I thought I'd ask this of forum members...now that the 'war' is over and Paramount/Dreamworks/Universal will be slated to start releasing BD titles, what are the chances of back catalogue titles being released of which were exclusively HD-DVD?

I personally have been taking advantage of the HDDVD firesales specifically to pick up older back catalogue titles because I do not expect the studios to put effort into producing those titles on BD in the short to medium term to concentrate on new releases (that is, within the last 2-3 years). So movies like, 'The Thing' or 'Serenity' may not see the light of day for quite a long time. Thoughts?

I agree that will probably take time. Just look at how long it's taking Warner to catch up, and those were just selected 2006 releases, whereas Universal has everything from two years' worth of titles to put out.

Having said that, the two titles you mentioned are fairly popular, and those could come out sooner. I believe Serenity had a special edition DVD after the HD DVD came out, so maybe they can add the extras from that. The titles that I think will take a while are the day and date titles that no longer have the new release appeal and aren't enduring favorites, like Accepted or The Break-Up.

I've been wondering as well when they are going to provide details on some releases this year. They seem to be in no big hurry at this point.

I give it 12-24 months before we start seeing Universal and Paramount HD DVD exclusives on BD.

I mean really, what is their rush? They already sold a few on HD. How many more can they sell on BD?

I give it 12-24 months before we start seeing Universal and Paramount HD DVD exclusives on BD.

I mean really, what is their rush? They already sold a few on HD. How many more can they sell on BD?

What are you, high? :p

We'll probably start seeing some of the bigger guns by May or June. (Bourne Trilogy, Transformers, Bee Movie, Kingdom and the like.)

The small catalog stuff that tanked on HD DVD might start tricking in by October, November and be spread throughout 2009.

fitprod

Within 12 months virtually every exclusive title of Paramount and Universal will be on Blu-ray. Paramount had what, 15 HD DVD exclusives, since they left? That will take all of 2-3 months to release. Universal will only take longer because they have a boatload of titles to release.

i'm not sure if a list of individual sales figures is available for hd-dvd, but if there was, you could just start at the top with the highest sellers like transformers and the bourne movies almost certainly being some of the first ones to go blu.

i'm also hoping for late hd-dvd releases like zodiac, beowulf, attonement, and american gangster to be some of the first to make it to blu-ray.

I'm sure as staunch to the end HD DVD supporters Paramount and Universal are at the very back of the line for BD replication, espcialy for BD50's. So it will probably take time to get many decent releases from them.

I'm sure as staunch to the end HD DVD supporters Paramount and Universal are at the very back of the line for BD replication, espcialy for BD50's. So it will probably take time to get many decent releases from them.

This is probably true but let's be fair, this is not a vindictive act against these studios.

Replicators have been reluctant to expand without studio commitments. They are now rushing to expand. But, they already have commitments to the Blu-ray studios, so it may take a while.

Considering that Batman won't be out til this summer...it won't be anytime soon for them to release a substantial number of titles!

One title in particular is 'The Big Lebowski'...it's titles like this one going back ten years which may not even see the light of day on Blu-ray. It'd be too bad if many great titles from the past took years to make it to the now de-facto standard format.

I give it 12-24 months before we start seeing Universal and Paramount HD DVD exclusives on BD.

I mean really, what is their rush? They already sold a few on HD. How many more can they sell on BD?

Maybe they don't like to believe the end of HD...

Paramount -- it shouldn't be a big deal as they've dealt with blu-ray before.

Universal, however, may take longer. They had a template made for their basic movies, and movies with special interactive features. All of these need to be redesigned (or ported) for blu-ray. Heroes for example.. with web features, PiP and other little odds and ends.. I just dont see them putting this out fast without gimping it. Same goes for all the other PiP/Web interactivity. I'm not positive, but when you fast forward or rewind a Universal movie, they all have a progress bar on the bottom.. I dont think this was seen in any blu-ray movies until 1.1 (I could be wrong).

I'm not positive, but when you fast forward or rewind a Universal movie, they all have a progress bar on the bottom.. I dont think this was seen in any blu-ray movies until 1.1 (I could be wrong).
There is a progress bar on the Spider-Man trilogy, and I believe Close Encounters as well. Neither are 1.1.

I can't say for Universal, but I would be willing to bet Paramount (and DreamWorks) will be waiting to see if they can still get paid by Microsoft if they don't release BDs until their exclusive contract for HD DVD expires.

