will I RENT them from Sony. I want the media in my hands.

Sak, Like Honda said above, good luck with the small 20gig hard drive which comes so loaded with whatever that you are close to 13meg free to do with what you want. And tough luch for the lucky chosen few that purchased a 360 without a hard drive in the first place. The MS team will need to do a lot better than a 120gig hd that costs $180.00! The 200gig drive I just popped into my PS3 only cost me $80.00!

As 12 stated, there are few people that have a fast enough broadband connection to even consider digital distribution yet, and you as a IT person should / would know that! Heck there are still a lot of people who have dialup. You may want to download your movies, but the better majority of people don't.

[darthv72]

Combo players will be coming more and more and even sony will own up to allowing the "rival" format to play on its newer combo systems. It is inevitable that there will be a convergence as the bd profile gets to the same as hddvd and the fact that costs for the blue diode (needed in both formats) is getting cheaper to produce means that more companies will find no reason to alienate one format over the other. Yes sony is a pure backer of bd but the others are not getting the same love from this war as them. To stick to supporting one format may be fine for sony but for others like samsung, lg, rca, and soon panasonic, pioneer, hitachi they will all quietly release players that do both.

Paramount's "switch" was not meant to turn the market but only slow it down. It is buying time for hardware developers to come up with the best possible solution to allowing both formats to coexist. When that time comes it will be a good opportunity for the movie studios to decide which disc they want their movie on. It will be no different than having a choice between regular, directors cut, limited edition, collectors edition and so on. It will be more like the hddvd would be the directors cut or limited edition and the bluray would be the full collectors edition. By having a choice in capacity it gives the movie studios the option of what content to use and where.

You have to be willing to see through another person's eyes to understand perspective. This "war" is nowhere near over in the eyes of the studios/player makers.

[Nipplestiltskin]

Sony has never allowed DVD-A playability on any of their Super Audio CD players, and they won't allow it for their Blu-Ray players. You are very well spoken, but not well informed. Read any video component review in any respectable magazine about video, and the consensus is clear. The money might be paid by or to Toshiba and the various research consortiums, and that's where each of these publishers and distributors' allegiances lie. It will change as the markets change. All core manufactures (that own the IP) never compromise, and they wont. Sorry but its true. It was true with minidisc vs digital compact cassette, true with vhs vs. beta, and true with SACD vs. DVD-a. Know your history before you wish about the truth.

[darthv72]

I can understand what you are referring to. I think to the introduction of the recordable DVD formats and how there was a line drawn between manufacturers and software developers. Sony was a big supporter of the "+" format where as there were others that supported the "-". At some point even Sony conceded that there would not be a winner and those that stayed on one side would end up losing out on the bigger picture.

Reluctantly, they adopted the neutral stance like other companies who were once one sided. As a company with a back history of formats that challenged others at the time....Sony may not be so easy to concede this time as they did with video, audio, digital and analog formats of the past.

But, it could happen if they see other bluray player mfgs adding hddvd playback as well to bring in sales. You have to figure that every ps3 sold is a win for sony and the format but it isnt a win for makers like panasonic who are also out to sell players. It would be easier for them to take a neutral position to entice consumers into the format as well by being able to do what the ps3 cant (as well as any other sony bd player) and that is playback both formats.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I think Blu fans are in for a rude awakining.

[Nipplestiltskin]

Utterly laughable. "think"? Care to explain? Or just a hunch? I've been in the video and audio industry for 30 years. Come with game or go home. Back it or back off.

[Testo]

Not bad but still really long to wait for a movie.

I have "upto" 15Mbps download and mine is still slow. Until the rest of the world catches up I might stay away from Digital.

[SSCOOLCHEA]

im going to sit and wait for any movie to downlaod . even with the new movies that i can download on my pc for free on divx format.. retail is always good $30 bucks hassle free... everybody thinks download is just going to take over . Just look at music download there still buying retail copies . that just me if you want to go ahead ...dont you think its a waste of hard drive space anyways ??? my ps3 hard drive is for music , photos and downloadable content like psn games and demos...even with warhawk i went out and bought retail.

