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Warner Bros. goes Blu-ray
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The following comments relate to this news article:
article published on 4 January, 2008
According to an announcement by Barry Meyer, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros., the studio has decided to throw its support behind Blu-ray beginning in May 2008 meaning it will no longer be dual format.
"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," explained ... [ read the full article ]
Please read the original article before posting your comments.
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b18bek9
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4. January 2008 @ 20:31 |
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yea it looked obvious that if the studios didnt back HD DVD then Blu Ray would get the upper hand since sony has alot of studios in its pocket. Not a big fan of sony but if they can think of the consumer now since they are gettin more support then maybe they might get more fans or ppl to adopt to blu ray.
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Newbie
3 product reviews
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4. January 2008 @ 20:33 |
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Well Well Well....WE HAVE A WINNER :)
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Junior Member
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4. January 2008 @ 20:36 |
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Quote:
Well Well Well....WE HAVE A WINNER :)
I dont think this move will totally end Hd-Dvd. It depends on what Paramount and Universal does. those two studios alone would be enough to keep HD-Dvd afloat.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4. January 2008 @ 20:37
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4. January 2008 @ 20:37 |
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Warner also announced they DID NOT receive a payoff to support Blu-Ray exclusively. So we can avoid that rumor and argument here hopefully.
I hope Sony and the whole DRM thing doesn't plague us now or in the future.
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error5
Senior Member
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4. January 2008 @ 20:39 |
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Quote:
Could this latest move be the beginning of the end for HD DVD?
Looks like the end.
I just don't see Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks remaining HD exclusive for much longer. I also don't expect too many HD DVD players to move in the next few months - unless they're part of a clearance sale.
The problem is I just gave my Dad a Toshiba HD-A2 (from the $99 WalMart sale) for Christmas. I don't think he knows about the Warner news yet but I'll have to think of way to explain it to him. At least he can still watch his Planet Earth HD DVD set on it and it's supposed to be a good upconverter. I guess he's getting a BluRay player for his birthday.
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oofRome
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4. January 2008 @ 20:40 |
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Ah. The joys of this industry. It's like a book with a lot of plot twists!
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26r0cK
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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4. January 2008 @ 20:41 |
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4. January 2008 @ 20:41 |
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This was just announced as well
Warner: New Line, HBO Not Covered By Blu-ray Announcement
interesting to see if this happens
Originally Posted by BozsterHD View Post
I wonder what would happen if
1. Toshiba lowers A3s across the board to $99 now
2. Universal, Paramount and Dreamworks release HEAVY number of titles in 2008 with half of 2008 still being filled with Warner titles.
3. Xbox 360 gets integrated HD DVD drive
4. Xbox 360 add-on goes for $99 too.
5. Marketing initiatives increase to really kick in in 2008 from HD DVD Group
I still think that HD DVD can come back from this and get Warner to rebound. I'm pretty sure Warner didn't sign an iron clad contract with Blu-Ray. They probably left an exit clause in case HD DVD comes back with strong hardware sales.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4. January 2008 @ 20:44
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AfterDawn Addict
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4. January 2008 @ 20:44 |
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Originally posted by sk8flawzz:
Warner also announced they DID NOT receive a payoff to support Blu-Ray exclusively. So we can avoid that rumor and argument here hopefully.
I hope Sony and the whole DRM thing doesn't plague us now or in the future.
meh they can hid money and deals easily also the data regarding "sales" is quite sad there is no "demand" for BR, the reason its selling somewhat better is do to a glut of players being in market.
But still DVD will be viable until Paramount or Universal jumps to BR, 08 is looking hot what will win cheap players or BR with more titles on it.
It would be nice if sony sold off more stuff to win the format war and prop up the PS3 more, kinda remove the ogres teeth and club but he can still smash you :P
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4. January 2008 @ 20:46 |
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Quote:
Originally posted by sk8flawzz:
Warner also announced they DID NOT receive a payoff to support Blu-Ray exclusively. So we can avoid that rumor and argument here hopefully.
