Paramount Buying DreamWorks
Source: Variety
December 10, 2005


Paramount Pictures has struck a deal to acquire DreamWorks SKG in a pact worth $1.5-$1.6 billion beating out rival suitor NBC Universal, reports Variety. Paramount is putting up about half the purchase price with several financial partners shouldering the rest.

Parent Viacom's board approved the transaction yesterday. A meeting today between studio head Brad Grey, 'new' Viacom CEO Tom Freston and DreamWorks SKG partner Steven Spielberg sealed the deal, says the trade.

Paramount had explored a possible bid recently but then pulled out. The idea was tabled due to the price, plus the pending, and complex, split of parent Viacom into two separate companies. Now, the split of 'new' Viacom - which houses Paramount and MTV Networks - from CBS Corporation, is all but done. The two companies will start trading separately on January 3.

Paramount will now have new product to pump through its newly independent foreign distribution network. A DreamWorks SKG purchase would include distribution of films from sister company DreamWorks Animation, plus DreamWorks SKG's 60-title library.

Its a done deal now.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/11/news...reut/index.htm

Well, expect the re-re-releasing of some Dreamworks DVDs...

It's just a shame that these titles will now be released by what is very likely the worst studio for DVDs. And my dream for Dreamworks DVDs to start featuring the trailers for the films featured on their discs just evaporated.

Shows how tough the industry is when not even Steven Spielberg can run a studio.

I think Universal is the worst studio releasing dvds. They've caused numerous problems for customers with their poor quality control of dvd 18 discs. Everyone else can afford to release 2-disc sets, except them. Paramount dvds usually contain great audio and video.

I'd say Paramount is quite variable when it comes to video quality, especially on catalogue titles, which rarely undergo any kind of physical or digital cleanup prior to being transferred. And Universal, though having substantial room for improvement, is (pardon the pun) universally better with the extras they provide.

I might be working for them soon. I'll be sure to voice your concerns.

Then by God, tell them to get back to consistently releasing trailers on their DVDs!!! The anti-trailer trend must END!!!

(Crossing fingers for a decent Wallace & Gromit release)

Paramount now has the potential to become one of the better, bigger studios to release dvd's. Question is will they ever become the monster they could be as a Hollywood studio?

Also, will 1492: Conquest of Paradise ever be released by them?

I was thinking the same thing... (sigh)