Universal to go format neutral?
Here we go again with the rumors, which is exactly what this is -- and again a rumor that requires translation, but we couldn't pass this one buy. Universal has been HD DVD's ace in the hole and sure The Weinstein Company is also an HD DVD exclusive, but Universal is one of the most powerful names in Hollywood. So if Universal was to start selling Blu-ray movies, this would be a watershed moment in the format war timeline. As the rumor goes, Universal is sick of not selling as many next gen titles as Warner and may end their exclusive contract with HD DVD. This of course would mean that many of the biggest titles currently only available on HD DVD would be available on both formats, while we doubt this would mean the end of the format war it certainly couldn't be interpreted as good for the HD DVD camp. Read -- Universal will angeblich exklusive Unterstützung der HD DVD aufgeben
Read -- Translation at AVSForum (Source)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WiFiSpy @ May 9th 2007 4:10PM
Toshiba better open up their wallet..
andy @ May 9th 2007 4:30PM
only for a deposit. As the article says: *exclusive* contract. That means that Universal would have to PAY TOSHIBA to get out of the deal.
This would probably end the format war, but make for 2mil or so unhappy walmart shoppers. Which means the format war would probably be back on since there would be 2mil stand alone players out there yearning for content.
TheGuy @ May 9th 2007 4:33PM
Wow, your really behind on news. That Walmart story was debunked a long time ago.
TheGuy @ May 9th 2007 4:33PM
Wow, your really behind on news. That Walmart story was debunked a long time ago.
TheGuy @ May 9th 2007 4:31PM
If this is true, it wouldn't immediately end the format war but it would certainly mark the beginning of the end of HD-DVD.
andy @ May 9th 2007 4:36PM
If by debunked you mean "we do not comment on talks with suppliers" and "we cannot comment", then yeah, I know about that.
Kevin Murphy @ May 9th 2007 4:33PM
Why is this rumor better than previous rumors? Why is it more important for Universal to publish for both formats than, say, Fox? Any confirmation from anyone? Or just FUD?
Keith @ May 9th 2007 4:41PM
No he means Walmart saying "There is no basis for the rumors."
crycry @ May 9th 2007 4:44PM
bring it on, that would be the end of this sillyness and they could start releasing good movies in HD. Never mind the TV shows.
wei @ May 9th 2007 4:51PM
As an HD-DVD owner (via the xbox 360 add-on), I strangely would welcome this. I've been really hesitant to pick up any titles on HD-DVD, unless I the title really demanded HD, because of the format war. I just picked up Planet Earth, but I have a strange feeling that the HD-DVD camp is starting to lose the battle. Blu-Ray seems to be picking up steam, and I'm annoyed at how there are exclusives to each format. Blu-Ray gaining the support of all studios would be a positive step toward the end of these silly format wars. And then I could maybe even convince myself to buy a PS3... maybe.
Kevin Murphy @ May 9th 2007 5:23PM
wei--
Let me get this straight... you are buying fewer HD DVD titles because you fear that other people are buying fewer HD DVD titles?
In any event, a question: would you be more likely to buy a two-format disc (BD on one side, HDDVD on the other)? Even if it cost $5 more? If so, why?
wei @ May 9th 2007 5:45PM
Kevin - yes, I think my comments just reflect the precarious landscape of the current format war. Even early adopters like me may be uneasy about committing fully to one format. I picked up the 360 hd-dvd player because it was a low-cost investment. With Netflix, it's possible to enjoy the benefits of hte format without having to necessarily sink too much money into owning many titles. I know i'm not the only one who feels this way.
In terms of a dual-format disc, I believe Warner has created one. I suppose if the cost was comparable to the HD-DVD/DVD combo discs, I wouldn't mind, as long as there isn't a compromise in the quality of the content..
WASD John @ May 9th 2007 5:35PM
They need to get more studio support. Get cheaper HD-DVD players on the market, hell give them away as that'll easily help HD-DVD sales. I don't know why neither side has tried a formula that most video game console makers work off of. Sell the hardware at a loss, and make it up in movie sales. Maybe it's just not that simple, but it seems like that could easily be an answer.
andy @ May 9th 2007 5:39PM
So you've also noticed that the content creators follow the largest install base?
TheGuy @ May 9th 2007 5:42PM
I can see Sony and Toshiba selling at a loss, since I believe they get some of the royalties from their respective format sales. In fact, I'm pretty sure the first Toshiba HD-DVD player sold at a loss. For the other hardware companies, I don't think they receive much, if any, royalties from movie sales so I cant see them selling at a loss.
