Paramount dumps obsolete HD DVD, now backs Blu-ray
Thursday, February 21, 2008 - 10:33 AM EST "All six major Hollywood studios are now in the Blu-ray DVD camp, following Toshiba's decision to pull the plug on HD DVD earlier this week," Reuters reports. "Paramount Home Entertainment quietly came onboard via a statement issued late Wednesday: '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,' the statement read. 'As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly.' No further details were given.""Universal Studios Home Entertainment, in contrast, cast its lot with Blu-ray within hours of Toshiba's announcement Tuesday morning that it was ending the format war by ceasing the development, manufacture and marketing of HD DVD players by the end of March," Reuters reports. "Universal had been exclusive with HD DVD since the format's launch in April 2006, while Paramount initially supported both HD DVD and Blu-ray. Paramount and DreamWorks switched to HD DVD-only in August, reportedly after receiving a $150 million payment from the format's supporters for 'promotional consideration.'"
MacDailyNews Take: Read: wasted bribe.
Reuters reports, "The four other majors committed to Blu-ray are Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (along with its distributed MGM Home Entertainment label), Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, and Warner Home Video (including distributed labels New Line Home Entertainment, BBC Video and HBO Video)."
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Adam W." for the heads up.]

Nobody does anything for nothing. SIlly Toshiba!