C’est sans aucun doute la grande surprise de cette fin d’été pluvieux. Le studio Paramount, associé avec DreamWorks annonce qu’après un an d’observation, le studio n’éditera ses prochains titres que sur le format HD DVD, délaissant ainsi le Blu-ray pourtant déjà supporté sur les premiers titres HD.
Le communiqué anglais ne précise pas vraiment les véritables raisons de ce choix, sans aucun doute économiques et politiques. Toutefois, la notion de coût plus faible est précisée (sous entendu à la fabrication) ainsi que le prix plus faible des lecteurs. En quelques mots, Paramount résume bien la problématique du clan Blu-ray qui, sans aucun doute, possède le meilleur support des éditeurs mais qui reste bloqué au niveau de l’interactivité et du prix élevé des lecteurs. Pour autant, cette annonce étonne puisque, officiellement, le nombre de lecteurs Blu-ray – en comptant la console Sony PS3 – semble plus large et que les décomptes réguliers présentent un avantage de ventes coté Blu-ray.
Le communiqué signale également que le premier titre de Paramount et de DreamWorks à apparaître exclusivement en HD DVD sera la comédie "les rois du patins" - Blades of Glory - le 28 août (date US ?), suivi des deux plus gros succès au box office cette année : “Transformers” et “Shrek- le troisième”. Ces trois films représentent à eux seuls, plus d’1.5 milliards de dollars de recette au cinéma. Par contre, on peut noter que les films réalisés par Steven Spielberg seront proposé sur les deux formats, le célèbre réalisateur ne souhaitant sans doute pas s’associer à la décision du studio et conserver les plus grandes chances de vendre ses films.
Voilà en tout cas une annonce qui relance la bataille HD DVD contre Blu-ray en plaçant une meilleure égalité de catalogue entre les deux clans. Warner reste le seul éditeur à proposer ses films sur les deux formats.
Nous espérons de notre coté vous proposer des commentaires des responsables deux deux clans à l’occasion du prochain salon IFA de Berlin. Restez à l’écoute.
Ci-dessous, vous l’annonce officielle de la Paramount :
PARAMOUNT AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION EACH DECLARE EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR HD DVD
Movies Distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment Including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be Released Exclusively in HD DVD
Exclusive Program To Begin with Release of “Blades of Glory,” Followed by “Transformers” and “Shrek the Third,” Films Representing More Than $1.5 Billion in Combined Worldwide Box Office
Los Angeles, CA, August 20, 2007 – Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) and DreamWorks Animation SKG (NYSE:DWA), each announced today that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format on a worldwide basis. The exclusive HD DVD commitment will include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.
The companies each said that the decision to distribute exclusively in the HD DVD format resulted from an extensive evaluation of current market offerings, which confirmed the clear benefits of HD DVD, particularly its market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs. Paramount Home Entertainment will launch its exclusive HD DVD program with the release of the blockbuster comedy hit “Blades of Glory” on August 28th and follow with two of the biggest grossing movies of the year “Transformers” and “Shrek the Third”. These three titles alone represent more than $1.5 billion in box office ticket sales worldwide.
“The combination of Paramount and DreamWorks Animation brings a critical mass of current box office hits to consumers with a line-up of live action and animated films that are perfect for HD DVD,” stated Brad Grey, Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, which is currently the leading studio in domestic box office. “Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience. I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.”
“We decided to release “Shrek the Third” and other DreamWorks Animation titles exclusively on HD DVD because we believe it is the best format to bring high quality home entertainment to a key segment of our audience – families,” stated DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We believe the combination of this year’s low- priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home.”
With the rapid increase of HD TV screens in households, and audiences wanting to enjoy the total entertainment experience, HD DVD has emerged as the most affordable way for consumers to watch their movies in high definition. In addition to pristine quality, HD DVD also offers consumers the chance to personalize the movie-watching experience, to interact with their movies and even to connect with a community of other fans.
Paramount Home Entertainment will issue new releases day and date as well as catalog titles exclusively on HD DVD. Today’s announcement does not include films directed by Steven Spielberg as his films are not exclusive to either format.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company’s labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies and DreamWorks Studios. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studios and Worldwide Television Distribution.
About DreamWorks Animation SKG
DreamWorks Animation is principally devoted to developing and producing computer generated, or CG, animated feature films. With world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced CG filmmaking technology and techniques, DreamWorks Animation makes high quality CG animated films meant for a broad movie-going audience. The Company has theatrically released a total of fourteen animated feature films, including Antz, Shrek, Shrek 2, Shark Tale, Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Over the Hedge, Flushed Away, and Shrek the Third. DreamWorks Animation’s newest release, Bee Movie, opens in theaters November 2, 2007.