[Brian L]

oops....looks like this needed to be posted elsewhere.

Sorry about that.

[Brian L]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070820/...1YWV25ms0 NUE

Pretty amazing stuff. As one who now owns both formats, I was not expecting this from the HD-DVD side.

Brian

[Adam Gregorich]

PARAMOUNT AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION EACH DECLARE EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR HD DVD

Movies Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment Including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be Released Exclusively in HD DVD

Exclusive Program To Begin with Release of “Blades of Glory,” Followed by “Transformers” and “Shrek the Third,” Films Representing More Than $1.5 Billion in Combined Worldwide Box Office

Los Angeles, CA, August 20, 2007 – Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSEWA), each announced today that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. The exclusive HD DVD commitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.

The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount Home Entertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release of the blockbuster comedy hit “Blades of Glory” on August 28^th and follow with two of the biggest grossing movies of the year “Transformers” and “Shrek the Third”. These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.

“The combination of Paramount and DreamWorks Animation brings a critical mass of current box office hits to consumers with a line-up of live action and animated films that are perfect for HD DVD,” stated Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, which is currently the leading studio in domestic box office. “Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience. I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.”

“We decided to release “Shrek the Third” and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience – families,” stated DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We believe the combination of this year’s low- priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home.”

With the rapid increase of HD TV screens in households, and audiences wanting to enjoy the total entertainment experience, HD DVD has emerged as the most affordable way for consumers to watch their movies in high definition. In addition to pristine quality, HD DVD also offers consumers the chance to personalize the movie-watching experience, to interact with their movies and even to connect with a community of other fans.

Paramount Home Entertainment will issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD. Today’s announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format.

About Paramount Pictures Corporation

Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies and DreamWorks Studios. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution.

About DreamWorks Animation SKG
DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company has theatrically released a total of fourteen animated feature films, including Antz, Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Over the Hedge, Flushed Away, and Shrek the Third. DreamWorks Animation’s newest release, Bee Movie, opens in theaters November 2, 2007.

[Jason Seaver]

I think the reporter is missing something - it looks at first like the movies from DreamWorks Animation, a separate company from DreamWorks SKG will be HD-DVD exclusive, which is no minor thing: Shrek 3 was a big hit, even if it was pretty middle-of-the-road as a film. Since DW Animation only makes one or two films a year, it shouldn't be much of a big deal, even if that one title is often pretty big.

But, then again, they quoted Brad Grey instead of Katzenberg, and talked about other labels, which is... odd. As much as I tend to favor HD-DVD even after picking up a BD player, I honestly can't see why a studio would drop BD support barring Microsoft/Toshiba doing something huge to make it worth their while.

This needs a lot of follow-up and clarification.

EDIT: I posted this after just seeing the link. Now it's even stranger - Amazon just sent me an email about Blades of Glory on BD. The heck?

[BrettB]

That's just fucking great. The Complete and total Paramount boycott is on.

Edit:

Quote:

Today’s announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format.

That speaks volumes.

[DaViD Boulet]

Indications are that Toshiba has paid Paramount 50 Million for the exclusive agreement.

Quote:

“We decided to release “Shrek the Third” and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience – families,” stated DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We believe the combination of this year’s low- priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home.”

Right. Those same families who enjoy Disney movies exclusive on Blu-ray?... the way to sell Shrek to them is on HD DVD? Of course, Toshiba's 50-million deal is probably a whole lot more profit than they'd make on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales combined!

[Chris S]

I was starting to seriously believe this war was getting close to an end. Now it looks to be on for quite a long while. Bring on the dual format players!!

[Norman Matthews]

Wow, did not see this one coming. So much so that, even with the official-looking nature of everything, I'm still skeptical. I see quite a few caveats emerging in the near future, similar to the Spielbergian one Brett was so quick to latch on to.

If true as currently stated, though, all I can say is: It's melting! It's melting!

[Jason Seaver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Right. Those same families who enjoy Disney movies exclusive on Blu-ray?... the best format for them is HD DVD?

Both of those families?

I mean, the numbers are tiny. If Paramount thinks that an explosion in HD player sales will come this Christmas and it will be $250 HD DVD players vs $400 BD players that drive it, I can see this making sense.

Although "Toshiba pays Viacom and DreamWorks Animation a whole bunch of money and they put the best spin on it" makes even more sense. Makes things interesting, at least.