It is believed in tomorrow's edition of CE Daily that author Paul Gluckman will post the details of the Paramount/HD-DVD deal.

http://www.warren-news.com/CEservices.htm

Look for some very shocking information on the contract in regard to the length of the contract, Steven Spileberg films (both Directed and Produced) and also some EU grumblings.

~Josh

I've said from the beginning that it might be the proverbial straw with the EU. The good news is that all HDDVDs ar region free, which means all movies will be available to HDDVD owners. Who could ask for more? Except rumors be posted in the rumor thread, of course.

The link isn't letting some of us that aren't subscribers see anything except a plug for the service. Care to post some of the text you're talking about? If it's not too much trouble beatboy (unlike, say, that Vizio 52" 1080p LCD you bought and then apparently returned a few weeks ago! ;)).

The link isn't letting some of us that aren't subscribers see anything except a plug for the service. Care to post some of the text you're talking about? If it's not too much trouble beatboy (unlike, say, that Vizio 52" 1080p LCD you bought and then apparently returned a few weeks ago! ;)).

I have not read the article, I am only suggesting what may be in the article from a respected insider. To view the article tomorrow, you will need to sign-up for the 30-day free trial I think. Oh and yes, I took the Vizio back. Too much of a "washed-out" look to it.

~Josh

I have not read the article, I am only suggesting what may be in the article from a respected insider. To view the article tomorrow, you will need to sign-up for the 30-day free trial I think. Oh and yes, I took the Vizio back. Too much of a "washed-out" look to it.

~Josh
So, this is a rumor about a rumor...

So, this is a rumor about a rumor...

I am just mentioning this so you guys know to look for the article tomorrow. Mods: feel free to move this to the rumor section.

~Josh

I am just mentioning this so you guys know to look for the article tomorrow. Mods: feel free to move this to the rumor section.

~Josh

You could always only post there.

Slim GoodBooty:I've said from the beginning that it might be the proverbial straw with the EU.

Can you elborate on your opinion in this regard? I am curious to your POV on this.

~Josh

Why did you create this thread? We can find out tomorrow if there is any news. At this time, there is no information.

It is believed in tomorrow's edition of CE Daily that author Paul Gluckman will post the details of the Paramount/HD-DVD deal.

http://www.warren-news.com/CEservices.htm

Look for some very shocking information on the contract in regard to the length of the contract, Steven Spileberg films (both Directed and Produced) and also some EU grumblings.

~Josh
So when can we expect the details on any similar contracts (if they exist) on the BDA side?

This is a business folks, I don't understand what the big deal is. Even if Paramount was given a incentive laced package worth $150 million, would that really be enough to push them over from format neutrality to format exclusivity? Why is it so hard to grasp that they made a business decision that would be beneficial to them in the long run?

[QUOTE=Slim GoodBooty;11502355]I've said from the beginning that it might be the proverbial straw with the EU.QUOTE]

Can you elborate on your opinion in this regard? I am curious to your POV on this.

~Josh

The EU had already been looking at HDDVD and the BDA. They had moved beyond HDDVD and were concentrating on the BDA for good reason, and blam, the HDDVD crew does exactly what the BDA had been doing. It will either end the investigation because it seems both can fight of themselves or will cause swift action because the entire thing is incredibly burdensome to consumers.

So when can we expect the details on any similar contracts (if they exist) on the BDA side?

Not sure. If this story breaks tomorrow, it may lead to other similar stories.

~Josh

It is believed in tomorrow's edition of CE Daily that author Paul Gluckman will post the details of the Paramount/HD-DVD deal.

http://www.warren-news.com/CEservices.htm

Look for some very shocking information on the contract in regard to the length of the contract, Steven Spileberg films (both Directed and Produced) and also some EU grumblings.

~Josh

Don't we already know most of this?
Supposed length is 18 months though Paramount says it is indefinite (meaning that they can renew any time as far as I am concerned. No company makes a never ending contract)
SS produced films exclusive, SS directed films up to him

The only thing is the EU grumblings, which could be interesting

So what will be the Paramount story - the BDA bribes ran out?

So, this is a rumor about a rumor...
So what will be the Paramount story - the BDA bribes ran out?


:D

It is believed in tomorrow's edition of CE Daily that author Paul Gluckman will post the details of the Paramount/HD-DVD deal.