[Komrad]

on hd dvd. but that ain't happenin', so neither is hd-dvd.

[retro]

150m is not THAT much money compared to the billions that Sony invested in Blu-ray (including PS3 hardware decisions)...

...but I was really surprised that Paramount did switch, the format wars are far from over and I guess I do what most customers do (in Europe)... play the waiting game.

[lodossrage]

Keep in mind, blu ray already had a good lead even before paramount went exclusive for 18 months. I honestly feel that Paramount already feel they know blu ray will win. This in my opinion is Paramount milking the HD DVD camp for all it's worth.

Think about it fellas, most of you said it yourselves, HD disc are only a tiny percent of the market at this point since both are being bested by normal dvd.

With that said, not a single company has yet to make 150 million dollars for any of their movie releases in HD formats as of yet. So for Paramount to actually take toshiba/microsoft's payment of 150 million was a somewhat smart business move. They gave them 150 for 18 months. 6 of which are already passed. So that leaves only a year left in the contract. They wouldn't have made 150 million even if they were still making movies in BOTH formats combined.

So this was possibly a smart move by Paramount. Because they know that they will be plus 150 million in profit right of the back thru the exlcusive deal. AND they'll be free to make their movies on blu ray again.

So instead of most people looking at this as "paramount sells out" or "toshiba and microsoft are buying competition", maybe a third scenario of "Paramount making extra $$$" is now a good choice.

[DFresh]

Listen I can tell you why Sony will win every single format war pushed at them.
1. Sony owns 2/3 of the movie industry in stock shares.
2. Sony has a lot of good people to work on their products which gives them a huge edge over everyone else.
3. They always have the support of Disney, Pixar, Lucas Arts, Columbia Pictures, and FOX from the very beginning. I mean since the time of the DVD Player to now they're not leaving Sony like that.
Sony has a long history in this business and billions of dollars to use at their disposal.
Bill Gates maybe the richest man in the world but he doesn't have the people to work on his products he's all money.
To be honest all MS did so far was buy out people.
ex.)
Sega
The rights to Bioshock.
The rights to Gears of War which was originally supposed to be Multi-platform but changed.
EA Games
etc.
Nintendo is also a really great company as well especially when it comes to originality.
Sony will always have the edge when it comes to creating the best electronics.
Now Sony can focus on the games now for the PS3 from 2008 and on by 1000%.
Look out everyone Sony coming back and stronger than ever.

[arika]

go for the jugular blu, hd dvd is almost dead. just look at the nielsen charts. before it was 2:1 now it's 3:1... it's gonna happen very soon. bluray ftw!

[Enigma_2099]

... was that I was gonna make Transformers my FIRST HD movie purchase...

[guerojose]

Hehehe, I was fine with just reading all the comments (along with some pretty good zingers), waiting for something new from the HD-DVD backers other than the basic "Nuh-uh" argument. But this one I hadn't heard before:

@50: "...inevitable that there will be a convergence as the bd profile gets to the same as hddvd and the fact that costs for the blue diode ... is getting cheaper to produce means that more companies will find no reason to alienate one format over the other."

So, by this same "logic", we should expect Sony and Microsoft to "converge" their two consoles "inevitably", right? I mean, both systems contain laser diodes, and circuit boards, and plastic.

It will ALWAYS be more expensive to create a combo player, both in terms of engineering and manufacture. Hardware manufacturers are much more concerned with reducing cost and hitting a mass-market price point to make a profit than they are about "alienating" a shrinking minority of potential customers. Sure, there may be a few expensive combo players in the short term, just as there will be some high end Blu-ray players. But this has precisely ZERO bearing on the death of the HD-DVD format.

"It will be more like the hddvd would be the directors cut or limited edition and the bluray would be the full collectors edition. By having a choice in capacity it gives the movie studios the option of what content to use and where."

:| You are waaaayyyy off the deep end here. I'm having trouble even formulating a response that wouldn't be personally insulting. An "A" for effort, though, for coming up with a creative new avenue of tortured logic.

