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Sony paid Warner Bros. $400 million USD to go Blu-ray exclusive
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 22 February, 2008
A new article by the GlobeandMail is saying that Sony paid Warner Bros. in excess of $400 million USD to drop HD DVD and move exclusively to Blu-ray.
Warner's decision, a week before this year's CES started a downhill trend for HD DVD until finally the format died this week, with Toshiba confirming they will be dropping production of HD DVD players.
If the article proves to be true, ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. February 2008 @ 23:19 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Thus is the standing business model of corporate America.
Crush the opposition.
Pay off the players.
Topple those who stand in the way.
Corporate America thrives on greed, and greed knows few boundries.
Mmm... psst! Sony is a *Japanese* company.
Its still a corporate tactic, this i a hostile takeover of the market, and his can be a bad thing all it takes is a company willing to go a few hundred B or even M in debt to stagnate and destroy a market,look at the confines of the music industry.
Scaryness aside BR has won now we can move on to the future whatever that may be.
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AfterDawn Addict
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22. February 2008 @ 23:22 |
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Originally posted by pirkster:
Originally posted by 7thsinger:
Thus is the standing business model of corporate America.
Crush the opposition.
Pay off the players.
Topple those who stand in the way.
Corporate America thrives on greed, and greed knows few boundries.
Mmm... psst! Sony is a *Japanese* company.
So you're trying to allude that corporate dividends aren't distributed in the States?
Are you attempting to make me believe that no economic ties exist between a Japanese based company and American distributors?
What point are you trying to make?
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jony218
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22. February 2008 @ 23:53 |
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Quote:
But I never heard of Toshiba or WB giving any of us a free ROOT KIT virus. Not that I'm fond of Toshiba or WB either
Unfortunately I have to correct you, "Sony never gave anyone a FREE rootkit" , in order to get the rootkit, you had to purchase the music CD. Sony is not in the habit of giving anyone anything for free. You want to play "you have to pay".
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vinny13
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23. February 2008 @ 00:00 |
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Ya man what losers buy CDs these days ;)
Get with the times! lol
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atomicxl
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23. February 2008 @ 00:31 |
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Sony didn't pay that. Its a lie. Sony is still selling out of spec players for $400+ while Toshiba sold players with the same laser tech with features that are just now in the Blu-Ray spec for $150+. The consumer is the one eating that $400 million. We will continue to eat it for a while. Out of spec players are $400... can you imagine what the in-spec players are gonna cost when they get released?
DVD has a long life ahead unless Sony decides to sell players at a reasonable price. If not they will have to be content with their 3% of movie on disc sales.
Maybe MS will save us with a $179 blu-ray add-on.
AS of right now you can either buy an overpriced out of spec HD player, stay standard def, or rely on your rich swedish friends who spend their days ripping Blu-Rays and putting them on mininova for free.
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iamgq
Junior Member
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23. February 2008 @ 01:21 |
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Good play and investment by Sony. Look where it got them...
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AfterDawn Addict
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23. February 2008 @ 01:22 |
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Originally posted by jony218:
Quote:
But I never heard of Toshiba or WB giving any of us a free ROOT KIT virus. Not that I'm fond of Toshiba or WB either
Unfortunately I have to correct you, "Sony never gave anyone a FREE rootkit" , in order to get the rootkit, you had to purchase the music CD. Sony is not in the habit of giving anyone anything for free. You want to play "you have to pay".
I stand corrected, You pay for the cd, the root kit virus is a freebie. In a way like BOGO
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aqusition
 This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 01:23
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vinny13
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23. February 2008 @ 01:23 |
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You guys and your damn prices. It's the PS3 all over again! >:(
If it's too expensive, then wait! Nobody cares that it's too much for you. I bet in a year's time we'll be seeing players for $250, maybe less. I think they already have a BR read drive for that price... Can't remeber. Don't like it? Use Ebay.
Obviously price isn't that big of a deal for many. If it was, then HD-DVD would be #1 right now.