Look for some very shocking information on the contract in regard to the length of the contract, Steven Spileberg films (both Directed and Produced) and also some EU grumblings.

~Josh

OK, since you seem to be obsessed with Paramount going HD DVD exclusive...

Honestly, do think ALL studios should be format neutral? Yes or No.

Here is my answer..Yes.

OK, since you seem to be obsessed with Paramount going HD DVD exclusive...

Honestly, do think ALL studios should be format neutral? Yes or No.

Here is my answer..Yes.

I am not obsessed with this situation, I am just curious why Paramount would leave Blu-ray when their HDM was selling exponentially better on Blu-ray. I also found it strange that they were promoting the release of BoG on Blu-ray up until one day before the annoucement.

Do I think all studios should be format neutral? You bet I do. As we know though, there are complex relationships between all of these companies.

~Josh

I don't think exponentially means what you think it means.

I don't think exponentially means what you think it means.

To me it means that Blu-ray had a solid gain in sales, a lead that was growing with each subsequent release from Paramount on both formats.

~Josh

Yup, just as I suspected, it most definitely does not mean what you think it means.

I am not obsessed with this situation, I am just curious why Paramount would leave Blu-ray when their HDM was selling exponentially better on Blu-ray. I also found it strange that they were promoting the release of BoG on Blu-ray up until one day before the annoucement.

Do I think all studios should be format neutral? You bet I do. As we know though, there are complex relationships between all of these companies.

~Josh

"Exponentially."


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c111/mic-el/smileys/rofl.gif


Good one.

The exponent is 1 for the ratio.

I don't think exponentially means what you think it means.

http://wizbangblog.com/images/inigomontoya.jpg

I have not read the article, I am only suggesting what may be in the article from a respected insider.Are you sure that guy is not just regurgitating what NYT reported earlier?

I am not obsessed with this situation, I am just curious why Paramount would leave Blu-ray when their HDM was selling exponentially better on Blu-ray. I also found it strange that they were promoting the release of BoG on Blu-ray up until one day before the annoucement.

Do I think all studios should be format neutral? You bet I do. As we know though, there are complex relationships between all of these companies.

~Josh

To me it means that Blu-ray had a solid gain in sales, a lead that was growing with each subsequent release from Paramount on both formats.

~Josh


This more then confirms why you are here.

Are you sure that guy is not just regurgitating what NYT reported earlier?

From what I have been told from the insider is that this reporter has been researching this story since the day it broke and he may list details of the contract which he has gained access to. This insider also told me of two parts of the contract which has not been discussed to my knowledge thus far on AVS. I am not at liberty to mention what those are, that is why I am hoping they are mentioned in the story.

~Josh

It is believed in tomorrow's edition of CE Daily that author Paul Gluckman will post the details of the Paramount/HD-DVD deal.

http://www.warren-news.com/CEservices.htm

Look for some very shocking information on the contract in regard to the length of the contract, Steven Spileberg films (both Directed and Produced) and also some EU grumblings.

~JoshThanks for the heads-up beatboy. I clicked on the link and saved it as a favorite in case this thread vanishes. Very recently it seems a lot of things are vanishing here. Again, thanks.

I predict a certain op will be as correct in his aspersions here as he has been for the rest of them he has made.

If an article DOES come out tomorrow, which I'm sure one will, it will likely not say anything new other than repeat previous rumours and speculation on the deal, or, may give a far less damning account than is predicted here.

This more then confirms why you are here.

As I have said many times before, "Actions Speak Louder Then Words." The action of Paramount to pull from Blu-ray all of a sudden, during a time of promoting BoG and pulling the SKU's simply tells me that a financial deal was struck at the 11th hour. I hope the details of this deal are made public tomorrow.

~Josh

I am not obsessed with this situation, I am just curious why Paramount would leave Blu-ray when their HDM was selling exponentially better on Blu-ray. I also found it strange that they were promoting the release of BoG on Blu-ray up until one day before the annoucement.

Do I think all studios should be format neutral? You bet I do. As we know though, there are complex relationships between all of these companies.

~Josh

From what I have been told from the insider is that this reporter has been researching this story since the day it broke and he may list details of the contract which he has gained access to. This insider also told me of two parts of the contract which has not been discussed to my knowledge thus far on AVS. I am not at liberty to mention what those are, that is why I am hoping they are mentioned in the story.