[darthv72]

You can speak your mind and I won't take it personal. The similarities between the formats are more than the differences. There may be some manufacturing differences but the core to what each disc does is basically the same. I like the fact they use 'almost' the same density of laser. The first batch of combo players are expensive. That is only going to get cheaper as mfg's learn how to adjust the beam accordingly.

At some point in all of this, there will be combo players and recorders and choosing which disc to use will be like choosing +/- or T120 or T160 or T180 tapes from the past. You have to be willing to look beyond the surface and see there is potential in both formats working together.

Oh, I liked your comment about the 360 and ps3 working together. From a technical point of view both are pretty much the same. It isnt like we are comparing the 2600 to the wii. Competition will only serve to make each one try and better themselves in the eyes of the consumer. If you kill off your competition then what is left to motivate you to be better than they are? If a winner is decided then that would ruin any chance of creative debate.

[guerojose]

Ok, I give up. I don't know if you're being funny, or truly believe any of this, or are just another HD-DVD dead-ender looking for any glimmer of hope. I suspect the latter.

"The first batch of combo players are expensive. That is only going to get cheaper as mfg's learn how to adjust the beam accordingly."

You miss the point: the engineering hassle and expense required to create a combo player is a barrier for doing it in the FIRST place. The longer term dropping of prices will have far more to do with volume sales than with engineering. If you honestly think that there's going to be a huge groundswell of consumer demand for combo players (because people truly prefer to buy two different HD formats?), then I say show me sales data, consumer research, or really anything that would support this. If you honestly think that all the manufacturers who have been Blu-ray members from the beginning are just itching to release lots of combo players, then come back to this planet.

And if you truly believe that movie studios really want to release their titles on two formats, one with the director's cut, the other with the super-duper director's cut, then I would ask to have some of what you're smoking - except I guarantee that my sh1t is better ;)

[Baron79]

1. 2.5 million "Bluray players" sold in the USA

2. 750,000 HD-DVD players sold in the USA

3.So ,there are many many more "Bluray players" in the USA. Yet, A New Realease like Harry Potter:OOTP colud only sell 1.1 Blurays for every 1 HD-DVD sold.

4. That's extreamly fu*kin sad. It shows that bluray movies arn't selling like people think , and shows Paramount made the right choice.

5.Stop cryin about not being able to watch Paramount movies and get an HD-DVD player.

[resistance100]

'So ,there are many many more "Bluray players" in the USA. Yet, A New Realease like Harry Potter:OOTP colud only sell 1.1 Blurays for every 1 HD-DVD sold.
'

Can i have a source for that?

Because all i know is

'Nielsen sales numbers are in for last week. Blu-Ray came out on top 61%-39% (with 14 of the top 20 being BD). Bourne Ultimatum was the #1 hi-def disc overall selling 50% more than Pirates 3.

Harry Potter OOTP Blu-Ray sold 20% more than the HD-DVD and on the box set the Blu-Ray sold 30% more than the HD-DVD. It will be interesting to see if these percentages hold up with Blade Runner next week.

Lost S3 and High School Musical 2 both failed to crack the Top 10.'

So really the blu-ray version outsold HD-DVD version at 1.2 - 1 at least. But looks like a better week thanks to bourne, but that really is the last of HD DVDs major exclusives and blu-ray continues to outsell. It will only go up for blu-ray now IMO

[Baron79]

As I type, the "official" Nielson numbers don't appear to be out yet. I would love to see em. I keep checking their site.

Anyway, .1 percent Isn't worth the argument. If it is 1.2 to 1 , I'll stand corrected. It would still be extremely sad considering the amount of PS3's sold,
And great news for HD-DVD and WB stories.

Blade Runner f*ckin ROCKS!

[Cynical-Gamerzus]

Please go Back to OS land and make something better than Ubuntu or OSX
but stay the hell away from HD format wars!!!and Video Games systems and god help us! MP3 players!!
Whats next let me guess..Cell phones?
and Automobiles??and Flying Space ships? give it a rest !! your a OS system specialist..work on Vista make it worth it??
YOu guys are great at OS but nothing more or less.Thanks you!!!!

[darthv72]

their sidewinder line of controllers was pretty good (IMO).

