A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment - Page 7

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I mean marketing stuff. They should have a HD-DVD banner prominently shown with a link to thier HD-DVD materials. As it stands now, if you went to thier website, you'd have no clue they even support high def at all. I'm sure they will remedy this before too long though. If they were retooling thier HD marketing plans, this would be a good sign that they are currently in flux.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

If you bother to look? Yes, HD DVD movies can be found if you dig around but the question is why are Universal playing hide-and-seek with their HD DVD titles?

Unless there has been some silly mistake in updating the website can we reasonably speculate that the webmaster has been instructed to remove reference to HD DVD on the home page? Or will he/she be instructed to put it back on ASAP?

I await further developments with interest.

PS: That list sure is a long time coming - wonder if there'll be a few Blu-ray titles on it when it finally turns up?

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Guy:

The "bother to look" comment was motivated by Shawn saying--twice--that there is no reference to HD DVD at the U home vid site, even after I'd mentioned exactly where to find it. He's now clarified that he was referring to marketing.

Your wild speculation must apply to Fox, too, as their home vid site's reference to BD is similarly lacking razzle dazzle marketing. (Admittedly, their main home vid page does link to the dedicated FoxBD.com site though.)

I understand the point you two appear to be making but there's another perspective. Who would be the audience for the marketing you're arguing for? It's certainly not guys like us who argue with each other online over minutiae. I would posit that many of the same mainstream consumers who you're wanting to proselytize about HD DVD via more conspicuous online marketing at the USHE site are the same customers who are sublimely unaware of what studio produces/distributes what film, not to mention which studios are supporting which HD format. They probably wouldn't be going to a Universal home vid Website in the first place to then see some some flashing banner.

Perhaps you could drop Kornblau a nice, brief letter with your suggestion. I think that would be more productive than speculating that someone told the Webmaster to quash references to HD DVD at the very site that's selling the discs.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

With the absence of HD-DVD release information and with HD-DVD not being easy to find on there web site. They are not sending a strong message to early adoupters and consumers that they are still supporting HD-DVD. IMHO by not even showing a sign that they support HD-DVD on there web site. And not releasing an updated HD-DVD release list. They send the message that HD-DVD could be in trouble and that Universal may be having doubts about HD-DVD's ability to win the format war. That may not be the message that they want to send, but its the one I feel that is being sent. Even if they are in the middle of a shake up in there company. The absences of Universal not being active as a HD-DVD only supporter is not good. In the very short term it may not have a bad effect, but the longer it goes on I see it as having an effect on HD-DVD. And in a worse case senario could help strengthen Blu-ray place in the market.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

P.S. - Warner's site simply links to their store and an e-mail list sign up and Par arguably does even less than either U or WHV: the banner on their home page simply links to the Tosh site!

Surprise, surprise: it would appear that the studios are more interested in marketing their movies than the technology.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Exactly. That's all that Universal need to do - a simple link on a menu. Fox have one, Disney have one, Warner have one (a little harder to spot on the bottom menu) and Sony have one. All these sites link to a mini-site promoting HD product (although I'm not keen on the 'Flash' obsession).

Naturally they are all more concerned with feeding the vast regular DVD market but I still find it odd that Universal don't have a bigger push for HD DVD.

I'm sure Universal can sort their own website out but if they need my help they can hire me (standard rates apply).

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I suspect that Universal is getting ready to roll out an exclusive Universal HD DVD site, seperate and distinct from their current home video site. This site will have links to all their current HD DVD title, a listing of their upcoming titles and a chance for the consumer to vote for what movies they want to see on HD DVD from the Universal archives.

And a chance to win a date with Jennifer Aniston. : P

Since we are going for wild speculation here....

Dave

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

...the look & feel sound of perfect indeed

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Hey Adam,

Have you heard anything more from Universal regarding that release list?

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

"...the look & feel sound of perfect indeed"

Indeed indeed!

Now there is a rumour I think we should propagate all over the internet.

Dave

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

ADAM!!!

Sorry, I know it's not your fault dude. I just get a start everytime I open the page and see the this thread with a red enveloppe. Gets my hopes up that there is news.

At this point whether Uni is planning 100 HD-DVD releases next month or is abandoning ship we should get somekind of news. I think they owe their customers at least that much.

If they are going Blu or just plain stopping HD releases for a few months I think telling would be the right thing. If I hear no news from them positive or negative in the next couple of weeks they can kiss my mony goddbye for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I know they won't even notice my lack of purchasess and I LOVE Universale movies. From Mummy to Conan to Spielberg It will kill me not to buy but I think Superman, Spiderman, Disney, X-men, Pixar, Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, Matrix, TV shows, and a ton more available from other studios will hold me over for a little while.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

This is interesting as some have said the re-org would not affect the home video/HD DVD division. Hmmmm. Looking forward to your updated info.

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Well, while Universal continues to dilly-dally I am turning blu, and it isn't from holding my breath.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

There are a number of Universal titles I would love to own on HD-DVD or better yet Blu-ray, I know Uni only does HD-DVD.

Titles like:
Back To The Future - Trilogy
American Graffiti
Battlestar Galactica
Dragon Heart
ET
Jurassic Park - Trilogy
Musketeer

But I am not going to sit on the money since Universal can't seem to get there s--t in gear. There are other studios actually putting other movies out on HD that I will be spending my money on. So those studios will get my HD dollar instead of Universal. And when I get around to buying the Universal titles which may be summer of 08 or later. The longer Universal takes the less I care about getting there titles in HD right away. Like I said there are other studios that obviously want my money more than Universal and many of them are offering Blu-ray.

And with more Blu-ray titles offering lossless than HD-DVD titles, Blu-ray is where my money is going!

