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[http://www.hddvdprg.com/eng/about/member.html HD DVD Promotion Group Member List] contains the main promoters of HD DVD: [[Toshiba]], [[Nippon Electric Corporation|NEC]], [[Sanyo]], [[Microsoft]], [[RCA]], [[Kenwood Electronics|Kenwood]], [[Intel]], [http://www.venturer.com Venturer Electronics] and [[Memory-Tech Corporation]]. The HD DVD format is also non-exclusively supported by [[Acer (company)|Acer]], [[Asus]], [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], [[Hitachi Maxell]], [[LG Electronics|LG]], [[Lite-On]], [[Onkyo]], [[Meridian Audio, Ltd.|Meridian]], [[Samsung Group|Samsung]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38952|title=Blu-ray Samsung backs HD DVD - Foot in both camps (16 April 2007)}}</ref> and [[Alpine Electronics|Alpine]].
[http://www.hddvdprg.com/eng/about/member.html HD DVD Promotion Group Member List] contains the main promoters of HD DVD: [[Toshiba]], [[Nippon Electric Corporation|NEC]], [[Sanyo]], [[Microsoft]], [[RCA]], [[Kenwood Electronics|Kenwood]], [[Intel]], [http://www.venturer.com Venturer Electronics] and [[Memory-Tech Corporation]]. The HD DVD format is also non-exclusively supported by [[Acer (company)|Acer]], [[Asus]], [[Hewlett-Packard|HP]], [[Hitachi Maxell]], [[LG Electronics|LG]], [[Lite-On]], [[Onkyo]], [[Meridian Audio, Ltd.|Meridian]], [[Samsung Group|Samsung]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38952|title=Blu-ray Samsung backs HD DVD - Foot in both camps (16 April 2007)}}</ref> and [[Alpine Electronics|Alpine]].


*February 16, 2008 Japanese news announces that Toshiba is shutting down production of HD-DVD players and recorders and taking steps to exit the business.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL1627196120080216 Toshiba to exit HD-DVD, end format war]</ref>
*February 16, 2008 Japanese news announces that Toshiba is shutting down production of HD-DVD players and recorders and taking steps to exit the business.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL1627196120080216 Toshiba to exit HD-DVD, end format war]</ref> (Reuters)


===Studio Alliances===
===Studio Alliances===

Revision as of 14:52, 16 February 2008

Corporate support - Blu-Ray

Blu-ray Disc has gained a large amount of support in the corporate world,[1] with companies such as Apple, Dell, and Panasonic backing it. Blu-ray Disc was started by Hitachi, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Thomson in February 19, 2002, with Panasonic, Sony, Pioneer, and Philips as the back-bone of the foundation.[2] Several members of the Blu-ray organization's Board of Directors who had originally pledged to support Blu-ray Disc later also supported HD DVD, such as Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, and LG.

Studio alliances

Current and announced release formats v. 2007 US box office share[3]

Among the movie studios, Blu-ray Disc is currently exclusively supported in the United States by Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM (20% of MGM's stake is owned by Sony) as well as Disney, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema[4] and Lionsgate, representing over 70% of home video marketshare.[5]

Studios that still support both formats include BBC,[6] First Look Studios,[7] Image Entertainment (including the Discovery Channel),[8] Magnolia Pictures,[9] Brentwood Home Video, Ryko, and Koch/Goldhil Entertainment.[10]

On August 20 2007, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation, announced they would no longer be supporting the Blu-ray Disc format. However, Paramount reserves the right to switch its backing to Blu-ray Disc.[11] Citing HD DVD's lower consumer equipment and disc replication costs (due to its similarities to the standard DVD format), all future Paramount/Dreamworks titles will be released exclusively on HD DVD. Together, Paramount and DreamWorks are currently the 2007 box office leaders.[12][13] Movies directed by Steven Spielberg are not included in this announcement, as Spielberg controls his films. He has also stated that he is a backer of the Blu-ray format. Some time in late 2007, Universal Studios made a promotion in Japan for HD DVD and showed that Back To The Future, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and E.T. would be released on the format. Spielberg got angry and asked Universal to remove the promotion since he does not allow the movies to come out on HD DVD.[14] In an interview with PC World, Alan Bell, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Paramount Pictures, stated the exclusive support for HD DVD is currently indefinite.[15] However, two Viacom executives who spoke to the New York Times disclosed that the terms of the agreement were for $150 million in incentives in exchange for an exclusivity period of at least 18 months, or through the next two holiday seasons.[16] In response to these reports of a $150 million deal, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg stated that it was disingenuous for other companies to suggest that they were not compensated for endorsing Blu-ray.[17]

