Sony launch title to be released on HD DVD??

[pythagoras]

Exclusive titles to either format may not be what they seem. Underworld evolutions owned by Sony in America is being released on hd dvd:

It sounds to me like the major studios may only own the rights to distribute some of their films in certain territories only, so how exclusive are exclusive titles? How many Universal titles could be released on Bluray in places other than the US and how many Sony/Fox/ Disney on HD DVD?

Regards

John.

[gandley]

Slighly old news as this has been passed around the forums for mths.

Some european houses have the distribution rights to some BD excusives, but support hd-dvd, so HD-DVD will most likly get T2 and a few other majour titles. which is all good for movie lovers

[Jonny1973]

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" starring Christian Bale is another title which is Blu-Ray exclusive in the USA but in handled by Warner in the UK so will be available on both formats.

[pythagoras]

Does anyone know how many titles each studio has in which they hold the world rights to distribute? Because without these numbers and films its very difficult to make a decision on which movies you can and cant get on which format?

Regards

John.

P.s. Old news? It was only announced yesterday

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by pythagoras

How many Universal titles could be released on Bluray in places other than the US and how many Sony/Fox/ Disney on HD DVD?

Universal and Fox tend to own their properties worldwide - there are a few exceptions of couse - but don't except to see many 'dual' format releases from these studios due to international distribution rights. As for the others though it's open season: we have already seen some Sony titles on disc - XXX for example - and likewise Disney/BV Reign Of Fire.

Of course the big benefit HD DVD has here is the lack of regional coding.

[Raven1907]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Universal and Fox tend to own their properties worldwide - there are a few exceptions of couse - but don't except to see many 'dual' format releases from these studios due to international distribution rights. As for the others though it's open season: we have already seen some Sony titles on disc - XXX for example - and likewise Disney/BV Reign Of Fire.

Of course the big benefit HD DVD has here is the lack of regional coding.

the irony is they also tend to work together where fox usually has the rights for NA and Universal take the international rights

[BadAss]

Originally Posted by Jonny1973

Christopher Nolan's "The Prestige" starring Christian Bale is another title which is Blu-Ray exclusive in the USA but in handled by Warner in the UK so will be available on both formats.

Warner are neutral and have released the Prestige on both Blu-ray and HD-DVD in the US.

[Nic Rhodes]

Did Warner handle The Prestige in the US? I thought it was the Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone crowd there.