I'm gonna keep my expectations in check and say they'll start with their big new releases 4th qtr (iron man, indy4, hellboy2, mummy3 etc)...hopefully along with some of the more requested catalog's at that time. If it's sooner, great.

Well at that confuses me more. So Paramount will put out titles in other regions but not Region 1? I just can't comprehend them not seeing a market for a title such as Sweeney Todd when a version of the Blu-ray is already in stores in other regions. What would they have to do above printing covers with Dreamworks on it instead of Warner Brothers? I'm guessing the HD film master is going to be the same, no?

If anything, the demand/sales potential for this title DIMINISHES the longer the Blu-ray is released after the SD DVD comes out (e.g. loss of interest, people end up purchasing the SD DVD out of frustration/lack of alternative, etc.). Just makes no sense.

Paramount doesn't own the distribution rights outside of the United States. Warner Brothers is the international distributor who is releasing the imports. I don't think it's as simple as just swapping some logos. Those are entirely different companies.

I understand that, but ultimately won't they still end up using the same HD master? I mean they have to do very little of the mastering which seems to be the more expensive endeavor of making a Blu-ray release. All they have to do is collect the elements and press them. So there is no hold up on that end, it seems to be nothing less of shear stupidity in terms of how they are refusing to release a title available on HDM elsewhere and losing revenue with every passing day of delay per new title release...

Disc issues? Well, I'm glad they are at least putting out the good titles like Beer League and 10.5 Part II right now, who wants There Will Be Blood or Sweeny Todd? Certainly not any of us.

There's not one "they", though. If Echo Bridge did everything by the numbers, do you think the replicators should tell them to sod off and let Paramount and Universal break in line in front of them? Do you think Paramount and Universal have fully authored Blu-ray discs that would've been ready to run? Do you think Echo Bridge is putting out as many copies of each of their titles as Paramount or Universal would've?

I'm as annoyed by the lack of some of these movies as anyone (Universal not so much, since even their standard definition DVD slate is pretty much non-existent these days), but the blame you're placing is misdirected.

I think it's also worth mentioning that Sony had no contingency plan. They greased WB nearly a billion dollars to cause this inevitable collapse of HD DVD yet had no means by which to accomodate all these studios' disc production. That seems to be the major holdup on production of discs for the new studios, from what I've read from insiders.

Conspiracy much? -wink-

i would think they'd have to do the Blu-ray encode from the HD master themselves. i don't think it's typical for these studios to just give away the encode that they paid for. additionally, there's the holdup of disc production. even if it was as simple as porting contents of the Warner Bros. disc, Paramount has to be able to replicate the discs for domestic release and apparently they're not able to get into the pipeline quick enough. i just think there are too many factors at play to say that it's merely "stupidity" preventing those films from being released domestically on Blu-ray day and date with the DVD.

My post was a joke...

Though if it came down to it the BDA should limit titles
by other studios if it meant getting bigger titles out from Universal or Paramount. If they want the format to succeed they need support from these two studios NOW not later. Paramount should have several releases already done as we know Blades of Glory and Face/Of were ready to be pressed as well as Paramounts 30 odd titles already released previously on Blu-ray.

Didn't realize all those were Paramount. Could be getting expensive for me in Q4 if the movies are worth buying.

Indy and Iron Man are Paramount, Hellboy and Mummy are Universal, but yeah, I hope both studios get their act together by then so I can get Iron Man and Hellboy 2 on BD day-and-date with the DVD release.

Well and that is another question - why aren't they releasing their previous titles but on moratorium? Mission: Impossible? The Untouchables? The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut? Those titles should be on shelves! You know there are copies that were pulled that never sold in retail outlets.

I hear you about the production bottleneck, but I still don't buy the fact that there are any other issues besides Paramount dragging its feet getting back into Blu-ray releases!

I don't know where they came from, but the Best Buy I frequent all of a sudden had 8 copies of Babel out on Blu-Ray that weren't there before. I'd guess those were pressings from last year, but you never know.

Totally agree with you bro. It's embarrassing that Paramount hasn't been able to muster anything up. While we all know titles are coming, I'm tired of the "they are coming soon" line.

Paramount has an awesome slate this year.

Paramount already lost 4 sales from me. Cloverfield, Sweeny, Blood and Kite Runner. I either rented them or passed altogether. Universal has had nothing released I care about.

You can still pick up Sweeney Todd from Amazon UK since Warner is releasing it overseas.

I would have liked to get Charlie Wilson's War day and date in HD, but I'll just rent the DVD now. I broke down and bought There Will Be Blood for $15 to hold me over until any HD releases.

Let's not forget that before their HD DVD exclusivity and during it, Paramount was always teh suck when it came to getting a decent number of titles announced. I'd expect Uni to get back on the horse before Paramount.

I refuse to import a title which will be available as soon as Paramount starts releasing. I'll rent it on DVD or see if its on my Xbox/Apple TV for rent.

Very true...but this year Paramount/DW appears to have the biggest Theatrical slate compared to other studios.

Word around the town is Paramount will be talking next week I'd shortly after...you heard it here first!

They do want the format to succeed (but you didn't think otherwise, did you ;)). Still, I know what you mean, and to a point I agree. However, I'm fairly certain that even attempting to "limit" the release of titles from studio 'A' in order to allow more production capacity for studio 'B' would violate several antitrust laws.

What really needs to happen is that the BDA needs to provide more incentive for additional production facilities to ramp up, allowing studio 'A" to continue their release schedule, while also providing enough bandwidth for studio 'P' (or studio 'U') to get off their collective duffs and start releasing titles.

You're not cryptic enough to receive the praises of BD fanatics! -wink-

A few of the BD insiders have stated previously that the Blu only studios have made room to allow for Universal and Paramount to begin production on their discs.