I hope Sony and the whole DRM thing doesn't plague us now or in the future.
meh they can hid money and deals easily also the data regarding "sales" is quite sad there is no "demand" for BR, the reason its selling somewhat better is do to a glut of players being in market.
But still DVD will be viable until Paramount or Universal jumps to BR, 08 is looking hot what will win cheap players or BR with more titles on it.
It would be nice if sony sold off more stuff to win the format war and prop up the PS3 more, kinda remove the ogres teeth and club but he can still smash you :P
I'm waiting until AFTER may and for a profile 2.0 BD player before I buy warner titles on Blu-ray..
anyone think the PS3 will get bumped to that just like it went profile 1.1? (PM me about this so we can keep the forum on topic)
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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4. January 2008 @ 20:53 |
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sk8flawzz
BR still has some issues with java I think if anyone is waiting to go Hdef they should bide this year with a DVD up converter,BR needs some polishing to be worth the 200-300 for a solidly built player,plus some coding issues might popup still.
As for the PS3 sony is a bit insane with its SKUs truthfully theres no teling what they will do but hopefully they planed ahead with this(unlike BWC) and made the BR spec mandible through firmware.
I kinda wish they would relase a PS3 with ahrdware BWC and a 4X BR drive..now theres soemthing I would consider paying 600 for now that BR has lost some of its dead weight.
and ya last post off topic if you want to jade at my jelloly comments do it through PMs or make a new thread I am always up for making a fool of myself ^^
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hughjars
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4. January 2008 @ 20:55 |
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An 18mth deal for $450 million is what I've seen quoted as the pay-off, $70 million more than HD DVD offered.
This isn't good news for HD DVD, no doubt.
But it isn't over.
There may well be other moves at CES 2008 which favour HD DVD
(the rumour is of perhaps 2 Blu-ray exclusive studios going neutral).
But if Blu-ray does 'win' (at least as far as the Blu-ray v HD DVD battles goes) the the sad truth is that the consumer will lose out.
If HD DVD really does fade to a small element of the high def market then Blu-ray has no incentive to seriously cut prices, drop their DRM, to finalise the specs properly or to reduce movie prices to anything even approaching current DVD prices.
My own bet would be that in that case the wider public really will just shrug and continue to ignore optical disc high def preferring instead HD TV DVR/PVRs, 'ordinary' DVD and downloads.
It's perfectly possible that Blu-ray could well have end up with some sort of a win against HD DVD but having lost the chance to become the next DVD.
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glasssd
Newbie
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4. January 2008 @ 21:09 |
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One of many of your quotes. Seems what you say and hear have little cred.
Wow, I've seen some lame claims in this 'debate' but that little list has to be one of the most laughable.
We're now just a few days away from the start of the end of all this.
Even Sony et al are winding down the rhetoric - and that ought to be indication enough that they know there is bad news coming for them.
Note the Fox senior exec who said after CES 2008 there would be one high def format.
Here is the quote -
Quote:
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14th Dec 2007:
?The table is probably set for high-def in 2008,? says Dunn. ?I think by CES it will be pretty clear there will be one format.?
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http://www.variety.com/VR1117977725.html
Note that even tho he is a Fox exec he does not go on to claim that single format would be Blu-ray.
That ought to be hint enough of some of the surprises we have in store during CES 2008 & in the 1st half of 2008 (some deals will not 'go live' until later in the year).
Tough luck Blu-ray/PS3 fans, it's HD DVD that is firmly coming through now.
The decisions have been made and the deals done and it's not looking good for Blu-ray
(no matter how much you want to whine about the retail movie disc sales situation during 2007).
I'm really looking forward to discussing the CES news when it breaks!
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Ludikhris
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4. January 2008 @ 21:11 |
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Quote:
An 18mth deal for $450 million is what I've seen quoted as the pay-off, $70 million more than HD DVD offered.
This isn't good news for HD DVD, no doubt.
But it isn't over.
