Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Maybe it was the way I worded it but I didn't mean to imply millions of people stopped buying SD DVD. A lot maybe but not millions. But the number of people who have, like me, sat out the format war thus far in hopes of an end to it may reach into the millions. Nobody knows.

HDM doesn't have to reach the levels SD DVD reached in it's prime to make it viable. I can see a scenario where after 5 to 10 years time when average Joe has to replace his DVD player and it will be with a backward compatible HD player. By that time players and hopefully software prices will be near where SD is now. Eventually HDM will become the dominant format along with HDTV.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

The Warner press release says otherwise. They stated that SD dvd sales are softer than they should be.

Plus, that is exactly what I have been doing as well. I haven't bought a regular DVD of a movie in a year now. I knew that one format would eventually win, and when it does, I knew I would run out and buy the victor's player. I was not going to take a gamble. And I wasn't going to buy a movie knowing that an HD version would be available soon. SO I have been waiting. I have probably saved enough money not buying movies the last year that I can get a player for free now.

On another note:

This whole story about Warner and Fox etc. is all hearsay. Nobody knows the truth except the people in the conference rooms. And that we will probably never know.

I know that some people here are much more "in the know" than I am, but I can't simply take what they say on faith. I need some proof. That is not possible unless Warner stupidly decides to let out what really happened.

Just because stuff is posted on the internet in a lot of places does not make it true. We all know better than that.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

What I find interesting is that we came within a hair's breadth of both Time Warner and Fox going HD-DVD exclusive. If that had happened, it would have been VERY likely that Disney would make an announcement that they too will start releasing HD-DVD titles, and that would have effectively been the end of the Blu-Ray format.

As such, with Time Warner going exclusively Blu-Ray starting June 2008, I would not be surprised that either Paramount or Universal seriously look at releasing Blu-Ray-format titles as early as late 2008.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Also, don't forget that Warner, Fox, Sony, Toshiba, etc. have to cover (resp. protect) their legal interests as well.
Who do you think are the employees of those firms who are on duty 24/7 now?



The story that Warner didn't receive that pay-off was posted on the internet.


Cees

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I am wondering if the news of WB going Blu-ray only will coax another studio to reevaluate its format neutrality, and get another studio to go Blu-ray exclusive? This is good news IMHO as I feel it helps shorten the format war. How much longer will Universal stay HD-DVD only. Will we hear something from Universal by the end of CES or will Universal go neutral by the end of summer?

I would love to hear a release date for Lethal Weapon 3 & 4 in HD. I am also wondering if we might see a Lethal Weapon Quadrilogy set on Blu-ray that might include a uncompressed pcm track or Dolby True HD.

This was the news I was excpecting to come out and I am glad that WB went exclusive rather than stay neutral. By going exclusive with Blu-ray this might convince other studios to jump on board with Blu-ray. And maybe we can have a single HD format sooner rather than later.

What I want to know is what will Universal, Dreamworks and New Line Cinema do with WB going Blu?

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Other than Toshiba, I think Microsoft will be dealt a big blow in this Hi-Def war because of their support of HD-DVD.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I thought it was posted a few pages back that New Line announced yesterday that they'll be Blu-Ray exclusive.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

double post

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I seriously doubt the number of people who have sat out is even that significant when compared to the number of people who have SD players.
My comments concerning HD never reaching the revenue peaks of DVD have nothing to do with the formats viability. As I have already posted I expect HD to replace SD but that is nothing more than a wash for the studios. They were looking for HD to increase revenues not maintain the status quo. Several of them (Fox) have tried the old tried and true business practice of jacking up prices since HD is new but the general public has basically made it known that they want HD as SD prices and are unwilling to pay more.

By the way I don’t expect it the switch to take ten years but if it did then this iteration of home HD media will have been a failure from a business stand point. Besides in ten years something new will be in the works or already out.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

If anyone can provide logically defensible reasons why Fox would want to change its long-standing BD-only stance to go HD-DVD exclusive, I'd love to hear them. And, if there are sources to back those reasons up, I'm sure The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. (to say the least) would love to hear them too.

