Fox and MGM expand Blu-ray exclusive offerings

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 21st 2007 at 11:45AM }

The HD wars are stronger than ever. In a statement clearly triggered by Paramount and Dreamworks' surprising move to HD DVD exclusivity, Fox and MGM are both pledging increased exclusive support for Blu-ray. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Live Free or Die Hard, and Fox's first-ever TV release on BD, Prison Break, have all been announced for release on Blu-ray.

These discs won't skimp on exclusive features. According to GameDaily BIZ, a "vast majority" of its movies will arrive on 50 GB dual-layer discs, with BD-J interactivity and Blu-ray exclusive HD bonus materials -- something that has been sorely lacking on most BDMV releases.

So why support Blu-ray over HD DVD? It's simple: better sales. "Given that Blu-ray has consistently outsold HD DVD all year, and this is the case for any titles released by any studio in both formats, we believe that the time is right for us to accelerate our activities and help convert the nearly 60 million high definition households worldwide into Blu-ray households," commented Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Tags: blu-ray, fox, mgm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

doug @ Aug 21st 2007 11:47AM

Im buying every Die Hard on BR disc just so yall know

zeh @ Aug 21st 2007 11:58AM

give me alien and aliens already !

Jason @ Aug 21st 2007 12:06PM

I think its time for a Star Wars box set on Blu-ray. That would be great, yet expensive.

paul @ Aug 21st 2007 12:08PM

Die Hard is a great movie, but its still no Transformers. I guess the only "good news" we have is that Michael Bay is completely pissed off at Paramount for dropping Blu-Ray.

shase @ Aug 21st 2007 12:09PM

Well when the sales tank for paramount they might be coming back to blu-ray... plus paramount doesnt have too many "blockbusters" so it really wont affect the blu ray camp too much

Darkdrium777 @ Aug 21st 2007 12:18PM

Blu-ray only mother f
:D Like the pic.

Byron517 @ Aug 21st 2007 12:28PM

HA!! TAKE THAT ONE XBOTS!! I love it!! This is like see'n two big heavyweights just swing at each other!!

@7

I saw that same article on CNN.com I'm trying to find it!! And as soon as I do I'll post it up for you guys!!

HOW BOUT THAT XBOTS!! YOU HAVE TO BASICALLY BRIBE THE SHIT OUTTA PEOPLE JUST TO KEEP YOUR JUNK ALIVE!!! HA HA HA HA HA It's over!! I give you guys one year!!

Kosmocrisis @ Aug 21st 2007 12:40PM

I give them less than a year. Before next summer it'll be clear to all movie houses that BluRay = sales. I own over 25 BD movies and they all look and play beautifully on my PS3 at 1080P. Looking forward to Die Hard.

Boycot Transformers on HD DVD. They just lost a shit ton of sales due to not being on BluRay.

Nightfire @ Aug 21st 2007 12:38PM

I can't wait to get Die Hard 4 on BD because I only have one other BD movie and that's Full Metal Jacket. I may also get Prison Break but that depends on the price of that one.

Kosmocrisis @ Aug 21st 2007 12:42PM

Michael Bay hates on Paramount for their decision to take $150M from HD DVD to become exclusive. This made him decide not to make Transformers 2. Check out this announcement. The official info can be found on MBay's official site (log in required).

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=415

MYPS3KilledMy360 @ Aug 21st 2007 12:45PM

i already said that Sony will end up copying MS on there deal. No big surprise here.

Brian Spence @ Aug 21st 2007 12:46PM

Hells to the MFin yeas

james @ Aug 21st 2007 12:49PM

I am wondering what this has to do with the xbox, you igits.

mccomber @ Aug 21st 2007 1:10PM

I think the fact that Michael Bay is pissed and Spielberg wouldn't allow this deal to affect his movies shows what the people who actually make movies think about this whole deal.

