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Universal: HD DVD is here to stay
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 23 January, 2008
In an interview with BetaNews, Universal Studios executive vice president and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group Ken Graffeo has said that despite rampant rumors the struggling format is here to stay. He did however leave the door open for putting an end to the format war if Blu-ray is willing to make an agreement.
When asked by the interviewer how Universal felt about Warner's ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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red2tango
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23. January 2008 @ 16:43 |
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laser discs were here to stay.did they?
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goodswipe
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23. January 2008 @ 16:45 |
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The guys co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group, of course he would say that.
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oappi
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23. January 2008 @ 17:21 |
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@2
Agreed. if he had said hd-dvd would loose it would have been like hd-dvd camp saying "We surrender!". Mostlikely it is going to happen at some point. They are still thinking if there is a way out. Like try to get one blu-ray studio to their side.
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Newbie
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23. January 2008 @ 17:37 |
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They need to dump the remaider of their stock.
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Newbie
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23. January 2008 @ 17:41 |
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Don't ask if HD-DVD will survive. We already know the answer to that question. The question is, How does Ken Graffeo still have a job?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 17:41
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fritz_l
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23. January 2008 @ 17:43 |
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According to Internet Movie Database these studios have the distribution rights to the following number of movies in their catalogs:
Universal - 5331
Paramount - 5753
Dreamworks - 95
Weinstein - 183
Total 11362 films
20th Century Fox - 755
Sony Pictures - 419
Disney Buena Vista - 727
MGM - 3639
Columbia/Tri Star - 4323
Warner Brothers - 4623
Total 14486 Films
Arguably not all of these movies are availble for either format. But it does indicate that the potential content availability is roughly equal AFTER Warner Brothers decision to go BD exclusive. HD DVD had potentially more available content prior WB's move.
So it looks like there will be content available for HD DVD for some time.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 17:47
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SDF_GR
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23. January 2008 @ 17:44 |
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^ agree with both. He's answers was fixed, he couldent have said anything different.
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goodswipe
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23. January 2008 @ 17:52 |
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Paramount/Universal needs to release the Indian Jones series and Scarface, I think that would help the numbers a bit. HD DVD hasn't had any good releases in the last month or so.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 17:54
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23. January 2008 @ 17:58 |
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Quote:
When asked by the interviewer how Universal felt about Warner's move to Blu-ray exclusivity, Graffeo had this to say: "Well, we heard about the whole move when everyone else did -- when a lot of us were on planes flying to CES in Las Vegas. To be very honest with you, we have not addressed that yet -- Warner is still releasing HD DVD titles up until May. Warner has always been in two formats, and prior to Paramount's switch, they had been in two formats, so now that Warner is exclusive... we just haven't addressed it yet.
So Universal haven't address the Impact that Warner have created in the HD market Bull.So what have you guys been talking about? Why was the press conference cancel then so i guess you guys are talking about future Universal HD titles your going to release what a tool this guy is.
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Finally when asked whether there was a possibility that HD DVD and Blu-ray could unify the standards at some point to end the war, Graffeo left the door open but noted that talks had broken down in the past. "Well, I'm never going to say it never can be done. I think everyone would like to see things work out, and I don't think anyone has any ill intention in this. It was a year and a half ago when we tried to put things together and it was unfortunate when it fell apart before. I think anything is possible
So he has admitted that Universal was in talks with Blu-Ray.I see his tone has dial down some since the Warner move & i can easily see them going Neutral this year for sure.
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The interview then naturally moved towards whether Universal and Paramount would be leaving HD DVD for Blu-ray which Graffeo strongly denied. "This is business as usual for us and there are no plans to make any changes. We just made an announcement of our new HD DVD titles yesterday, with American Gangster. We also have a lot of other things planned. It's business as usual," he repeated.
Lmao that title was announced with a date back in Dec with the BOX art reveal a week later.This guys is in denial really bad.This was the same person that over looked Blu-Ray when Paramount became exclsive to HD-DVD & said clearly that HD-DVD was looking forward to taking on SD-DVD now.What comes around goes around Mr.Graffeo.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 18:12
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Ludikhris
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23. January 2008 @ 17:59 |
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Fritz: What you are not taking into account is the fact that most studies already show users not rebuying their media the way they did with DVD. Most people are saying "If I have it on DVD I am not buying it on HD" So it is going to be awhile before either HD format takes over.
