Ouch! Warners to Go Exclusively Blu-ray (Report)

Fri Jan 4, 2008 3:44PM EST

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Looks like the Blu-ray camp has struck back at HD DVD, which scored a coup in August when it convinced Paramount and DreamWorks to go HD DVD-only.

Industry sources are telling Bloomberg News and Reuters that movie studio Warner Brothers, the last of the big studios to support both Blu-ray and HD DVD, will indeed go Blu-ray exclusive. If the story is true, Blu-ray—which already has the exclusive support of such movie studios as Disney, Fox, Sony, and MGM—will have regained its edge in the ongoing format war.

As I've posted about before, both the HD DVD camps and Blu-ray were reportedly courting the previously format-neutral Warner Brothers, hoping to woo the studio to one side or the other. With Warner's apparent defection to Blu-ray, the HD DVD camp will be left with movies from Universal, Paramount, and DreamWorks (good if you love Jason Bourne and Shrek, not so good if you're a fan of "Pirates of the Caribbean," James Bond, or Batman).

So does this mean the end for HD DVD? Well, not yet, but the news bodes ill for the long term. As I've written previously, HD DVD has the backing of Toshiba and Universal, not to mention that tech behemoth known as Microsoft. Also, HD DVD stand-alone players still have the edge in terms of pricing (although Blu-ray players just started to fall below the $300 mark). That said, Blu-ray will have a serious edge in terms of studio support, and the HD DVD camp's exclusive with Paramount and DreamWorks ends in 2009. In other words, if you're thinking of snapping up an HD DVD player...think carefully. You might have precious few movies to choose from.

Update: Reuters and Bloomberg News are now confirming the story.

Another update: Warner Brothers just released an official statement, which notes that it will continue to release HD DVD titles until May 2008.

And finally: Chris Null spoke with Warner Brothers execs, who sidestep the question of whether they took cash for their jump to Blu-ray.

Related:
Warner Bros. to Sell High-Definition DVDs in Blu-Ray [Bloomberg News]
Warner Bros to back Blu-ray exclusively – sources [Reuters]

Comments on Ouch! Warners to Go Exclusively Blu-ray (Report)

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  • 1 Posted by atx_tex on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    I really don't think that Blue Ray and HDdvd is going to pull out a monopoly. My opinion, just stick with the good 'ol DVD. Blue Ray and HDdvd rack up the prices so much its really rediculous to go out and spend so much on a movie or dvd player that you could get so much cheaper.

  • 2 Posted by smkwtrjck on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree, I am not going to start replacing all my dvds with more expensive HD or Blueray movies just because some company wants to start making more money off of me.

  • 3 Posted by dcsoccer25 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    What do you mean ridiculous? They're HD! Just buy the $300 player, the $600 HDTV, the $50 worth of cables, and the $35 movies and any fool can see the difference. It's astonishing! /sarcasm

  • 4 Posted by kurtostfeld on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    @2, who said you have to replace your existing DVDs? That's stupid. But I will buy any new titles in Blu-Ray and rent movies in Blu-Ray format. Glad to see this format coming to a close, regardless of winner.

  • 5 Posted by ljbanner on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    before xmas warner said they were staying with both formatts so a lot of people brought the less expensive hd dvd too get into the high def to match there tvs many times thay were asked and they refused to admit they were going with blu ray. with this i and a few others out there are very unhappy with the way things have panned out. why not just be honest that is the least we deserve

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