With what has happened after Paramount switched to HD DVD exclusive I'd say it's impossible for them to go back to Blu Ray unless HD DVD completely fails. Sony have burned all the bridges. I'd say Universal are pretty safe now too. Maybe it's time for Warner to pick sides.

With what has happened after Paramount switched to HD DVD exclusive I'd say it's impossible for them to go back to Blu Ray unless HD DVD completely fails. Sony have burned all the bridges. I'd say Universal are pretty safe now too. Maybe it's time for Warner to pick sides.

I mentioned the very same thing in another thread. I'm sure these studios are taking notes on how the BDA reacts to news that doesn't play into their favor. The BDA will slander you to hell until their 'Blu' in the face.

Well, Paramount only has an 18-month contract with HD DVD so nothing prevents them from going neutral or changing sides in 2009. And it is very likely that neither format will actually sell even nearly as much as DVD then.

Even if the contract story is true (and I don't think it is in the way BDA portray it). That is now irrelevant, once you destroy a working relationship it's very difficult to mend it. This will last much longer than 18 months.

Even if the contract story is true (and I don't think it is in the way BDA portray it). That is now irrelevant, once you destroy a working relationship it's very difficult to mend it. This will last much longer than 18 months.

I have to say that you are VERY perceptive individual and this is not a sarcasm. :)

You see what people don't get is that if Paramount HD DVD deal was a bought contract Sony would've never went with this slander strategy. They would know that eventually they would go back and they would be more toned down in the whole affair. But now, it's very clear that Paramount has ABSOLUTELY no intention of going back publishing Blu-Ray after what we saw happened after the announcement.

Trust me, if any other studio goes exclusive in the next few days or at CEDIA you will know for sure that Paramount went back to HD DVD exclusivity because HD DVD is really the winner and simply much better technology both implementation wise as well as cost-effective.

As you said, the whole panic that's happening right now with Blu-Ray Group is that they realized that this announcement actually means that everyone else will seriously rexamine their stance. It's the way things work and the only way Sony would try to dampen this is to completely dismiss Paramount.

By going with the "payoff" PR campaign against Paramount they know it's a cut off technique, but they are willing to lose them if they know they will at least keep current BDA companies at bay.

The failure of the Target and BlockBuster announcements to make Paramout rethink its (upcoming) HD DVD exclusitivity had to be very bad news for BD. The Paramount announcement has opened a huge crack in BD's wall and other BD supporters may start to pass through.

I expect Sony to pull out all stops now so this thing may really start to heat up.

Cheers,

Grant

The failure of the Target and BlockBuster announcements to make Paramout rethink its (upcoming) HD DVD exclusitivity had to be very bad news for BD. The Paramount announcement has opened a huge crack in BD's wall and other BD supporters may start to pass through.

I expect Sony to pull out all stops now so this thing may really start to heat up.

Cheers,

Grant
$150,000,000.00 is a heavy incentive. THey'd never get that revenue selling Paramount discs at Target or Blockbuster. Why would Paramount rethink anything?! They got a boat load of cash! They made the right call.

Yes, Sony will be even more aggrssive then they alreay have.

Could someone point me to some of this supposed BDA slander?

Based on what I see, it appears they will go wherever the money is.

Based on what I see, it appears they will go wherever the money is.

Even if that is the case, do you really expect the HD DVD group not to pony up a few bucks after the "18 months" (eventhough the CTO, says it's indefinate)... Paramount is on HD DVD for good, or at least until a clear winner is established...

Speculation, speculation, and more speculation.

One thing we know for sure. $150 million was well worth the switch. To think they wouldnt take it again (or more) seems to be silly.

Even if that is the case, do you really expect the HD DVD group not to pony up a few bucks after the "18 months" (eventhough the CTO, says it's indefinate)... Paramount is on HD DVD for good, or at least until a clear winner is established...

I don't expect anything, I was simply responding to the post.

Why can no one get past the fact that about every MS rep says absolutely no money from MS went to Paramount, including no trade of services, free software, or any other kickback.

Also, why can no one get pats the fact that the head of Paramount said there is no 18 month contract, and that their support of HD DVD is indefinite.

People who keep making these claims only show how uninformed they are.

Why can no one get past the fact that about every MS rep says absolutely no money from MS went to Paramount, including no trade of services, free software, or any other kickback.

Also, why can no one get pats the fact that the head of Paramount said there is no 18 month contract, and that their support of HD DVD is indefinite.

