Universal now to support Blu-Ray?

**Akira** · 05-09-2007, 10:03 AM

News

May 9, 2007 - Universal Going Neutral?

Posted May 9, 2007 by Josh

Blu-ray Disc

Heise Online, a German IT website, is reporting that during a press conference, representatives from Pioneer announced that Universal will break their exclusivity agreement with HD DVD. This would allow Universal, the only large studio exclusively supporting HD DVD, to freely distribute their movies on Blu-ray. It is important to note that this announcement has not yet been confirmed by Universal.

It has long been speculated that Universal was receiving monetary compensation for being an exclusive HD DVD studio. This announcement would signal that they have decided to forgo the compensation in order to release titles on Blu-ray. Most would agree that this move would effectively end the war, and no matter what side you support, a single HD format is the best long term solution.

Keep watching this space, and we'll update the story as needed.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=180

**Foolish Mortal** · 05-09-2007, 10:07 AM

If it's true, that's a major blow to HD-DVD and a big boost to Blu-Ray.

**Akira** · 05-09-2007, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Foolish Mortal

If it's true, that's a major blow to HD-DVD and a big boost to Blu-Ray.

seriosuly, if this is true, dump any HD-dvd stocks asap

**BGPu** · 05-09-2007, 10:43 AM

Go over to AVS Forum and read the back & forth pissing battles between the BD & HD-DVD camps.

If this is true, it's not going to be much of a shocker though.

**Cth** · 05-09-2007, 11:05 AM

I thought this was old news?

Still won't matter with DVD's popularity.

**Akira** · 05-09-2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Cth

I thought this was old news?

Still won't matter with DVD's popularity.

Well no it won't overtake DVD, but that doesn't mean that it's not going to help Blu-ray winning the next gen war.

**Cth** · 05-09-2007, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Akira

Well no it won't overtake DVD, but that doesn't mean that it's not going to help Blu-ray winning the next gen war.

That's the point.

By owning 1% of the market, do you truly "win" before something else comes along?

Digital distribution by far.

**Akira** · 05-09-2007, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cth

That's the point.

By owning 1% of the market, do you truly "win" before something else comes along?

Digital distribution by far.

I would've figure you had the 360 hd-dvd player, but you're totally backing Digital distribution? I still think that high speed internet and hard drive space still isn't where it needs to be for this to be the next big thing yet. I mean Apple TV hasn't been burning up the sales charts, has it?

**Foolish Mortal** · 05-09-2007, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Akira

I would've figure you had the 360 hd-dvd player, but you're totally backing Digital distribution? I still think that high speed internet and hard drive space still isn't where it needs to be for this to be the next big thing yet. I mean Apple TV hasn't been burning up the sales charts, has it?

Agreed. We're still a decade away from where cheap high-speed broadband is available enough around the world, and we're still a long ways off to where enough people are willing to adopt it as a standard means of getting content in their homes. DVDs are here to stay for awhile.

**Simps** · 05-09-2007, 12:41 PM

I hate the idea of digital distribution, I like the idea that I can own a DVD (or HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc) that will always be there through getting a new player, or watching it on my laptop, other TV, friend's house, car tv, or be able rip it to my iPod, PSP, etc. And for someone like me who's a nut for special features, I see those getting lost in the shuffle of digital distribution. Music is a totally different beast, and I understand why it works so well online.