Video Business is reporting that Warner Home Video and National Geographic will launch the Blu-ray Disc version of Six Degrees Could Change the World only at Amazon.com on Earth Day, April 22, marking the studio’s first BD retail exclusive.

The standard-definition version of Six Degrees will be widely available at retail starting April 8. Six Degrees on BD is expected to roll out to retailers nationwide this fall.

Six Degrees is one of several environment-conscious releases bowing from Warner in time for Earth Day. Also included in this promotion are April 8 titles Sharkwater, Planet in Peril and Eden at the End of the World: Patagonia.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting what most believe to the the inevitable outcome of Toshiba’s ‘war ending’ announcement - Paramount will begin releasing titles on Blu-ray Disc (again).

This statement was sent exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday:

“We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer. As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly.”

It is not clear if the statement included DreamWorks.

I guess over the next few days Paramount will release more information regarding (re)releases, but it is nice to know their intentions.

In some not unexpected news, Home Media Magazine is reporting that Universal Studios will now start releasing titles on Blu-ray Disc.After the announcement from Toshiba that they will discontinue HD DVD production, Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, made the following statements:

“While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray.”

“The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate.”

Ok, this could easily be in the realm of fantasy, forgery or computer error, but strange things are afoot at Circuit City.A CC employee has reported in a forum thread that all of the old Paramount Blu-ray releases are back in the CC computer system.

Not only that but Blades of Glory and Transformers are also listed. Transformers is listed as a 2 Disc Edition and has a $34.99 price tag.

The UPC code for the release is 097361312422. The UPC for Transformers on HD DVD is 097361312804. As you can see there are distinct similarities between the two.

The thread also shows pictures of the CC computer screen showing the entries for Blades and Transformers, along with other contemporary releases such as The Brave One.

As noted above, this could easily be an error or a fake… or it could be that Paramount Blu-ray titles are not too far away! Regardless it is a fun read.

We see Home Media Magazine is reporting that Digital Playground has confirmed that all future high-def titles would be on Blu-ray Disc.The adult video producer had been releasing a majority of its high-def titles on HD DVD.

The incentives to do Blu were Nielsen VideoScan data showing 3:1 Blu-ray sales over rival HD DVD, positive results for its first Blu-ray title, Pirates, and major retailers bailing on HD DVD.

Island Fever 4 and Babysitters, two adult titles already on HD DVD, will be the company’s next Blu-ray releases, followed by eight new Blu-ray titles every month. The company has more than 200 films shot in high-def, all of which could eventually see a Blu-ray release.

Art house distributor Opus Arte has announced plans to release its first Blu-ray titles beginning this March. Previously exclusive to HD DVD, Opus Arte now says that in a move to broaden it’s “long term commitment” to high-definition releases, the company will be adding Blu-ray to the mix.

Moving forward, the distributor plans to release “as least” two new titles per month on HD DVD and Blu-ray, and the first title is planned to be A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream (which is a current HD DVD release).

Interesting to see another smaller player adding Blu-ray to the mix.

High Def Digest is reporting that Disney has confirmed the October release date for Sleeping Beauty.

The release will mark the first Blu-ray Disc in the Platinum Edition series. The disc is expected to feature 7.1 LPCM audio and BD Live features.

The disc will be released October 7th.