Universal HD DVD exclusivity contract has expired, sits non-renewed

[HDTV News Poster]

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.engadget.com/category/hdtv/" rel="tag">HDTV</a>, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/category/homeentertainment/" rel="tag">Home Entertainment</a></p><a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978760.html?categoryid=20&cs=1"><img vspace="16" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" alt="Universal HD DVD exclusivity contract has expired, sits non-renewed" src="http://www.engadgethd.com/media/2007/12/12-5-07-bdhddvvd.jpg" /></a> <span style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 7px;"> <script> var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Universal_HD_DVD_exclusivity_contract_has_expired' ; </script> <script src="http://digg.com/api/diggthis.js"></script></span><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/09/sources-say-universal-and-paramount-are-both-going-blu/">More</a> news from the format war today, and it isn't good for the red camp. Daily Variety has confirmed that <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Universal/">Universal</a>'s agreement to stick with HD DVD has ended and has not been renewed. Additionally, <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/Paramount/">Paramount</a> has an escape clause in its contract that can be exercised following <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/04/warner-goes-blu-ray-exclusive/">Warner's departure</a> from the (now <a href="http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/10/hbo-hops-on-bandwagon-also-going-blu-ray-exclusive/">dwindling</a>) HD DVD ranks. The article highlights various ongoing commitments both companies have to the format, but we've heard these kind of promises before from studios. It's feeling like a party where everyone leaves at once; nobody wants to be the first out the door, but everyone's looking in that direction. <br /> <br /> [Thanks, Mike M!]<p style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">*</p><p><a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978760.html?categoryid=20&cs=1">Read</a> | <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/universal-hd-dvd-exclusivity-contract-has-expired-sits-non-rene/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.engadget.com/forward/1083464/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/universal-hd-dvd-exclusivity-contract-has-expired-sits-non-rene/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a></p>

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