What Studios are with Blu-Ray?

Question

I got a HD-DVD player for my Xbox a few months ago and I am now wondering what to do, keep buying HD DVDs or get Blu-Ray. Or just wait and see what happens.

Answer 1

blu-ray.com

Answer 2

This recently changed with Warners change to Blu-Ray at CES 2008.

I would definatelly be careful and watch the news before buying too many more HD-DVDs.  A few articles claiming that Toshiba asked Universal and Paramount to delay any announcement concerning Blu-ray until March have surfaced on-line since toshiba unexpectedly cancelled their press conferance at CES 2008.

Also, Toshiba on Monday slashed the suggested retail price of its cheapest player, the HD-A3, from $299.99 to $149.99.

"Word within the industry however is that these sales were at least in part motivated by the retailers, eager to either move HD-DVD hardware, clear out shelf space or both. Don't expect a lot of restocking when these units are gone." - source

http://www.digitalbits.com/#mytwocents

The p**n studios also seem to be switching to Blu-Ray:

http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/20...

So, unless toshiba does something quickly, HD-DVD looks like it is in trouble at the moment.  Articles like this following also show the other problems facing HD-DVD:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/raskin/17244...

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/ht...

Blu-ray support  

----------------------------

Warner Bros.

Disney (Buena Vista)

Fox

Sony Pictures

Lionsgate

MGM

HD-DVD support

-------------------------

Paramount (do not have to honor current HD-DVD contract due to escape clause and Warner switching to Blu-ray exclusive)

Universal Studios (are no longer under eclusive contract with HD-DVD, although have verbally pledged support)

NOTE:

Paramount

and

Universal Studios have both verbally pledged support for HD-DVD, but have no written contractual obligation to remain faithful should they decide to move in another direction.

So, in short, just be careful for your pocketbook's sake.

Answer 3

here is a list of studios with each!

http://www.bivingsreport.com/2007/hd-dvd...

Answer 4

Do some research on bluray, it is still not a complete format.  Specifically look at information regarding profiles 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0.  They are still playing catchup to HD DVD and are at least 2-3 times as expensive.  If you are unsure, I would suggest keeping the player and buying standard dvds and HD DVD's as the player will upconvert them to look pretty good and HD DVD is much cheaper.  Unless you want to spend 300-400 dollars on a machine that will be obsolete in less than a year (by sony and the BDA's own admission).  Not to mention the questionable ethical standards of sony.  I suggest you keep buying hd dvd's to show the studios that the consumers, not the studios, should be picking the movies.  Also, sony has open ended disc protection, meaning that at any point they could restrict any bluray disc to only play on one player or even charge you money each time you watch it.  They have already coded this software, and could implement it at any time.

As far as studios go, fox, disney and sony are bluray... with warner having just been paid 500 million to join them.

Paramount, universal and dreamworks are still HD DVD only.  Warners new contract provides them the option to cancel bluray exclusivity if the market does not pay off for them, and with hd dvd players selling so cheap, this is a possibility.  Also, warner will continue to support HD DVD for another 6 months, and still has only released the matrix, batman begins and other titles on HD DVD as by their own admission bluray is incomplete and not ready.