A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment - Page 6

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Tim, you know I'm right behind ya on exclaiming that YES!

Now to only hope its not a combo disc. Either way, they have my money.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Have they? It's worth remembering that as much as combos are slagged around here, we're not "the masses". Universal has continually increased the percentage of their HD-DVD production that is combo discs, and unless we presume that they're stupid, I figure the logical explanation is that combo discs sell well enough that the $5 premium offsets people who refuse to buy them as a matter of principle or feel that particular movie is worth $20 but not $25.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

As small as the current market is for HD DVDs, I think those that frequent this forum and others like it are a big segment of the current masses. This format is still very much a niche market being driven by HT enthusiasts such as ourselves.




Crawdaddy

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

COMBO'S are not costing any more than the latest Disney BD's (CHICAGO, LADDER 49, CASANOVA etc.)which are $34.00 and Fox (BROKEN ARROW, ENTRAPMENT, THE MARINE etc.) which are $39 and have no or little supplements. Quite frankly I do not understand why there is such an uproar. I've been very happy with the HD DVD titles so far; and if some are combos fine, they are combos. There is no way I would have passed up owning BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN because it was a COMBO. Ditto for the upcoming CHILDREN OF MEN.

You all bitch and moan so much and would probably be complaining if they stopped the COMBOS. As more HD players are in homes the prices will go down for both HD and BD. Just chill and enjoy it all.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Bradley,
If you checkout some other threads besides this one, you will see the same people complaining about the cost of these combo discs are doing the same with Fox and Disney BRD.

Also, please don't disrespect me or anybody else by suggesting our complaints aren't valid just because you're fine with combos and the pricing of discs. From my personal perspective, I am complaining not because I can't afford the prices which I can, but I am doing so, as a consumer voice so that the studios know that software pricing has to be competitive in order for these new formats to be accepted beyond just a niche market.

There is already too much confusion regarding these competitive formats and in my opinion, I think the studios are adding even more confusion to this mess.




Crawdaddy

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Studios:

Here's a balanced pricing structure:

$25 Catalog
$30 Combo
$35 New
$40 Special edition - 2 disc

Everyone should then be happy!

I saw The Jerk SE priced at $5! I don't think people would be happy paying $25 for a Combo.

Classic catalog should not be Combos. The DVD is already out there at $5.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

exactly robert.

i am not buying these combos or the overpriced br discs.

lower the price and i'll buy

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Adam, any idea when Universal is going to send you a more complete release schedule you eluded to?

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Thank you much. Will be looking forward to seeing it when available.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Count me in too

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Adam,

I can only imagine your frustration given the conversations you have had and the knowledge you were given, but I have to say the longer the Uni-weenies take with this list the less interested I am actually becoming. Holy smokes, talk about a let down so far! Thanks for the information that you have been able to pass on thus far, in any event.

CG

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

any news on that list?

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Interesting speculation here, which may account for the delay in 'the list':

http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/07/s...ersal-soldier/

I haven't seen this opinion piece discussed much around here, but I can tell you that I'm officially scared off of HD DVD enough now to shelve my plans to upgrade my Toshiba HD-A1 to a HD-XA2 or purchase anymore HD DVDs for the forseeable future.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

You're taking that rambling unfunny mess seriously?!?!

Though I guess I shouldn't talk. I get my stock tips by watching Teletubbies. ^_^

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Actually, I am taking it with a grain of salt; but until I see more faith invested in HD DVD from the companies that are supposed to support it, I can't say that I'm exagerating any when I say I'm scared off it currently.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Considering that a) it's a guy from NPD who's been quite accurate in the past, and b) the point made about Warner and Paramount being in the same place two years ago is quite valid, it definitely has more heft than the completely unfounded rumors from last year that Lionsgate and Disney were "definitely" going neutral at CES.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Adam, if you see them, can you ask them about their plans for USA Films/Renaissance catalog.

In specific, Xena and Hercules TV series on DVD have HORRIBLE transfers and encoding with terrible pixelation (VHS version looked better). Are HD DVDs possible in the long-term future (as they probably wouldn't bother doing another DVD set)?

