The statement that Blu-ray fans have been waiting for nearly two years to hear, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment Craig Kornblau has announced that Universal Studios will begin distributing their films on the Blu-ray format. He commented, "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."
He continued, "The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def's unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."
While no solid details about which titles or specific dates were revealed at this time, a more detailed announcement is expected soon.
Thanks goes to forum member aurevoir05 for posting the news.
2 more studio's to go. By the way, I can't wait for Focus Features Studios (a Uni company) to release on Blu-ray. Easter Promises, Atonement, and In Bruges will be terrific on Blu-ray.
"If you look at it from a purely technical side, HD DVD was perhaps slightly superior compared with Blu-ray," said Checchia.
The key to Sony's success this time around was that its chief executive Howard Stringer, a former head of the company's North America division, drew on his Hollywood contacts to drum up support for Blu-ray.
Blu-ray's success was also helped by its inclusion in Sony's PlayStation 3 video-game machine.
OK he says "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba" but Toshiba dropped HD-DVD first. and his statement is almost wored like no offence to Toshiba but we are going blu.
Can someone find out who Checchia advises on IT so everyone can dump their stock. If Said person truly believes HD-DVD was better no telling how idiotic they are.
it was SOOO hard not to buy OOP UNI and Paramount titles on Ebay. I'm really gald I didn't spend that $65.00 on a copy of Shooter on blu =] All we need is Paramount to make the choice and all is right in the word. well not really but you get my drift!! =]
I wish I knew what people were so emotional about. This is capitalism. The laws of the economy always prevail. WELCOME UNIVERSAL! Good to know that blu-only folks can now enjoy the red movies that I have been enjoying. One big happy family.
Bring on Heros, Bourne, BattleStar, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Caddyshack, Dazed & Confused,
Serenity, Jurassic Park, American Gangster, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, etc. etc.!
YES! It has fianally happened! Universal is blu and if Para doesn't get it's titles out before The "U", they'll be the ones left with the dead cat. After 2 years of waiting...WE HAVE UNIVERSAL! Now bring out ET, Jurassic Park, King Kong, Jaws, Twister for us europeans (they distribute for WB), Scarface, 40 yr old virgin and whatever else you've got. Thank you Universal (or should I say Bluniversal), you'll do us proud. In the words of the wheelin' dealin', kiss stealin', limosine ridin', jet flyin', son of a gun known as Ric Flair, WOOOOOOOOOOO!
Man this feels good to got to work and seen this. My co-worker is a HD Dummy and i told him this was coming. Now he is sitting there looking all BLU (HA HA HA)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cant believe uni acted before paramount did. thought for sure that paramount would have acted first on this one. well it is great news. where is my indy series, jurassic park and bourne??? E.T anyone?
Hey Universal Studios dont forget to use the help of expertise engineers in BD authoring and how should be done.All BD from Universal should contain at least a Lossless Sound and higher bit rate codec for PQ.
SERENITY, PITCH BLACK, SERENITY, CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, SERENITY, KING KONG, SERENITY, BOURNE TRILOGY, SERENITY, TRANSFORMERS, SERENITY, HOTT FUZZ, And did I mention SERENITY ??!!!
I almost just passed out. I can't believe it...Universal? The most pro HD DVD studio in existence, announces it will start releasing movies on Blu-Ray? I've been dying to hear that for a year and a half, and it's the sweetest music ever!!!!!!!!!!
Great!
"The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. "
lol 'And when we finally took our blindfolds off everything looked so bright.'
I'll admit, that was MUCH faster than I expected. I really thought Paramount would announce first. They must be trying to prepare a statement that makes them look less like total douches.
Mark my words, Paramount is close at hand, my sister works in their home vid department, and I can safely say this now without getting into trouble with her that they have some discs pressed already. Things have been going on behind the scenes there ever since the Warner announcement.
I had to cried when i was reading this.. I am so happy about Universal put their heart to blu-ray and say "I do"! I want Dead Silence, Scarface and some Chucky on blu so badly!!
I always knew this would happen (as did many if not all of us here). HD DUD advocates would always play down the storage capacity, but that is exactly what makes blu the next gen format and not HD DUD. With the capacity a blu disc has it can make room for and incorporate any new advances in video technology in the years to come. blu will be the bridge to digital downloads. but thats a whole other story.
The way this is going I might have to tap into my 401K to buy movies....bring it on!
who is this Moron from an earlier post?
"If you look at it from a purely technical side, HD DVD was perhaps slightly superior compared with Blu-ray," said Checchia
The reason I goes with Blu is its technical merits, storage size and studios support. If you look at it from all angles Blu is superior, since it is a new technology so it takes a little longer to develope, so what, Blu won!
