There is no denying of the fact that Dreamworks, Paramount and Universal have probably the best library of catalog titles.

However with the lackluster Q1'2008 schedule and the dropout of extras from Jack Ryan collection, do you think Paramount and Dreamworks are really interested in aggressively supporting and promoting HD DVD format ? :confused:

Expecting a genuine vote. FORMAT LOYALTY NO BAR.

BLU-ONLY FANBOYS PLEASE STAY AWAY.

I hope so. Out of all the studios, Dreamworks and Paramount have probably the best library of movies. So does universal. theres so many movies I would love to have on HD-DVD

If they cared they would be releasing more of those great catalog titles.

If they cared they would be releasing more of those great catalog titles.
I kind of agree. I ended up voting "No".

Didn't people pretty much have to demand that they release Braveheart on DVD? They don't really seem all that enthusiastic when it comes to their catalog titles. It seems like they take a slow and steady approach to the catalog, while focusing primarily on new releases.

It's been reported (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12921869#post12921869) that the newer A3 boxes come with two Bourne movies in the box instead of 300 and Bourne Identity. I'm wondering why two Universal titles instead of one Paramount title and one Universal? That and given the size of their catalog and the promise of only 30 titles in 2008 makes me wonder what's going on with them. Even though I love having them in the HD DVD camp, I voted "no".

EDIT: Ah crap, I selected "maybe" instead. Well, I meant to select "no". PEBKAC.

I don't think Paramount cares about any market that does not offer them big cash. They waited years before releasing anything worthwhile on DVD, they released very little on HDM when they were neutral and they release about the same amount now that they are HD DVD exclusive.

As Whitestang said catalogs just don't seem to be a priority for them. For instance, it's great that Jack Ryan finally has a new release date, but what happened to all the extras?

I will say that they seem to care about HD DVD at least a little bit. I think the Star Trek TOS (Combo only) releases reflect that as do the HD DVD exclusives on big D&Ds like Transformers and Beowulf.

So I answered no because I don't think Paramount cares about catalog releases, but I think they do show a great deal of care on D&D releases.

It's been reported (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12921869#post12921869) that the newer A3 boxes come with two Bourne movies in the box instead of 300 and Bourne Identity. I'm wondering why two Universal titles instead of one Paramount title and one Universal? That and given the size of their catalog and the promise of only 30 titles in 2008 makes me wonder what's going on with them. Even though I love having them in the HD DVD camp, I voted "no".

EDIT: Ah crap, I selected "maybe" instead. Well, I meant to select "no". PEBKAC.
No surprise, 300 is a Warner title.

To the topic: I *hope* they care. Catalog titles don't sell well these days. Their day and date titles (Shrek, Transformers, upcoming BeeMovie,...) are among the best HDDVDs (technically, and PQ/AQ wise). Voted yes.

No, and do you blame them? Are the amount being sold worth the cost of re releasing an entire HD dvd? I think there en lies the problem.

No, and do you blame them? Are the amount being sold worth the cost of re releasing an entire HD dvd? I think there en lies the problem.

Well that depends on what you mean when you say "worth the cost".

Since HD DVD replication costs and yields are close to DVD I would say the cost is virtually negligible from a materials/production stand point. Reports on the Insider's Thread and elsewhere seem to indicate that adding HDi features is not much more difficult than doing normal DVD menus and extras. So the only additional cost would be involved in re-mastering older films. Paramount has a number of catalog titles already re-mastered in HD, just watch HBO HD or Showtime HD or any other HD Channel that features Paramount Catalogs for evidence of that. From a cost to be done perspective I would guess that releasing catalogs in HD DVD is "worth the cost."

At the same time Paramount was slow to release on DVD until the market matured. The HDM market has not matured yet so in that sense I agree with you; according to the standards that Paramount has set for market viability releasing on HD DVD may not be "worth the cost."

If you want new market you must release some movies if you want it to grow.

+1. Better to release some titles and then prove that they are supporting HDM rather than making press statements which carry no big impact.

I like HD DVD more than BD... but have to vote "No" on this one.

HDM is just a business, and the only reason any studio would "care" about a given format would be because they thought it better in some way for their finances and bottom line.

From what I've read... there's no particular reason for Paramount to stick to HD DVD should BD become supremely dominant.

Quite the contrary, I would think Warner would have had more reason to stick with HD DVD due to the patents they own in the technology. Given that that was clearly not enough to keep Warner neutral / red in light of market conditions (and/or BDA payout) - it seems highly unlikely to me that Paramount will stay red w/o some external reason making it beneficial / required.

they just are going to take the money and run as soon as they can get out of their contract IMO

the money they got for going exclusive is probably more than sales will net them so they will make out well

now they will go DF or BD exclusive to end the war and make HDM more acceptable to those on the fence ala warner

Love to be proven wrong, but I don't think they particularly care. At the end of the day I guess we can't blame them. They've got no horse in the race (IP, royalties, etc..) and just want to make money off their product.

I voted no. You can't argue against what others have said here.

If they're not releases the movies, they don't care about the success of the format.

But another question at this point begs to be asked....why should they?

Care is a strong word. Do I think they have some loyalty to HD DVD? Not really, I think Universal maybe a little due to history with Sony. Do I think in terms of a business decision they have a reason to work with Toshiba for HD DVDs success? Absolutely. Do I think they wouldn't jump or go neutral if they felt it made sense to them in a business sense? Absolutely.

Neither side is releasing huge amounts of catalogs because:

1) They have to invest in cleaning them up for HD release.

and

2) Catalogs aren't selling well so while return on investment on HD discs right now is low, return on investment on catalog HD discs is even lower.


