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New Line Details Transition to Blu-ray
Tue Jan 08, 2008 at 05:06 PM ETTags: Industry Trends, New Line (all tags)
Confirming earlier reports that it would follow Warner to Blu-ray exclusivity, New Line says its first HD DVD title ('Pan's Labyrinth') will also be its last.
Though it was widely assumed that New Line (whose parent company is Time-Warner) would follow Warner Home Video's lead and continue to release on HD DVD through May 2008, a company rep tells us that New Line's move will go into immediate effect, with all of the studio's planned HD DVD releases now cancelled (including the HD DVD versions of current Blu-ray releases 'Hairspray' and 'Rush Hour 3,' which had previously been planned for HD DVD release sometime in early 2008).
As for 'Pan's Labyrinth,' which hit stores late last year as the first (and only) New Line HD DVD release, the studio says that once current retail supplies are depleted, the title will be discontinued -- making it an instant collector's item.
New Line says it's not planning to issue an official press release trumpeting the move, ending its short-lived HD DVD support with a relative whimper.
The studio also tells us they won't be revealing any new Blu-ray titles at CES, though they do plan to continue to support the format throughout 2008 with a variety of new release and catalog titles to be announced in the future.
As always, we'll keep you posted...
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Pan's Labyrinth (HD DVD)
- Rush Hour 3 (Blu-ray)
- Hairspray (2007) (Blu-ray)
Warner: New Line, HBO Not Covered By Blu-ray Announcement (UPDATED)
Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 08:35 PM ETTags: Warner, New Line, HBO (all tags)
UPDATE: (3:10am ET, 1/05/08) Variety is reporting that Warner sister company New Line has confirmed that it too plans to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity.
Though it's widely expected that Warner Bros. subsidiaries New Line and HBO will follow Warner Home Entertainment to Blu-ray exclusivity, for the moment they remain format-agnostic.
That's according to Warner Home Entertainment President Kevin Tsujihara, who said that the studio's announcement that it would drop HD DVD support does not extend to titles released by New Line, HBO or the BBC (which Warner distributes here in the US).
"They'll be making whatever decision they're going to make," said Tsujihara. "I assume they'll let people know very quickly, but they are not covered by this initial announcement."
Tsujihara's comments came in a post-announcement conference call with various members of the media, including High-Def Digest.
Stay tuned for more news from the Warner conference call...
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
New Line Brings 'Pan's Labyrinth' to Blu-ray, HD DVD
Thu Oct 04, 2007 at 04:10 PM ETTags: Disc Annoucements, New Line (all tags)
In the studio's first dual-format day-and-date high-def release, New Line will bring the Oscar-winning 'Pan's Labyrinth' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this December.
Ever since New Line finally announced it was jumping into high-def with last month's announcement of 'Hairspray,' 'Pan's Labyrinth' has been one of the most highly-anticipated catalog titles for next-gen release in the studio's library. Now the wait is over, and both HD DVD and Blu-ray fans will be able to feast on Guillermo Del Toro's highly-acclaimed, multiple Oscar-winning fairy tale when it streets December 26.
New Line will be pulling out all the stops for 'Labyrinth,' which will come loaded with bonus features. Among the extras is a video prologue and audio commentary by Del Toro, two featurettes, an interactive "Director's Notebook," extensive storyboard and still galleries, an excerpt from the "Charlie Rose Show" with Del Toro, and a Marketing Campaign gallery with trailers and other ad materials.
Exclusive to the high-def versions will be an enhanced picture-in-picture video commentary with cast & crew interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, while the HD DVD will also enjoy web-enabled content (to be announced at a future date).
Tech specs are equally impressive, with 1080p video (codec TBA) and a DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio track in 7.1 Surround -- so far the studio's first high-def title to be confirmed with high-resolution audio.
Retail for both next-gen editions is $35.99.