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I have a technical question about HD-DVD combo discs in general. Can each side (i.e. the HD and SD sides) be dual-layered, or do they have to be single layers only?

If they are both limited to a single layer, this implies that there could be a drop in quality on the standard DVD side, compared with a normal dual-layered DVD. Also, it would mean that there is only 15 GB available for the HD version rather than the 30 GB on a dual-layered HD-DVD.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Both sides can be dual layered.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Like Greg said the answer is yes and you can even check out this thread here for details on how many layers each side has on different releases.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I am really starting to wonder if Universal had any intention of actually giving Adam the information regarding HD titles? I am even doubting there so called comitment to HD-DVD! They are the only exclusive HD-DVD studio and they are showing very little effort in releasing there big hits on HD-DVD. There is a big void in the HD-DVD lineup in the next few months and Universal is not helping HD-DVD. But it is indirectly helping Blu-ray buy it's inaction and lack of releases. Blu-ray is building momentem and is poised to be the winner of the format war. Universal should stop being the last hold out and support Blu-ray as well and let the consumer deside. I will not be buying any Universal titles for the next 6 months as I need the money to buy a Blu-ray player and titles to go with it. Later this year if Universal is offering Blu-ray I will start buying there titles on Blu-ray and if not other studios will get my money. Will this hurt Universal, hell no but if enough consumers where to stop buying there titles and purchased other studios Blu-ray titles. You would see Universal come around and start offering Blu-ray, they are not stupid and want to make money like any other studio. If the format war keeps going in Blu-rays favor and HD-DVD fades more and more, Universal will go Blu! I love my HD-DVD player but just have little reason latley to continue supporting HD-DVD over Blu-ray.

And since Universal is almost a no show in HD-DVD releases I will be buying movies from studio like WB, Fox and Disney that are releasing really good titles. And are supporting there format instead of remaining silent and taking references of the HD format off there web site. All I can say is Universal messed up bad and they need to get it in gear and get the job done!

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I will buy the titles I want whenever Universal releases them. If someone wants to hold off on BSG, Psycho, & the other titles they have planned to support BD, then fine, it's a free country.

Btw, the consumer is deciding...

When I last checked, standard DVD still had 99% of the market. All of this whining over Universal to throw in the towel after a slow first quarter and a corporate shake-up is getting REALLY boring.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

And with only a 9 year head start!

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Dave:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh..._DVD_Slate/495

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

From the digital bits:
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/rumormill.html#030107

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

I do not see myself running out to buy these three HD-DVD titles.

Smokey and the Bandit
The Skeleton Key
The Hurricane

And as far as I am conserned 40 yr old virgin is not going to make me want to run out and buy more HD-DVD ether. I might buy that on SD-DVD but I do not see myself paying more for it on HD. And while the movie was funny its the strongest title they have on there release schedule.

Shouldn't Universal being doing there best to draw people to the HD-DVD format?

Why aren't we hearing about tiles like Back To The Future, American Graffiti, E.T., Scarface, American Pie, Battlestar Galactica, The War Wagon, Holloween, American Me, Jurassic Park, Black Dahlia, Liar Liar, Jaws, To Kill A Mockingbird, Jet Pilot, Harvey, K-Pak, Airport, For Richer Or Poorer, Schindler's List, Psycho, A Beautiful Mind, Casper, The Birds, K-9, Mercury Rising, Bourne Identity, Dragnet, Electric Horseman, Scent Of A Woman, Blues Brothers, Far And Away, Gorillas In The Mist and The Jackel.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Nice post Sean, I did not see it until after I posted my response to the thread. I see there are some nice titles there but since I have decided to dedicate most of my spending money towards Blu-ray titles. I will still be buying some HD-DVD titles and I will end up with some Universal titles because I enjoy them.

Universal Titles I would buy besides Battlestar Galactica which is going to be purchased the day it comes out.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dragonheart, Born on the 4th of July, Scent of a Women, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, American Me, and The Bourne Identity.

I would still like to see actuall release dates tied to these titles. Because until there is a release date there is no way of nowing if they will actually be released or if Universal is just buying time?

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Ironically, four of the titles you mention in post 205 are mentioned in the "Rumor Mill" post.

And all the Spielberg titles are in a different category. History would show that those will be released when Steven is satisfied with the potential sales numbers, not just when it will help a hardware company grow a new format in which he has no equity stake.

But on to more important things: you're gonna respond tepidly to the 40 Year-Old Virgin (and Daylight) rumors . . . while asking about K-Pax?!?

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Hey, I liked K-Pax. Highly underrated I'd say. While I'd say 40-year-old Virgin is overrated. Spacey's gold in that movie compared to his Spacey-playing-Hackman-playing-Lex-Luthor act in Superman Returns.

Virgin was funny once, but I just re-watched Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure recently and even after seeing it many, many, many times I laughed harder than I did with 40-year-old Virgin. In no rush to watch Virgin again anytime soon. As far as comedies go, I'd buy the Bill & Ted flicks in HD (and yeah, I know they'd be Blu-ray releases) a lot quicker than Virgin. But Universal knows the mainstream consumer has a short-term memory, so they've going to push their recent hits. Unfortunately, the mainstream audience probably isn't the same people who are buying HD-DVD discs right now. But when you're trying to avoid your product being for a niche audience....

You know Universal and HD-DVD will be wincing when Casino Royale hits BD this month at the same time there are no HD-DVD new releases.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Insert joke about Fox Blu-Ray titles here.

Re: A Conversation with Universal Studios Home Entertainment

The movie I'm most psyched about is by far LOST IN TRANSLATION.
I'm not sure I would upgraded from SD for the others though.