Paramount/Dreamworks HD Exclusive Choice: Mo Money or Mo Hassle?
Okay, I’ve avoided reported on this for the past two days because, well, I don’t know anything about DVD formats – HD or Blu-Ray. I just watch mine “regular”, but from the looks of things, those days might be over soon.
Unfortunately, the process of choosing between HD and Blu-Ray isn’t getting any easier. The movie industry seems to be almost automatically slidding into a minature civil war over the choice.
First, Paramount/Dreamworks chose to release movies exclusively in HD format – a decision which lead Michael Bay to declare “No Transformers 2 for me”, blasting the HD decision (though he pulled a 180 today, recanting both the statement regarding HD and Transformers 2, as well as plugging 300 on HD-DVD).
However insubstantial, Michael Bay’s comments aren’t unsupported. Many analysts remained equally concerned about the announcement. At the moment, HD seems to be the loser – with Blu-Ray outselling HD three times over and some retailers refusing to even carry HD. However, Michael Bay claims HD players will be close to the $200 mark, which he cites as the “magic number.”
Still, experts believe format wars take time – something this latest move doesn’t account for. “”Most people are not aware that the original video format [battle] between Betamax and VHS lasted 10 years.” said Jan Saxton of Adams Media Research to the Los Angeles Time.
I can see Paramount/Dreamwork’s logic – there isn’t a movie to better convince people to buy HD than Transformers. But given the problematic economy at large, there seems a great deal of potential blowback. If consumer confidence falls, logically pricy HD player sales could as well. If this chain reaction hits, Paramount/Dreamworks could end in a dicy position – alienating both fans and consumers
Your not the only one sitting on the side-lines. This recent announcement still addresses the slow sales of the actual hardware units which has consumers waiting. The idea that $200 price tag is going to jump start sales, which group are they kidding, the movie house or the consumers?
HD DVD may have technical advantages, I believe the key issue will be the 2 hour format limits. Personally, I cannot sit still more than 2 hours, but directors/producers now have too condense storylines and creative value.
With all of the current technology utilized for personal entertainment, wouldn’t it be advantageous for manufacturers to make players that can utilize various formats? I think that most people these days have more than a moderately extensive dvd collection, and the thought of re-buying all of their titles infuriates them. It sure as hell infuriates me.
Transformers goes HD, cool, then I’ll go Blu- Ray