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Paramount drops Blu-Ray
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Paramount to drop Blu-ray high-def DVDs
August 20, 2007: 01:28 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format and drop support for Blu-ray, further complicating the race between the competing technologies.
Monday's announcement affects the upcoming DVD release of the blockbuster 'Shrek the Third' and all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.
Paramount previously released movies in both formats.
'Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience,' said Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) 'I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high-quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.'
The competition between Blu-ray and HD DVD has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of DreamWorks Animation, said consumers seeking to switch to high-definition DVDs will be enticed by the content available for HD-DVD players. He added the lower price for the devices will appeal to the family market.
'Today Toshiba is making HD-DVD players available at $299, which is a first time that it's really been at an affordable price,' Katzenberg said. 'It's a game-changer, what they're doing, and it's why we decided to throw in with them.' Katzenberg said that, until now, the price for high-definition players was too high for most families.
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August 20, 2007: 01:28 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format and drop support for Blu-ray, further complicating the race between the competing technologies.
Monday's announcement affects the upcoming DVD release of the blockbuster 'Shrek the Third' and all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.
Paramount previously released movies in both formats.
'Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience,' said Brad Grey, chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) 'I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high-quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.'
The competition between Blu-ray and HD DVD has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.
Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of DreamWorks Animation, said consumers seeking to switch to high-definition DVDs will be enticed by the content available for HD-DVD players. He added the lower price for the devices will appeal to the family market.
'Today Toshiba is making HD-DVD players available at $299, which is a first time that it's really been at an affordable price,' Katzenberg said. 'It's a game-changer, what they're doing, and it's why we decided to throw in with them.' Katzenberg said that, until now, the price for high-definition players was too high for most families.
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