Warner Brothers Pictures, initially in the HD DVD camp, later decided to support both formats. However, on January 4, 2008, they announced that they would discontinue HD DVD support as of June 1, 2008. Furthermore, they intend to delay remaining HD DVD titles until after standard DVD and Blu-ray releases.[18] Warner has since announced that all future HD DVD titles and catalog titles will be released 3 weeks after the DVD and Blu-ray releases. Warner Brothers has also scheduled all of their HD DVD exclusive titles for release on Blu-ray in the near future. Warner Brothers' sister studio New Line Cinema has followed suit, cancelling tentative plans to release titles on HD DVD contingent on region coding with immediate effect, thus making Pan's Labyrinth its first and last HD DVD release.[19][4][20][21] Various news outlets have speculated that Warner Brothers' decision will effectively end the nearly two year long format war with HD DVD.[22][23][24] The HD DVD group responded to the decision by stating, "We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer." While there is speculation other HD DVD backers may drop the format and back Blu-ray, so far the only studio to have responded, Paramount, has denied rumors it intends to do so.[25] However, during a interview with DVD town, Warner stated that they will continue to supply titles on HD DVD past 1 June 2008]] if there is a demand from retailers and consumers as long as it is still in stock. [1] Since the Warner announcement, all 'National Geographic Presents' titles will only be released on Blu-ray and DVD, and several other small studios, manufacturers and retailers including Woolworths in the UK, will exclusively support Blu-ray as their format of choice for high definition media.

Outside of the United States, movies from American studios are often distributed by different companies (e.g. StudioCanal in Europe). Thus many of these Blu-ray exclusive titles are available outside the U.S. on HD DVD.[26] Likewise, movies that are exclusive to HD DVD in the United States have Blu-ray releases in other regions. An example of this is the Universal Studios film Bruce Almighty, which has been released exclusively on HD DVD in the U.S., but has been released as a Blu-ray exclusive in Europe due to the distribution rights held by Miramax.[27] Other examples of films from NBC Universal studios include Hollywoodland and Cinderella Man. Warner Brothers have also released the Paramount title Flags of our fathers and have continued production on it after Paramount's defection to HD DVD. Moreover the Paramount title We were soldiers has also been released on Blu-ray by Icon Home Entertainment, it also is still in production. Many Blu-ray discs are multi-region, making import of these titles easier.[28]

Even though Blu-ray currently holds an impressive 70% of studio support, its reach prior to the August 20, 2007 Paramount HD DVD deal was far greater with a massive 88% of studio support (albeit with non-exclusive Warner and Paramount). At this time the only exclusive HD DVD content was from Universal and a handful of select Warner titles such as The Matrix Trilogy, Batman Begins and Poseidon, now that Warner has become Blu-ray exclusive it is probable that these few Warner titles will see releases on Blu-ray, marking the studio's full transition into the format. In February 2008, Warner announced that Batman Begins would be available in Q3 2008.[29]

On 15 February 2008, Digital Playground announced that it would drop HD DVD and support Blu-ray Disc exclusively. Digital Playground has supported both formats since December 2007, before which it support HD DVD exclusively.[30]

Other interests

It had been reported by various sources (PC World, Ars Technica, CNN, et al) that pornography had been disallowed on Blu-ray Disc, which may have had an effect on the success of the format.[31] However, this is inaccurate, as both formats have said they fully support all material, including porn, and have no control over what companies release with their license.[32] Blu-ray is currently exclusively backed by several adult-movie studios/publishers,[33] including Taisei Co. Ltd. and Total Media Agency Inc. Contrary to many internet blogs, it has been estimated by ABC News that the porn industry will not be a factor in the current format war.[34] The main reason is that many pornographic websites have movie downloads as an option, thus making the disc format less important. Despite these instances, adult studio Digital Playground released their award-winning megahit adult film "Pirates" in Blu-ray format.

