Paramount Set to Drop HD DVD for Blu-ray

Tue Jan 8, 2008 10:54AM EST

See Comments (209)

UPDATE: Paramount is denying the story.

How many "death blows" will it take for Blu-ray to finally win the format war against HD DVD? I've been hearing that phrase (and writing about it) since July 2007. Well here comes another one. Following in the footsteps of Warner Brothers' abandonment of the HD DVD format, reports are surfacing that Paramount is headed to Blu-ray as well.

This is huge news not just because it would leave just one major studio (Universal, plus the mini-major DreamWorks) producing HD DVD content. It would mark the first time in the high-def war that a studio has abandoned one exclusive format and switched to another. Warner was producing both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs and merely dropped the HD DVD ones. Paramount will have to switch entirely to Blu-ray, which it has not been producing up to now.

According to the Financial Times, Paramount has a clause in its contract with the HD DVD camp allowing it to switch to Blu-ray in the event that Warner was to do so. And exercising that clause is what's about to happen. It's also theorized that DreamWorks will follow Paramount, since the studios are closely tied together.

Nothing's been announced yet, but this should be wrapped up in fairly short order. Stay tuned.

LINK: Paramount in HD DVD blow

Comments on Paramount Set to Drop HD DVD for Blu-ray

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  • 6 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    The class action suit has been filed vs Warner and Paramount.

  • 7 Posted by dissolva on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    The better format is starting to win in a format war? This is unprecedented...

  • 8 Posted by dudekingme on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    The adult industry pushed betamax out of the game... and only HD-DVD is used currently in the industry..

  • 9 Posted by jamesf0622 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Now I guess maybe the XBox 360 should also come out with a blu-ray player in addition to the HD DVD player. that would be convenient.

  • 10 Posted by charliejones8586 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    i think everyone should just pick one format it would make everyones lives better pluse i just bought a ps3 so i'm glad blu-ray is winning the battle

  • 12 Posted by axhandlebill on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Null, just give me 5 min in a locked room with you and I'll show you wich is better blue ray or hd-dvd like the one I got for christmas, I assure you, you will change your mind, and darn soon...not yer friend, Mr. axhandlebill

  • 13 Posted by jkoehn2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    If this is true, then all of these major production companies need to get their encryption processes unified. As of right now there are certain movies that will not play correctly because the firm ware upgrades haven't been completed yet and who wants to have to take the time to upgrade the firmware on their player just to watch a movie.

  • 14 Posted by bay_area_video on Tue Jan 8, 2008 3:21PM EST Report Abuse

    Gee...now you can re-buy your movies in Blu-ray so they're useful for the long term...right?

  • 15 Posted by nolo_8 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    woot! PS3 owner here, and finally HD biting the dust!

  • 16 Posted by moeplante on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Go for the PS3. One of the best blue ray players on the market made by a great company in my view. Not to mention the lower level PS3 is really not too much more than a blue ray player.

  • 18 Posted by benjaminjoel2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is like the battle for best typewriter 15 years ago. Both of these formats and most physical media will go the way of 8-tracks in a few years. Network, Bandwidth, Storgage...Game Over

  • 19 Posted by woodsman442 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    Microsoft saw this coming, as it did not include an internal HD drive with the 360; either hedging their bets or a no confidence vote... On the other hand, With every PS3 game sold, the world of Blu-Ray expands by one more unit! Maybe Sony has finally won a "format" battle.

  • 20 Posted by daguirre1@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    I dont think Blu-Ray has to drop their prices (although I WISH they would). Not if you've SEEN how great they look. I'm willing to sheck out the extra $$$ to get that quality picture! Got a PS3 and I'm loving it!!!

  • 21 Posted by john311 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    Figures, I just bought an HD-DVD player before Christmas. I hope that this suit will bring about a resolution where HD-DVD player owners can get a free combo player or atleast a very hefty discount off of one. It's just unfair to the consumer who bought the HD-DVD player, I think that studios should be forced to use both formats if available. Otherwise it's just a monopoly which is supposed to be illegal last time I checked.

  • 22 Posted by xquayz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why is there two formats in use to start with? MONEY!!!!

  • 23 Posted by edwin7378 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    I knew this was going to happen. Blueray has more strong supporters for the format. I am glad I bought a PlayStation 3 during the holidays. Money well spent.

  • 24 Posted by kb4blu on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well it seems that $ONY has won. I think that is a shame. I dont know or care which format is the best. (I doubt if many people could tell the difference) But I will never buy anything that was made by $ONY because of the way they treat and have treated their online game customers. Anyone here familiar with SWG ??

  • 25 Posted by stylin191 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    If only the Xbox 360 came with a HD DVD player built in, the war might turn out differently. Blu-ray had the advantage of 5.6 million PS3 sales to boost itself.

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