~Josh

You have so many insider friends beat, they must really trust you a lot since you hold what they tell you in the strictest confidence. After all, you don't go around leaking the infor .. mation .... uhm ... nevermind

To me it means that Blu-ray had a solid gain in sales, a lead that was growing with each subsequent release from Paramount on both formats.

~Josh

It's been said a thousand times...the sales to this point in time of HD media are so tiny compared to just one week of sales of a new release of a DVD (300 for instance) that it would be foolish to look at current sales trends. The people buying into HD-DVD and BD at this point in time are on the outer limits of the general buying public...

LIP

As I have said many times before, "Actions Speak Louder Then Words." The action of Paramount to pull from Blu-ray all of a sudden, during a time of promoting BoG and pulling the SKU's simply tells me that a financial deal was struck at the 11th hour. I hope the details of this deal are made public tomorrow.

~Josh

Me too. It will most likley compel the EU to force format neutrality for Europe and thereby a win for HDDVD.

From what I have been told from the insider is that this reporter has been researching this story since the day it broke and he may list details of the contract which he has gained access to. This insider also told me of two parts of the contract which has not been discussed to my knowledge thus far on AVS.Thanks! Then that must be a different report, as NYT and others got the story at the same day as the news broke out.

HD DVD afficionado liked the idea that NYT was biased and a Sony-paid firm was involved in spreading a rumor, hopefully the new article is clear enough not to allow these quibbles.

Thanks! Then that must be a different report, as NYT and others got the story at the same day as the news broke out.

HD DVD afficionado liked the idea that NYT was biased and a Sony-paid firm was involved in spreading a rumor, hopefully the new article is clear enough not to allow these quibbles.
That appears to be a fact, but it doesn't mean that they story didn't have some basis in truth. The deal seems to be pretty much like the deals that Sony and the BDA have.

Didn't josh fabricate his t2 BD review...

Gee Beatboy, I am sure glad we are able to hear the gospel from your contacts with the almight insiders which trust you so much. I mean you are spreading the word to the people on the street! Keep us updated please!

I don't know if this is true or not. Beatboy has let us down in the past.


However to his credit, other websites are also saying that an in depth expose on what happened to Paramount in going to be published this week.


Other people have also said that Toshiba is going to at least admit that soem money changed hands.

Guess we all just wait and see what happens. :)

I don't know if this is true or not. Beatboy has let us down in the past.


However to his credit, other websites are also saying that an in depth expose on what happened to Paramount in going to be published this week.


Other people have also said that Toshiba is going to at least admit that soem money changed hands.

Guess we all just wait and see what happens. :)Even if money exchanged hands it might not be a big deal. Let's say that Paramount had been leaning in this direction and made the decision to move forward, but the matter of several thousand BDs of BoG had been created along with advertising that had to be changed. It would not be improper for Toshiba to buy the discs and pay for new advertising.

Even if money exchanged hands it might not be a big deal. Let's say that Paramount had been leaning in this direction and made the decision to move forward, but the matter of several thousand BDs of BoG had been created along with advertising that had to be changed. It would not be improper for Toshiba to buy the discs and pay for new advertising.I don't see it as a big deal regardless. It's interesting to see a little of the behind-the-scenes, but it seems to me the HD DVD supporters are overly defensive about the whole thing. If it's legal, then it's just business. And with the size of the companies involved, I'm sure that it made it past their legal staff or it wouldn't have happened. Let's face it, no one is going to get anywhere with this war without studio support, it's more important than any other selling point. So whatever it takes is all fair game. I'm a BD supporter now, as a PS3 owner, but have to say "good move" when it comes to this Paramount deal; in the same way that you would to an opponent of your favorite football team if they made a great play. You still want your team to prevail in the end, but can't help but be impressed by some of the moves made by the other side.

The two guys who started South Park just got a $75 million deal. This happens all the time in Hollywood. It is the land of deals in the millions.

If Paramount had thought they had a brighter future with BD - they would have turned the deal down. But they didn't.

BBI tried to buy Movielink last year for $75 million - they were rejected. 1 year later they do buy Movielink - for $6 million.