You'll find disc details for 'Pan's Labyrinth' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 26.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for New Line's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Pan Labyrinth's' Blu-ray release and the 'Pan Labyrinth's' HD DVD release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Pan's Labyrinth (Blu-ray)
- Pan's Labyrinth (HD DVD)
- Hairspray (2007) (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- New Line Jumps Into High-Def with 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray; HD DVD to Follow in 2008 (Sep 11, 2007)
New Line Issues 'Rush Hour 3' Blu-ray, HD DVD Details
Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, New Line (all tags)
Confirming last week's early trade reports, New Line has issued complete details for its planned next gen release of 'Rush Hour 3.'
As we first reported last Friday, the Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker sequel is set to be the studio's second high-def release, although as was the case with 'Hairspray,' New Line will stagger the flick's next-gen release, debuting the title on Blu-ray December 26, (day-and-date with the standard-def DVD), while HD DVD fans will have to wait until sometime in early 2008 for their version. (As part of its initial announcement for 'Hairspray,' the studio said that region-coding concerns would prevent it from immediately releasing many of its early titles on HD DVD concurrently with the Blu-ray versions.)
According to just-released specs, extras common to the Blu-ray, DVD and upcoming HD DVD versions of 'Rush Hour 3' will include audio commentary from director Brett Ratner, deleted scenes, the "Le Rush Hour Trois Production Diary" featurette, a gag reel and the theatrical trailer.
Exclusive to both high-def versions will be a picture-in-picture video commentary featuring Ratner and cast & crew, while the HD DVD version will also enjoy web-enabled content to be announced at a future date.
Tech specs boast 1080p video but, alas, no high-resolution audio on either the Blu-ray or HD DVD. Instead, fans will have to content themselves with DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 Surround and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX mixes.
New Line has set a $39.98 list price for both next-gen versions.
You'll find complet specs for 'Rush Hour 3' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 26. We'll add details and a street date for the HD DVD version as soon as it is officially announced by New Line.
We've also set up a dedicated thread for Paramount's latest in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Rush Hour 3' Blu-ray release and the 'Rush Hour 3' HD DVD release.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Rush Hour 3 (Blu-ray)
- Hairspray (2007) (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Report: New Line Readying 'Rush Hour 3' for Blu-ray Release; HD DVD to Follow (Sep 21, 2007)
- New Line Jumps Into High-Def with 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray; HD DVD to Follow in 2008 (Sep 11, 2007)
Report: New Line Readying 'Rush Hour 3' for Blu-ray Release; HD DVD to Follow
Fri Sep 21, 2007 at 02:43 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, New Line (all tags)
New Line is apparently planning a next gen release for 'Rush Hour 3,' with the Blu-ray expected just after Christmas, and the HD DVD to follow sometime in 2008.
Although it was critically reviled, the third film in the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker franchise has grossed $133 million in the five weeks since its theatrical release in early August.
Now, according to information published by Home Media Magazine, New Line is planning a next-gen release for the film, with the Blu-ray edition hitting stores on December 26, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD (a rare Wednesday street date).
The second next-gen title to surface from dual-format supporting studio New Line, like 'Hairspray' before it, The HD DVD version of 'Rush Hour' will hit stores sometime after the Blu-ray. (As part of its initial announcement for 'Hairspray,' the studio said that region-coding concerns would prevent it from immediately releasing many of its early titles on HD DVD, but it promised they would see release sometime in early 2008.)
Although New Line has yet to issue a press release with specs, according to Home Media Magazine, the 2-disc platinum edition DVD is set to include audio commentary, deleted scenes and a featurette. We can only assume those features will find their way to the next-gen releases as well.
Both the Blu-ray and the forthcoming HD DVD editions are listed with a $39.99 list price. We'll let you know when more information on this title comes in.
In the meantime, we've added preliminary listings for 'Rush Hour 3' to our Blu-ray release schedule (under December 26, 2007), and our HD DVD release schedule (under "release dates pending").
We've also set up decided threads for New Line's latest in our forums area -- click the following links to discuss either the Blu-ray release of 'Rush Hour 3' or the HD DVD edition of 'Rush Hour 3.'
- Related links:
- Just-Announced: A Weekly Product Update [Home Media Magazine]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Rush Hour 3 (Blu-ray)
- Hairspray (2007) (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- New Line Jumps Into High-Def with 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray; HD DVD to Follow in 2008 (Sep 11, 2007)
New Line Jumps Into High-Def with 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray; HD DVD to Follow in 2008
Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:21 PM ETTags: Disc Announcements, New Line (all tags)
Ending over a year of speculation, New Line has announced it is finally throwing its hat into the next-gen ring with 'Hairspray' this November.
