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NEWS: Now Universal goes Blu-ray

Andrew Everard 19 February 2008 19:13

In a move that was almost inevitable given today's news from Toshiba, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has confirmed it will be releasing titles on Blu-ray. The company, the strongest supporter of HD DVD from the off, hasn't yet said what the time-frame is for its move, but confirms it will happen.

And that just leaves Paramount yet to show its hand on the day that saw the end of the Blu-ray/HD DVD 'format war'.

The statement issued by Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau, seen left speaking at a past HD DVD Promotion Group event, says that "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 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."

Comments

lbwdevoer February 19, 2008 19:38

And now it's time that the new and fully loaded with specs players like the Panasonic DMP-BD30, Pioneer BDP-95FD, Denon DVD-3800BD and Marantz BD8002 get the full what hifi review and enter the stores quick so that High Def will become mass market and the ridiculous prices of the blu ray discs will go down to a normal affordable level.

Clare Newsome February 19, 2008 19:48

Well the Panasonic's in our April issue, out March 6th, but being as the other models aren't actually on-sale yet, I can't give you an exact review date for them!

Rest assured we are lined up to get as many new Blu-ray players as we can get our hands on....

Andy Clough February 19, 2008 20:39

Our sources tell us that the Marantz BD8002 player will be available in August for £1500 (not cheap, but it is a high-end player), and more affordable Marantz models will follow. Harman Kardon has also confirmed it will release a Blu-ray player this September for around £450-£500.

Bullseye February 19, 2008 21:10

Clare how did you find the BD30? I have had mine for a couple of weeks now and am pretty impressed with the pq and aq, particularly DTS HD MA. Have not really tried regular DVDs yet though.

Clare Newsome February 19, 2008 23:17

Pana shaping up quite promisingly - full review to follow!

Sams Son February 20, 2008 08:41

In response to the first poster, there is no incentive for Sony or the rest of the Sony camp to drop Blu-Ray player & Blu-Ray movie disc prices, because there is now no competition.

We all now Sony love to keep prices artificially high at the best of times.

Dont get me wrong i dont hate Sony as a company, but i dont always like their tactics.

marvsins February 20, 2008 10:06

There is an incentive its called DVD, and until BD prices are competitive the mass market are not going to buy in.

laserman16 February 20, 2008 10:50

Prices will drop on the players as more companies start to market machines. They will all be after the consumers money. More choice = more competition=keener pricing.

Stefanus February 20, 2008 18:01

Great! Blu-ray is fab, glorious, stupendous... But where are they?! Where are the damn players?! The only full-spec one currently available is the Pioneer LX70A. And its price is just barmy! Bring them on!! We want full HDMI 1.3a, on-board decoding, we want it all. But where are they?! Panasonic still has no info (even though the DMP-BD50 was announced on the 12th), the others still have absolutely no idea. And please, I don't want to buy a bulky PS3!! Again: bring them on!! Can't wait for the WhatHifi April edition!

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About Andrew Everard

Andrew Everard, Audio Editor of Gramophone since November 1999 and What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision's Consulting Editor, read English at Queens' College, Cambridge a very long time ago! He started his journalistic career in 1982 on Haymarket's photographic magazines, and subsequently worked on What Hi-Fi?, High Fidelity, Audiophile and Home Cinema magazines, as well as contributing a monthly column to Japanese title HiVi.