Featured Article: Podcast - Apple Weekly Report #135: Apple Lawsuits, Banned iPhone Ad, Green MacBook Ad
Paramount, Dreamworks Sold Out for HD DVD
by , 8:25 AM EDT, August 22nd, 2007
Paramount and Dreamworks both announced on Monday that they were throwing their weight behind HD DVD movie discs instead of Blu-ray. The endorsement, however, may be more about money than supporting what they see as better standard, according to the New York Times.
Viacom executives that wanted to remain anonymous claimed that Paramount and Dreamworks Animation will receive about US$150 million in incentives for backing HD DVD. Those incentives will include cash and promotional guarantees.
Paramount president of worldwide marketing and distribution, Rob Moore, said the decision to go exclusively with HD DVD was in consumer's best interest. "What is most important to consumers is how much they are paying, and HD DVD is simply less expensive," he said.
Andy Parsons from the Blu-ray Disc Association had a different take. "This seems like a move of desperation," he said. Toshiba and the other companies that are backing the HD DVD standard don't want to suffer the same fate as Betamax did when VHS became the standard for video tape movies.
Many in the industry considered the battle for the next DVD standard to be over, and declared Blu-ray the winner. 20th Century Fox, for example, is in the process of releasing another 29 Blu-ray titles, and Disney is releasing Sleeping Beauty on Blue-ray, too.
Blockbuster offers Blu-ray titles, but doesn't offer HD DVD. Target isn't selling HD DVD players, only standard DVD and Blu-ray.
In the end, the Paramount HD DVD endorsement may be short-lived. Paramount's deal lasts only 18 months, and does not include any films directed by Steven Spielberg.
Although Paramount claims its move is in the best interest of consumers, it may do more to confuse buyers. If consumers feel that the HD movie disc standard is still undecided, they are more likely to stay away from both.
Bob Chapek, president of Disney's home entertainment unit, commented "This is not in the best interest of consumers."
Observer Comments
Recent Headlines - Updated Saturday, November 29th, 2008
- Sat., 9:00 PM
- Podcast - Apple Weekly Report #135: Apple Lawsuits, Banned iPhone Ad, Green MacBook Ad
- Fri., 12:45 PM
- Podcast - Mac Geek Gab #178: Batch Permission Changes, Encrypting Follow-up, Re-Enabling AirPort, and GigE speeds
- Thu., 1:30 PM
- iPO Review - Scosche kickBACK iPhone case
- 7:00 AM
- Happy Thanksgiving from TMO!
- Wed., 6:00 PM
- TMO Appearances - Nancy Gravley Joins MacJury Gift Guide
- 5:15 PM
- TMO Visits The Bay, a Premium Apple Reseller in New Zealand
- 3:25 PM
- iPO Oh the Games You'll Play - iPhone: The Wii of Handheld Gaming Devices?
- 2:15 PM
- Sonnet Releases Simply Fast FireWire 800 to 400 Adapter
- 1:10 PM
- Mac Gaming News - Disney Plans 1st Annual PotC Online Thanksgiving Event
- 12:05 PM
- iPodObserver - UK Shuts Down iPhone 3G Ad
- 11:15 AM
- TMO Appearances - Jeff Gamet on MacJury Gift Guide
- 10:30 AM
- TMO Contest - TMO Announces Macworld Expo Pass Winners
- 9:50 AM
- PhotoCopy 1.1 Adds iPhoto Event Support
- 9:15 AM
- Acclivity Buys MYOB US
- 8:30 AM
- Review - Bento 2 Holiday Pack
- 7:50 AM
- Microsoft Offers Black Friday Office Discount
- 7:30 AM
- iPO Quick Tip - iPhone: Google Street View
The Mac Observer Reader Specials
- Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $54. New MacBook & MacBook Pro DDR3 PC8500 4GB Kit $116. MacBook/MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO DDR2 667Mhz 4GB Kit $58, 3GB Kit $44, 2GB Kit $30. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Mac observers can now play Party Poker for Mac as well as Mac casino games by going to MacPokerOnline.com.
RamJet Memory: Mac Pro FB-DIMMs: 2Gig kit $95, 4Gig Kit $179, 8Gig Kit $355! MacBook 2Gig Kit $78, 4Gig Kit $149! Click hereFor the latest Apple products use Ciao a comparison website to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate cell phones.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