The studio confirmed to the industry trades Video Business and Home Media Magazine on Tuesday that it will bow the $110 million-plus domestic grosser on November 20, day-and-date on Blu-ray and standard-def DVD. An HD DVD edition will follow sometime "in early 2008," though no exact street date has been set.
New Line says it will follow the strategy of its parent company Warner, and maintain a format-neutral approach by releasing titles on Blu-ray and HD DVD. Following the recent defection of Paramount to the HD DVD-only camp, New Line and Warner are now the only two studios currently supporting both formats.
"Clearly, there isn't a format winner at this point, so we’re going to adopt the strategy from Warner, our sister company, and mirror what they are doing," Matt Lasorsa, New Line EVP of marketing, told Home Media Magazine. "And by supporting both formats, we are giving consumers the ultimate choice."
Although New Line's dual-format support had long been expected, its staggered release of 'Hairspray' on HD DVD came as a surprise. Lasorsa attributed the delay to HD DVD's current lack of region coding.
"Since we sell to independent international distributors, we have to be more sensitive to their release dates than a major studio," Lasorsa added. "But for second-party acquisitions to which we don't have international rights, we will be day-and-date on all three formats."
New Line is expected to issue a full press release for the Blu-ray release of 'Hairspray' shortly, but early specs revealed to Video Business hint at a fully-loaded special edition. Among the extras shared with the standard-def DVD are the "You Can't Stop the Beat" documentary, multiple audio commentaries, deleted scenes, and a bonus dance number.
Exclusive to the Blu-ray release will be a "Behind the Beat" picture-in-picture video commentary similar to the popular In-Movie Experience feature on rival HD DVD. (When 'Hairspray' does finally hit HD DVD next year, it is also expected to include the same bonus features, plus additional web-enabled features.)
We'll certainly keep you posted as soon as the official press release for 'Hairspray' hits the wires, as well as all future New Line announcements. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, you'll find these preliminary disc details for 'Hairspray' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, under November 20. You'll also find the title under the "Release Dates Pending" section of our HD DVD Release Schedule. Watch this space!
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Hairspray being released on Blu-ray exclusively in Q4 [Video Business]
- New Line Goes Hi-Def [Home Media Magazine]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Hairspray (2007) (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- New Line to Announce First HD DVD, Blu-ray Release "Very Soon" (Sep 11, 2007)
- Breaking: More Info in on Paramount's Move to HD DVD (Aug 20, 2007)
New Line to Announce First HD DVD, Blu-ray Release "Very Soon" (UPDATED)
Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:30 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, New Line (all tags)
UPDATE (9/11/07, 4:30 PM): In a just-posted story, Video Business is reporting that New Line is planning to release 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray only this November, with an HD DVD release to follow in early 2008.
After months of rumors, New Line has confirmed to High-Def Digest that it is on the verge of announcing its first next-gen release with the November debut of 'Hairspray.'
The last remaining major studio yet to release a title on either HD DVD or Blu-ray, New Line's belated entrance into the high-def fray has been the subject of endless speculation ever since the next-gen format war began.
The rumors hit a fever pitch this past weekend, after online forums began to buzz that a November 20 street date for 'Hairspray' was on the verge of being announced. Further stoking the fire was last Friday's addition of several New Line titles (among dozens of others) to the "coming soon list" on Warner's high-hef consumer web site.
In light of the intense speculation, we asked New Line to set the record straight, and while they refused reveal any specifics, they did confirm to us that their "official high-def plans will be revealed shortly," with a press release for 'Hairspray' due "very soon."
This isn't the first time we've heard semi-official tell of a planned next-gen release for 'Hairspray.' As we've previously reported, a New Line rep was quoted at last July's Home Media Expo as saying the the studio was preparing to enter the next-gen game with a Q4 high-def release of 'Hairspray' on both high-def formats, although no exact street date or specs were revealed at that time.
