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What is the problem w/ Warner and Blu-Ray?? (1 Viewer)

BrettB

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Personally, I'd rather a person/entity be straight up rather than hide behind some bs claim of impartiality. But that's just me.
 

DaViD Boulet

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Yes, but that logic is a red-herring, as Dolby TrueHD on BD includes a "core" DD stream that's backwards compatible with all players. So there's no reason *not* to provide Dolby TrueHD since all BD players can produce usable sound, and those with TrueHD decoding can provide lossless quality.

Just because the first HD DVD player couldn't do 5.1 TrueHD didn't mean WB only provided 2.0 TrueHD on HD DVD. ;)

I agree with you that the WB folks have used that reasoning to explain their lack of TrueHD support for BD early on. However, it's a false-reasoning given the growing stock of TrueHD compatible hardware and the backwards compatibility of TrueHD on BD with all BD players (in core mode).
 

Cees Alons

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Warner, with their huge library of A-titles, as well as Paramount are the ones keeping BD alive currently. Warner could end the war and kill BD almost single-handedly tomorrow, by refusing to release any more titles on that format. Especially if they could convince Paramount of doing the same.

The BD catalog would virtually collapse. In the future, that would even be more. If it wouldn't kill the format, it would be a severe blow indeed. If it was their goal to harm the format - oh, boy could they do it!

I'm not saying that it would do them any specific good (or that I personally would like it), mind you. I'm just pointing out that, whatever you might say or think about their internal convictions, they're helping BD strongly and decisively (just like HD DVD).


Cees




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Dave H

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So, if a studio publically announces equal support for both formats, but has not done so, that's okay just because HD DVD is the format of your choice? If Disney, for example, were to announce support for HD DVD yet not include lossless audio on certain HD DVD titles and not release 20-something titles on HD DVD including some big named hits, that would be pefectly fine since they started Blu-ray exclusive? Just asking.
 

Sanjay Gupta

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Sony's release of Casino Royale was a Day/Date release and thus is justifed and should not be compared to catalog releses. The Disney release of the POC films is also understandable due to the theatrical release of the third and final instalment of the POC series. Now on the other hand, I do agree with you about Unversal's release of King Kong, it too like the Matrix release, does not seem to make much sense other than for the sole purpose of promoting the HD-DVD format.

About Matrix not being one of the higher profile films in the Warner catalougue, I am sure if you were to check the sales figures you will find Matrix to be in the five best selling Warner titles ever. On the other hand I am quite sure that Sony and Disney have quite a few titles that have sold far more than Casino Royale and the two POC films respectively. Even in th case of Universal's King Kong I am sure you will find that it is not near the top of the list of titles that they own.
 

Sanjay Gupta

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if Warner chooses to side with one particular format, that would be alright, since it is their perogative to do so. But claiming to support both and then treating one better than the other is wrong. Atleast that's what I feel. If they support/prefer a particular format, in this case, HD-DVD over Blu-Ray, then they ought to be open about it and stop making silly and unsustainable excuses for the step motherly treatment being meted out to Blu-Ray. By the way I personally prefer that Warner hold out on their Blu-Ray releases until the time they are willing to give them the same treatment as their HD-DVD releases. Atleast this way we would get the best possible release even if they are delayed.
 

ppltd

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If Disney did, and the BD version had features the HD version didn't, I would buy the BD version. Pretty simple.
 

ppltd

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Being an owner of both systems, I really have no problem with Warner producing the titles the way they are. If one format lacks something the other has, I will buy the one with the better feature set. If they are equal, HD DVD will get the nod.

And since when should Warner spokes people be held to a higher level of honesty than the other studios. Every one has had serious lapses in honesty when talking about the formats.
 

Edwin-S

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I believe Warner is not releasing some older films on BD simply because they do not believe they could sell enough to warrant pressing on more expensive BD discs. Their sales of classics have been abysmal on HD DVD: a format where they are absolutely certain of the main constituency, which is movie collectors. On BD, the constituency is harder to discern due to the gamer factor. The biggest selling BD player has been the PS3, but it is impossible to determine what percentage of machines were bought solely for the purpose of playing movies. Warner may have decided, based on poor sales to a known constituency, to play it safe and not release the same films to a constituency whose makeup cannot be accurately dtermined. Warner probably still has a lot of HD DVD coasters sitting in inventory. Maybe they just do not want a repeat performance on BD.
 

ppltd

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You have a legitimately valid point, and one I had not given consideration to.
 

DaViD Boulet

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Excellent points.

I keep saying that word. I do not think it means what I think it means.

:D

BTW, i have a feeling that it's just because those classics are selling more slowly (on HD DVD) and WB is probably (rightfully) putting their BD manufacturing efforts towards titles that will sell in greater volume for the moment, given the more limited availability of BD production than HD DVD at the moment.
 

Douglas Monce

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I think your point here is very valid, but at the risk of sounding like a broken record.....I don't think the classic films are selling at any different a market share than they are on SD DVD. When the biggest selling HD title sells 100,000 copies, why is anyone surprised by the numbers that have been thrown around for films like Casablanca. 300 copies? Honestly I don't know if that number is correct or not, but I think if you compared the sales of that title with the SD version it would have a similar market share relative to the size of the market.

The point being, I don't think the classics are selling abysmally, just at the same rate in a much smaller market.

Doug
 

Paul Arnette

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Edwin, I believe that is part of it. Which is why I refer to the PS3 as a "double-edged sword" for movie enthusiasts, such as myself, who are BD supporters. I do hope that as standalone BD player prices come down this "constituency", as you put it, will broaden.
 

ReggieW

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I agree with all of the points made here.

Warner may simply wait for a broader market penetration before releasing these classic titles to BD - the same policy will probably go for both formats on possible future classic titles.

According to Robert Zohn at VE, Casablanca sold quite a bit more than 300 copies. He said that he has sold this many of this title from his store alone.
 

DaViD Boulet

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Agreed. Given the low volume of HD sales in comparison to SD DVD at the moment, it would make sense that WB would put effort into releasing titles right now on BD that are in greater demand, and then back-fill catalog releases later once overall volume starts to pick up (and replication issues start to become non-issues).
 

Cees Alons

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David,

Excellent points!



;)

Cees




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I am format neutral - it's many studios, that's who are not.
And a few fanboys and followers.
 

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