Blockbuster, the largest U.S. movie rental company, offers Blu-ray exclusively in 1450 stores. Previously, the company test-marketed both competing formats at 250 stores and found that more than 70% of high definition rentals were Blu-ray discs. They continue to offer both formats at those initial 250 stores, as well as on its online rental service.[35][36][37]

Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service,[38] currently offers titles in both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats, however, on 11 February 2008, Netflix announced they are to offer high-definition Blu-ray Disc exclusively and thus will be dropping HD DVD support.

On July 25 2007, Target Corporation announced they will carry Sony Blu-ray Disc stand alone players in their stores and promote them with end cap displays including exclusive Blu-ray Disc movies from Sony and Walt Disney. Sony has publicly stated that the promotion would last at least through the 2007 holiday season.[39] While Target will not carry HD DVD stand alone players on its shelves, the chain will continue to sell both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD movies in all stores and HD DVD players online.[40] The LA Times reports that the deal to promote Sony Blu-ray Disc stand alone players was the result of a bidding war, in which Sony and three studios reportedly paid a "jaw-dropping" sum for the end cap displays.[41]

On September 24 2007 the Home Theater Specialists of America, a national buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined annual revenue of more than a half-billion dollars, officially endorsed Blu-ray Disc as its next-generation format of choice.[42]

On 11 February 2008, Best Buy has announced that beginning March 2008, they will take a step forward in addressing consumer confusion about high-definition formats by recommending Blu-ray Disc as the customer's digital format choice.[43]

On 15 February 2008, WalMart and Sam's Club have announced that they are phasing HD DVD out completely by June 2008, thus supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively. [44].

Corporate and industry support - HD DVD

HD DVD Promotion Group Member List contains the main promoters of HD DVD: Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, RCA, Kenwood, Intel, Venturer Electronics and Memory-Tech Corporation. The HD DVD format is also non-exclusively supported by Acer, Asus, HP, Hitachi Maxell, LG, Lite-On, Onkyo, Meridian, Samsung,[45] and Alpine.

  • February 16, 2008 Japanese news announces that Toshiba is shutting down production of HD-DVD players and recorders and taking steps to exit the business.[46] (Reuters)

Studio Alliances

Current and announced release formats v. 2007 US box office share[47]

HD DVD is currently exclusively backed by Universal Studios (including subsidiaries Focus Features and Rogue Pictures), Paramount Pictures (including subsidiaries Nickelodeon Movies, MTV Films, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation), and The Weinstein Company (including Dimension Films).

On August 20 2007, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation, announced they would no longer be supporting the Blu-ray Disc format.

Together, Paramount and DreamWorks are currently the 2007 box office leaders.[48][49] Movies directed by Steven Spielberg are not included in this announcement, as Spielberg controls his films.[50] In an interview with PC World, Alan Bell, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Paramount Pictures, stated the exclusive support for HD DVD is currently indefinite.[51] However, two Viacom executives who spoke to the New York Times disclosed that the terms of the agreement were for $150 million in incentives in exchange for an exclusivity period of at least 18 months, or through the next two holiday seasons.[52] In response to these reports of a $150 million deal, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg stated that it was disingenuous for other companies to suggest that they were not compensated for endorsing Blu-ray.[53]