BD Fans . . . . Get Over IT! The deal is yesterdays news. These are public corporations. The SEC has ALOT more power than the BDA or the HD DVD PG. You are not going to see anything out of the ordinary. The lions share will be incentives.

As I have said many times before, "Actions Speak Louder Then Words." The action of Paramount to pull from Blu-ray all of a sudden, during a time of promoting BoG and pulling the SKU's simply tells me that a financial deal was struck at the 11th hour. I hope the details of this deal are made public tomorrow.

~Josh

What about the following:
I find this funny. Everyone on the Blu-Ray side throwing their arms up in the air about the Paramount deal. When the Blu studio execs were asked if they were provided with incentives or "sweetned deals" they all passed mic around not wanting to answer LOL......

Here is an exerpt from the IFA Blu conference.

Question to BDA: it's about Paramount/Dreamworks. People speculated that Paramount were given 'sweeteners''. The person asking wants a Yes or No answer from all of the studios - have you been 'sweetened' to stick exclusively with Blu-ray?
Answer: Nobody wants to answer this.

The FOX exec is given the mic: "We were given very good content protection" (smiles).

(They continue passing the mic around).


Question to BDA: The guy who originally asked the question wants a definite confirmation that NO studio has received any sweetener to stay with Blu-ray.

Answer from Buena Vista: "That's not what I said. I said no comment".

Here is the link.

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=65741

LOL???

You are right actions do speak louder then words.

I have been a member here for a little while - this is my first post (I am a very active member of a UK AV forum), and my question is this:

Why react to someone who is an obvious troll?

There will be an article published tomorrow which make clear that Toshiba has in fact entered into an agreement with Paramount for joint marketing activities - so what? It is not the great expose that is being hinted at here.

The OP gives winks and such like that his 'insider' sources have said that Warner will go Blu ray exclusive during CEDIA

Well if (when) they don't we all know that his credibility is zero - why not ban him?

I am pretty sure his sources are from Blu ray.com - any fool can pretend to be an insider if they trawl the web enough.

Oh and by the way I am format neutral.

Sorry if this comes over as arrogant as a first post but hey...................

The two guys who started South Park just got a $75 million deal. This happens all the time in Hollywood. It is the land of deals in the millions.

If Paramount had thought they had a brighter future with BD - they would have turned the deal down. But they didn't.

BBI tried to buy Movielink last year for $75 million - they were rejected. 1 year later they do buy Movielink - for $6 million.

BD Fans . . . . Get Over IT! The deal is yesterdays news. These are public corporations. The SEC has ALOT more power than the BDA or the HD DVD PG. You are not going to see anything out of the ordinary. The lions share will be incentives.

They won't get over it, and also dismiss ANY idea that the BDA isn't dangling $$$ in front of Disney or Fox.

The two guys who started South Park just got a $75 million deal. This happens all the time in Hollywood. It is the land of deals in the millions.

If Paramount had thought they had a brighter future with BD - they would have turned the deal down. But they didn't.

BBI tried to buy Movielink last year for $75 million - they were rejected. 1 year later they do buy Movielink - for $6 million.

BD Fans . . . . Get Over IT! The deal is yesterdays news. These are public corporations. The SEC has ALOT more power than the BDA or the HD DVD PG. You are not going to see anything out of the ordinary. The lions share will be incentives.

I agree. At the end of the day it was Paramount's decision to make. It certainly sucks for Blu-Ray owners, and I sure hope HD DVD owners are not surprised if a studio like Warner Bros does not take a similar deal.

After I bought my HD DVD player in early 07, it became obvious to me that I was missing a ton by not also owning a Blu-Ray player as well. The best thing I ever did was go neutral. It is clear to me that neither format is going anywhere for a long, long, time.

LMAO.

Just how much DOES the BDA pay you for all this FUD? It must be exhausting coming up with all this BS.

...Does it matter? All I know is that Paramount and Dreamworks will not be in blue cases for the next 18 months. How about we dig into why Fox and Disney are Blu-ray only? I'm sure its not because of the gigantic 2:1 sales advantage that Blu-ray currently has. Why are they still sticking with that format that only gets 60% of sales when they could go neutral and get 100%? Makes you wonder, but I guess its not important since they are not 'anti-consumer', right?

Why do the mods continue to allow rumors by a non-insider with a terrible track record to be posted outside of the rumor thread???

