Digital Downloads Update September 19th 2008

Discs Not Your Thing? Want to watch an HD movie over the weekend but don’t feel like going outside? don’t worry we have you covered! Format War Central lists the latest HD Digital Download releases for the various platforms. Read more

Digital Downloads Update September 13th 2008

Discs Not Your Thing? Want to watch an HD movie over the weekend but don’t feel like going outside? don’t worry we have you covered! Format War Central lists the latest HD Digital Download releases for the various platforms. Read more

Digital Downloads Update August 30th 2008

Discs Not Your Thing? Want to watch an HD movie over the weekend but don’t feel like going outside? don’t worry we have you covered! Format War Central lists the latest HD Digital Download releases for the various platforms.

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Digital Downloads Update August 22nd 2008

Discs Not Your Thing? Want to watch an HD Movie over the weekend but don’t feel like going outside? Don’t worry we have you covered! Format War Central lists the latest HD Digital Download releases for various platforms. Read more

Blu-ray/Format War Mentioned in Tropic Thunder Movie

While at the movies last weekend watching Tropic Thunder, we heard one of the characters mention the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD format war. Read more

How HD DVD Almost Won The Format War

There was a interesting article over at Forbes, the article talks about how Sony followed up the HD DVD Paramount announcement in August, believe it or not the announcement had done more damage to Sony then previously thought. Read more

Digital Downloads Update July 25th 2008

Discs Not Your Thing? Don’t worry we have you covered! The newest feature on Format War Central will list the latest Digital Download releases for various platforms. Read more

Speilberg Wants Dreamworks Back, Waves Bye Bye to Paramount!

News from IMDB today is that Steven Spielberg is wanting his old movie studio Dreamworks back to make it independent again. He is apparently trying to raise $1 billion to buy back the company from Paramount who bought it in 2006. Read more

Paramount Jumps Over The Hedge To HD DVD Exclusivity

Forget the Spin, here is the Press Release:

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

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — 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.

SOURCE Paramount Pictures; DreamWorks Animation