Warner Home Video, initially in the HD DVD camp, later decided to support both formats. However, on January 4, 2008, they announced that they will discontinue HD DVD support as of June 1, 2008. Furthermore, they will delay the release of remaining HD DVD titles until after those titles have been released on standard DVD and Blu-ray.[54] Warner Brothers has also scheduled all of their HD DVD exclusive titles for release on Blu-ray in the near future. Warner Brothers' subsidiary New Line Cinema has followed suit, cancelling tentative plans to release titles on HD DVD contingent on region coding with immediate effect, thus making Pan's Labyrinth its first and last HD DVD release[55].[56][57][58] The New York Times has speculated that Warner Brothers' decision will "kill HD DVD".[59] The HD DVD group responded to the decision by stating, "We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer. While there is speculation other HD DVD backers may drop the format and back Blu-ray, so far the only studio to have responded, Paramount, has denied rumors it intends to do so.[60] However, during a interview with DVD town, Warner stated that they will continue to supply titles on HD DVD past 1 June 2008 if their is a demand from retailers and consumers as long as it is still in stock. [2]

Studios that still support both formats include BBC [61] First Look Studios [62], Image Entertainment (including the Discovery Channel),[63] Magnolia Pictures,[64] Brentwood Home Video, Ryko and Koch/Goldhil Entertainment.[65]

File:Transformers hddvd.jpg
Transformers HD DVD retail packaging

In Europe, HD DVD is currently supported either exclusively or non-exclusively by Medusa Home Entertainment, Studio Canal, Universum Films, Kinowelt Home Entertainment, DVD International, Opus Arte, MK2, Momentum Pictures, Twister Home Video, and many others.[66]

Outside of the United States, movies from American studios are often distributed by different companies (e.g. StudioCanal in Europe or Pony Canyon in Japan). Thus many of these Blu-ray exclusive titles are available outside the U.S. on HD DVD.[26] Likewise, movies that are exclusive to HD DVD in the United States have Blu-ray releases in other regions. An example of this is the Universal Studios film Bruce Almighty, which has been released exclusively on HD DVD in the U.S., but has been released as a Blu-ray exclusive in Europe due to the distribution rights held by Buena Vista.[67] Since some studios may choose to region code their Blu-ray discs, importing those titles can be more difficult than importing HD DVD discs, which are region-free by design.[68]

On 15 February 2008, Digital Playground announced that it would drop HD DVD and support Blu-ray Disc exclusively. Digital Playground has supported both formats since December 2007, before which it supported HD DVD exclusively.[69]

Other Interests

In the music industry, HD DVD is currently non-exclusively supported by EMI.[70] and Universal Music Group.[71]

Contrary to many internet blogs, it has been reported by ABC News that the porn industry will not be a factor in the current format war.[72] The main reason is that many pornographic websites have movie downloads as an option, thus making the disc format less important.

In July 2007, Blockbuster Video[73] began carrying Blu-ray Disc exclusively in 1,450 stores, in addition to the original 250 that carried both HD DVD and Blu-ray. Online they will still be offering both formats.[74] Blockbuster will continue to offer both formats at its initial 250 stores that currently carry both high-definition formats.[75]

Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service[76], offers titles in both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats. According to a new Internet tracking report, although Netflix's Blu-ray pages receive more hits, users are more likely to set HD DVD as their preferred format.[77] Netflix does not charge extra for high definition titles compared to standard DVDs. Netflix currently has hundreds of titles available in both high definition formats.[78]. However, on 11 February 2008, Netflix announced they are to offer high-definition Blu-ray Disc exclusively and dropped HD DVD support. They plan to stock no more HD DVD once its lifecycle has ended.[79][80][81]

On October 29 2007, Toshiba announced that Kmart would exclusively carry HD DVD standalone players in their stores (due to their lower price). However, Kmart later denied that it was exclusively selling either format.[82][83] A follow-up by CNBC further clarified that in fact Kmart had no plans to offer Blu-ray standalone players because of HD DVD players' lower price. [84] Notwithstanding, Kmart will continue selling the PlayStation 3, which is capable of playing Blu-ray movies.

On 11 February 2008, Best Buy has announced that beginning March 2008, they will take a step forward in addressing consumer confusion about high-definition formats by recommending Blu-ray Disc as the customer's digital format choice.[85]

On 15 February 2008, WalMart and Sam's Club have announced that they are phasing HD DVD out completely by June 2008, thus supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively. [86]. Customers are expected to see more pre-dominant move towards Blu-ray Disc in less than thirty days.

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