X-bit labs

Paramount, Dreamworks Jump on Blu-Ray Bandwagon.

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 02/21/2008 | 05:11 AM ]

Paramount Home Entertainment on Thursday announced that it would start releasing its movies on Blu-ray disc (BD) media. The company did not provide any details, though, it may be expected that Dreamworks Pictures, which titles it distributes, as well as other Viacom-owned content provided will also release high-definition content on BD.

“We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer. As we look to [begin] releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly,” a statement by Paramount Home Entertainment published by The Hollywood Reporter web-site reads.

Just like in case of another loyal HD DVD backer, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Viacom-owned Paramount did not reveal when it plans to release its first Blu-ray title and which title will it be. Paramount also did not announce whether it would release already planned HD DVD titles in 2008 and when exactly it plans to stop creating new HD DVDs. In addition, the company did not say when it plans to stop manufacturing of already available HD DVD titles.

It will be interesting to see whether Paramount’s highly-popular Transformers title will be re-made for Blu-ray by its editor and one of the most vocal Blu-ray supporter Michael Bay. At present Transformers are available as two HD30 (dual-layer HD DVD 30GB) disc special edition set. It remains to be seen whether Paramount and Michael will re-create the title, amplify video bitrate and fit Transformers onto two BD50 (dual-layer Blu-ray 50GB) discs, or will squeeze the content onto one BD50 media.