as per this thread...
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=467187

That means this could be VERY interesting should they decide to support HD DVD eventually. Sony would have a much smaller library leftover.

I said it before and I'll say it again. Fox is KEY.

Just saw your post over on AVS about this, very interesting.

I wonder if Fox is ever going to say anything about their BD releases.

Hopefully they will get to work on some MGM catalog titles that sorely need a region "1" re-release. Misery is a great example...

And I've also been saying for weeks that Fox is the most important studio when it comes to the new format. IMO, they clearly have the best overall catalog of titles. If we ever see a Fox title on HD DVD, it would be a huge plus.

If I were Toshiba/Microsoft, I would do anything possible to court Fox and give them whatever they want.

I'm suprised that we are seeing Fox and MGM making a deal. W-B was mighty interested in these titles when the catalog was for sale, but Sony outbid them at the last minute. Lucky for Sony that Fox is on their side right now.

Now if HD-dvd and Blu-Ray software put up similar software sales numbers in the future, I wouldn't be surprised to see every studio, minus maybe Sony, offering titles on both formats. This could be a huge bonus for HD-dvd buyers if this occurs. I'm actually hoping to see Fox, Disney and LG on board eventually.

They could promise them they'll have 10 million HD DVD units by year's end.

If/when Fox titles start showing up on BD is when it'll start be tough to resist adopting BD. I can certainly live without Sony and Disney titles, but Fox's lineup is far more attractive to me. But I think I can hold out and hope they fold.

I think that this move to Fox reduces Sony's strength hugely. Sony was managing MGM's Home Entertainment library for only a year and has now lost it.

If I was MGM and I wanted to be able to have some independence in choosing which format(s) to support, this is exactly what I would have done.

so, wait... does this switch bode well for the Midnight Movie Collection (crosses fingers).

Sorry, but according to Variety, Sony still has the dibs on MGM in regards to Blu-ray:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

Just a year into its dalliance with Sony, MGM will limit their relationship to a co-financing partnership on several films -- including "Casino Royale," the next James Bond pic -- and the use of Sony's Blu-ray format for high-definition DVDs.

The article says more, but that's basically the gist. After all, Sony still owns 20% of MGM.

Yes but it begs the question of what happens should Fox change sides. Is that 20% majority?

I read that to mean that MGM is (currently) still using blu-ray -- maybe because Fox is. But I don't read anything there about 'dibs'.

If Fox decides to switch sides or support both, I don't see anything indicating that MGM is prevented from going HD-DVD. But, then again, I was also under the impression that Sony had a LOT more control here than they apparently do.

MGM has the MGM titles not FOX. Fox only has a distribution agreement which allows them to release what MGM lets them release. Fox does not control the Library.

Sony got an agreement from the Board to make MGM Blu-Ray exclusive. I assume Sony could change to HD-Dvd although I do not see this happening. I also assume the other board members could buy out Sony to nullify the agreement ;however , I do not see this happening either.

The original agreement Sony had allowed them to distribute MGM titles for 1 year and have MGM Blu-Ray exclusive. Only Sony can change the agreement without being bought out.

"Besides hoping that the Lion will grow in value overall, the only significant synergy Sony has left from the purchase is the possibility that the inclusion of MGM's vaunted library will help Blu-ray defeat the competing high definition DVD format, HD DVD."

the above Variety article.

That "possibility" was obvious from the beginning.

I don't think I ever said that Sony was stupid, necessarily. Obnoxious and arrogant, without a doubt.

Im sure if Jimmy345 were here, he would say something like....

"Sony will NEVER let Fox release ANYTHING on HD-DVD. It would be market suicide!"

Don't give us all nightmares.

Besides, it's wrong to speak of the ill, dead...or banned.

It all looks like MGM is working on becoming a major studio again. Sony does not have a majority vote on the MGM board, but I havn't really seen anything written if this move is against Sony's wishes or not. All I have read is that they did in fact have a say in it.

Of course something hit me today, though it sounds inconceivable for what it is, but what if MGM-Sony allowed Fox to have the distribution rights to these titles as collateral for being Blu-Ray exclusive? Sony will still make money off of them b/c of their 20% ownership into MGM, and will also make more money with Blu-Ray as a result of Fox staying on board.