Until then, I'll stick to reputable sources, like The Journal's coverage of the Warner deal, a relevant paragraph from which I've quoted below:


Full article: Blu-ray Lands a Big Fish: Warner

The Journal (and this very same correspondent, I believe) was one of the first to disclose the $150M figure from the Paramount deal. [Correction: The Journal article did not specify an exact dollar amount. Quote: "The studios won undisclosed financial incentives for exclusive commitments to release high-definition movies onto HD DVD only. A person familiar with the situation said the incentives included both cash payments and soft incentives such as marketing promotions." My mistake.] So there's a good deal of established credibility from this source, in my eyes. No mention of specific dollar amounts in this article from the Warner deal, nor any mention of Fox either. In the absence of more credible, documented sources, I'll stick with The Journal.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Business does not end with Warner's decision to go Blu.
Do you think they want to cut ties with the HD DVD association?
They gave the classic, "it's not you, it's me" reason for their decision.

If you are a HD DVD fan, you will agree with it and go on with a since of "betrayal"...

FACTS:
52 weeks of sales going with one format over that other is a real good indication of trends...
BDA had a lock with Disney & Sony Studio support...
HDDVD had a lock with Universal support...

If Warner went HDDVD it would have split the studios in half...
If that was the case, the war would have went on forever!!!
If HD DVD can still go on with less sales, why would the BDA fold?
Warner going HD DVD does not end the war!!!

"Last minute" only saves face for HD DVD...
If you look at the facts, you will see why Warner went Blu...

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

If you want some sort of physical proof, I don't have it. Nobody does. The fact that so many people are hearing the exact same story, along with Ron's personal endorsement that these events transpired, is proof enough for me that it is legit.

As for why they would swap sides... they would swap for the same reason any studio would. $$$ Money $$$

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Did you think that the studios wouldn't eventually choose one format over the other. This was inevitable, one way or the other? It just happened that blu-ray had the right amount of cash at the right moment.

Also it's not as if HD DVD is going away. It still has 2 major exclusive studios and a hand full of independent releasing companies. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Universal and Paramount still exclusively HD DVD at this time next year.

Doug

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Yes but the Japanese HD system was analog and had some serious drawbacks when compared to our digital system. (if your talking about the original HD system that was developed in japan) And Japan has had to switch from that analog system to a new digital HD system, our HD system.

Doug

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Bill Hunt lacks credibility and there for his "inside information" lacks credibility also.

Doug

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

"Also it's not as if HD DVD is going away. It still has 2 major exclusive studios and a hand full of independent releasing companies. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Universal and Paramount still exclusively HD DVD at this time next year."

Look at the upcoming comfirmed list. IMHO not alot to be excited about. And Paramount and Uni hardly have anything there.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...e-listing.html



3 HD titles for me in through April:Zodiac,The Pianist (depending on reviews),Assassination of Jessie James....

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Fox's support of blu-ray has been iffy at best.

Doug

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Yes but I'm sure new titles will be announced at CES.

Doug

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I honestly believe they don't care. It just accelerated their desire to push digital delivery instead of disc based. Heck even Amir posted at AVS how we are at the dawn of a new HD delivery method. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what their end game is.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Wow, I thought it was frowned upon to talk about the HD format war here.
Paramount goes HD DVD and mums the word.
Warner goes Blu-Ray and the format war is over, shoot out the confetti.

I don't get it.
We should be supporting HD media (no matter what format) and let the studios work it out.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Well, apparently, you haven't seen the Kindle yet!

Mark

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Bill Hunt may have shown some bias in regards to the format war, but I don't believe in the 10 years I've been reading his site that he has ever given his readers false information, insider or otherwise. Let's not confuse opinions and facts.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Businesses don't have to behave unethically.

If Disney and Fox have done as you suggest, their ethics are no better than the video pirates studios are always crying about.