TY :P
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wetsparks
Member
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23. February 2008 @ 01:30 |
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First off, if (and that is a big if) it is true that Warner switched because they got paid a lot of money and not that blu ray was just plain out selling hd dvd, the money didn't just come out of Sony's pockets. There are a lot of companies in the blu ray camp that put a lot of money into it that would split that bill. Also, 400 million for something that will make them billions is a good deal if you ask me. Blu ray is now the format for hd movies, digital downloads will not really gain much ground until there is fast reliable internet service in all parts of the devloped world (fat chance) and a cheap fast blu ray burner to make a hard copy back up of your digital file (which, by the way, will make these companies more money).
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pomelo
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23. February 2008 @ 04:20 |
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$400 Million? Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Member
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23. February 2008 @ 09:17 |
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400 Million? Well it appears that sony didnt want a repeat like before with Betamax. Money talks and B$ walks.
Too bad for us consumers, sony is a major anti-consumer, Riddled with DRM crap.
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varnull
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23. February 2008 @ 09:32 |
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Quote:
Obviously price isn't that big of a deal for many. If it was, then HD-DVD would be #1 right now.
Actually price IS SUCH A BIG DEAL and lack of other content IS SUCH A BIG DEAL that the average consumer is giving HD the finger.. doesn't matter how you dress it up.. The whole HD thing is a complete flop.
enjoy your top prices and drm now...
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Senior Member
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23. February 2008 @ 11:06 |
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Sony have taken a gamble. Theyve thrown everything they got at bluray. If bluray is a flop and the majority of people choose to stick with SD or even go with instant over the internet streaming. Sony could find themselves in a lot of trouble.
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Moderator
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23. February 2008 @ 12:22 |
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Funny how people bitch when Sony does something but when Toshiba did it they had nothing to dispute or say, I wonder why?.....Hippocrates
As for the root kit, let it go already it has been addressed and fixed (not to mention it is the PAST) so it is a non issue as of TODAY.
Why do people always have to harp on what is the past? I know why. It fits their needs today to try and make a point that really has no validity since they have no real point with CURRENT topics.
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23. February 2008 @ 13:03 |
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Originally posted by lecsiy:
Sony have taken a gamble. Theyve thrown everything they got at bluray. If bluray is a flop and the majority of people choose to stick with SD or even go with instant over the internet streaming. Sony could find themselves in a lot of trouble.
Assuming the article is true, they're not stupid. Look at how much investment they piled into the PS3. They took a massive gamble on it and now it's paid off too. I expect that blu-ray will help PS3 sales even further. Don't expect to see prices falling too soon just yet though, as I foresee Sony resting on their laurels for a while, now that they have no competition (That is unless other manufacturers and media corps can force the prices down).
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905drager
Newbie
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23. February 2008 @ 13:29 |
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We complain about both Sony and Toshiba and the way they handled the whole HD-media fiasco, however to them it really is "just business". How else can you read about Toshiba having their format suffer defeat, and yet they turn around and buy Sony's Cell processing plant for $835M?
It probably went down like this...
Howard Stringer: *ring-ring* "Yo! Nishida-san! It's Stringer! Wasssssaaaabbbbiiiii! I always wanted to do that! Anywho's I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry for the whole HD thing!"
Atsutoshi Nishida: "Hai!"
HS: No hard feelings, right?
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "So I've got this whole cell thing I wanna unload. You know anyone interested?"
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "You want it??"
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "Okay. How's 835mil sound?
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "Cool. Let's go have a bottle of sake and ponder how else to take advantage of consumers around the world!"
AN: "Hai!"
...or something like that.
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tleewade
Junior Member
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23. February 2008 @ 13:38 |
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i saw a hddvd player at walmart for 128 dollars today and if i would have had the money i would have bought it .and i dont have a high defination tv and wil not buy one until i can get a 26 inch tv for at least 250. would love too have one for my regular tv to play dvds. not hd.
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Member
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23. February 2008 @ 13:52 |
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Originally posted by Oner:
Funny how people bitch when Sony does something but when Toshiba did it they had nothing to dispute or say, I wonder why?.....Hippocrates
As for the root kit, let it go already it has been addressed and fixed (not to mention it is the PAST) so it is a non issue as of TODAY.