[sonyfanonly]

M$ dirt money didnt do them no good to buy paramount and now the only way paramount can earn a profit is announce blu ray support when that contract runs out

[cmrbe]

yes it failed to turn the market. There is too much momentum behind blu ray mostly because of exclusive content and the PS3. I predict we will see an ever increasing widening of the gap between blu and HD-dvd from now on. Its not over yet though.

[coolkev99]

I found nothing in this article that really impacted me and yet about 80% or more of you folks are foaming at the mouths with jubilation. Did you think the tide would turn after 5 months of paramount exclusives? How many titles were released during this time? Do you think this would totally make HD-DVD the winner?? No. I don't think anyone did, and yet you all go jumping like "I knew it!!!!". Its just a business move to add a little more momentum to thier camp. It may or may not work but only in a couple of years will we really know the true impact.

You all are declaring the winner 7 laps in a 50 lap race. The market is no were NEAR being saturated, in fact I don't know ANYONE who owns a DVD or Blue ray player outside the game systems. I look at the stats in thedvdwars dot com and while BLU is leading it isn't by large margins.

For all you MS haters I really don't get it, Sony is just as big and "bad". They all want their product to succeed. To me its just one big corporation to another. Really folks use your brain. I am not buying ANY HD movies until there is only one format on the market. Thats how I choose to play it, I know some of you out there have to have the latest and greatest, but I don't care to play the game.

Its sad but this war is going to last much much longer than you all want it too. That is the one thing you can count on. Until you are all renting BLUrays from redboxes the war will rage on.

[stu]

First off i have both players so i could hardly care who wins- who really cares. Blu ray discs have bad problems with failure- terminator 3 lately and now the latest pirates movie. You guys go back in forth like little girls and its funny that the companys that make discs for blu ray can't even produce them properly. What a joke. Its called quality control Sony- get it right- i have been a victim of this but never with hd dvd. Go figure.

[resistance100]

'What a joke. Its called quality control Sony- get it right'

So you do know that sony wouldn't have produced/published those films lol

POTC is done by Disney and terminator 3 was warner Bro's

If you going to acuse at least do the research before hand

[Rice]

Damn, 150 million!

[Infernus]

In the face of the trojan horse remarks since the launch of the PS3, it looks like Sony have done it again with the familiarisation of a new format just like they did with the PS2 and DVDs.

Okay so it's not over yet, but I highly doubt things are going to change in HDDVD's favour, Blu-Ray now has what DVD had back in 2001/2 and that's a steadily growing popularity and Sony somehow have it perfectly timed with one of their best years for HDTV sales (which is soon to flourish even more).

Now I know HDDVD is popular as well, but the growing concensus among many techies is that Bluray has the legs to 'win the war' and HDDVD is on a downward spiral.

To be perfectly honest I'd prefer it if Bluray 'wins' as I now have a bluray player (The PS3) so while I wouldn't call it a personal stake in the success of Blu it'd just be a lot less hassle for me and those who own Ps3's if we didn't then have to go out and get a HDDVD player some time down the line.

People could say I'm biased towards Sony because of the PS3, however I have a Toshiba laptop too and so am not bias either way, I like both brands, so I base my opinion solely on the fact that I already own a Bluray player not due to the brandnames attached to the formats.

[resistance100]

Agree mate

Most Ps3 owners are in the same boat, we want blu-ray to win simply so we don't have to buy a HD DVD player in the future. Saying that if HD DVD was to win i will just pick up the HDDVD add on for 360

[terrencetmurda]

The big three NbcUniversal,Viacom, and Aol TimeWarner vs :Disney's kiddy movies, Fox's nonsupport of any hd format(They have done a very bad job supporting Bluray!)and weak Sony movies.
Plus the fact that HD DVD studios have the largest film catalogs.2008 will be the death of betaray opps bluray.

[shysun]

But yet Blu-ray continues to Kick HD-DVD's ass, in hardware and software! Don't be a dumb-ass!

[terrencetmurda]

(Blu-ray continues to Kick HD-DVD's ass, in hardware and software)

Do some research your wrong on both accounts!!!