---------------

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I first read about this last night, and I'm really amazed that Fox was gonna back out of BD, and that HD DVD came so close to winning the war.

I would love to read a book about the format war. I think it would have more twists, turns and intrigue than a Robert Ludlum novel.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

The inference from some of the messages in this thread are that Fox intentionally misled Warner in order to improve their own position. That Fox played along with Warner's plan just to get more "incentives" from the BDA. And, if that is true, the BDA got played almost as much as the HD DVD group did.

Anyway, what is done is done. There isn't going to be a reversal now. And it will only be a matter of time before Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks start releasing on Blu-ray. At this point, it would seem almost foolish to go out and buy an HD DVD player. But that all depends on just how long it takes for the remaining HD DVD-exclusive studios to release in Blu. I, for one, don't want to have to wait months and months for an high definition version of, say, American Gangster! I am glad I am already neutral!

Mark

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

I would be surprised to see both Universal and Paramount still exclusively HD DVD at this time next week. One of them will announce, the other will be reading the fine print on their contract very closely to find that escape clause. Neither wants to be left out in the cold selling software to a dead format next holiday buying season.

Seems like there is still a lot of animosity towards blu-ray, the BDA, Sony or any of those companies that have backed the format. Perhaps those people should start looking back at their own supporters and what they did to cause HD DVD, which as Ron put it had a "perfect" launch, to fall behind in just 8 months and never recover. Why not blame Toshiba for completely canibalizing the hardware market and making it so no CE's even wanted to touch HD DVD? Hell, they undersold even the cheap Chinese manufacturers which at one time were considered HD DVD's secret weapon. Why not blame HD DVD for claiming cheaper manufacturing yet not passing those savings on to you? Why they then forced HD DVD/DVD combos with $5 premiums which were plagued by their own problems? Why did only 3% of of the 10 million Xbox 360 owners refuse to buy the addon which gave HD DVD <$200 player for a year and a half? Why blame Warner Brothers when they clearly gave you the upper hand yet the HD DVD consumers as a whole were the ones that failed to purchase their product?

It is very easy to say that this was all because money exchanged hands but Toshiba and HD DVD in general deserve most of the blame for why their format failed to outsell Blu-ray.

This whole Fox conspiracy is truely one for the books. Do you honestly believe that Fox, the most paranoid about piracy Studio out there, would abandon or even consider leaving Blu-ray which gave them not 1 but 2 additional layers of copy protection (BD+ and ROM Mark) to a format that has every single title released already cracked and out in the wild? They stopped production on Blu-ray when it hadn't even been hacked yet, HD DVD was first and continues to be the most pirated, until they got BD+ working. The whole thing is laughable.

Finally, Ron, why did you specifically say "I'm not re-opening a debate about HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray" when clearly you are doing exactly that with most of your posts, followed closely by a few of the moderators on this site? I believe most of it started with calling HD DVD's launch "Perfect".

While I agree they were AWOL for a good bit until they got BD+ ready, their support of blu-ray has hardly been iffy. Top notch picture transfers, lossless DTS HD MA on ALL of their releases. When they came back they released 20 titles all with lossless audio. This happened to be around the same time Paramount/DW switched.

Let's see what Paramount and Dreamworks did since they sold out. 14 releases. 5 with lossless audio. Heck, Warner Brothers has released 42 titles in that period of time. Universal even released 24 titles with a much better 19 lossless titles this time.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Sorry I did not go through all the pages in this thread and was not aware of New Line going Blu-ray exclusive.


I would have to agree that Fox has to my knowledge never even hinted that they would go HD-DVD exclusive. And with WB dropping HD-DVD and going Blu-ray exclusive, why would Fox change sides?