I am not obsessed with this situation, I am just curious why Paramount would leave Blu-ray when their HDM was selling exponentially better on Blu-ray.Josh, do me a favour, and never EVER try to run your own company, you seem to have no idea how businesses operate.

And while we're at it, please take a Finance 101 course.

This wouldn't happen to be the article where Toshiba said they were giving Paramount "some money" to basically help them promote their movies, but they did NOT give Paramount 150 million?

If so, too late Josh, we've already seen part of this article.


I have never seen a simple disc reviewer have all these "insiders" all around the industry. He's JUST A. DISC REVIEWER.

Come on folks.

This wouldn't happen to be the article where Toshiba said they were giving Paramount "some money" to basically help them promote their movies, but they did NOT give Paramount 150 million?

If so, too late Josh, we've already seen part of this article.


I have never seen a simple disc reviewer have all these "insiders" all around the industry. He's JUST A. DISC REVIEWER.

Come on folks.


That's the one......

I don't see it as a big deal regardless. It's interesting to see a little of the behind-the-scenes, but it seems to me the HD DVD supporters are overly defensive about the whole thing.It is more than just being defensive I get the feeling that a few posters want to kill off any conversation about the Paramount deal. After all the fact that Paramount had to be paid $50 million to drop support for Blu-ray weakens many of the arguments that can be made against Blu-ray. I for one want to know everything about the Paramount deal and I think most posters want that as well.

Yup, just as I suspected, it most definitely does not mean what you think it means.

Hmm, exponentially in a two-point comparison just implies that one point is higher than the other as in y = exp(ax).

So I'm not sure what you think it means in a two-point comparison?

It is more than just being defensive I get the feeling that a few posters want to kill off any conversation about the Paramount deal. After all the fact that Paramount had to be paid $50 million to drop support for Blu-ray weakens many of the arguments that can be made against Blu-ray. I for one want to know everything about the Paramount deal and I think most posters want that as well.

If it was only $50 million it just shows you what a studio would take to drop support for a format. $50 million is nothing.

It is more than just being defensive I get the feeling that a few posters want to kill off any conversation about the Paramount deal. After all the fact that Paramount had to be paid $50 million to drop support for Blu-ray weakens many of the arguments that can be made against Blu-ray. I for one want to know everything about the Paramount deal and I think most posters want that as well.


What would be any different about this? What would it prove?

You don't think subsidies and incentives were factored in as reason's for studio support decisions from the beginning of the format war?

Do you think Paramount and Warner switched from hd dvd to blu-ray with no incentive to begin with?

Come on guys, let him have his fun with his super secret decoder ring. :)

It is more than just being defensive I get the feeling that a few posters want to kill off any conversation about the Paramount deal. After all the fact that Paramount had to be paid $50 million to drop support for Blu-ray weakens many of the arguments that can be made against Blu-ray. I for one want to know everything about the Paramount deal and I think most posters want that as well.

Indeed and at the same time let us all look into Buena Vista's 'No comment' during the IFA BDA presentation as to whether or not they received the same.

At the end of the day these are business decisions on what is actually small fry as far as the studios and CE manufacturers are concerned.

At first it was Microsoft who was the perpetrator, now it is Toshiba, that will also not prove to be the case.........

Why does anyone care?

This format battle is moving to the hardware stage - lower prices, better featured products, DUAL players, we are the winners at the end of the day.

Richard Paul - no intention to be rude on my part.

D - R - I - N - K -- M - O - R - E -- B - L - U -- K - O - O - L - A - I - D - !

Oh, man, it's just some crappy marketing propaganda. ;)

It is really time for people to realize that neither format is selling squat which is why Paramount had no trouble dropping BD. Listening to folks like Josh, you'd think they left a lot of money on the table. It amazes me how so many with little or no knowledge come on here an bloviate endlessly like they really know how these large companies work. Geez....

Indeed and at the same time let us all look into Buena Vista's 'No comment' during the IFA BDA presentation as to whether or not they received the same.

At the end of the day these are business decisions on what is actually small fry as far as the studios and CE manufacturers are concerned.

At first it was Microsoft who was the perpetrator, now it is Toshiba, that will also not prove to be the case.........

Why does anyone care?

