Universal Studios Blu-ray movie in Japan

[Bligmerk]

As you probably know, Universal Studios is the only studio holding out to release only in HD-DVD. It looks like that hold-out is starting to crack, at least in Japan.

Universal Studios Cinderella Man
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000KHYLF8.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V35135263_.jpg

There is word now that Universal was not actually committed to only HD-DVD releases, but that it was a legal agreement with Toshiba. Apparently, that legal agreement expired at the end of 2006.

[JadedRaverLA]

That's just not true -- although I wish it were. Buena Vista holds the international rights to Cinderella Man, that's why it got a Blu-ray release in Japan. It's not that uncommon actually for different studios to each own part of a movie, one set as US distributor and the other as international distributor.

[Bligmerk]

That's just not true -- although I wish it were. Buena Vista holds the international rights to Cinderella Man, that's why it got a Blu-ray release in Japan. It's not that uncommon actually for different studios to each own part of a movie, one set as US distributor and the other as international distributor.

The point is Universal Studios made a big deal about being only on HD-DVD. Yes, Buena Vista has the international rights to some Universal Studios movies, but Cinderella Man was made by Universal and now it is on Blu-ray. In a way, this confusion factor allows Universal to slip into Blu-ray support without admitting they are throwing in the towel. U-571 and Spy Game are two Universal movies coming to Blu-ray in the UK. So, it looks like Universal is not so HD-DVD exclusive, as some of their movies are distributed by other companies outside the US. Like I said, it is the first crack appearing in the stand Universal was taking against Blu-ray, and cracks tend to open up gushers. There has been some early reports that Universal is the one pointing out their HD-DVD exclusivity was by agreement with Toshiba and that agreement expired this year.

Warner also announced they are releasing all their initial HD-DVD titles on Blu-ray in 2007, one of the first being Enter the Dragon.

Anyway you want paint it or look at it, Blu-ray is rapidly becoming the dominant format.

[BluBoi22]

Nice I never knew this about Universal! Great news!

[razorblade416]

YES! Universal CRACKED!! I migh be a little early to say the format war is over, but it's certainly starting to look that way ;)

[MiDNiGHTS]

This is good news to me. If they fully crack I wont have to get an HD-DVD add-on for my 360 though Blu-ray needs to get its codecs in order.

[TGO]

whats a bit weird is that alot of films like American Pie & The Mummy are joint releases by Sony & Universal

[Kamakzie]

Universal please release Back to the future on Blu-Ray. Thank you!

[JadedRaverLA]

Universal please release Back to the future on Blu-Ray. Thank you!

Universal isn't releasing ANY Blu-rays... sorry. They are still the main HD DVD-only supporter.


YES! Universal CRACKED!! I migh be a little early to say the format war is over, but it's certainly starting to look that way ;)

Universal has nothing to do with the release of this title. They didn't "crack".


The point is Universal Studios made a big deal about being only on HD-DVD. Yes, Buena Vista has the international rights to some Universal Studios movies, but Cinderella Man was made by Universal and now it is on Blu-ray. In a way, this confusion factor allows Universal to slip into Blu-ray support without admitting they are throwing in the towel. U-571 and Spy Game are two Universal movies coming to Blu-ray in the UK. So, it looks like Universal is not so HD-DVD exclusive, as some of their movies are distributed by other companies outside the US. Like I said, it is the first crack appearing in the stand Universal was taking against Blu-ray, and cracks tend to open up gushers. There has been some early reports that Universal is the one pointing out their HD-DVD exclusivity was by agreement with Toshiba and that agreement expired this year.

Warner also announced they are releasing all their initial HD-DVD titles on Blu-ray in 2007, one of the first being Enter the Dragon.

Anyway you want paint it or look at it, Blu-ray is rapidly becoming the dominant format.

I agree, Blu-ray is most likely going to become the dominent format. But your premise is wrong, and your original post is VERY misleading, as is your reply post. At least publicly, Universal Pictures has done nothing but bash Blu-ray and proclaim HD DVD the early winner. They've done so very recently in fact. The fact that Buena Vista Home Video released a Blu-ray disc of a movie they own the rights to does absolutely nothing to change that fact -- and has nothing whatsoever to do with Univeral Pictures. Neither HD DVD nor Blu-ray is a money making enterprise for any movie studio at this point, so don't expect any "cracks" in the company line for at least another year. Universal music, on the other hand, had announced support for Blu-ray, although I don't know what the current status of that is, or what their planned releases might be.

My point is that we shouldn't drop our standards to that of the XBOX/HD DVD zealot level, and start creating "evidence" where it doesn't exist. Just because they make outrageous claims about Star Wars (A Fox Home Video release) magically becoming available on HD DVD because George Lucas loves the format he's never mentioned (apparently contractual agreements mean nothing in HD DVD world), doesn't mean we have to draw false conclusions about foreign video releases in response. All the major studios except Universal have signed on to Blu-ray. Universal will likely change it's tune eventually, but there is no evidence of them even considering it now. Let's all just be content that we will be proven correct in a couple of years. In the meantime, I know I for one, am not buying a single DVD released on the Universal label. If they don't want to release titles in my preferred format, then I won't buy their titles in any format.

[Lefein]

Universal will go where the money goes. BluRay is starting to kill HD-DVD sales and this is before Europe gets the "Blus" so to speak.

The very notion that one studio will ride a wave of mediocrity for the sake of brand loyalty is absurd. They will crack, but it probably won't be until well into 2007 or even '08.

[miketuck3r]

Terminator 2 and Fifth Element will soon be out in europe on HD-DVD (from studiocanal) but in the US they are published by bluray exclusive studios

There are actually a ton of movies that studion canal (who are HD-DVD exclusive) own the rights to that are bluray exclusive in the US

[Bligmerk]

Universal Studios is not an entity on its own. It was bought out by GE and it is GE corporate that is the "boss" of Universal. There was the flurry of internet posts about "Universal boss kills Blu-ray" a few months ago. As usual with internet message "traffic", it was mangled into erroneous fantasy but if enough people believed in it, then that made it "fact". The actual fact is the "boss" of Universal is just the president of that division of GE and he has to report to GE corporate. This rumor about Universal starting to cave on their HD-DVD-only support is a rumor but it is coming from inside GE. And there is a rumor that the president of Universal is in trouble. There isn't an official source for any of this news but it is second-hand anecdotes from people claiming to know "insiders" and posting it in forums. Their posts have other "leaks" and many of those have proven out. This is one of them:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=781991


He also mentioned that Universal will solidly stay in HD-DVD's court for 2007 but he has spoken to "higher-ups" who say Universal will be releasing on Blu-ray in early 2008.

Add to this the news that Warner is re-releasing in Blu-ray all the titles previously only on HD-DVD and that means the Blu-ray library becomes even fuller. Doing this means Universal will be in even weaker position as far as the market is concerned.