People who keep making these claims only show how uninformed they are.

The thing I don't get, is even if MS (or any other part of the HD DVD group) "did" give money to Paramount, why does anyone care, the HD DVD group would simply be making a long term investment to try to get their format to win ultimately. If they do win, that "so-called" investment would pay for itself many times over.

This stuff happens all the time in buisness. There is nothing unethical about it, so who cares.

Why can no one get past the fact that about every MS rep says absolutely no money from MS went to Paramount, including no trade of services, free software, or any other kickback.

Also, why can no one get pats the fact that the head of Paramount said there is no 18 month contract, and that their support of HD DVD is indefinite.

People who keep making these claims only show how uninformed they are.


So we are supposed to believe MS reps who denied for months (if not longer) that there were no such "Ring of Death" issues, faulty construction or other problems on the Xbox 360 just to admit it recently after their so called "isolated incidents" were occuring left and right and in some cases more than once to the same customer. I'm sure they only extended the warranty to 3 yrs as they were feeling generous. :rolleyes:

As for the Paramount deal I have no clue if it's 18 months or longer as many sources have said it is.

They'll do whatever they think makes sense at the time and Sony would be glad to have them back. This is a position that Uni has taken, but I really think it is unique to them.

With what has happened after Paramount switched to HD DVD exclusive I'd say it's impossible for them to go back to Blu Ray unless HD DVD completely fails. Sony have burned all the bridges. I'd say Universal are pretty safe now too. Maybe it's time for Warner to pick sides.

I'd say business, profit and coorporate agendas is what matters to them.
NOTHING is impossible in this game.

You have to remember: even if if the big companies disagree in a matter like this, they have lots of other ventures together.

Coorporates will always want to make money. That's always the core.

Speculation, speculation, and more speculation.

One thing we know for sure. $150 million was well worth the switch. To think they wouldnt take it again (or more) seems to be silly.

We don't know for sure that $150M was ever paid...clearly it is what the BDA would like you to believe.

What we know for sure is that BD has lost support from a major studio...which is a huge set back to the format.

We don't know for sure that $150M was ever paid...clearly it is what the BDA would like you to believe.

What we know for sure is that BD has lost support from a major studio...which is a huge set back to the format.



Ummmm....ok, you can believe what you want I guess. ;)

We don't know for sure that $150M was ever paid...clearly it is what the BDA would like you to believe.

No we don't.
But anyone thinking deals (money or something else) isn't made in these situations (across the board) are ignorant.

This stuff happens all the time in buisness. There is nothing unethical about it, so who cares.

Oh I dunno, maybe some overly sensitive people?

Some here are acting as though Paramount promised food and shelter should they make the pilgrimage 12,450 miles to the east traversing mountain ranges, seas and oceans, deserts and jungle. At the 12,449th mile Paramount announces that they accepted $150million from MS who bulldozed the promised shelters and injected the promised food supplies with syphilis. These people had mortgaged their homes, sold their kids to the leprechaun's and wrote out a big fat cheque to some Nigerian businessmen on their facebook friends list in exchange for safe passage... they made it so far, they were so close... of course they have every right to be upset. I would be too if I missed out on the chance to ride a unicorn over the rainbow... especially radioactive ones that glow in the dark - cos vampires are scared of the light.

These corporations will follow the money, that is all. One minute they work together, they next minute they work against each other. This is modern business. Besides, we are way ahead of ourselves to side with Paramount over Sony in the recent events to begin with. It would be as fair to start a thread titled "Paramount feels bad about what they've done and said" as it is to start one titled "Paramount is angry at Sony".

To tell you the truth I don't even know what 'event' this thread refers to - is there some over-the-top quote from Sony around here that would be the reference point? Because certainly everything I've seen and read so far is just par for the course PR.

With what has happened after Paramount switched to HD DVD exclusive I'd say it's impossible for them to go back to Blu Ray unless HD DVD completely fails. Sony have burned all the bridges. I'd say Universal are pretty safe now too. Maybe it's time for Warner to pick sides.
How and when did Sony burn bridges with Paramount recently after the Monday announcement ?

If you are going to make statements like that, you should at least quote/post from facts so we can have a debate on the facts and not debate on speculations.

Why can no one get past the fact that about every MS rep says absolutely no money from MS went to Paramount, including no trade of services, free software, or any other kickback.

Also, why can no one get pats the fact that the head of Paramount said there is no 18 month contract, and that their support of HD DVD is indefinite.

