Warner reported to be joining Blu-ray backers

A Japanese newspaper reported Friday (Oct. 7) that Warner Brothers, a key supporter of the HD DVD format, has decided to also back the Blu-ray Disc format.

Attempts to reach Warner Brothers for comment were unsuccessful.

The daily Asahi Shimbun reported that a source close to Warner Brothers suggested that the company would soon back the Blu-ray Disc format.

Blu-Ray has so far enlisted the support of Sony/Columbia, Tri-Star, Disney, MGM and Fox. Among those studios said to be in the HD-DVD camp are Paramount, New Line, Universal and Warner Brothers. Both Paramount and Warner Brothers appear to be yielding to the Blu-ray group. Following the collapse of talks to integrate the rival high-definition DVD formats, the two sides have dug in for what appears to be a Beta-VHS-like format war. Some Blu-ray backers have predicted that major Hollywood studios will move to back the Blu-ray format by the end of 2005. They argued that a next-generation, integrated format would be domininated by the Blu-ray spec.

Paramount Entertainment's decision this week to support the Blu-ray format has emboldened the BD camp. Paramount, however, decided to commit to both formats because it wants to leave it to consumers to decide which hardware format they prefer, Hence, Paramount will offer titles in both formats, said Keiko Nakase, marketing director for Paramount's Japanese unit.