To all these people hoping for ET/Jaws/Back to the Future/Jurassic Park/etc... You do remember that Universal really has no say as to when these movies come out on Blu. Its all up to Steven Spielberg. If it were up to Universal, I believe these movies would have been on HD DVD long ago as they would be sure sellers. Spielberg likes to wait until a new format has a large installed base before he puts his movies out. It was 3-4 years into the lifecycle of standard DVD before any of his films came out on that format.
Hopefully, it will be quicker this time out, but I still suspect it will be later rather than sooner.
I will be tempted to buy the first universal blu-ray movie whatever it is.
Anyhow I don't think you need to worry about Paramount. It was Universal so stubborn to say they would NEVER release on Blu-ray. Paramount will be with us very soon, that isn't even a question.
Hey Josh; how did you like reaching for that Universal Studios icon for the first time? Bet you;ve been waiting to do that as long as we've been waiting to see it.
Just a question. What are we really going to have to talk about and look forward to? We know all movies will eventually be Blu-Ray. So what other milestones are we going to have to look forward to? I was exstatic to find out Blu-ray finally won, but with that news I don't know if I will be checking in like 5 times a day at least like I did before.
stennex, Transformers is Paramount dude. We've still got to wait for them to see the light, which I think will be very soon seeing as they are the only one's left!!
It's about time!
It's a shame though that it had to take SO LONG for them to decide on this. The format war could already be over months ago ! Hopefully this means that also in Europe we'll have a huge release of blu ray titles as well. Can't wait .....
"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."
Ohhhhhh please don't cryyyyy ASSHOLES!! ahahahahahaha does it hurt f. loser?
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! That didnt even take 3 business hours....not even a half day...the bastards couldnt wait to jump on BLU's gravy train!!!
UP YOURS GRAFFEO!!!!! Even your own company DISOWNED YOU!!!!
Get ready to eat CROW Graffeo, hope you like your vegetables!!!
everyone knew it was coming. i work at bestbuy and we cant keep BD's in stock but somehow we have stacks and stacks of HD DVD even tho were basically giving them away at $100 with a tv over a grand. Not to mention how many open box returns we have on them once ppl go home and realize they made a wrong decision
Great news!!! Please release your catalog on BD asap. I'm waiting for Bourne trilogy, Back to the Future, all the Steven Spielberg movies, Waterworld, Serenity,Chronicles of Riddick,American Gangster,Scarface,King Kong,Miami Vice, Heroes.....
Hallelujah!!! Universal has some outstanding titles in their catalog that I cannot wait to begin collecting on Blu. I'm especially excited about the different Spielberg films that we can now expect in the weeks and months ahead.
Finally, though, thank goodness this format war is finally over.
ericwithcheese - you're half-right. Jurassic Park, yes...Back to the Future, no. Spielberg-produced titles are not subject to the same rules Spielberg-directed movies are.
Wow, I can't wait for Serenity and hopefully the whole Firefly season to be released on Blu-ray. This
also means that NBC TV shows will likely come to Blu-ray soon. I look forward to watching Heroes on
my PS3.
Come on Paramount, what are you waiting for??? I can't wait to get my hands on some Star Trek on
Blu-ray.
AWESOME, can't wait for the Bourne series. I know it will take some time though since they have not released any blu-ray movies thus far. Welcome to the BLU side, Universal.
Something is definately afoot. Engadget has screen caps of Circuit City's sales database and in those caps it fuzzily shows Transformers with a BD beside it along with a UPC sales code.
Excellent - I have been waiting so patiently to watch Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, The Thing, and the Mummy movies in high def. I already own all but hot fuzz on SDDVD, but as we all know SDDVD just isn't watchable anymore.
All I need is:
Universal - Gladiator
Paramount - Transformers
That's why I've been fine waiting for them to go Blu. I wasn't missing much but I'll be glad to have them both.
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes. I have been waiting too long for this I need the Bourne trilogy on BluRay, I need Children of Men, Knocked up, 40 year old virgin, Dawn of the dead (Remake), and Gladiator I need all those movies Universal. I am so glad this news came up as fast as it did. Universal you have a lot of work ahead of you. Now I am waiting for Paramount to make there statement yeah.
Thank Toshiba for finally understanding that there wasn't an Ice Cubes chance in hell that hd-dud would prevail. Universal your logo will look better on a Blu Case, you will not be sorry. Paramount, it's your turn, "there is no shame in this, this is a good Death" :-) . Universal knows what we are all waiting for, Hurry Up!!!! I have well over 150 Blu and I want more movies (in Blu ofcourse) Thanks, Ok now, bye bye then ;-)
The statement that Blu-ray fans have been waiting for nearly two years to hear, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment Craig Kornblau has announced that Universal Studios will begin distributing their films on the Blu-ray format. He commented, "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."