People who keep making these claims only show how uninformed they are.

Because if you take these things away from them, there is nothing to argue and cry about.

So we are supposed to believe MS reps who denied for months (if not longer) that there were no such "Ring of Death" issues, faulty construction or other problems on the Xbox 360 just to admit it recently after their so called "isolated incidents" were occuring left and right and in some cases more than once to the same customer. I'm sure they only extended the warranty to 3 yrs as they were feeling generous. :rolleyes:

As for the Paramount deal I have no clue if it's 18 months or longer as many sources have said it is.

At least that wasn't premeditated. I'm not saying that MS is any better than Sony. But try googling "David Manning" to see some of Sony's business ethics or lack thereof. Sony is at the very bottom of the barrel. Until I see proof of this "$150 mil for 18 months" contract - I'll say it is all speculation. The facts are that the BDA lost Paramount/Dreaworks and the head of Paramount says THIS IS INDEFINITE. That's all.

And the BDA didn't give "INCENTIVE$" to Target, Blockbuster, Fox, Disney.....? :D Come on now. You can't say that with a straight face.

In just over a year Blu-ray has lost studio support. Blu-ray has lost exclusive support from CE companies (LG and Samsung). On the other hand HD DVD has gained exclusive studio support, and gained additional CE support. I don't think this trend is going to end anytime soon, and as far as I know any time a major studio has flat out dumped their support for a format, that format has failed to gain mass market penetration.

Well, Paramount only has an 18-month contract with HD DVD so nothing prevents them from going neutral or changing sides in 2009. And it is very likely that neither format will actually sell even nearly as much as DVD then.

That is from one source, there are numerous others that state it is at least for a few years or indefinitely. do a search.

The way I understand it, Paramount is locked in to their framework for 18 months with a number of escape clauses provided. On the reverse, after the initial term expiration, Paramount obviously is under no obligation to start releasing on Blu-ray again.

So the fact is Paramount might start releasing before 18 months is up, or they may never release again. Those are the two extremes of the possibility spectrum, and it's a very wide spectrum.

what i think is funny is how small 150million dollars is to go exclusive, i mean seriously they can make a big blockbuster movie and release it in a year and make more then that. Since every news organization sometimes prints FUD then retracts it later and there is a blog post and a NY times article which probbably saw that blog post im calling the 150 million FUD. Viacom makes quite a bit of money.

what i think is funny is how small 150million dollars is to go exclusive, i mean seriously they can make a big blockbuster movie and release it in a year and make more then that. Since every news organization sometimes prints FUD then retracts it later and there is a blog post and a NY times article which probbably saw that blog post im calling the 150 million FUD.

$150 million is plenty of money - I really wonder at the logic of some of the people here. If your movie makes $150 million in profit, you can rest easy at night, and summer 'blockbusters' can be as lossy as they are valuable, depending on how the dice rolls.

What you can be certain of, is that $150 million - for doing nothing but dropping a format - is a hell of a lot more than Paramount would have earned on Blu-ray sales during that same period.

Beyond that, if you think it makes any sort of sense for Paramount to go HD DVD exclusive without any sort of incentive, well... then you my friend are a mystery. Whatever Paramount's PR line, the fact was that BD was nevertheless the more lucrative sales vector for them until now.

18 month contract? That's of course speculation.

However, the BD types had better hope it's NOT 18 months. That includes both Xmas 2007 and Xmas 2008, and everything in between. This time period is CRUCIAL for the outcome of the Hi-Def war.

Speculation, speculation, and more speculation.

One thing we know for sure. $150 million was well worth the switch. To think they wouldnt take it again (or more) seems to be silly.

They can get more next time. Who will be Warner's Jerry Maguire? Show me the money!

We don't know for sure that $150M was ever paid...clearly it is what the BDA would like you to believe.

Oh COME ON! Several independent sources on the web (before the announcement) and in print (quoting Viacom execs) gave tehe same number! You realize that reporters have to be very careful about potential libel; just because a source is anonymous doesn't mean that they don't have to get confirmation (e.g. multiple sources, etc) before they report it.

If the NY Times says more than one Viacom exec said it, you can take it to the bank; HD DVD bought off Paramount to stop them from serving 2/3 of the HDM market. Even so far as destroying disks they'd already paid for rather than sell them to us. We know for a fact that this happened, and that they were paid to do it.

