Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 04 February 2008 09:55
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 3
If you thought HD DVD meant ‘high def dead video disc’ and that Blu-ray
had won the war, Universal Australia’s announcement of at least 20 new
titles in 2008 is certainly comforting to local HD DVD player owners –
but is it enough to stem the tide of consumer support for Blu-ray?
Given overseas figures showing a sharp rise in Blu-ray player sales over HD DVD players, after the brouhaha over the presumed death of HD DVD given Warner’s defection to Blu-ray during CES 2008, the news that more HD DVD titles are forthcoming may come as a bit of a surprise.
What is no surprise is that the movie studio behind the new titles is Universal, a staunch supporter of the HD DVD format.
With ‘at least’ 20 new titles due in Australian stores over the course of 2008, Universal are clearly promising even more HD DVD movies are due down under, but surely this will all depend on just how good (or otherwise) the sales of the upcoming releases will be.
No doubt it will also depend on what happens between the Blu-ray and HD DVD camps, and their supporters, over 2008.
After all, if Universal suddenly decided (or were monetarily tempted) to get behind Blu-ray, it would be like the Warner announcement all over again.
But that hasn’t happened – at least not yet – with Eddie Cunningham, President Universal Pictures International Entertainment, saying that: “Universal Pictures Australasia is delighted to be releasing some of the most high-profile and celebrated titles on HD DVD in 2008.”
So, which movies are Universal launching down under (and presumably elsewhere in the world despite saying the releases are for Australia and New Zealand) during 2008? Please read onto page 2 to continue...
