While even the most steadfast red fans have accepted things are
over for HD DVD, it appears Dreamworks Animation isn't able to let the format war go. Even though
Paramount seems to have found a way out from under its
exclusivity deal, Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg told
Reuters he still needs to hear from Toshiba
what to do with the truckloads of money HD DVD gave them about its agreement before making any Blu-ray release plans. He seems (to be the only one) worried about the upcoming DVD release of
Bee Movie and what will happen there. An analyst quoted said they should certainly have this taken care of by the holiday season, which would only be six to eight months after HD DVD manufacturing has
ceased to be. We have a feeling it won't take that long to turn
Shrek Blu.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gil @ Feb 27th 2008 8:20AM
That's where Toshiba messed up, they didn't pay ENOUGH money to those people to sway them like Sony did. Sadly in the end it was who had the bigger pocketbook who won this..
rg23 @ Feb 27th 2008 8:58AM
Sony had to go all out since Sony had more at stake in the war than Toshiba. Sony has lost majority of the casual gaming market to Nintendo and a big share of the hard core gamer market to Microsoft since the days of PS2 dominance. If Sony lost the war it would have been a double loss since they could not take the blu-ray out of the PS3. To have blu-ray only for gaming is not worth the cost (at least for now with its current pricing).
p @ Feb 27th 2008 9:07AM
Put some millions up yourself or just please give the cut & paste a rest. It's all been said and done, no need to go over old ground like a spurned lover.
alienclays @ Feb 27th 2008 9:21AM
toshiba was already loosing money on every player and still feeling the hurt of paying off various studios, make no mistake, if it was about payoffs toshiba is in no way able to match the power of the entire blu-ray disc association. payofs are bad for the bottom line, short sighted, and if it's not showing that it works (it didn't get hddvd ahead even once last year) it's stupid to keep doing it. paramount took the money because it wanted to be red anyway, plain and simple.
that aside i don't think the loss was about payoffs, it was about warner, harry potter, and the fact that no matter what happened, blu dominated sales for all of 07, 2:1, and the war was keeping some people from jumping in (from spending their money). what, was toshiba supposed to payoff warner? freakin' WARNER BROTHERS! their pockets wern't that deep. and while i'm sure those execs tried to think of every viable solution in the book (even payoffs, free player givaways, etc,....)toshiba even said it their selves, it didn't make good busnes sense to continue the war.
MacGuru @ Feb 28th 2008 10:32PM
And that's a surprise to you? Or you think it's not about money? The Dreamworks CEO is a moron and when his revenue starts to drop because he won't release any HD format disks (Blu Ray!) he'll eat his ego and release all his movies on Blu Ray.
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 27th 2008 9:13AM
I hope Toshiba never releases them from this contract... that way, we never have to see those POS SHREK movies on Blu-Ray.
CassilineKnight @ Feb 27th 2008 9:15AM
Lol I hope you're kidding...
They're hilarious and great for both kids and adults at the same time!
Andrew @ Feb 27th 2008 9:22AM
I agree, I love most of those animated movies. I hope Dreamworks comes over quickly. I haven't seen Bee Movie but with Jerry Seinfeld it's probably quite funny. Not every movie has to be about killing people and sex to be good.
ProfWho @ Feb 27th 2008 10:22AM
@CassilineKnight
The first two were good, but the third one was simply awful.
John B @ Feb 27th 2008 10:36AM
If you don't like them, don't buy them. No one's forcing anything on you just by making it available. But don't argue for making it unavailable to others just because *you* don't like it.
Then again, you acted the same way towards HD DVD, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
pete @ Feb 27th 2008 11:07AM
John B, get a sense of humour you bloody weirdo
regeya @ Feb 27th 2008 9:25AM
Okay, I've been harping on the dead-horse flogging match that Engadget has become, but bravo--you found an actual relevant story! There's still some post-mortem flagellation going on, along with the same sorts of baseless accusations that make Sony fanboys bristle (but it's okay if you're talking about Toshiba since they're evil, right? ;-) but this is a damn funny story.
Well, maybe not so funny. I can't think that Dreamworks would do this without a damn good reason. Maybe you hit the nail on the head. Or maybe Toshiba just hasn't released 'em from their contract. That would be sort of funny in and of itself; hey, guys, we quit the business, but that doesn't let you off the hook, yo?
Am I right in thinking that disc manufacturing can continue without Toshiba, or were they an essential cog in the process?
TJ @ Feb 27th 2008 9:55AM
I'm far more concerned about other Dreamworks films, like Sweeney Todd. Fortunately, Sweeney is released overseas by Warner (as are many other DW movies), so I can just import a UK version.
I think the main question is whether Toshiba's announcement frees them from HD DVD exclusivity or if they just want to stick with HD DVD.
massive_98 @ Feb 27th 2008 9:57AM
Dreamworks will want a piece of the HD pie before (or if) it takes off. Why do people not even comment about the actual topic?
mcrexx @ Feb 27th 2008 10:16AM
If it wasn't for "Over the Hedge" I wouldn't give a crap about Dreamworks Animation going blu or not. It's the only movie I want in blu from the studio.
JimC @ Feb 27th 2008 10:50AM
My guess is that Dreamworks is in a legal pickle. Their contract probably states something to the effect when Toshiba halts support however since that doesn't officially occur until March:
"Toshiba, officially conceding the format war to rival Sony and its Blu-ray Disc, will discontinue production of its next-generation DVD player and discs and expects to be out of the HD DVD business by next month.[March]"
So then Dreamworks is being cautious in their dealings. Wouldn't you be cautious if you got paid big bucks and wasn't officially released from your contract? Officially, Toshiba hasn't shut down production just yet and even though they announced they will, that may not be clear in the contract as to whether that satisfies the "get out" clause. Dreamworks is covering their butts....
maurice benton @ Feb 27th 2008 10:59AM
its funny when universal strewed up american gangster how quickly engadget was on that story, to again smear hddvd in its grim and futureless life. but when beowulf is released on hddvd and can outshine any disney movie or any movie on blu-ray for that matter wasn't presented on engadget because of its rave reviews. we all know that you're a bias site just give credit where credit is due.
pete @ Feb 27th 2008 11:05AM
Yes. Boo hoo.
Mr. E @ Feb 27th 2008 3:11PM
Ideally you expect a studio to get their releases right, so when they screw up by putting an extended cut on DVD but not HD, that's news. If Engadget posted a story about every release that looked nice, there wouldn't be any room for the really newsworthy stuff. Let the healing process continue, Maurice.
Eddie @ Feb 27th 2008 11:21AM
Blu ray can't stop me from spending money on HD DVD profile, uh, 1 (and only), so I will.
American Gangster and Beowulf almost made me forget HD DVD sucks because it "haz no mooveez".
What I'm trying to say is, thank you Dreamworks, for thinking with your wallet. Make movies in Blu, but know you'll always have a market in me as long as you make HD DVDs.
kcmurphy88 @ Feb 27th 2008 11:56AM
Katzenberg is listening to his lawyers who have all read the contract. He probably has a reason for what he does. As I read it he's publicly asking Toshiba to send him the required written release.
Mr. E @ Feb 27th 2008 3:07PM
Notice how Paramount hasn't announced any Blu-ray titles yet? I think both companies are stalling until they feel it's safe to truly jump in and release on BD. Katzenberg is just being extra forthright about it for some reason. What's most interesting to me is that we now have official confirmation that at least this payout did happen.