Add this to the OP:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6184567.html?action=convert&om_clk=latestnews&tag=latestnews;title;2

i think its pretty obvious what universal will do

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/10/universal-hd-dvd-exclusivity-contract-has-expired-sits-non-rene/

more on universal.

@makingmusic476

Well, there are a lot of articles about this now (I read at least 10 before I posted the topic on here). If anyone wants to read more articles about it, just do a Google News search for blu ray.

EDIT: I suppose I should probably have made the title a little clearer though. I did read a lot about it as I said, and many of them did say that Universal wasn't set to completely dump it for a while at least. 

Blu-ray is really starting to pick up some steam in Europe.
Six months ago in shops like HMV and Game there was only a couple of Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies available. One shelf. A dozen movies max. Almost a novelty really.

Now, I'm starting to see whole sections dedicated to the HD movie formats. Hundreds of movies, split about 80% Blu-ray, 20% HD DVD.

It's quite strange entering a shop and seeing so many blue cases. :)

I think its a question of time .Paramount must be somewhat pressed as they signed a contract (although maybe they can break it if that alluded clausule is for real ) and Universal will make the change but nothing radical like announcing from one day to the other the changement of sides .Maybe by 31 may when their arrangement with toshiba ends we will know more ,either it becomes neutral or joins the BR camp .....if they have good relationships with Toshiba maybe they will become neutral but even that would be a death blow for HD-DVD as it could mean all the movie industry support for BR and only Universal and maybe Paramount for HD-DVD .

More news on the hi-def blogs is that neither Universal, nor Paramount are switching yet. Either they have further commitments, or HD-DVD has something up its sleeve. Either way, this is likely to go on.

I thought I had heard that Universal has a stake in the HD DVD format, but I could have misunderstood that.

Although, I do hope this happens sooner, rather then later. I'd love to have the Bourne trilogy on Blu-Ray. :)

no question that hd dvd is dead, the question is how will it fall. universal will prob either get a huge contract (which is why they are holding out) or just go both and eventually blu.

paramount is the weird part. what do they get from staying? obviously not the whole contractual money; but is it done per day, per week, month, check points? paramount is holding out for a reason (maybe a counter blu contract), the question is why.

No question you are jumping the gun. This does look bad for HD-DVD, but it's not dead until they discontinue it. That could happen, but you saying so won't make it so.