Hey guys/gals. Am a little new to the HD-DVD world. Where is Dreamworks at? Am I right in that Paramount owns Dreamworks? I would really like to see Gladiator on DVD. And as for Lionsgate, I know that agreements vary, but with Lionsgate signing on with MS and Xbox Live for content, I would think that this would have solidified their relationship enough for Lionsgate to consider HD-DVD releases. Am I way off here?

I think we will see Dreamworks titles by year end, as I understand it Paramount owns the right to all Dreamworks non animation titles. As far as Lionsgate I think the MS 360 HD content has no impact on whether or not Lionsgate is going to go neutral.

Thanks for the info.

I would be happy if Lionsgate was neutral, if that is the case. I just haven't seen anything from them.

Here's a thread started in the last couple of weeks on Dreamworks

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=792405&highlight=dreamworks

Currently Lionsgate has no interest in supporting the HD DVD format and Dreamworks has no interest in supporting Blu Ray. As stated earlier, expect movies from Dreamworks to be released at the end of 2007.

Currently Lionsgate has no interest in supporting the HD DVD format and Dreamworks has no interest in supporting Blu Ray.

I am still not sure either is true. Dreamworks is Paramount, which means their format neutral. Actually, seems like Paramount is format nothing right now anyway. :(

Something just tells me Lionsgate distributing for Xbox Live is either a tune-up, or a test ground for a shift to HD DVD. I'm not saying it's going to happen, so BD fanboys don't get your knickers in a bunch. I'm just thinking of a possible scenerio.

Count me in for 'The Island' when that is released.

The Island on HBOHD looked stunning. Cant wait for it on HD-DVD.

I am still not sure either is true. Dreamworks is Paramount, which means their format neutral. Actually, seems like Paramount is format nothing right now anyway. :(

Something just tells me Lionsgate distributing for Xbox Live is either a tune-up, or a test ground for a shift to HD DVD. I'm not saying it's going to happen, so BD fanboys don't get your knickers in a bunch. I'm just thinking of a possible scenerio.

Definitely plausible. I know Universal, Paramount and Warner Brothers are all content heavy on XBL Marketplace. There is nothing from Fox or Sony or Disney as far as I know- more money they're leaving on the table - :)

I would really like to see Gladiator on DVD.
Isn't Gladiator a Universal title? It is here in Australia, which would make it HD-DVD exclusive.

Isn't Gladiator a Universal title? It is here in Australia, which would make it HD-DVD exclusive.
I still have my Gladiator movie on DVD and the box says Universal & Dreamworks. Who knows?

I think we will see Dreamworks titles by year end, as I understand it Paramount owns the right to all Dreamworks non animation titles. As far as Lionsgate I think the MS 360 HD content has no impact on whether or not Lionsgate is going to go neutral.
"Meet the Parents" is a Dreamworks/Universal release thats out on HD DVD.
I don't know if it means anything but it's an non-animated movie.

The Island on HBOHD looked stunning. Cant wait for it on HD-DVD.


I agree, I will be picking this up.

Lionsgate isn't going neutral. Dreamworks isn't HD-DVD exclusive. Xbox live marketplace has nothing at all to do with HD-DVD support.

The connection to studios on XBOX Live is completely seperate from the HD wars. Support in one does not translate to support in another.

Considering there was nary a hint of Dreamworks titles announced at CES and Paramount doesn't seem to care about either format much, I would doubt we'll see Dreamworks titles until possibly a couple this Christmas.

I am still not sure either is true. Dreamworks is Paramount, which means their format neutral. Actually, seems like Paramount is format nothing right now anyway. :(

Something just tells me Lionsgate distributing for Xbox Live is either a tune-up, or a test ground for a shift to HD DVD. I'm not saying it's going to happen, so BD fanboys don't get your knickers in a bunch. I'm just thinking of a possible scenerio.

Regarding Lionsgate, this is my feeling as well. I find it interesting that Lionsgate is now partners per se with MS on Live, offering HD content. Something is in the works, IMO.

I thought there was something on Lionsgate coming out with something at the end of the year?

HD DVD supporters ...you can always dream right ...although it might not come true ...like Fox/Disney neutrality announcement last CES?

HD DVD supporters ...you can always dream right ...although it might not come true ...like Fox/Disney neutrality announcement last CES?

Actually (and I read these forums a lot) I never heard much of anything at all about Fox and Disney releasing on HD DVD. The one studio a few were claiming would go neutral (almost as fact) is Lion's Gate and I didn't put much stock in that myself.