The money they'd get paid by Microsoft far exceeds any money they'd make off even the most popular BD discs.

I can't say for Universal, but I would be willing to bet Paramount (and DreamWorks) will be waiting to see if they can still get paid by Microsoft if they don't release BDs until their exclusive contract for HD DVD expires.

The money they'd get paid by Microsoft far exceeds any money they'd make off even the most popular BD discs.

Ahhh.... JUST LET IT GO!!!!

We're talking about when movies will be released NOT theories about a format war that ended!!! This is getting REALLY tiresome!!

We're talking about when movies will be released NOT theories about a format war that ended!!! This is getting REALLY tiresome!!

+1

What are you, high? :p

We'll probably start seeing some of the bigger guns by May or June. (Bourne Trilogy, Transformers, Bee Movie, Kingdom and the like.)

Do you really think there is idle production time for mass runs at BD pressing plants? And folk sitting idle to redo all of the interactive features?

Not a chance you see those movies by June.

MEC2

I'm a little surprised that Paramount and DreamWorks have not already begun quietly reprinting their previously published Blu-ray titles. I don't know if it means anything, but Amazon put most of the Paramount/DreamWorks that they still had in-stock into their latest sale on Friday. It could possibly mean that these are not going to be reprinted as is, but rather reissued individually under new SKUs.

If they were trying to clear out this stock, then they've been pretty successful with only the following still available:

Babel
Dreamgirls
Failure to Launch
Four Brothers
Hustle and Flow
The Manchurian Candidate
Mission: Impossible III
Nacho Libre
Norbit
Payback
Reds
Sahara
World Trade Center

I fully expect to see a handful of Universal BDs this summer, with Paramount BDs coming this spring. I look forward to the Universal ones in particular as they released a ton of movies on HD DVD that I want.

I thought I'd ask this of forum members...now that the 'war' is over and Paramount/Dreamworks/Universal will be slated to start releasing BD titles, what are the chances of back catalogue titles being released of which were exclusively HD-DVD?

I personally have been taking advantage of the HDDVD firesales specifically to pick up older back catalogue titles because I do not expect the studios to put effort into producing those titles on BD in the short to medium term to concentrate on new releases (that is, within the last 2-3 years). So movies like, 'The Thing' or 'Serenity' may not see the light of day for quite a long time. Thoughts?

BR's release strategy has always been to release current and newer titles. You must also factor in BD's limited disc replication ability. BR is primarily a PS3 crowd. Those facts appear to mean you will not see older titles on BD for a long time.

I hope bringing the HD DVD exclusive titles to Blu-ray does not slow them down on bringing newer titles to the table. I'll be pissed if its only porting over titles for the next 6 months and forgetting all the new titles they would have made if they were still with HD DVD.

So do any of you with predictions of unannounced BD release dates for previously HD DVD exclusive titles have anything to support your predictions or is it more of the same guessing and speculation?

As much as "Extras" were touted as the HDDVD advantage, now that Blu has won, I am starting to think that the studios should focus on quality transfers, and forget about BDJ bonus games and cool features. Just give us movies, and cheap, for back-catalog titles. Sure, knock yourself out on new stuff, as it sells more, and the cost can be justified.

Writing Java code just to put in a few seldom-watched cool bonus things isn't cheap. Considering the small profits made on catalog titles, I would rather see lots of titles, and forget anything but normal, DVD-like extras.

I am waiting for a some "killer titles", as well as a good, reasonably cheap player. Then I'm good-to-go for Blu.

BR's release strategy has always been to release current and newer titles. You must also factor in BD's limited disc replication ability. BR is primarily a PS3 crowd. Those facts appear to mean you will not see older titles on BD for a long time.

The BDA doesn't have a certain release strategy or conspiracy. It is up to any studio to release any content that they deem in their best interest.

I would not be surprised if Paramount holds Transformers for next year's sequel. I don't think that will happen, but I won't be shocked if it does.

I would not be surprised if Paramount holds Transformers for next year's sequel. I don't think that will happen, but I won't be shocked if it does.

Yeah, that's a possibility, but I think they left enough money on the table with the title as it is...

fitprod

Well, Bay is pretty vocal on how badly he wants Transformers on Blu, so it will come, the question is when?

