Is Paramount Poised To Run Back Into Blu-ray’s Waiting Arms?

Posted on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 by MegaZone

High-Def Digest contacted Paramount and reports that Paramount is continuing to support HD DVD, which is good news for that camp. However, any new HD DVD announcements they might have planned for CES are off. They will not be making any title announcements at CES. That’s not so good.

But then, the Financial Times, a very respected source, has something different to say:

Paramount is poised to drop its support of HD-DVD following Warner Brothers’ recent backing of Sony’s Blu-ray technology, in a move that could sound the death knell of HD-DVD and bring the home entertainment format war to a definitive end.

They claim that Paramount has an escape clause in their HD DVD exclusivity contract which would allow them to resume releasing Blu-ray Discs should Warner go Blu-ray exclusive – which, of course, they have. Even if Paramount were to only return to neutrality, and not dump HD DVD completely, it would be another hard blow to HD DVD as it would leave Universal the only HD DVD exclusive studio.

And that’s if Universal remains in the HD DVD camp – they’ve declined to comment on their future plans since the Warner announcement, not even to confirm a commitment to HD DVD.

FT news picked up from EngadgetHD.

About MegaZone

MegaZone is the Editor of Gizmo Lovers and the chief contributor. He's been online since 1989 and active in several generations of 'social media' - mailing lists, USENet groups, web forums, and since 2003, blogging.    MegaZone has a presence on several social platforms: Google+ / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / LiveJournal / Web.    You can also follow Gizmo Lovers on other sites: Blog / Google+ / Facebook / Twitter.
This entry was posted in Blu-ray/HD DVD, CES and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • Chris H

    All I can say is…thank you, Warner, for essentially wrapping this whole stupid war up. Early on I really didn’t care who won (although the geek in me preferred Blu-Ray), but it soon became clear that only Blu-Ray had a chance of surviving once everyone but Warner chose sides. I applaud Warner for doing the right thing — for their bottom line, of course, but ultimately also for the consumer.