There was Disney speculation from some, but no one ever claimed to know.

The connection to studios on XBOX Live is completely seperate from the HD wars. Support in one does not translate to support in another.

Agreed.

Considering there was nary a hint of Dreamworks titles announced at CES and Paramount doesn't seem to care about either format much, I would doubt we'll see Dreamworks titles until possibly a couple this Christmas.

With the exception of the MI3 releases, I agree. Overall Paramount has barely shown up to the BD/HD DVD table. :(

I figure Lion's Gate supporting Xbox Live doesn't directly coincide with their supporting HD DVD, but if their movies are successful and they start making some money, will they have a choice? It would prove the Xbox demographic is a profitable one for HD content, and the 360's HD DVD add-on is doing reasonably well. It doesn't seem like a stretch to me.

Using this logic, and I may be way off base here, I've watched both The Descent (which looks incredible) and Made in HD while really looking forward to Crank's release. I highly suggest any other Xbox 360 owners out there start doing the same -- even if Lion's Gate doesn't get the message, you get some great HD content at worst.

I could see Lionsgate adopting the TOTAL HD format that Warner is producing. Dreamworks will probably be both HD and BD because Paramount supports both.

HD DVD supporters ...you can always dream right ...although it might not come true ...like Fox/Disney neutrality announcement last CES?


Yeah, like you BD supporters dreaming about Universal going neutral. :)

Yeah, like you BD supporters dreaming about Universal going neutral. :)

fox/disney/sony,columbia > universal

more studios, more movies and thats that.

and XBL HD movies will play absolutely no factor in the HD format wars, Why release an HD DVD when 360 owners can just download it?

With regards to the XBL not meaning anything on one level that's true. I have a difficult time, however, believing that the term "HD DVD" wasn't brought up at least once in the talks leading up to this agreement with Lionsgate to provide XBL content. Whether or not XBL content is a precursor for HD DVD is yet to be seen. It would be nice but there's currently nothing to indicate a switch is around the corner. There are a few Lionsgate films that will be available from Spain (Saw, Saw II) that will help a little in the meantime... :)

Dreamworks isn't HD-DVD exclusive.

www.digitalbits.com Is claiming that Dreamworks will be HD DVD exclusive with titles at the end of this year, of course it's all speculation until the studio actually releases anything.

fox/disney/sony,columbia > universal

more studios, more movies and thats that.

and XBL HD movies will play absolutely no factor in the HD format wars, Why release an HD DVD when 360 owners can just download it?

:( Another user who gets his studio support information from the Blu Ray forum. So please let me correct you Blu Ray does NOT have more supporting studios. Also, there are in fact more than seven studios that produce movies too. Shocking I know.

fox/disney/sony,columbia > universal

more studios, more movies and thats that.

and XBL HD movies will play absolutely no factor in the HD format wars, Why release an HD DVD when 360 owners can just download it?

Ummm, if you sit down and the do the math, this could be an exceptionally bad thing for Blu-Ray.

1. Having the content available via XBL mitigates the need for an xbox owner to buy blu-ray. That directly impacts blu-ray negatively by driving down sales of their media.

2. The number of people who have connected their 360's to xbox live is around 6 million (gold + silver memberships). 6 million possible download sockets is huge. Why would Lionsgate leave that market untouched?

Actually, if Lionsgate sees demand for their HD content via XBL (which i suspect they are), they will most likely go content neutral. If their content is being consumed by 360 owners as a download then the market for their content on HD-DVD is assured.

Sony sold the studios on promises of large numbers of ps3's being sold. It's quite clear from any online gaming site the adoption rate for the ps3 is in the toilet. Lionsgate MUST have looked at the numbers and realized they can make more money by selling HD downloads via XBL than selling Blu-Ray media.

Downloading content sounds great. oh, wait, anyone remember Divx? how about itunes current woes with DRM. people want to buy something and own it. I don't want pay per view, and I think the Divx flop says that a lot of people don't. BTW where do you store all of these downloaded movies? hard disk? what happens when it dies? burn to optical? copy protection nightmare. i may be showing my ignorance here, I don't think we are ready for HD download content. what do you all think? If I have the option of buying a CD or downloading the songs from itunes i buy the CD. it sounds better, and when i do my yearly reformat of my PC i don't lose all my songs, or have to hassle with a work around.