WASD John @ May 9th 2007 5:52PM
The studio support was setup long before either format had ANY install base. It really doesn't bother me which format "wins." I prefer HD-DVD as I already have a player via the Xbox 360, and I plan on getting a PS3 once the price drops to a reasonable level. I love games and movies, so getting Blu-ray and HD-DVD support is not a problem other than I don't have a blu_ray player at the moment. I hate this stupid format war and I wish that it could have just been one single format since the beggining.
andy @ May 9th 2007 5:40PM
Well, assuming the walmart thing truely is done, and this does happen, I fully welcome the end of the war.
The only problem I see here is the bump up in the player prices we're likely to see along with the accompanying staying power of those prices. Not to mention that we'll all be paying the Sony tax now along with the iPod tax.
Kevin Murphy @ May 9th 2007 6:14PM
wei--
I've been saying that the real investment isn't in the players, but in the discs. People are staying away from both formats because they worry that their discs will become useless. With a TotalHD disc, that would be a worry -- they can go either way. So they'd buy the cheapest player and see who wins.
Now, you bring up an interesting point: with Netflix people ca have protection of another sort: limit their loss to the player. And again that favors HD DVD. Wonder what Netfix's rental split is like.
Scott @ May 9th 2007 5:58PM
Hey, Universal... I've got a few hundred here just waiting to be spent on your products on blu-ray. Want my money?
Kevin Murphy @ May 9th 2007 6:17PM
Umm "With a TotalHD disc, that would _no longer_ be a worry -- they can go either way"
Geoff Gibson @ May 9th 2007 6:25PM
I am an avid supporter of HD DvD. However, I am going to have to disagree with Ben's last statement. If Universal goes neutral the HD DvD format will putter off into oblivion. Weinstein puts out some good movies, but Universal (next to Warner) is the MAIN Action movie production company. Its their focus and its also why I buy HD DvDs as opposed to Blu Ray discs.
Perhaps it will be for the better in the long run...
Asterra @ May 9th 2007 6:43PM
If HD-DVD is doomed, then it has at least served one of two very important purposes: It forced Bluray-adherent studios to abandon MPEG2.
The only thing missing is affordability. There is no Bluray player for the masses. And there is no 24Hz-capable Bluray player at a reasonable price, period. HD-DVD will force these issues. Competition is grand. And Sony loses more money.
Sadly, this doesn't change the fact that there are about a hundred Bluray movies out there that exist in MPEG2 iterations which will probably never see reissues. Indeed, one of the most notorious examples - Fifth Element - still hasn't seen a reissue in spite of persistent (and now quite old) rumors. It's a crippling flaw in the Bluray library, and it's permanent.
James @ May 9th 2007 7:34PM
Sony leaves Blu-ray camp. Sounds silly. Of course it does and so does this announcement where the source is .... the Blu-ray camp.
Sean @ May 9th 2007 7:48PM
with every article i read on the format war i lose a little bit more of my life - it is such a waist of time. I've recently decided to buy a ps3 even though I don't play video games. I'm buying it just for the blu-ray player. And I'm going to stock up on blu-ray discs. I'm sick of waiting.
Why I chose blu-ray:
the ps3 seemed like the best overall entertainment system to me - at the price of a standalone HiDef player... it will play everything - even games if i decide to get some. I know the Xbox does this too, but I wanted the HD/Blu-ray drive built into the console. If Xbox had a built in HD DVD option I would have considered buying, but since it had to be an addon I went for the PS3 to keep my living room clean.
Kevin Murphy @ May 9th 2007 7:55PM
IT SHOULD BE NOTED that this is just a nasty rumor, put out there by an employee of a competitor. I'm having trouble counting the ways this is likely BS.
Yet people (and Engadget, which should flipping KNOW BETTER) are treating it as though there was something there.
Fear, uncertainty, doubt. Sony's three marketing ploys. Add those to severe DRM, region codes, and the likelihood of worse behavior (ICT flags?) should they win, and I'd pay good money to ensure they lose.
I don't care if HD DVD wins, I just want Sony to lose. Both losing would be fine. I didn't feel this way 6 months ago, but the BS coming from that quarter has been astounding. A pox on them.
Super Saiyan Musashi @ May 10th 2007 9:18PM
"Fear, uncertainty, doubt. Microsoft's three marketing ploys."
Fixed it for ya.
walk2k @ May 9th 2007 8:21PM
Well the fat lady hasn't started singing yet, but she is putting on her makeup....
Brian @ May 9th 2007 11:04PM
Seriously, who writes this drivel? I guess Engadget HD got the bottom of the spell and grammar check barrel...
"...but we couldn't pass this one buy." Are you kidding me?!? And what's with the run-on sentences?!?! Just because you put a comma in it does not make it ok to mash 5 thoughts together before the next period. Sad day for the Engadget family...
JET @ May 10th 2007 10:58AM
The hopes that Universal would go Blu-ray - and effectively end the format war - have been so strong for so many months now that I will not believe it until the press release is in hand.
JET