This format battle is moving to the hardware stage - lower prices, better featured products, DUAL players, we are the winners at the end of the day.

Richard Paul - no intention to be rude on my part.

They care because victory was snatched right out of their hand - just at the time that the "pot was starting to bubble." The BD camp saw BD crushing HD DVD in Q4 and making them the winner of the format war.

They assumed that all news would be good news for BD. With Sony playing "bet your company" and dropping $2.25 Billion - no limit as to what Sony will do to insure a win for BD. The PS3 "effect" was going to overcome any profile issues, sell in the millions . . . . and by 1/30/08 - HD DVD is dead.

But Paramount dropped BD in favor of HD DVD. The 2 to 1 sales ratio was not enough. The multiple CEM's was not enough. The higher storage and bit rate was not enough. The PS3 "effect" was not enough.

So now HD DVD is no longer "at death's door." As a matter of fact, HD DVD is poised to take over the lead in Q4. Got price, got content (enough to get the job done) got multiple CEM's and a few weapons BD doesn't have.

And the BD fans keep asking over and over . . . "how could this have happened?"

Any hope for a bribery, or payoff scandal BD fans? Wouldn't you love that?

As I have said many times before, "Actions Speak Louder Then Words." The action of Paramount to pull from Blu-ray all of a sudden, during a time of promoting BoG and pulling the SKU's simply tells me that a financial deal was struck at the 11th hour. I hope the details of this deal are made public tomorrow.

~Josh

And how about this scenario?

BD discs in BD50 cost them $4 a piece while HD DVD costs them $2. Sony has been subsidizing those $2 so they would match HD DVD prices.

Sony thinks that because they sold more titles Paramount won't have a problem anymore to pay $4 per disc as they believe that Paramount will still make the same amount on Blu-Ray as they do on HD DVD without the help.

Paramount is not happy as they are making the same money with more investment with less features, they understand that HD DVD can indeed replace and manufacture enough HDDVD/DVD discs to replace the SD DVD demand.

Toshiba comes out and says, hey guys, you just do Transformers in HD DVD/DVD instead of SD DVD and we'll offset the costs of returns (be it that $150 million or whatever)

Paramount switches as it is basically a much simpler way of running business without the hassle of Blu-Ray and having the SD DVD replaced with only 1 HD/SD SKU they make a lot more money.

How about that? Or this is completely impossible in your mind?

One other item for Josh. Does he believe everything he reads in a paper or trade publication? I guess they never make any mistakes or have their own hidden biases? I love all this, here it is in print, it must be gospel!

Unless it is the Economist ;)

Why does anybody care about the Paramount/HD DVD deal...it's business! It's over! Blu Ray lost Paramount and HD DVD now has them. Big F**king deal. Blu ray fans need to get over it. What's done is done! If everyone went neutral no one would care!

They care because victory was snatched right out of their hand - just at the time that the "pot was starting to bubble." The BD camp saw BD crushing HD DVD in Q4 and making them the winner of the format war.

They assumed that all news would be good news for BD. With Sony playing "bet your company" and dropping $2.25 Billion - no limit as to what Sony will do to insure a win for BD. The PS3 "effect" was going to overcome any profile issues, sell in the millions . . . . and by 1/30/08 - HD DVD is dead.

But Paramount dropped BD in favor of HD DVD. The 2 to 1 sales ratio was not enough. The multiple CEM's was not enough. The higher storage and bit rate was not enough. The PS3 "effect" was not enough.

So now HD DVD is no longer "at death's door." As a matter of fact, HD DVD is poised to take over the lead in Q4. Got price, got content (enough to get the job done) got multiple CEM's and a few weapons BD doesn't have.

And the BD fans keep asking over and over . . . "how could this have happened?"

Any hope for a bribery, or payoff scandal BD fans? Wouldn't you love that?


Who was winning what?

A share of a market that has only just exceeded that of VHS for goodness sake.

We all have to take a dip into the real world now and then - and I can guarantee you this is small business for the studios and the CE manufacturers at this point in time.

The real threat to both formats at the moment is the affinity and satisfaction that the general populace feel with DVD.

People can hope all they want that this announcement or that will make a difference - it won't - In my opinion of course

Is this the big news beatboy promised us 2 weeks ago?

Mods: feel free to move this to the rumor section.

~Josh

...you know where the rumor thread is