What we know for sure is that BD has lost support from a major studio...which is a huge set back to the format.

Absolutely. It does much to bring HD DVD back to parity in this war, although it also permanetly undermines any pretense that HD DVD is in any way consumer-oriented or cares about the enduser.

Oh COME ON! Several independent sources on the web (before the announcement) and in print (quoting Viacom execs) gave tehe same number! You realize that reporters have to be very careful about potential libel; just because a source is anonymous doesn't mean that they don't have to get confirmation (e.g. multiple sources, etc) before they report it.

If the NY Times says more than one Viacom exec said it, you can take it to the bank; HD DVD bought off Paramount to stop them from serving 2/3 of the HDM market. Even so far as destroying disks they'd already paid for rather than sell them to us. We know for a fact that this happened, and that they were paid to do it.



Absolutely. It does much to bring HD DVD back to parity in this war, although it also permanetly undermines any pretense that HD DVD is in any way consumer-oriented or cares about the enduser.


Payoff or not, Paramount and Dreamworks are HD DVD now and if Warner goes next you can kiss Blu-Ray goodnight.

It does much to bring HD DVD back to parity in this war, although it also permanetly undermines any pretense that HD DVD is in any way consumer-oriented or cares about the enduser.


Don't understand how. Isn't getting more exclusive content good for your consumers?

Payoff or not, Paramount and Dreamworks are HD DVD now and if Warner goes next you can kiss Blu-Ray goodnight.

When Warner goes exclusive, we can have that discussion. I don't expect we'll be having it anytime soon...

Don't understand how. Isn't getting more exclusive content good for your consumers?

Ottscay is referring (I think quite obviously) to the numerous claims that the BDA is "anti-consumer" for locking up exclusivity agreements. Whether you take that stance personally or not, that's the context of Ottscay's post. It's not that he himself feels that way.

Payoff or not, Paramount and Dreamworks are HD DVD now and if Warner goes next you can kiss Blu-Ray goodnight.

Why? Warner going HD DVD exclusive basically gives everyone parity.

Why? Warner going HD DVD exclusive basically gives everyone parity.
I'm not chiming in on the possibility, simply the concept.

Why? Simple, perception. WB, Universal, and Paramount are three huge names. Also, nobody but nobody has the depth of catalogs they do.

Why? Warner going HD DVD exclusive basically gives everyone parity.
Because Warner thus far has almost as may quality releases as all other studios combined, and they account for 30% of all HiDef sales?

Or maybe because, thus far, HD DVD and Blu-Ray have the same number of releases with only one major and one minor exclusive studio vs. 4 major and 1 minor exclusives on the other side, but Warner and Paramount make up a third of those on the Blu-Ray side? There goes the supposed "content advantage".

"Oh COME ON! Several independent sources on the web (before the announcement) and in print (quoting Viacom execs)"

When I here the FUD about this so called 150 million pay off all I really hear is

"Mommy mommy they cheated WAAAA WAAA".

Everyone involved has officially denied this and the only ones really pushing this idea of a 150 million$ pay off is Bill hunt and Beatboy.

Why? Simple, perception. WB, Universal, and Paramount are three huge names. Also, nobody but nobody has the depth of catalogs they do.

Well, perception would indicate that Sony/Columbia, Disney, and FOX/MGM are also huge names. And catalog depth is only as relevant as your latest and greatest blockbuster hit these days.

There goes the supposed "content advantage".

Yes, but not the content exclusivity. It would be no different, at the minimum, than the position HD DVD has found itself in to date to begin with, and still finds itself in now barring said Warner exclusivity.


Everyone involved has officially denied this and the only ones really pushing this idea of a 150 million$ pay off is Bill hunt and Beatboy.

So Swan it's your opinion that Paramount wasn't incentivized?

Yup, it's just a wash now regardless of Warner. Both formats are here to stay. Hopefully we can realize this and stop fighting and just enjoy HDM on two great formats.

If the payoff was real, the notion that MS would pay Paramount/Dreamworks $150m is ridiculous. What would MS get out of the deal? The level of contempt for MS is unbelievable. Companies don't throw that kind of money away in exchange for nothing.

The most logical source would be Toshiba. If the deal was real, I can see it being for cross-promotional purposes, i.e. for Paramount/Dreamworks actors/characters to promote HD DVD, maybe product placement in Paramount films, etc. and for Toshiba to promote Paramount films in it's ads for HD DVD. That makes the most sense.

