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I've learned there will be two new developments announced laterIf you'd like to read more, the entire blog post can be found here. Also, feel free to join the ongoing discussion in our forum. Add a commentthis weektoday in the ongoing Blu-ray vs HD-DVD format war: separate HD-DVD deals with Paramount and DreamWorks Animation that involve major millions of dollars. I've got a confidential report from Pali Research managing director Richard S. Greenfield, a media analyst for entertainment and cable, that discussed the deals (see below), spinning them as "the format war is now set to intensify". But sources have given me updated details which show the HD-DVD side is paying through the nose -- I'm told $50 million to Paramount, and $100 million to DreamWorks Animation -- to try to show the strength of what we all know is a dying format.
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Paramount Pictures, aunit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and DreamWorks Animation SKG(NYSE: DWA), each announced today that they will exclusively support thenext-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. The exclusive HD DVDcommitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures,DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films,as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributedexclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively inthe HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current marketofferings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly itsmarket-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount HomeEntertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release ofthe blockbuster comedy hit "Blades of Glory" on August 28th and follow withtwo of the biggest grossing movies of the year "Transformers" and "Shrekthe Third". These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion inbox office ticket sales worldwide.
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Blu-ray high-definition movie discs outsold films on the rival HD-DVD format by 2-to-1 in the United States in the first half of 2007, Home Media Research said on Tuesday.If you look outside the US, the gap is even larger. Media Control GfK International has reported that Blu-ray is currently selling HD DVD by a 3:1 margin. At this point, I don't think price cuts or promotions like free movies are going to save the format. If Toshiba, Microsoft and Universal can't pull off a win this holiday season, they might as well pack it up and go home. Add a comment
The division of Home Media Magazine said total sales of Blu-ray discs, using a Sony Corp-backed technology, totaled 1.6 million units from January 1 through July 1, compared with 795,000 HD-DVD discs sold in that period.
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Sony Electronics launched its largestintegrated marketing campaign in the U.S., centering on its high definitionDNA known as "HDNA."Keep in mind that this marketing campaign isn't focusing solely on Blu-ray. However, with the holiday shopping season on the way, the format will probably be the focus of many of their ads. Full details on Sony's new marketing campaign can be found here. Add a comment
The campaign, featuring Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning of theIndianapolis Colts and NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt, Jr., focuses on how Sony'shigh-definition technology in a variety of product categories comestogether to bring consumers unparalleled HD entertainment experiences.
From its professional cameras and projectors used by televisionnetworks and Hollywood studios, to BRAVIA high-definition televisions,Blu-ray players, camcorders, digital cameras and notebook computers, noother company in the consumer electronics industry has the amount or degreeof high-definition expertise that can be shared across so many productlines. In addition, Sony's "HDNA" extends to high-definition entertainmentcontent produced and distributed by its sister companies in the motionpicture, television, music and videogame arenas.
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced an increase in total Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) sales across six emerging markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Eastern Europe, South Africa and the Middle East -- illuminating the positive reception from retailers and consumers for the new high-definition format since its launch just four months ago in April 2007.If you'd like to read more, SPHE's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Since April, Blu-ray Disc sales have accounted for 10% of SPHE's business in the regions. The company saw a 21% increase in BD orders across the month of June alone. "It is extremely positive to see an increase in volume of BD software sales in these markets where piracy has previously ravaged the DVD business," said T. Paul Miller, Senior Vice President, International, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