Dahk @ Aug 21st 2007 1:25PM

I sorta disagree there. Transformers was awesome because of the CG, the machines, and they way they adapted it to target audiences i.e. people who grew up watching it and love the techy stuff, the generation who grew up watching beast wars, and even the kids.

Storyline blew, and the way they conducted things didn't make sense. The actors especially Megan Fox were stereotypical girls (which is perfectly fine). Cheesy lines. But in the end no one CARED because it was FRICKIN' AWESOME.

So in the end really, I think Michael Bay did a good job, because he offered a really good sense of direction for what the film needed to be.

And look BioshockWarrior, every console has their childish hypocritical supporters - you'll never get rid of them. But to take for granted that THEY represent all of us is definitely invalid. And to say the PS3 fanboys are any MORE hypocritical than say the 360 folks is a moot argument.

never$$hort @ Aug 21st 2007 1:31PM

Spielberg Feeling Blu Too:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=417

Michael Bay Responds to Paramount's Decision: "No Transformers 2 for Me!":

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=415

NY Times Confirms $150M Pay-off to Paramount:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=416

A number of HD-DVD fans cry fowl over the issue with Microsoft offering financial incentives to studios to go HD-DVD only, when (they say) Sony must surely be doing the same thing on the Blu-ray Disc side. Here's the difference: Sony pumping money to various studios and parties to promote Blu-ray Disc make logical sense. Toshiba doing the same thing to promote HD-DVD, that makes logical sense too. Sony was involved in creating Blu-ray and has a financial stake in it. Likewise, Toshiba created HD-DVD and has a financial stake there. Where does Microsoft's interests lie? Microsoft did not create HD-DVD. Until not so very long ago (prior to these formats coming to market), as they themselves acknowledge, they actually supported both formats. So why are they putting so much money into HD-DVD now? Not only are they putting money into HD-DVD, they're basically the only party that's keeping the format alive. Left to their own financial means, we find it hard to believe that Toshiba would be able to keep pricing its hardware so low - especially given the fact that they've had to adjust their sales projections for the format downward in recent months. And without the "financial incentives" offered by Microsoft, would ANY of the HD-DVD exclusive studios still be HD-DVD exclusive? I doubt it. So what does Microsoft have to gain from all this? That's the question that keeps sticking in my mind. By making these deals with the studios, aren't they getting exclusive access to new high-def transfers that they'll be able to turn around and offer on Xbox Live - transfers that they themselves are encoding in VC-1 for the studios at a discounted rate or even for free? Doesn't Microsoft's download service stand to gain if this format war continues long enough to discourage most consumers from adopting high-def discs at all? That's the difference between Sony and Microsoft - Sony is heavily supporting their own format for obvious reasons. Microsoft is heavily supporting someone else's format for their own reasons, some of which are obvious (VC-1, HDi) and some not so much.

4thGenShock @ Aug 21st 2007 2:07PM

Everybody loves to fling poo when they have nothing to say. One side gets burned and voices their complaint on a site that is DEDICATED to the interest. Then, out comes the supposed reach-around chimps in the trees to chatter and fling derogatories. M$fans take note: This site should be of no interest for those who don't own a PS3 or BR system. your prevarications on any matter and goings on relating to this site should be on the sites dedicated to your interests. Fling and wallow away on how much offal you swim around in somewhere else.

gunkymonkey @ Aug 21st 2007 1:42PM

Hey KsE 79 I would say people complaining about Paramount is not the same as the Blu-ray studios. All the big studios supporting Blu-ray have been doing it from the start of this so called war. For me I would not have been enjoy Xbox 360 games. I am not interested in the 360 games out right now. There are a couple that will be coming out that look interesting. I have seen a bunch of games that are coming out soon for the PS3 I want. Sure I haven't like Microsoft fo the past 10+ years. If they had games that interested me though I would buy their system. I am a huge nintendo fan for the games they make. I am also a sony fan because of the games that are exclusive to thier system. Getting back to Blu-ray I think it is a better format. The studios I really like are all supporting Blu-ray, so I don't care about HD DVD. I am just happy Fox is finally releasing some movies.