I'm sure fans would be willing to pay good money for some quality versions.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Any updates from Universal?

Also, Brotherhood of the Wolf is getting an HD DVD release from Studio Canal in France. The current USA standard DVD is from Universal, so will this get a USA HD DVD release?

Any plans to release HD DVDs for Universal's classic monster movies?

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seriously, should we be worried by the silence?

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I thought it was odd that Universal did not make any anouncments at CES. And I was happy to hear they would be releasing a list of movies that would be coming out this year. We where suposed to have the list by now and it's the middle of February allready. I am starting to wonder if the ever intended to release a list of HD-DVD titles in the first two months. It is starting to seem like Universal is not entirely conviced that HD-DVD is winning and they are pausing to decided if they should continue being a HD-DVD only supporter or not?

I have had my HD-DVD player for awhile now and while I only have about 44 titles. I am very pleased with the format and how good the picture looks and how they sound. However I have been buying less and less HD-DVD titles and more and more Blu-ray titles. It has been over a month since I bought an HD-DVD title and I do not plan to buy any for the next few months. All my HD purchases will be on Blu-ray so the fact that Universal has not released a list is not going to bother me at this time.

How ever the more time goes by the worse it looks for HD-DVD. Universal's inaction in regards to uncoming HD-DVD titles is not helping HD-DVD's possition against Blu-ray. If anything Universal is hurting Toshiba by not letting the consumer know what they will be releasing on the HD-DVD format. I like what I am seeing on the Blu-ray side and my money is going that direction. I also agree that the war has swung to Blu-ray's side and that if this keeps up the war at that point will be unwinable for HD-DVD, but that is just my opinion.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Thank you Adam, I am sure all of us here at HTF apreciate you getting the HD-DVD release information.

I hope they do release that information soon.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Yes, thanks Adam. Your perseverence is appreciated.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/ne...ticle_id=10299


More likely this recent silence has more to do with the recent Universal leadership shakeup then anything else. I think it will be awhile before we get a handle on where the new leadership is heading with HD.

Someone also mentioned in another forum that there is currently no reference at all to HD-DVD on the official Universal Home Entertainment section of the Universal website. http://homevideo.universalstudios.co...t_content.html

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I don't think it can accurately be called a leadership shakeup as much as an adjustment of the reporting structure to reflect--per Fogelson's comments--the reality that, as windows continue to shrink, the departmental divisions between theatrical and home vid marketing have diminished. A "shakeup" would be Kornblau getting replaced.

By definition, theatrical marketing works on recent releases. Of course most of us here are just as, if not even more, interested in HD DVDs of deep catalog titles. Note that Hoffman and Blum, the two home vid marketing execs who now report to theatrical for new U pics, still report to Kornblau for everything else--and that's quite a bit: Focus (Brokeback, Hollywoodland), Rogue (The Hitcher (2007), Hot Fuzz, Shaun Of the Dead), all TV DVD, any straight-to-DVD and all catalog titles.

Re the Website, here's hoping that's just corporate laziness. Although not as conspicuous as most of us would like, if you click through the months under "Coming Soon!" in the "Find A Movie" section (down and to the right on that home page), you'll find HD DVD listings for upcoming releases such as The Game, 40 Year-Old Virgin, Eternal Sunshine, The Good Shepherd, Nutty Professor and more. Even they get it wrong: "HD-DVD."

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

If there has been a leadership shakeup I wonder if we might end up seeing Universal supporting Blu-ray sometime soon? I think that would be very cool but it might be bad for HD-DVD.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

My guess is that they are about to transition in a new marketing strategy. This would definitely be a good reason why there currently isn't anything HD related on the website. What this will entail we won't know until they tell us.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

http://homevideo.universalstudios.co...p?titleId=2977

There are several other such USHV Online Store HD DVD listings if you bother to look. (If you click through to place the HD DVD in your 'shopping basket,' it even appears as though the Store ships on the Sunday before street.)