That said we can expect only "New" movies from here out. Your figures go back to the 20s no doubt where Universal has been around. For that reason the BR camp now has a bigger advantage. Sony for example, has only been around for a few years putting out films and is still a big player today. Though they have 400 films now they will be releasing more than 400 over the next century.
You figures would make more clout if they planned on releasing every film they owned rights to at once, and people were interested in rebuying them all in HD. The demand just isn't there yet and they know it. To tell you the truth I haven't seen one non-brand new HD film on the top 10 best selling list any week. Maybe towards the beginning when it was all you could get.
It's actually two developed studios releasing their new films, vs the other six releasing their new films.
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DieMPAA
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23. January 2008 @ 18:10 |
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What he said amounts to "four legs good, two legs bad."
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vinny13
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23. January 2008 @ 19:06 |
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They'll have to change sooner or later this year...
You can't build a home on a slope that only goes down...
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varnull
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23. January 2008 @ 19:11 |
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Quote:
You can't build a home on a slope that only goes down...
The only kind they build in California I'm told.
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vinny13
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23. January 2008 @ 19:14 |
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Ya, which is pretty damn stupid after so many homes have and will probably be destroyed by mud slides if they ever get flooded with rain again...
They have no where to go but down :P
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mrtoast2
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23. January 2008 @ 19:48 |
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when I saw that Firefly was coming out on BR I was sold. I really dont care about the war, i just want my movies in HD.
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fritz_l
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23. January 2008 @ 19:58 |
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Ludikris: No I am not overlooking that people are not repurchasing their DVD collections. I am merely looking at potential catalog availability, the numbers in that regard go both ways. It is true, most people are in fact not replacing their DVD collections, although the studios are hoping that there will be a push to do that. That affects Blu ray and HD DVD equally. But the Blu ray camp seems to lay claim to having 80% of the studios behing them and by virtue of that fact 80% of the available or potentially available content. Clearly that is not the case.
Actually the numbers are very recent and if they went back to the 20's as you say then that would apply to all of the Blu ray backing studios as well. I do not see how that gives Blu ray any particular advantage at all. Are you saying that Sony will be the only studio releasing films in the next century? By the way Sony has been around for awhile (formerly Columbia pictures)
The figures are not mine, they are merely information that is freely available on the web, they are simply facts that speak for themselves. You do make a good point in that the demand is not there yet for HD. That again applies equally to Blu ray as well as HD DVD.
As far as the HD DVD backing studios not having any films on the top 10 best selling list, that is simply not true, again that is information you can go to any number of webesites to confirm. However, if that were the case then it makes no difference if Universal or Paramount ever go Blu ray, because as you indicate they have nothing worth watching.
As I said originally it looks like there will be content available for HD DVD for some time.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 20:55
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sgriesch
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23. January 2008 @ 20:00 |
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Originally posted by goodswipe:
Paramount/Universal needs to release the Indian Jones series and Scarface, I think that would help the numbers a bit. HD DVD hasn't had any good releases in the last month or so.
I agree with goodswipe. The reason I haven't bought many HDDVD's is because there aren't any good releases coming out. Especially, when I would have to shell out $30 each.
Let's all face the real truth. If EVERY movie company released their movies in BOTH formats, HD DVD would have won a long time ago. They're cheaper (players), region free, and non DRM crippled. Since Sony does both equipment and movies they naturally made theirs proprietary (like they always find a way to do), and that's what got us in this mess. Blu-Ray is not neccessarily a bad format, but I think it's caused alot of headache for everyone.
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hughjars
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23. January 2008 @ 20:21 |
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Typical.
After claiming for a month that Universal were out of contract to HD DVD & that Paramount had an escape clause if Warner left here we are.
Neither Universal nor Paramount have budged an inch......in fact with their support recently (by trimming HD DVD movie prices) they are actively & properly supporting HD DVD.
So what do the Blu-ray fanclub try to pretend next?
Nothing but return the same old 'it's going to happen soon' lying BS.
It doesn't matter that they have come out and given specific (& not vague) answers.
It doesn't matter that they are still HD DVD exclusive.
No.
The Blu-ray fanclub are just going to keep on lying that any minute now Paramount & Universal are going Blu.
Totally predictable & as laughable as it always was.
(you guys ought to be more concerned that Warner just moved their timetable for going Blu to June instead of May.
If HD DVD's really so dead and out of it all why did they bother to do that, huh?
Beware of post-dated cheques.)
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m3_chris
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23. January 2008 @ 20:45 |
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Originally posted by hughjars:
The Blu-ray fanclub are just going to keep on lying that any minute now Paramount & Universal are going Blu.
