Things definitely aren't looking good for HD DVD. Home Media Magazine is reporting that both New Line and HBO are abandoning HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray.
A New Line Home Entertainment spokesman confirms reports that the mini-major is following distributor Warner Home Video’s lead in abandoning HD DVD and releasing all future next-generation titles only in the Blu-ray Disc format.

And HBO Video president Henry McGee says HBO, too, is “following the same policy as Warner Home Video.”
If the rumors are true and Paramount does decide to go Blu-ray, I think we can safely say that the format war is over. Without the support of Hollywood, HD DVD has about as much of a chance as HD VMD in becoming the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
With HD DVD and Blu-ray hogging most of the spotlight, its easy to forget that there is a third high-def format available. New Medium Enterprises (NME) announced today that HD VMD players are now shipping in the U.S. and can be purchased from PCRush.com and NMEStore.com for less than $200.
New Medium Enterprises(NME) (OTC Bulletin Board: NMEN) today at International CES 2008 announcedHD VMD players are shipping into the U.S. market. HD VMD is deliveringmaximum-HD 1080p high-quality players to consumers for a groundbreakingMSRP of $199 via PCRush.com and NMEStore.com. All orders for HD VMD playersin January will come with two complementary titles, "Mother Ghost" starringJames Franco and cult hit "Cutting Room."

Shipping since December, HD VMD discs and players stand torevolutionize the high-definition disc market, providing consumers with thebest possible HD experience. HD VMD's ground-breaking innovation is itspatented multi-layer disc, which allows for the utilization of proven redlaser technology to provide high definition, versus blue laser technologythat competitors are forced to use due to disc space limitations. With onlyone laser (red), HD VMD players can upconvert existing DVD collections forbetter viewing quality, as well as play true high definition content.
While an affordable alternative to Blu-ray and HD DVD, HD VMD is coming late to the party. The format has very little support from Hollywood and only a few retailers have agreed to carry HD VMD titles and players. Needless to say, it would take a miracle for HD VMD to top Blu-ray to become the dominant high-def format. If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
With Warner backing Blu-ray, there are numerous rumors stating that Paramount will follow suite and drop HD DVD in favor of the rival format. According to a report by the Financial Times, there is a clause in Paramount's contract with the HD DVD camp that would allow the studio to switch sides in the event of Warner Bros backing Blu-ray.
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.

Paramount and DreamWorks Animation, which makes the Shrek films, came out in support of HD DVD last summer, joining General Electric’s Universal Studios as the main backers of the Toshiba format.

However, Paramount, which is owned by Viacom, is understood to have a clause in its contract with the HD DVD camp that would allow it to switch sides in the event of Warner Bros backing Blu-ray, according to people familiar with the situation.
With Blu-ray having a strong showing at CES, it would not surprise me if Paramount switched sides and dropped HD DVD. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Paramount has reportedly shot down the rumors stating that they will drop HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray. In an email to Bloomberg.com, a Paramount spokesperson has stated that the company plans to continue to support the HD DVD format.
Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures denied a newspaper report that the studio is poised to follow Time Warner Inc. in abandoning Toshiba Corp.'s HD DVD technology.

``Paramount's current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,'' Brenda Ciccone, a spokeswoman for Paramount, said in an e-mail today.
There always seems to be some truth to these rumors. While Paramount may be continuing to support HD DVD, it would not surprise me if they were at least considering Blu-ray. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
While the BD-UP5000 has been on the market for less than a month, Samsung is already working on its replacement. At CES 2008, the company unveiled a new Duo HD disc player, the BD-UP5500. Like the BDP-UP5000, the BD-UP5500 can play back both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles. It also offers support for the latest BD-Java and HDi interactivity and features 7.1 PCM, DTS-HD High Resolution and Master audio, plus Dolby TrueHD Bistream output via HDMI 1.3.

Samsung Electronics, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, introduces a new Duo HD disc player offering the ideal solution for those consumers new to the world of HD home entertainment. In addition to the Blu-ray and HD DVD playback capability found in the CES 2008 Innovation Award Honoree BD-UP5000, the next-generation BD-UP5500 is a fully functioning Blu-ray Bonus View player packaged in a slim and sleek cabinet design. Opening access to both HD formats for a wider consumer audience with this new Duo HD player, Samsung continues its commitment to developing products that make life simpler through its breadth of innovative technologies. Both the Samsung BD-UP5000 and BD-UP5500 Duo HD Players will be on display at booth #11033 during the International Consumer Electronics Show, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 7 through 10.
The BD-UP5500 will be available in the second-half of 2008 and is expected to retail for about $599. If you'd like to read more, Samsung's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment