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Paramount to Drop HD DVD?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the this-might-be-it-folks dept.

zeromemory writes "The Financial Times reports that " Paramount is poised to drop its support of HD DVD after Warner Brothers' recent backing of Sony's Blu-ray technology, in a move that will sound the death knell of HD DVD and bring the home entertainment format war to a definitive end." According to the Times, Warner Brother's recent defection to Blu-Ray allowed Paramount to terminate their exclusive relationship with HD DVD. Universal Studios remains the only major studio to exclusively support the HD DVD format, though rumors have surfaced that their contract may also contain a termination provision similar to that exercised by Paramount."

20 of 470 comments (clear)

  1. Yawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Since the time this news was in the firehose till now... we are now discussing green-ray vs MegaHD-DVD. The old war is over.

    1. Re:Yawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Clearly, MegaHD-DVD would win. (Hint: You're going the wrong way on the spectrum.)

    2. Re:Yawn by michrech · · Score: 2, Funny
      MegaHD-DVD? Crap.. I'm still using my HHDD-DDVVDD player...

      I can never keep up.. :(

      Clearly, MegaHD-DVD would win. (Hint: You're going the wrong way on the spectrum.)
      --
      bork bork bork!
    3. Re:Yawn by Monkeys+with+Guns · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sad. I'm still using my DVDA player.

  2. Goddammit by ZorbaTHut · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's not over until Netcraft confirms it!

    --
    Breaking Into the Industry - A development log about starting a game studio.
  3. Dateline July 2007 - by the_skywise · · Score: 2, Funny

    Paramount announces that HD-DVD is where it's at. Paramount CEO gives himself a big raise and pat on the back for his intelligence and insight.

    Dateline Jan 2008 -
    Paramount announces that Blu-Ray is where it's at. Paramount CEO gives himself a big raise and pat on the back for his intelligence and insight.

  4. If Sony Wins a Format War . . . by LMacG · · Score: 4, Funny

    If Sony wins a format war, does that mean the end times are near? Should I be stocking up on canned goods and water and working on my underground bunker?

    --
    Slightly disreputable, albeit gregarious
    1. Re:If Sony Wins a Format War . . . by dintech · · Score: 5, Funny

      The can is there to prevent theft of the food. You can't open the can to eat the food without violating the DMCA. Sorry.

  5. Re:Seems like HD-DVD is dead by LarsWestergren · · Score: 5, Funny

    Looks like Sony wins this one.

    A more positive way to view it is that Microsoft lost! :)

    Besides, as others have pointed out, lots of companies were behind Bluray, not just Sony.

    --

    Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die

  6. Blu-Ray::Obama ; HD-DVD::Hillary! by elwinc · · Score: 2, Funny
    It's all about the momentum! Sure, NTSC DVD is still President, but it's flaws are well known and everybody scorns it even while we're stuck with it. But of the new guys, HD-DVD offers stability: compatibility with existing DVD players and big money (Microsoft) backing. Blu-Ray has higher peak bandwidth and potentially more room on the disk; i.e. more hope for a better future.



    Voters, um, I mean buyers, seem to be moved by that message of hope! Obama, um, I mean Blu-Ray, seems to be surging unexpectedly ahead! Change is in the air! The big mony gang is frustrated -- they've been causing change for 25 or more years -- why aren't more people listening? Iowa was a shock; Blu-Ray is 10 points ahead in the latest NH polls; south Carolina won't save HD-DVD; they've gotta re-group and start pointing out Blu-Ray's flaws from now until Super Tuesday!



    Only thing I can't figure out is where is Ron Paul in all this? I think he represents 3D holographic TV. It's the darling of the techno-cognoscenti, but nobody really expects it to see the light of day.

    --
    --- Often in error; never in doubt!
  7. It figures because "Serenity" was HD DVD. by Stopher2475 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Should have known HD DVD would be the loser as soon as they released "Serenity" on it. That show can't buy a break.

  8. Re:Not holding my breath by geminidomino · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..reputable media source Military Intelligence
    Jumbo Shrimp
    Microsoft Works
    Advanced BASIC
    Bug-Free code

    I like this game! :)
  9. Re:Seems like HD-DVD is dead by ZiggyStardust1984 · · Score: 5, Funny

    and Java also won as every Bluray player will contain a JVM. Thus, bluray will damage the brains of the CS students.

  10. This just in... by Brad1138 · · Score: 2, Funny

    SCO claims BluRay using proprietary SCO technology and is pursuing a cease and desist order against Sony and other companies listed here.

    --
    If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
  11. Re:Seems like this is a war not worth winning by RobBebop · · Score: 4, Funny

    The old CE companies have tried to create a new ecology (HD TV + Surround sound) but the real ecology is much more complex and diverse (PCs, laptops, cellphones, iPods, and stuff we haven't even dreamed of yet)

    You know better than to say "stuff we haven't dreamed of yet". The real winner will be the format that can run a lifelike virtual reality pornography simulation. Last I checked, Blu-Ray doesn't even come with a mechanical dildo (but imagine how quickly your wife would want it if it did).

    In all seriousness... there are 5 human senses. Sight and hearing are taken care of. Really good movies can give you the chills or make you cry - so that *partially* handles the sense of touch. More work with that, and then an entertainment platform that can simulate smell are around the corner.

    When you can smell Jenna Jameson's perfume as her virtual body climbs over you... that is when the Format War will be over.

    :)

    --
    Support the 30 Hour Work Week!!!
  12. Re:Not holding my breath by geminidomino · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah but when it comes to media outlets, that scale ranges from "entirely dis-" to "not particularly"

  13. Re:Seems like this is a war not worth winning by sherpajohn · · Score: 2, Funny

    When you can smell Jenna Jameson's perfume as her virtual body climbs over you... that is when the Format War will be over.
    No, then it will merely be getting started...when you can also taste the various parts of her virtual body as it climbs over you, and feel the goosebumps that creates on her virtual flesh, we'll be much closer. Of course, it won't really be done til Gillian Anderson can take her place.
    --

    Going on means going far
    Going far means returning
  14. Re:The impossible happened, hell froze over by liquiddark · · Score: 3, Funny

    Given Microsoft's involvement, the fear is that any green identifier used would eventually turn red, at which point you would have to ship your HD DVD back to the factory for service.

  15. Re:Seems like this is a war not worth winning by king-manic · · Score: 4, Funny

    When you can smell Jenna Jameson's perfume as her virtual body climbs over you... that is when the Format War will be over. I'm uncertain if the smell of skank is really a good thing.
    --
    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  16. Re:Paramount Denies by king-manic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Moral of the story: Never believe anything you read or hear, especially when it's said in corporate circles. Damn.. school must have been hard for you.
    --
    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."