DreamWorks waiting for cue from Toshiba on Blu-ray (Reuters)

[diederik]

LOS ANGELES, Feb 26 (Reuters) - DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc (DWA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday it was locked in an exclusive deal to distribute DVDs on Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) HD DVD format even though the Japanese electronics maker plans to quit the technology.

"We have a partnership with Toshiba and have an obligation to see this through," DreamWorks Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said on Tuesday.

"As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be.

Full article: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssC...51290220080227

[The BJD]

Hold them to the agreement. At least dual until it ends.

[ZayTonday]

As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support.

Wow Jeffrey.. And all this time I thought it was because it was a better format.

[Inglix the Mad]

Originally Posted by The BJD

Hold them to the agreement. At least dual until it ends.

Toshiba probably could, but they'd be screwing themselves in the future. Content companies have long memories, and they'll probably release on a promising format, but they'd not do an exclusive for decades if they pulled that. Toshiba knows they'll be better off just letting them out of the deal, for future concerns.

[hidefimports]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to Kung-Fu Panda on HDDVD.

[steaky]

Translation: We lose a bucketload of cash if we initiate the move to Blu-ray.

[pirates]

I knew Toshiba still had them by the balls!

I thought their contract was indefinite meaning they could leave whenever they felt like it....

As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. He just slapped himself in the face. He just admitted that DreamWorks went against the consumer and allowed themselves to be bought by Toshiba. I bet they just want to keep the incentives they "deserved."

[hidefimports]

Originally Posted by pirates

I knew Toshiba still had them by the balls!

I thought their contract with indefinite meaning they could leave whenever they felt like it....



LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL. He just slapped himself in the face. He just admitted that DreamWorks went against the consumer and allowed themselves to be bought by Toshiba. I bet they just want to keep the incentives they "deserved."

That's how business work. Sony and Microsoft pay software developers for exclusives all the time. Some even buy out the game studio.

[Stories]

So this means that until Toshiba moves to Blu-ray, Dreamworks can't either?

[Stranger Danger]

"As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support."

Is that a confirmation of payoff?

[Beta-guy]

" "We have a partnership with Toshiba and have an obligation to see this through," DreamWorks Chief Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg said on Tuesday.

"As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be. We're poised either way to jump into the marketplace when the conditions are right to do so," he said"

HD DVD supporters, is this confirmation enough they were paid the $150 million to go HD DVD exclusive?

[Blu-News.com]

Originally Posted by Stranger Danger

Is that a confirmation of payoff?

What do you mean? There was never a question of a payoff.

[SBrooks1]

Wow, for a company to admit their balls are in another company's sling because of money they received just gives me douche chills. Dreamworks HAS to be kicking themselves for taking a bribe to go HD DVD exclusive and then for it to die shortly thereafter. *cringe*

[Stranger Danger]

Originally Posted by Blu-News.com

What do you mean? There was never a question of a payoff.

I know but so many hd-dvd fanboys claimed it never existed then come to us with numbers from 400 mill to 900 mill Warner payoff.

[Cable Guru]

Originally Posted by hidefimports

That's how business work. Sony and Microsoft pay software developers for exclusives all the time. Some even buy out the game studio.

So does this tell us that Toshiba was really only interested in Dreamworks and not Paramount, since it seems that they have let Paramount out of the contract but won't Dreamworks go? Or maybe that the profit potential from Dreamworks releases will be much more than what they would have gained from Paramount? Or maybe the amount for Paramount was 150 million and the amount for Dreamworks was much more and Dreamworks thinks they have too much to lose by giving it up?

We already know that Paramount was let out of their contract, and it didn't take their lawyers long to figure out how to work out the financials involved. Dreamworks is waiting for a cue? Or is that a clue?

Some interesting things to ponder and speculate on.