DreamWorks "obligated" to stick with HD DVD
Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:44AM EST
See Comments (6)
The studio behind the "Shrek" movies says that until it hears otherwise from Toshiba, it will honor its agreement to release movies on HD DVD exclusively—this despite Toshiba's decision last week to kill off the HD DVD format.
"We have a partnership with Toshiba and have an obligation to see this through," said DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg (as reported by Reuters). "As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be."
It's a surprising statement, given that all the other big movie studios—including DreamWorks parent Paramount—have all announced that they're dropping HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, the winner of the protracted HD format war.
A little background: back in August, both Paramount and DreamWorks signed deals with Toshiba to release movies exclusively in HD DVD. Before that, both studios had been format-neutral, and the word was that Paramount and DreamWorks were both paid handsomely to go HD DVD-only. (Of course, Blu-ray turned the tables in January by wooing Warner Brothers to go Blu-ray-only; Warners has neither confirmed nor denied that money changed hands.)
So if both Paramount and DreamWorks signed deals with Toshiba, and Paramount has gone ahead and announced it's going with Blu-ray, why is DreamWorks holding out? Good question. My guess is that DreamWorks would lose out on its share of the combined $150 million that the two studios reportedly got for signing with Toshiba, and maybe DreamWorks needs the cash on its books more than Paramount—or maybe Paramount has a better legal team. Then again, DreamWorks is a subsidiary of Paramount, right? Strange stuff.
Anyway, I wouldn't expect DreamWorks to be stuck with HD DVD for too much longer (one analyst quoted by Reuters said the situation might be sorted out by Christmas), although "Bee Movie" fans might not get a Blu-ray release of that movie when it comes out on disc next month.
Related:
DreamWorks waiting for cue from Toshiba on Blu-ray [Reuters, via Yahoo! News]
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2 Posted by ronrasing on Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:04PM EST Report Abuse
zzzzz
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3 Posted by jirojas on Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:42PM EST Report Abuse
Stupid Dreamworks....
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4 Posted by supernacho1162 on Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:26PM EST Report Abuse
Dreamworks reminds me of the orchestra that kept on playing as the Titanic went down.
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5 Posted by y_92404 on Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:27AM EST Report Abuse
LOL supernacho, going down with the ship when life boats are available too! If they're worried about money all they have to do is make a 4th Shrek incarnation, parents will have to take the kids to see it, good or bad, and BAM, they make up the share of the $150 million they lost. It's as simple as that. /evil laugh
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1 Posted by knelson454 on Wed Feb 27, 2008 1:33PM EST Report Abuse
Come on Toshiba, stick with it, keep going. A few HD-DVDs a month is better then none. I'd like to see both formats continue on but thats just me. I prefer HD-DVD and there are so many players out there. I'm still using mine. Does everyone remember the DVD recordable war? DVD-R/RW vs. DVD+R/RW. I use the +r's but there both available if I choose to go the other way.