UMD Format's Death Rattle Begins

Next Generation reports that Wal-mart is dumping the UMD format, because no one was buying movies with the media. Above and beyond that decision, the studios are unimpressed as well. From the article: "One unnamed president of a major studio is quoted as saying, 'No one's watching movies on PSP. It's a game player, period.' Universal Studios Home Entertainment has ceased UMD production. One exec told Reuters, 'Sales are near zilch. It's another Sony bomb.' Paramount is also considering its future with PSP's format. An exec said, 'We are on hiatus with UMD. Releasing titles on UMD is the exception rather than the rule. No one's even breaking even on them.'"

duh

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone with an ounce of brains could have predicted this. I realize we're talking about movie studio executives here, but surely at least one of their assistants qualifies?

Re:Nobody's buying?

[Kyrthira]

A huge megacorp lying about its profits in an attempt to bolster the market? Never.

Aww, poor Sony

[vslashg]

And they had such a good track record going into this too, what with the MiniDisc, MicroMV and its predecessor Digital 8, BetaMax...

UMD was invented by a can't-miss tech company and supplied the market of people who wanted a second full-price, lower-resoultion copy of hit movies for their myriad of UMD players. So, you know, I'm shocked.

Re:I'm not surprised.

[radish]

Well I don't know anyone with a DS, but I have a PSP and know at least 4 other people who do also. Isn't it fun how non-indicative of reality personal experiences can be? As it happens, according to a recent article on 1up, the PSP and DS are roughly level in the US market (not so in Japan however, the PSP is at about 50% of the DS installed base there).

Re:If they would just bundle them...

[Rimbo]

you realize that by doing this you're an EVIL PIRATE! HARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR MATEYYYYSSS...

Sony Ninjas will soon be coming over to your house to chop you in half for attacking their precious flawed business model.