Why do people always have to harp on what is the past? I know why. It fits their needs today to try and make a point that really has no validity since they have no real point with CURRENT topics.
Thank you thats how i feel people need to get over it & move on.Some people on this forum is always stuck in the Past.No matter how you want to down play it the move to HD is on so get use to it because it wont be long before it a standard.The world like to advance not stay stuck in cave men days like some people are today.
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Moderator
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23. February 2008 @ 15:46 |
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Originally posted by 905drager:
We complain about both Sony and Toshiba and the way they handled the whole HD-media fiasco, however to them it really is "just business". How else can you read about Toshiba having their format suffer defeat, and yet they turn around and buy Sony's Cell processing plant for $835M?
It probably went down like this...
Howard Stringer: *ring-ring* "Yo! Nishida-san! It's Stringer! Wasssssaaaabbbbiiiii! I always wanted to do that! Anywho's I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry for the whole HD thing!"
Atsutoshi Nishida: "Hai!"
HS: No hard feelings, right?
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "So I've got this whole cell thing I wanna unload. You know anyone interested?"
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "You want it??"
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "Okay. How's 835mil sound?
AN: "Hai!"
HS: "Cool. Let's go have a bottle of sake and ponder how else to take advantage of consumers around the world!"
AN: "Hai!"
...or something like that.
^^chuckle^^
and so true Nexgen76
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 15:46
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Staff Member
4 product reviews
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23. February 2008 @ 16:22 |
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All I know is that when HD DVD players drop to $80 USD or less I am picking one up immediately, my 32 inch HDTV will appreciate it i'm sure :)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 16:24
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juankerr
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23. February 2008 @ 16:27 |
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Originally posted by DVDBack23:
All I know is that when HD DVD players drop to $80 USD or less I am picking one up immediately, my 32 inch HDTV will appreciate it i'm sure :)
Will you settle for $82.97 for an A3?
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-HD-A3-720p...03801969&sr=1-8
Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player
List Price: $149.99
Price: $82.97
You Save: $67.02 (45%)
Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by TigerDirect.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 16:30
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dblbogey7
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23. February 2008 @ 16:48 |
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My, my. Who would've thought that it would be over so quickly. Just a little more than 6 weeks after Warner's announcement it's all over.
Like error5 said before, business students will be analyzing this format war as the classic case study on "How to Lose To Your Competitor While Having An Arguably Superior Product" AKA "How To Snatch Defeat From the Jaws Of Victory."
Warner was the key to whole victory and it doesn't really matter how much Sony or the BDA paid them. Getting Warner on board was ultimately the winning play.
I think the HD DVD group was just too overconfident. They were already celebrating before CES 2K8 and had a 2-hour press event scheduled. They just didn't make sure that the competition was not going to pull the rug from under them. In the end they had no one to blame but themselves.
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Member
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23. February 2008 @ 16:57 |
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What's the point in buying an hd dvd player now. You have a limited number of releases available and no future support. I guess it would make a nice upconvert for that price. All those movies on hd dvd will eventually be released on blu ray.
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Staff Member
4 product reviews
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23. February 2008 @ 17:35 |
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Originally posted by c1c:
What's the point in buying an hd dvd player now. You have a limited number of releases available and no future support. I guess it would make a nice upconvert for that price. All those movies on hd dvd will eventually be released on blu ray.
Not all of them :)Plus I would rather own the superior HD DVD 300 release as well as Transformers and a few others...I dont really want to wait 2 years until Blu-ray camp decides its ok to drop their prices to something reasonable for the consumer.
edit: nice link juanker but not gonna pay 97 dollars for it :) It will drop soon enough, Ive been patient :)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 17:37
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Senior Member
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23. February 2008 @ 20:25 |
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Originally posted by DVDBack23:
edit: nice link juanker but not gonna pay 97 dollars for it :) It will drop soon enough, Ive been patient :)
Didn't you say you would pay $80 for a HD-DVD player? Am I reading it wrong, doesn't the link say the price is $82.97?
DVDBack23, I am more than happy to throw $2.97 your way out of compassion for the poor HD-DVD format! :-P I love being cheeky when I can get away with it. :-D
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 23. February 2008 @ 20:30
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