Katzenberg, one of Hollywood's most influential executives, said yesterday at a Bank of America conference that only videophiles will buy the new high-def DVD players, according to Variety magazine.
"Blu-Ray and HD DVD are a niche business," Katzenberg said. "They're not going to become the next platform. "I think for the general consumer, there is not a big enough delta between the standard DVD in terms of where it is today and the next generation."
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Variety notes that Katzenberg/s comments may irk his fellow studio executives who are rapidly releasing their films in the new high-def formats. Additionally, four studios, which are backing Blu-ray exclusively, are trying to bring the war to an end by declaring Blu-ray the victor.
Paramount, which distributes DreamWorks movies, is backing both HD-DVD and Blu-ray.
Katzenberg also said that revenue from online downloads and other digital distribution could be "staggering." But he added that the industry will not grow until the traditional DVD slows down.
"The incremental income to the movie industry in the next 18-24 months (from digital delivery) is negligible," he said, according to Variety.
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