Now that HD-DVD is down to Universal and Paramont how long does anyone here think it might take for the war to be essentally over? I honestly do not see Toshiba calling it quits in the next few months. HD-DVD will most likely go on for at least 6 more months. And Toshiba will most likely evaluate where they stand and maybe they might try to work a deal with Sony? While that is most likely not going to happen as Toshiba will most likely just call it quits if they decide the format is going no where. I am very interested in seeing what titles are announced at CES for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD. While I personally purchase mostly Blu-ray I still purchase HD-DVD as well. And will continue to purchase HD-DVD titles that are not available on Blu-ray. While I continue to enjoy both formats and will continue to enjoying both HD-DVD and Blu-ray. I honeslty feel that this format war will not last beyond 2009, well at least for the most part it will be over. But IMHO it will depend on other factors, like if Universal goes neutral or actually was to go Blu-ray only. If Universal ever did go Blu-ray only I would see it as a sign that the format war was about to end! Even with WB going Blu-ray only this only raises the stakes with HD-DVD as it makes it winning that much tougher. This is a big plus for Blu-ray and it definantly gives team Blu more amunition in the format war.

I feel that Universal does not even have to go Blu for the war to slip away completly from Toshiba. IMHO all it would take is for Universal to go neutral and to release all titles on both formats. Consumers would have very little reason to go out and purchase a 1st HD-DVD player instead of a Blu-ray player. Both these formats are great but its time for one of them to go away. I guess we may have a better understanding of what the fall out of WB going Blu is after CES. This could very well start a domino effect with other studios but then it may take at least 5-6 months for anything to actually happen. This will definantly give Universal and Paramount something to think about, and I see them both looking at not only the bottom line. But I see both of these studios deciding if it is worth damaging HDM being acepted by the average consumer by continuing the war? These two studio will have to decide on a business level if they should continue fueling a format that is loosing support. And slowly loosing its ability to generate profit margins.

I am still planning on upgrading my 1st generation HD-DVD player to a better model with bitrate output, (Dolby True HD & DTS-HD MA). Until the victor is anounced all I can say is Dam I love HD !

Can't wait for all the news to come out of CES about HDM and what new hardware we can exspect to see in the next year or two.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

This nonsense about Fox and Warner being within a hair's bredth of vowing exclusive HD-DVD is total bull crap. Fox has never even entertained HD-DVD. Their stance on copy protection and region coding is well documented. Further, their instance on DTS-HD MA soundtracks would never stand up on HD-DVD due to the limitations on both the total capacity of the disc, and the throughput.

I am so glad that Warner has decided to abandon HD-DVD. Perhaps now they will open up their bit-budget and begin to embrace higher bandwidth video and audio options on their titles. To date, they are doing single encodes for both BD and HD-DVD - which forces them to settle at the lowest common factor.

And I'm sure the suits at Paramount / Dreamworks are busy calculating how quickly that $150 million payment gets eaten up by the understanding that they would have sold 3 times as many copies of "Shrek the Third" and "Transformers" on Hi-Def had they issued them on Blu-Ray.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

You may believe whatever you want. Doesn't make it true. Let's face it, these companies play us like violins and flip allegiances to the point its become ridiculous. Whole thing could be a good movie.

Re: BREAKING NEWS!! Warner Brothers is now Blu-ray Exclusive

Odd then that pretty much every major European HD-DVD disc in fact has a DTS-MA track. Ron has had a long-standing relationship with the prime decision makers at Fox (like Peter Staddon and Mike Dunn) for as long as I have known, so I think I'll take his word for it that they were involved. Whether they were the ones doing the "playing" is all that remains to be known, and we'll probably never know the answer.

Oh well, all these dirty corporate shenanigans aside, I'm still thrilled that Bu won With all the money being thrown around by both camps, there were never any "good guys" in the equation. Neither the HD-DVD group nor the BDA ever gave a crap about the consumer, just the cold hard cash, and such is life. We just kinda got lucky in that the format with the better tech specs (for video and audio that is) won. With a single format, the prices WILL drop. The studios are determined to make this the successor to DVD, and to do that they know they can't keep the pricing at a niche level - like $39.95 for catalog titles (thanks Fox) with no extras (die MGM).