DreamWorks CEO predicting neither HD format will win

[Bouncer]

This goes along with just about everything I have been saying.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...&cs=1&nid=2562

While many in Hollywood are arguing over whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will drive the future of home entertainment, Jeffrey Katzenberg has his answer: Neither.

Responding to a question at a Bank of America conference in New York on Wednesday, the DreamWorks Animation CEO told analysts that both formats are unlikely to appeal to anyone beyond videophiles.

"Blu-Ray and HD DVD are a niche business. They're not going to become the next platform," he said. "I think for the general consumer, there is not a big enough delta between the standard DVD in terms of where it is today and the next generation."

Comment isn't likely to win Katzenberg many friends among homevid execs, particularly those in the Blu-ray camp who have recently been declaring their side the winner in the format war as well as the inevitable future of optical media.

While DreamWorks distributor Paramount does release movies in both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it hasn't put out any of the toon studio's pics in either next-gen format.

Katzenberg was more optimistic about digital distribution, telling those present that "the promise is staggering." But while the traditional DVD biz is no longer growing, he said Internet movie downloads won't spark industry growth for a while.

"The incremental income to the movie industry in the next 18-24 months (from digital delivery) is negligible," he told the crowd.

[babyblues]

I'm tellin ya....chips in the brains. :dancingne

[beefcake]

I'm tellin ya....chips in the brains. :dancingne

We'll all just jack in like the matrix. I can't see internet taking the cake unless they can get a faster way to download em. I think most people are looking to use the hd and blu-ray as storage rather than video.

[Shibby]

I can't remember who said this, but a guy was saying that in like 20 years (in relation to the future of this) the "in" think will be cameras recording 360 degrees and you would were like VR headsets and be able to see anything in the scene you want.

[blm]

I can't remember who said this, but a guy was saying that in like 20 years (in relation to the future of this) the "in" think will be cameras recording 360 degrees and you would were like VR headsets and be able to see anything in the scene you want.

Sounds like the movie 'Strange Days'...people record their experiences and sell them on the black market. You put a contraption on our head called a squid (vr headset) put in a disc of someone elses experience and you feel exaclty like they did when they did it....sex, rape, murder, suicide...etc...

[NewbieChris]

I don't know...I know a lot of people don't believe in DVD's because of internet downloads, but I honestly don't know too many people that have computers integrated into their home theater systesm very well. I mean, my uncle just built a house and their family room has a 70 some odd inch xbr and he still doesn't have the computer in his setup. Even with the microsoft extender(xbox 360) and media center I don't use my computer to download high def movies. Maybe I'm weird, but I like having a physical copy of the disc incase windows/mac decides to shit out on me.

[Bouncer]

I don't know...I know a lot of people don't believe in DVD's because of internet downloads, but I honestly don't know too many people that have computers integrated into their home theater systesm very well. I mean, my uncle just built a house and their family room has a 70 some odd inch xbr and he still doesn't have the computer in his setup. Even with the microsoft extender(xbox 360) and media center I don't use my computer to download high def movies. Maybe I'm weird, but I like having a physical copy of the disc incase windows/mac decides to shit out on me.

You are talking about the present bro. As it stands right now, internet downloads and connecting a pc to a home theater is a pain in the ass. You are right about that. BUT, we are talking about the future, next few years. You wont have to download a thing, and you wont have to go to a computer. TV's will have direct connect with the net, and On Demand and streaming HD will be "the thing". You wont have to download anything, streaming is instant.

[coffee-guy]

Hijack alert...

Was thinking about this yesterday....

We have DVR's for TV etc - how come they don't come out with a digital music recorder for car stereos etc? Like what if I want to listen to Howard Stern or some other show or rewind to the start of a song I've caught the tail end of......

Seems reasonable to me (hopefully they don't already have this and I look like a dumbass in light of it :P)....

[caged]

You are talking about the present bro. As it stands right now, internet downloads and connecting a pc to a home theater is a pain in the ass. You are right about that. BUT, we are talking about the future, next few years. You wont have to download a thing, and you wont have to go to a computer. TV's will have direct connect with the net, and On Demand and streaming HD will be "the thing". You wont have to download anything, streaming is instant.

yup, i agree.... just talking to a comp tec.about this. well see how soon.

[FitnessBrat]

Hijack alert...

Was thinking about this yesterday....

We have DVR's for TV etc - how come they don't come out with a digital music recorder for car stereos etc? Like what if I want to listen to Howard Stern or some other show or rewind to the start of a song I've caught the tail end of......

Seems reasonable to me (hopefully they don't already have this and I look like a dumbass in light of it :P)....

I want to "rewind" songs on the radio ALL the time - I guess because I'm used to DVR in the house. Can't you do similar stuff with satellite radio though?

[NewbieChris]

I suppose I didn't think of it that way. I guess we could have portable video devices, which we do already, to store it on. Won't they need to revamp digital media rights then though?