As much as "Extras" were touted as the HDDVD advantage, now that Blu has won, I am starting to think that the studios should focus on quality transfers, and forget about BDJ bonus games and cool features. Just give us movies, and cheap, for back-catalog titles. Sure, knock yourself out on new stuff, as it sells more, and the cost can be justified.

Writing Java code just to put in a few seldom-watched cool bonus things isn't cheap. Considering the small profits made on catalog titles, I would rather see lots of titles, and forget anything but normal, DVD-like extras.

I am waiting for a some "killer titles", as well as a good, reasonably cheap player. Then I'm good-to-go for Blu.

I agree with this 100%. My priority is and always will be the best quality transfers possible with lossless audio in this format, with *any* extras taking a distant second place. And crap like games and gimmicky java content like pip commentaries trailing a very distant third.

T.B.

I hope bringing the HD DVD exclusive titles to Blu-ray does not slow them down on bringing newer titles to the table. I'll be pissed if its only porting over titles for the next 6 months and forgetting all the new titles they would have made if they were still with HD DVD.

I feel the same as you. Being a dual format owner I already have their titles on HD DVD.

Tom

I think it will be a very long time before all of the HD DVD only titles will be released on Blu-Ray. There are many D-Theater titles that haven't been released on HD DVD after all this time.

Tom

Now that Universal has stated they will begin in July with BD movies
the silence from Paramount is deafening. What could be the deal?
last out of the gate, wish bill hunt or one of the other big time video sites would
get us a answer to that burning question what and when? could you just imagine Indy 4 on BD how cool that would be.

the silence from Paramount is deafening. What could be the deal?


Well they managed to piss off one consumer base twice, and different one once in a little over 3 month. I'm pretty sure they've managed to do the same with the BDA and other affiliates.

and whencould you just imagine Indy 4 on BD how cool that would be.

Probably not as cool as you think(hope) it would be. Now the originals would be something to see.

Who cares about the '08 Paramount movies when we know Speed Racer is getting released. If you have access to HD showcase on demand(cable). Look at any of the SR promo stuff and you will totally agree with me, that it is the end all BD title.

Who cares about the '08 Paramount movies when we know Speed Racer is getting released. If you have access to HD showcase on demand(cable). Look at any of the SR promo stuff and you will totally agree with me, that it is the end all BD title.

Speed Racer is a Warner title.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811080/companycredits

Iron Man is a Paramount title. It looks like Iron Man will be a better movie anyway. Replicators will move the end of the earth to make sure Iron Man gets pressed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371746/companycredits

If replicators are truly that strained, we may see a dearth of (at least the BD50) catalog titles in the fall to make sure all the big summer blockbuster new releases make it.

kool

The silence from Paramount is deafening. What could be the deal?

The 'deal' is most likely that they're hoping not to cannibalized the sales of all their high-profile 'DVD-exclusive' titles like Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood, and Cloverfield by announcing an upcoming Blu-ray Disc release too close to them streeting.

still nothing at all from the jungle drums.What are they playing at.

http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00189AYJY:eek:

Release date : Oct-1-2008
Studio: Concorde Video

I agree with this 100%. My priority is and always will be the best quality transfers possible with lossless audio in this format, with *any* extras taking a distant second place. And crap like games and gimmicky java content like pip commentaries trailing a very distant third.

T.B.

I agree as well to a certain extent. With DVD versions I always swapped over to the rerelease with more extras. But with Blu-Ray picture and sound quality of the movie come 1st or else whats the point may as well get the DVD version. As long as any extras don't interfer with the Picture and sound of the movie then all is good.

Now that Universal has stated they will begin in July with BD movies
the silence from Paramount is deafening. What could be the deal?
last out of the gate, wish bill hunt or one of the other big time video sites would
get us a answer to that burning question what and when? could you just imagine Indy 4 on BD how cool that would be.

Bill Hunt says his sources tell him to expect an announcement soon (that has been almost a month). He has said they are already producing some and we would be very pleased when they make their plans known.


On an all studios note aside from Heroes Season 1 and Firefly we shouldn't expect any back catalog TV shows this year.

At this point Paramount realy needs to announce their plans soon.......we have been hearing for several weeks that they are making a statement on their blu-ray plans but as of today nothing.

If they drag on and on they are gonna lose their credit which they have so little of as far as i'm concerned.