Needless to say, we'll keep you posted as soon as any official announcements come in from New Line regarding this or any other high-def title.
In the meantime, we've set up a couple of dedicated threads for discussion of New Line's anticipated next-gen debut in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Hairspray' Blu-ray release and the 'Hairspray' HD DVD release.
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Confirmed: New Line to Launch Blu-ray, HD DVD Support with 'Hairspray' (Jul 18, 2007)
- Warner Site Reveals Dozens of Unconfirmed Blu-ray, HD DVD Titles (Sep 10, 2007)
Confirmed: New Line to Launch Blu-ray, HD DVD Support with 'Hairspray'
Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, New Line (all tags)
The last major studio holdout in the high-def sweepstakes, New Line Home Entertainment has confirmed earlier reports that it will release 'Hairspray' as their very first Blu-ray and HD DVD disc.
The news first surfaced Monday at the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas, when a New Line rep reportedly let slip that the distributor is planning to launch its Blu-ray and HD DVD support with the release of 'Hairspray' later in 2007.
We contacted New Line Home Entertainment directly for comment, and they've confirmed to us that, indeed, the rumors are true. The studio is currently "in preparation" to release 'Hairspray' as its debut next-gen title, timed as a day-and-date release with the standard-def DVD version.
With the remake of 'Hairspray' only hitting theaters this weekend, New Line has yet to set a street date for its video release, but given the current theatrical-to-video window of roughly three-to-four months, a fourth quarter 2007 time frame seems likely.
New Line expects to have further details on their upcoming Blu-ray and HD DVD plans -- starting with a formal announcement -- in the coming months.
Needless to say, we'll keep you posted on New Line's plans as they're revealed.
In the meantime, we've added 'Hairspray' to the "Release Dates Pending" section of both our Blu-ray Release Schedule and HD DVD Release Schedule.
We've also set up dedicated threads for 'Hairspray' in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the 'Hairspray' Blu-ray release and the 'Hairspray' HD DVD release.
Studios Outline Fourth Quarter HD DVD Release Plans; New Line to Sit Out 2006
Tue Aug 08, 2006 at 12:15 AM ETTags: Industry Forecasts, Disc Announcements, Warner, Universal, Paramount, New Line (all tags)
The major HD DVD-supporting studios are gearing up to unleash a late-year
flurry of new disc titles by the end of the fourth quarter -- with one major
exception -- company executives revealed late today during an industry conference.Buoyed by encouraging initial sales for HD DVD hardware and software, executives from the home entertainment divisions of three HD DVD-supporting studios -- Warner, Paramount and Universal -- revealed plans for a robust four-quarter release slate.
"We're still projecting Q4 [2006] to be a very vibrant business for [HD DVD] hardware and software," said Steve Nickerson, senior vp of Warner Home Video. "There are as many consumer electronics HD DVD players in the market as there were standard-definition DVD players at the end of 1997."
The executives for Warner, Universal and Paramount also indicated they may release enough titles by year's-end to more than double the number of HD DVD discs each currently has on the market. As of August 8, Warner is the industry leader with 21 HD DVD on the market; followed by Universal with 17 titles; and Paramount, 12 titles.
"[And] we'll probably double that by year's end,” said Alex Carloss, vp of worldwide marketing for Paramount Home Entertainment. That will include an HD DVD edition of the Tom Cruise blockbuster 'Mission: Impossible III' with extensive bonus features, Carloss promised.
And in an unexpected announcement, New Line Home Entertainment revealed they will be sitting out of the HD DVD game for the entirety of 2006. After months of industry speculation, the studio's vp of marketing Matt Lasorsa confirmed that the studio will not be releasing any titles in the format this year, instead waiting to see fourth quarter sales results before announcing any future plans.
"It will be as early in 2007 as possible," Lasorsa said of any New Line HD DVD title announcements, which will initially focus on new releases. "We don't have the depth or breadth of the other studios, so we want to wait until there's more player penetration."
The executives' comments came during a panel discussion held as part of the annual Entertainment Media Expo, which kicked off early Monday in Universal City, California.
- Related links:
- HD DVD Backers Counting on Q4 [Video Business]
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