And who says it's a one way deal? It could have been a two-way deal worth a total of $150m! Until the terms of the deal is made public, all we're doing is speculating.

When I here the FUD about this so called 150 million pay off all I really hear is

"Mommy mommy they cheated WAAAA WAAA".
That's true, and it's so ridiculous. It's as if Paramount had somehow broken the rules.

Yesterday, I read on the ps3forums.com a comment that went "admit it, Paramount, you did this just for the money." *whine* *cry* *boohoo*

I mean, how pathetic does it get? Of course companys make decisions based on money. If that weren't the case we could all go pick up our movies for free at the local Paramount Welfare Center.

If the payoff was real, the notion that MS would pay Paramount/Dreamworks $150m is ridiculous. What would MS get out of the deal? The level of contempt for MS is unbelievable. Companies don't throw that kind of money away in exchange for nothing.

I agree, and don't think it was MS.

The most logical source would be Toshiba.

Clearly. Toshiba is the head of the HD DVD machine... I think people just get confused about MS' role in the whole thing and are ready to hate them for any and all reasons. But the same is honestly true on the reverse for Sony as well. There are a lot of decisions that could be chalked up to the BDA that people just rather blame Sony for directly.

I am not sure if I am the only one here thinking " Who gives a F*&@K if people paid Paramount"

I don't care they could have paid 1billion cagilion brazilion dollars. That is corporate business. There is a lot of money changing hands.
Do you think Blockbuster and Target don't want to sell Transformers, Borne, Knocked up, Shrek 3 etc. because they don't have shelf space give me a break. These companies are in it for the MONEY end of story, they don't do it because it's great for the consumer.

Sorry but every thread All I see is 150$ mil and I don't see what the big deal is, it's not my money.

I am not sure if I am the only one here thinking " Who gives a F*&@K if people paid Paramount"

I don't care they could have paid 1billion cagilion brazilion dollars. That is corporate business. There is a lot of money changing hands.
Do you think Blockbuster and Target don't want to sell Transformers, Borne, Knocked up, Shrek 3 etc. because they don't have shelf space give me a break. These companies are in it for the MONEY end of story, they don't do it because it's great for the consumer.

Sorry but every thread All I see is 150$ mil and I don't see what the big deal is, it's not my money.

Exactly... That's what I've been trying to say over the past couple of days... It's no big deal at all if money exchanged hands... Decisions in buisness are always motivated by the bottom line...

Furthermore, we don't even know what that $150 million consists of, what the real number actually is, or even if it truly exists.

I think Paramount probably did benefit financially from this deal (and not just because of the low cost HD DVD hardware or mature HD DVD spec), but I find it surprising that people are taking this $150 mil number as gospel.

And yes, deals like this rumoured one happen all the time in business, so if it did, people shouldn't feign shock and moral outrage.

You guys are wrong! BD was made for world peace, for babies, for the future! BD is all about loving consumers!

Why does it matter if/how much Paramount was paid?

You guys are wrong! BD was made for world peace, for babies, for the future! BD is all about loving consumers!

Oh that's why they won't have a finalized spec until 10/31, which has caused me to wait on buying a player, so I can go format neutral. Oh well, with Monday's news, I will most likely hold off on getting a BR player for a while after the 1.1 players come out (at least till after CES 08)

Back room deals have been going on by both sides since the beginning. I was hoping that the outcome could be determined by consumers, and that it would be over soon, that is obviously not going to happen.

Back room deals have been going on by both sides since the beginning. I was hoping that the outcome could be determined by consumers, and that it would be over soon, that is obviously not going to happen.

Consumers can't make the choice with Sony buying everyone out. Don't get so mad that Toshiba decided to play them at their own game.

Toshiba has held 33% of the market with every disadvantage in the world. Want consumers to choose? Every studio go neutral. You know damn well HD DVD will clean sweep the market were that to happen.

I don't want the outcome determined by a bunch of PS3 fanboys with no games to play.

Why would they go back after embracing the future? Makes no sense!

I don't want the outcome determined by a bunch of PS3 fanboys with no games to play.

Yeah, because PS3s owners aren't real consumers. :rolleyes:

Jeffrey Katzenberg is the Guy at Dreamworks and he said it wasn't "just the incentives." ;)

How much more confirmation do you need? Do you really think they'll come right out and say, "Oh yeah, we got a few truck loads worth of cash and now we love the Men in Red!