Personally I can't blame them. Most people who already own catalog titles on DVD would be hard pressed to buy them again. Many people with HD DVD and Blu-ray I talk to don't even consider HD disc movies outside of special effects filled movies. Would we? Of course, but that's because we're enthusiasts.

I believe Paramount cares about HD DVD, but there isn't a care in the world that is going to convince them to invest more catalog releases when they just aren't selling. I would expect more catalog when HD disc sales show a demand beyond the early adopter/enthusiast level.

That could be some time.

I'll enjoy the new releases until then.

Neither side is releasing huge amounts of catalogs because:

1) They have to invest in cleaning them up for HD release.

and

2) Catalogs aren't selling well so while return on investment on HD discs right now is low, return on investment on catalog HD discs is even lower.


Personally I can't blame them. Most people who already own catalog titles on DVD would be hard pressed to buy them again. Many people with HD DVD and Blu-ray I talk to don't even consider HD disc movies outside of special effects filled movies. Would we? Of course, but that's because we're enthusiasts.

I believe Paramount cares about HD DVD, but there isn't a care in the world that is going to convince them to invest more catalog releases when they just aren't selling. I would expect more catalog when HD disc sales show a demand beyond the early adopter/enthusiast level.

That could be some time.

I'll enjoy the new releases until then.

I have a question. When people say such and such a catalog title didn't sell well, where is that information available? Thanks.

as an hd DVD supporter i doubt they actually care. Toshiba should be pissed about them for the money they spent.

There is no denying of the fact that Dreamworks, Paramount and Universal have probably the best library of catalog titles.

How is that a fact? You saying everybody has the same taste in movies? :confused:

Hey they did go hddvd exclusive remember!!

I don't think they care about either blu or HD.

If they cared they would have released a lot more when they were neutral. Now that they went HD-DVD only they still suck.

I bet they figure it's not worth it yet.

Even when Paramount was releasing both BD and HD DVD movies, I didn't get the impression that they took HDM seriously. They've had a couple of big releases, but I'm underwhelmed with their HDM support compared to the catalog of titles that they have.

I hope Paramount will boost HD DVD along with Universal. And again, I hope Toshiba & co. now without Warner could *make* them release more titles, couldn't it be easier now without Warner? Therefore, I had to vote yes based on positive hopes.

Even when Paramount was releasing both BD and HD DVD movies, I didn't get the impression that they took HDM seriously. They've had a couple of big releases, but I'm underwhelmed with their HDM support compared to the catalog of titles that they have.

Exactly.

They sucked when they were neutral, and they suck now too. Don't get me wrong I love my copies of Transformers and Zodiac among others, but their effort has been lackluster overall. Still no Gladiator? Not even any announced plans for it? Geez...

To say something that has been stated over and over,

they could both greatly increase HD DVD sales with some of their best, "non speilberg" movies.

The only thing these corp. care about is money and if they say diff, simply watch how they run when offered cash and then leave their customers hanging. It is hard to believe anything else after the last few months.

Unfortunatley I really think they do not care at all and are planning to abandon HD DVD. For example, when Paramount dropped Blu-ray, FOX immediatley announced a bunch of movies to "calm" Blu-ray supporters and that did not happen AT ALL with the Warner announcement. What do HD DVD supporters get instead? Toshiba cancelling CES and not a peep from the remaining studios. I am sorry but if the HD DVD Camp wants anymore of my money they are going to have to do a better job than that.

Don't get me wrong, I think HD DVD is great and in alot of ways better than Blu-ray but I have given up on it. Toshiba, Paramount, Universal, and Microsoft have not given me ANY reason to keep supporting HD DVD.

I tried going back to DVD but after having HD its hard. So I sold off my entire HD DVD collection and players (XA2,A2) and got a PS3 with 31 Blu-ray movies. If Toshiba showed dedication like Sony has, I wouldn't have sold it but Sony really has got their act together on this and my money goes to the company that shows future promise.

you sold an xa2 for a ps3???

maybe paramount & universal are being quiet because they can't afford to let out their plans to blu until they are full gear in motion. look what blu did to hd. warner dropping hd the day before ces! caught hd off guard and it hurt them real bad. maybe enough to finish them. but if uni & paramount are still committed to hd as is toshiba, they must be up to something. many hints floating around that it could be big. i think those selling off their hd stuff will be pissed by the end of qtr 3. but who knows. maybe just hoping as well. only time will tell. i for one am wiling to give them a little more time to get there acts together. if they haven't done anything by mid qtr 2, then it might very well be over for them.

I have a question. When people say such and such a catalog title didn't sell well, where is that information available? Thanks.

The Neilsen VideoScan reports..

There actually is more information available in those than whether HD DVD or Blu-ray won the week.

I picked yes only for the fact that an HD DVD insider says Uni/Para and dreamworks are ramping up their releases! I expect to see big catalog titles coming soon.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12861497#post12861497

Of course they care...

I picked yes only for the fact that an HD DVD insider says Uni/Para and dreamworks are ramping up their releases! I expect to see big catalog titles coming soon.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12861497#post12861497

If this stands true I have no issues in continuing HD DVD support.

I have no issues now continuing support, It works great, Priced right and there are several hundred movies that are exclusive to HD DVD for the foreseeable future.

I want them too care, but i'm pretty sure they don't otherwise they would release some items.

I don't think they care very much. There were rumors last summer that Paramount wished they had supported Blu-ray exclusively. Judging from the sales numbers you could understand such a sentiment. Then, the $$$ came along and all that changed.

Obviously this was opportunistic.

as an hd DVD supporter i doubt they actually care. Toshiba should be pissed about them for the money they spent.

Well, then they should have gotten something in a contract saying the studios would release a certain amount of titles in a certain time frame.