There may well be other moves at CES 2008 which favour HD DVD
(the rumour is of perhaps 2 Blu-ray exclusive studios going neutral).
But if Blu-ray does 'win' (at least as far as the Blu-ray v HD DVD battles goes) the the sad truth is that the consumer will lose out.
If HD DVD really does fade to a small element of the high def market then Blu-ray has no incentive to seriously cut prices, drop their DRM, to finalise the specs properly or to reduce movie prices to anything even approaching current DVD prices.
My own bet would be that in that case the wider public really will just shrug and continue to ignore optical disc high def preferring instead HD TV DVR/PVRs, 'ordinary' DVD and downloads.
It's perfectly possible that Blu-ray could well have end up with some sort of a win against HD DVD but having lost the chance to become the next DVD.
Close, but economics would tell you that any substitute makes competition. Since bluray would still have to compete against DVD they will continue to shape up the quality and lower the prices as technology advances in order to bite into that DVD owner market.
Thinking people may stick with what they have may not be far off, but having HDDVD around to compete with Bluray is going to make null difference. Really after 2008 the HD market will have grown to a size where it begins to finally reach masses at which point they will only need one format. Sure it will only be a few but it HD optical no matter which one, will still have to improve itself and or lower prices in order to make people move on it.
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seagrave
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4. January 2008 @ 21:13 |
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Such pointless and wasteful format wars are capitalism at its most pathological. All they do is drive up costs and limit choices for consumers... some of who will end up with huge investments in a market loser. The notion that such competition is healthy is bizarre. Take the Beta vs VHS war. One had a better picture the other longer run time. No matter who won, neither had the best ideas of both design teams. When only the inferior compete, only the inferior can win.
And remember Reagan's attempt to let the market decide a format for AM-stereo? Broadcasters didn't want to invest if they were not sure listeners could decode their signal... and consumers didn't want to invest if their radio could not get all the stereo AM stations. In this case AM-stereo pretty much died though there were some lame attempts in the mid-90's to reintroduce it.
The better way is to force industry to cooperate on a common standard right from the start... one that incorporates the best ideas in the industry... and let them figure out the royalties.
Hardware and software will be standardized so no one is afraid of making an investment. Prices will be cheaper and movie selection better at store since they don't have to carry duplicate titles.
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Ludikhris
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4. January 2008 @ 21:19 |
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Glass, dont make me lose faith in humanity by spreading the dumb! You may as well have just said "OH MAN VHS IS GOIN DOWN ANYDAY NOW! WOOT BETA FTW!" The writing is on the wall. Of course nothing is sure, but to hear this news and say "HDDVD is gonna trounce them based on a little bit of speculation where you must read between the lines, on tuesday, with red socks on, while holding a brick of cheese, singing "baby got back", and rubbing your stomach." If nobody sees it but you, we, as society, deem you insane. You're insane dude.
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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4. January 2008 @ 21:20 |
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seagrave
Is that not how captilisim works?
Both sides hording their abilities to out do the other on the market one wins one falls, this is the way of life.
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AfterDawn Addict
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4. January 2008 @ 21:22 |
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Originally posted by Ludikhris:
Glass, dont make me lose faith in humanity by spreading the dumb! You may as well have just said "OH MAN VHS IS GOIN DOWN ANYDAY NOW! WOOT BETA FTW!" The writing is on the wall. Of course nothing is sure, but to hear this news and say "HDDVD is gonna trounce them based on a little bit of speculation where you must read between the lines, on tuesday, with red socks on, while holding a brick of cheese, singing "baby got back", and rubbing your stomach." If nobody sees it but you, we, as society, deem you insane. You're insane dude.
Yes I am called crazy for seeing details missing in game design and tend to see lax game design in all new games.
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jc_red
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4. January 2008 @ 21:32 |
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ChromeMud
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4. January 2008 @ 21:36 |
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Blu-Ray's biggest rival is DVD.
