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Studios Preview CES Blu-ray, HD DVD Title Announcements
Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 11:00 AM ETTags: CES 2008, Disc Announcements, Sony, Warner, Paramount, Fox (all tags)
CES is still a few days away, but several studios are providing a sneak peek at some major 2008 Blu-ray and HD DVD titles expected to be officially unveiled at the annual confab.
Among the studios previewing their 2008 plans for Home Media Magazine this week in a special pre-CES high-def studio roundtable were Warner, Fox, Sony and Paramount/DreamWorks.
On the Blu-ray front, Fox's Mike Dunn indicated that the studio is eyeing extensive day-and-date support of its top titles this year, with such current and future theatrical releases as 'Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,' 'Horton Hears a Who,' '27 Dresses,' 'The List,' 'Babylon A.D.' and M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Happening' all expected to debut simultaneously with the DVD versions.
Sony prez David Bishop similarly pledged continued day-and-date support throughout 2008, naming 'Hancock' and 'The DaVinci Code' sequel 'Angels & Demons' as two of its top titles earmarked for Blu-ray.
For HD DVD fans, Paramount/DreamWorks' Kelly Avery said the two studios will issue an extensive slate of both new releases and catalog titles, including the blockbusters 'Bee Movie' and 'Beowulf' (which have both already been announced to retailers).
Finally, format-agnostic Warner said that their high-def releases this year would include 'The Dark Knight,' 'Speed Racer,' 'Get Smart,' 'The Bucket List' and the current Will Smith smash 'I Am Legend.'
Though the titles revealed so far are likely only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can expect to see from all next-gen supporting studios next week, all indications are that 2008 will be the biggest year yet for both high-def formats.
The 2008 Consumer Electronics Show kicks off Monday January 7th in Las Vegas. We'll be here all next week with complete coverage, so be sure to watch this space.
We've also set up a dedicated area in our forums area for discussion of CES-related news and rumors -- click here to join the fray.
- Related links:
- Studio Presidents Look Ahead [Home Media Magazine]
Top Studio Execs Spar Over Blu-ray, HD DVD
Wed Sep 19, 2007 at 02:37 PM ETTags: Disney, Fox, Paramount, Warner (all tags)
The high-def format war hit new heights yesterday as CEOs representing Disney, Fox, Paramount and Warner all weighed in on the ongoing battle for next-gen supremacy.
Each of the execs made their comments during an investor conference in New York sponsored by Goldman Sachs, and if there was any doubt that the format war wasn't being discussed at the highest levels of these companies, it can be put to rest.
Making the strongest statements were Disney's Robert Iger and Fox's Rupert Murdoch, who each reaffirmed their companies' support for Blu-ray, while criticising Paramount's recent decision to support HD DVD only.
"The public is going to want Blu-ray. The public can tell the difference," said Murdoch. "Paramount switched out the other day. God knows why."
Disney's Iger concurred. "We believe it's a no-brainer that the industry should be behind Blu-ray." The exec went on to state that his company had not taken any money to choose Blu-ray.
Meanwhile, Philippe Dauman, the CEO of Viacom (which owns Paramount) defended his company's decision to support HD DVD only, saying that supporting both formats "creates some inherent inefficiencies, and we would like to see the HD format have success." Dauman refused comment on reports that Paramount/DreamWorks had received $150 million dollars in exchange for its exclusive support of HD DVD.
For its part, Warner emphasized its agnostic stance in the format war, with Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons saying it's still too early to predict which side will win.
"The consumer doesn't care about the format. It's linear penetration that counts," said Parsons. "Our objective is not to take sides on the format but to do what we need to do to get maximum penetration."
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Murdoch, Iger hail Sony's Blu-ray [Variety]
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