That devalues the whole commitment. No, the agreement is there, a lot of executives and others disagreed which is why everyone found out the real reason behind it, but at the end of the day there is typically a binding agreement NOT to disclose the exact details in public.

It's clear to me that quite a few people inside Paramount were unhappy with the move and let reporters hear the real reason for the move. This doesn't make the move wrong, doesn't make the move unfair, doesn't even make the move stupid.

It was the right move for Paramount (free cash compared to the few profits they'd get by being on either Red or Blue for the next year), the right move for Microsoft (pocketchange to them), the right move for Toshiba (their format just bought themselves another year), and the right move for Sony (awoke the sleeping Fox/MGM dragon).

But it's a pretty sucky move for consumers. HD DVD owners who don't own a BD player won't get any new movies from this deal and will probably lose a lot of the incentives to buy players they're used to (free movies) to help afford it (if Microsoft truly had nothing to do with it). So HD DVD fans get nothing from the move and Blu-ray fans lose out on Paramount movies, but suddenly get a lot of awesome Fox/MGM titles. Heh, Blu-ray's getting more new titles from Paramount's going HD DVD-only than HD DVD is.

Yet HD DVD fanboys are ranting and raving how this is the best thing since sliced bread. Makes you wonder where THEIR priorities are...

Sigh.......

Jeffrey Katzenberg is the Guy at Dreamworks and he said it wasn't "just the incentives."

How much more confirmation do you need? Do you really think they'll come right out and say, "Oh yeah, we got a few truck loads worth of cash and now we love the Men in Red!

That devalues the whole commitment. No, the agreement is there, a lot of executives and others disagreed which is why everyone found out the real reason behind it, but at the end of the day there is typically a binding agreement NOT to disclose the exact details in public.

Damn, I am still waiting for the ever so elusive proof. No one seems to be able to come up with any, so the mantra of "well it had to happen, so it did" continues to be laughable.

Expecially this now apparently NEW notion you've tacked on that "a lot of executives disagreed" with this. Now the BD fanboys are the ones trying to turn this rumor into a snowball.


But it's a pretty sucky move for consumers. HD DVD owners who don't own a BD player won't get any new movies from this deal and will probably lose a lot of the incentives to buy players they're used to (free movies) to help afford it (if Microsoft truly had nothing to do with it). So HD DVD fans get nothing from the move and Blu-ray fans lose out on Paramount movies, but suddenly get a lot of awesome Fox/MGM titles. Heh, Blu-ray's getting more new titles from Paramount's going HD DVD-only than HD DVD is.

O'rly? It's a great move for consumers if you think about it. Since all studios aren't neutral, which is what would be the preferred scenerio, this gives consumers a very easy choice. If you want to watch Transformers in HD, HD DVD is the place to get it.

I assume of course if you disagree with that, you disagree that Fox and Disney aren't also engaged in this manner?

Jeffrey Katzenberg is the Guy at Dreamworks and he said it wasn't "just the incentives." ;)

How much more confirmation do you need? Do you really think they'll come right out and say, "Oh yeah, we got a few truck loads worth of cash and now we love the Men in Red!

That devalues the whole commitment. No, the agreement is there, a lot of executives and others disagreed which is why everyone found out the real reason behind it, but at the end of the day there is typically a binding agreement NOT to disclose the exact details in public.

It's clear to me that quite a few people inside Paramount were unhappy with the move and let reporters hear the real reason for the move. This doesn't make the move wrong, doesn't make the move unfair, doesn't even make the move stupid.

It was the right move for Paramount (free cash compared to the few profits they'd get by being on either Red or Blue for the next year), the right move for Microsoft (pocketchange to them), the right move for Toshiba (their format just bought themselves another year), and the right move for Sony (awoke the sleeping Fox/MGM dragon).

But it's a pretty sucky move for consumers. HD DVD owners who don't own a BD player won't get any new movies from this deal and will probably lose a lot of the incentives to buy players they're used to (free movies) to help afford it (if Microsoft truly had nothing to do with it). So HD DVD fans get nothing from the move and Blu-ray fans lose out on Paramount movies, but suddenly get a lot of awesome Fox/MGM titles. Heh, Blu-ray's getting more new titles from Paramount's going HD DVD-only than HD DVD is.

Yet HD DVD fanboys are ranting and raving how this is the best thing since sliced bread. Makes you wonder where THEIR priorities are...

LOL @ the full of hot air Boohoo-ray fanbot!!