Universal to release Serenity on HD-DVD on 4/18/06
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Apr 11th 2006 at 11:30AM
It appears that HD-DVD's secret weapon is about to enter into the game. You can say
what you want about either format, but in the end it comes down to titles. People will buy the format with the titles
they want to see and two of the biggest players in the movie industry are backing HD-DVD at least partially. Universal
which is the only non Blu-Ray supporter is bringing out the first heavy hitter, a title that people are actually
excited about; Serenity. Although it is not a block buster title like King Kong it is the hottest
movie to be announced for either format to date. The entire basis of my HD-DVD will die prediction is based on the lack
of quality content and if these types of titles continue to be released, I will be proved wrong. This only gets more
interesting by the day and I for one can't wait to see which titles make it to market first. With just over 60 days till Blu-Ray is released HD-DVD has
a good chance to get a good head start, but 4 movies (of which one new release) isn't going to be enough. Do you think the studios will save HD-DVD?
via [HDBlog.net]
Filed under: Programming, Toshiba
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aaron Rodriguez @ Apr 11th 2006 12:06PM
I know Im getting serenity regardless for HD-DVD... just hope they bring out that xbox360 hddvd addon soon (and its somewhat cheap)
hmurchison @ Apr 11th 2006 12:54PM
I'm not too worried about studio availability. Disney has already left the door open for HD-DVD meaning we can look forward to over half of all major studios supporting HD-DVD. I think price is the next factor that will have HD-DVD becoming entrenched. Blu Ray is a technical marvel but end the end I jsut want to watch movies and for as cheaply as possible.
zombieflanders @ Apr 11th 2006 2:25PM
*sigh*
Disney has done no more than any other exclusive studio, i.e. if one format dies it will support the other. The CEO may have said it's likely that they'll release on HD DVD, but the head of Buena Vista Home Entertainment (who actually makes the decisions regarding shiny discs) made it clear all support is currently for Blu-ray.
hmurchison @ Apr 11th 2006 3:19PM
sigh all you want
http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/15/disney-may-support-both-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray/
Relevant quote
"Disney CEO Robert Iger talked up Blu-ray, but then went on to say that the company would "probably publish in both formats."
Note that my post did not mention Buena Vista. I strictly mentioned Disney. Zombieflanders brought in Buena. Also note that Iger never added a "dying" qualifer that too was added by zombieflanders.
Again. HD-DVD is going to pick up new studios. Universal will likely go Blu Ray in the future but they've been closed lipped and HD-DVD will be cheaper than Blu Ray in the short and long run (IMO).
I will own both formats myself because I love movies but the low cost appeal of HD-DVD makes more sense to me.
zombieflanders @ Apr 11th 2006 4:02PM
"Note that my post did not mention Buena Vista. I strictly mentioned Disney. Zombieflanders brought in Buena."
You should bone up on how things are run. Buena Vista Home Entertainment is the distributor for all titles from studios owned by Disney (including Disney Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax, and now Pixar)
"Also note that Iger never added a "dying" qualifer that too was added by zombieflanders. "
Iger is the CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek is the president of BVHE, and I assure you he is much more aware of and in control of the formats Disney will produce on. Here's the word straight from his mouth:
"...Buena Vista Home Entertainment on behalf of The Walt Disney Company is so bullish on the revolutionary technology of Blu-ray Disc. It is well positioned to be the future solution for packaged media, with its superior capacity and interactivity, copy-protection systems and market force superiority that is unrivaled. As we approach the launch of the high-definition era of our industry, I am very encouraged with how the Blu-ray Disc format will revolutionize the home entertainment world."
(this is from an op-ed piece he wrote at http://videobusiness.com/article/CA6317037.html)
"Again. HD-DVD is going to pick up new studios. Universal will likely go Blu Ray in the future but they've been closed lipped and HD-DVD will be cheaper than Blu Ray in the short and long run (IMO)."
We've seen no evidence of this anywhere but in the players, and that's not a guaranteed advantage in the long run. Remember, they still only have one CE vendor with an announced player, compared to 4 from Blu-ray.
portwineboy @ Apr 11th 2006 8:50PM
zombieflanders is on the money with this. i worked for miramax for 6 years and dealt with BVHE quite a bit. Iger can say whatever he wants but in the end BVHE is the money making powerhouse at Disney.
Runciter @ Apr 12th 2006 7:28PM
Meh. Who really cares either way unless you have a vested interest in one. I'm leaning to HD-DVD since they tout managed copy, but from what I understand that has been added to Blu-ray. In any event this is America -- the land of "good enough". Joe Sixpack has historically chose the cheaper format, unless he is satisfied with what he has. HD-DVD and Blu-ray may be great, but Joe 6 isn't eager to repurchase his library. It may just play out like DVD-Audio and SACD. Me, I'll wait til the dust settles (and I was an early adopter of DVD back when it was test marketed in the US).
Mark Kawakami @ Apr 13th 2006 3:12PM
I'm betting Blu-Ray in the ultimate long term, but it's not going to be a real war. The hybrid/dual-format players will dominate next-gen player sales within 12 months.