Blu-Ray will have to drop prices of disks to near DVD levels to get consumers interested.However,people can buy DVD's from around the world and can back them up/transfer them to their mobile players if they wish.In that respect,Blu-Ray is 10 steps behind DVD and will be indefinitely.
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Ludikhris
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4. January 2008 @ 21:37 |
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Seagrave- go to school, take economics. Everything you just said defys all rational thought.
I make bikes, you make bikes. Because we COMPETE I have to sell for less to make sure I can eat tonight. You make yours better so people buy yours so you can eat. Now both bikes are getting better and cheaper due to competition.
Same thing as the players and discs. Discs are made due to profit perspective, loss today maybe but great profit later. Thats called "risk vs reward". Now the discs will only be made where companies think they will make the most profit. If a company pays them more to make the discs only for their player you factor that in as profit. So discs are being made and support is adequate enough to not need any sort of government intervention.
What you just said breaks down to socialism and or communism. Read the post on China that happened today. That is the result of the slippery slide of the government or some committee making your choices for you. One company makes all the money and prices at whatever they want and the customer has to pay it out.
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vinny13
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4. January 2008 @ 21:46 |
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Originally posted by hughjars:
An 18mth deal for $450 million is what I've seen quoted as the pay-off, $70 million more than HD DVD offered.
This isn't good news for HD DVD, no doubt.
But it isn't over.
There may well be other moves at CES 2008 which favour HD DVD
(the rumour is of perhaps 2 Blu-ray exclusive studios going neutral).
But if Blu-ray does 'win' (at least as far as the Blu-ray v HD DVD battles goes) the the sad truth is that the consumer will lose out.
If HD DVD really does fade to a small element of the high def market then Blu-ray has no incentive to seriously cut prices, drop their DRM, to finalise the specs properly or to reduce movie prices to anything even approaching current DVD prices.
My own bet would be that in that case the wider public really will just shrug and continue to ignore optical disc high def preferring instead HD TV DVR/PVRs, 'ordinary' DVD and downloads.
It's perfectly possible that Blu-ray could well have end up with some sort of a win against HD DVD but having lost the chance to become the next DVD.
Ahaha so much for those "big smiles".
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m3_chris
Newbie
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4. January 2008 @ 21:52 |
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Ahaha so much for those "big smiles".
And those other comments from that thread like
"Warner are not ditching HD DVD."
"No matter how many times you wish it so."
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error5
Senior Member
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4. January 2008 @ 21:52 |
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Originally posted by hughjars:
An 18mth deal for $450 million is what I've seen quoted as the pay-off, $70 million more than HD DVD offered.
This isn't good news for HD DVD, no doubt.
Warner has issued a denial stating that no payoff was involved:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/W...to_Blu-ray/1327
That being said, if no payoff was involved then we can be sure that some other "sweetener" was in play. Something like heavily subsidized replication or heavily subsidized marketing.
At the end of the day it should be acknowledged that this was indeed a masterstroke of a business deal. The negotiating team that pulled off this coup should be congratulated.
Quote:
There may well be other moves at CES 2008 which favour HD DVD
(the rumour is of perhaps 2 Blu-ray exclusive studios going neutral).
I highly doubt this given today's announcement. You have to admit this is bigger than the Paramount/Dreamworks deal some months ago. If I were the CEO of a BD-exclusive movie studio I would definitely take a long hard look at things before supporting HD DVD right at this moment.
What's different now is that Warner is still releasing its previously announced HD DVD titles - which is IMO very classy on their part. Paramount just cut and run and left BluRay blindsided. Remember they canned Blades of Glory on BD a few days before it was supposed to hit shelves.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4. January 2008 @ 21:55
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AfterDawn Addict
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4. January 2008 @ 21:53 |
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Ludikhris
is it good for the goverment to saction monopolies via regulation and nurture it via tuning a blind eye since it gets plenty of kickback by fees from it, or have things alway been like that?
the goverment should be hands off unless price gouging goes on and even then they should put pressure on the corporations not "regulate" it.....
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