Paramount & Dreamworks pick HD-DVD over Blu-ray

Hollywood studios, Paramount and Dreamworks Animation, have given HD-DVD a boost over its rival Blu-ray with the announcement that they plan to exclusively support HD-DVD.

For the past year the studios have been releasing titles in both HD-DVD and Blu-ray high-definition forrmats.

All movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films will now be released only in HD-DVD, as will movies from DreamWorks Animation.

It is understood that HD-DVD’s market-ready technology and lower manufacturing costs gave the format the edge over Blu-ray.

Paramount and Dreamworks join Universal in supporting HD-DVD. Universal was previously the sole supporter of Blu-ray’s rival.

The first new titles to be produced exclusively in HD DVD will be “Blades of Glory,” “Transformers” and “Shrek the Third.”

The news is likely to be welcomed by manufacturers of dual-format players, who could well see a sales rise as a result of the decision by Paramount and Dreamworks.