Paramount goes Blu day-and-date with Spiderwick
Catalog titles will be released on high-def format earlier
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 4/29/2008
APRIL 29 | The Spiderwick Chronicles will be Paramount Home Entertainment’s first title released simultaneously on DVD and Blu-ray Disc when it streets June 24.
The studio previously supported the HD DVD format exclusively. When Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD in February, Paramount said it would throw its support behind Blu-ray but had offered no details until now.
The studio has committed its largest 2008 titles for Blu-ray release, including DreamWorks Animation’s Bee Movie on May 20 and There Will Be Blood and Cloverfield on June 3. The titles have all already been released on DVD.
On May 20, the studio will release catalog titles Face/Off and Next on Blu-ray.
“Paramount Home Entertainment continues to focus on the consumer and to explore avenues that allow fans to get more out of their home entertainment experience,” said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment, Paramount Pictures. “We will have a strong slate of titles for Blu-ray release throughout the year worldwide and are enthusiastic about expanding the format’s offerings for a broad consumer audience while delivering an experience that goes beyond what viewers love about DVD.”
Outside of the U.S, Paramount will street this year's Oscar winner for best film, No Country for Old Men, and Cloverfield on Blu-ray beginning in August.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, which retains the U.S. distribution rights for No Country, launched the Oscar winner on Blu-ray domestically in March.
Paramount arguably has the most complicated relationship with high-def, as it launched titles in both Blu-ray and rival format HD DVD for some time until switching to HD DVD exclusively last year. The studio gave its allegiance solely to Blu-ray shortly after Toshiba dropped its support of its HD DVD hardware.
Many of Paramount's debut 2008 Blu-ray releases will be packed with bonus features. Highlights include a feature-length 'Special Investigation Mode' exclusive to Cloverfield. Spiderwick will include an exclusive Arthur Spiderwick Field Guide feature.
