Paramount ready to ditch HD DVD

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 8 Jan 2008 at 11:17

Paramount is on the verge of dropping HD DVD, potentially sounding the death knell for the format which is in competition with Blu-ray in the home entertainment market.

Paramount Pictures was one of the original backers of HD DVD, alongside Warner Brothers, Dreamworks and Universal Pictures. However, according to reports in the Financial Times, the studio has a clause in its HD DVD exclusivity contract which will allow it to jump ship should Warner go first.

It is unclear whether the other backers of the format have similar clauses, however, the defection of Warner earlier in the week already means that around 70% of all movies are released in Blu-Ray format, even before Paramount joins the club.

Reports from CES suggest that Blu-ray supporters already consider the battle won, triumphantly display their new products even as HD DVD has cancelled all its press conferences in the wake of the Warner defection.

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