Totally predictable & as laughable as it always was.
Just as laughable as last month when you said that Warner will never go Blu-Ray exclusive no matter how much the Sony fanboys want them to? I think you were surprised when Warner made their move, and are probably in for another big surprise by Paramount & Universal in the future.
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tleewade
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23. January 2008 @ 21:25 |
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there are large companys that are making some money ,but there are some small companys making a lot of money .lower over head , cheaper prices plus a good product, =more money on less sales.
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23. January 2008 @ 21:31 |
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Originally posted by hughjars:
Neither Universal nor Paramount have budged an inch......in fact with their support recently (by trimming HD DVD movie prices) they are actively & properly supporting HD DVD.
Your right they haven't budged but they have dodge the question if there going to back HD-DVD exclsive anymore in the future which i see them going neutral this year.If you read the article Universal ready to talk if the numbers are agreeable.The price cuts are to clear out all remaining stock.I would tell you the same thing if i was trying to clear out stocks of player & movies thats not outselling Blu-Ray they are trying to recover from any losses they going to have in the future.So any announcement from them would be expected this summer or into next holiday season.
Originally posted by hughjars:
(you guys ought to be more concerned that Warner just moved their timetable for going Blu to June instead of May.
The date has always been June 1 that hasn't changed but if i was a HD-DVD owner i would be concern that Warner has delayed all New HD-DVD releases for three weeks or more plus they just pushed back there catalog titles also.
Taking the next step in its transition to Blu-ray exclusivity, Warner has extended its three-week delay on HD DVD releases to include catalog titles.
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/W...log_Titles/1386
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atomicxl
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23. January 2008 @ 22:04 |
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Thumbs up to this!!!! Maybe the rape prices for Blu-ray players will drop if Universal sticks to their guns and stays HD-DVD. Blu-Ray will win, but right now their Warner and Paramount victory has resulted in them burning the hell out of early adopters and trying to convince everyone to just bend over and take it.
Blu-Ray < $200 is all i'm waiting for. And not some crap player that can't even play any of the benefits of the format.
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ken9771
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23. January 2008 @ 23:00 |
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For me I could care less about the formats when used for video;
I've given up running after the latest step up in video quality.
See enough movies, been there, done that, on to better things,
even got rid of all TV's in house, couldn't be happier.
What I'm looking for is which format has the best data storage amount
and the best protection from scratching, fingerprints, and dust.
In this area Blu-ray kicks-ass, and HD DVD is just another slightly
larger capacity DVDr disc that scratches if you look at it wrong.
Found this website that explains the protective coating on the Blu-ray
media. Here is a small quote as well.
So while you all are still forever chaseing after whatever newer video format that comes next, I hope be be using cheap blu-ray writable media to store all my digital pics taken while I'm out having fun seeing the world instead of watching the latest weekly movie release!
http://www.durabis.com/en/index.htm
"Even after 300 passes by a steel wool pad, a Blu-ray Disc (BD-RE135N) with DURABIS hard coating shows virtually no increase in jitter, attesting to its superior ability to resist scratching.
DURABIS technology: The solution for higher performance discs"
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Senior Member
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23. January 2008 @ 23:10 |
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Originally posted by hughjars:
you guys ought to be more concerned that Warner just moved their timetable for going Blu to June instead of May.
please don't twist info and spread fud. you n i know the reason why the movies will still be available in June. it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the idea of Warner CONTINUING or reconsidering their SUPPORT for HD-DVD.
there is a 3 week delay for HD-DVD titles released by Warner. in other words movies will simultaneously release on DVD and Blu-ray while HD-DVD owners must wait 3 weeks before the movie becomes available. if a movie releases in the 2nd week of may on Blu then yes its probably that the movie will release in JUNE for HD-DVD.
i would not expect to see a warner movie released on Blu-ray in June to then also release in June on HD-DVD (some 3 weeks later).
Quote:
The 2 disc DVD and Blu-ray release will arrive on March 18th. The HD DVD will follow on April 8th.
^^that quote is for I am Legend
the movie Twister got bumped back from a May 6th HD-DVD release date to a May 27th release date. considering that strategic move on Warner's part, i think its clear where their alliance lies.
CES announcement, what was that going to be again?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. January 2008 @ 23:18
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vinny13
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23. January 2008 @ 23:13 |
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I don't like how he never gives the full story and tries to spin things his way... You just make things look worse then they are by doing that...
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