DownwardMonkey @ Aug 21st 2007 1:53PM

I love the gunk you manage to post in every post BioshockWarrior, if you don't like it here go. Problem solved. You crack me up with comments like "whoever directs Transformers 2 will probably do an even better job". Yeah right because as we've seen sequels are ALWAYS better then the film they follow... Oh wait, they hardly ever are, ever. It's dumb stuff like this that makes me think you're one of those guys that thinks you're "just saying what everyone else is thinking".

Byron517 @ Aug 21st 2007 2:18PM

@20

That's a solid arguement!! I agree with you 100% with what is going on right now I have to wonder exactly why Microsoft is doing this? Personally a standard would be best.. Why not allow the companies to choose what they want to format and let the best one win!! Things now a days have gone completely capitalist!! OH well screw it! It's just 18 months..

And for you that have said that Michael Bay is not a good diretor are SMOKING CRACK!! He's highly respected in Hollywood and his movie have all been HUGE BOX OFFICE HITS!! Speilberg SPECIFICALLY STATED IN WRITING IF MICHAEL BAY WAS NOT ON THE PROJECT HE WOULD NOT SIGN!!! How's that for respect! Check your facts before you make stupid comments XBOTS please!

KingOfGods @ Aug 21st 2007 2:28PM

"MGM pledging increased exclusive support for Blu-ray"

Yeah, you do know that the MGM movie catalog is owned by Sony and that Blu-ray only was a given with MGM.

RalphMuchachio @ Aug 21st 2007 2:42PM

Rise of the Silver Surfer was the worst superhero movie I've ever seen in my life. How about the original Die Hard on BlueRay?

Justin @ Aug 21st 2007 2:47PM

this could go on for years....

Stellarpimp @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:36AM

@ Bioshockwarrior and KSE79.

First of to call PS3 owners extreme fanboys, childish and basically idiots has no merit. First of all BioSW you last post to say the "only" reason you were here is to read this story. Your here daily reading bashing every positive article posted. So no it is not just today because PS3fanboy posted it first. The two of you are fanboy extremist. Ya'll are here reading articles posted by PS3fanboy...what does that title mean to you? What do you think will reside at this site? Would you expect any less? Now sites like Joystiq, IGN, etc...there are made for debates just like those you frequent here for. This truly isn't the place. This is supposed to be a fanboy's "safe haven" just like Xbox360fanboy and Wiifanboy sites.

Also, how childish is it really... Do you think PS3s aren't owned by children? Is there a problem with people rooting on their favorite system/formats? None at all. If you have a favorite sports team would you be cheering them on?

You two seriously need to cut your BS down a few levels because in the end you're only making yourselves look fanboyish (to a new level), childish and sad to say...idiots.

heh @ Aug 21st 2007 4:04PM

Well said,StellarPimp.

Also @Ralph,yes every Die Hard movie is coming to Blu-Ray,according to the Fox press release.

BTW nice pic for this topic.

never$$hort @ Aug 21st 2007 4:19PM

No matter which format you support or if you're format neutral(believe it or not I am,I only buy HD if its not on the Blu tho,I support Blu 1st), READ MY COMMENT #20 that I posted, it will stimulate your mind to say the least...

I only want ONE fromat to exist and Blu was that much closer to closing the deal, THATS the only reason I support Blu 1st, oh and I have a PS3...

money_mike_preme @ Aug 21st 2007 5:17PM

Props to StellarPimp. Couldnt have said it better. Anyways tho...on subject of this war...I kinda dont care what studio is Hd-Dvd only cuz when blu-ray wins (and it will cuz sales drive these sort of things) all the Hd-dvd only movies will be made on blu-ray so its just a matter of time...Dreamworks will come to there senses soon