**Official HTF HD Formats Ind./Retailer/Studio Support Thread-*SEE POST 3176, p. 106* - Page 129

Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow

Thankfully, actual sales data from Nielsen and the studios is available that trumps your source, which I can only assume was incorrect data from an unknown entity. Q108 Blu-ray sales have been equal to Q407 Blu-ray sales. For Q1 sales--which traditionally are a huge drop-off--to equal holiday sales is very good news. In addition, the ratios of BDs to DVDs has shot up. Where a BD used to sell 1%-3% as well as it's DVD counterpart, they're now selling 8%-10%, sometimes almost 15% as well. This is on a format only 1.5 years old going up against a 10-year old format that is the most successful media released.

With HD DVD out, Blu-ray sales on the rise

Originally Posted by David Wilkins

If you can't find more than a couple of titles you like, from the fairly healthy list already available, and the ever growing roster of titles upcoming in the next three or four months, that's your problem, and one that probably isn't shared by more than a couple of other people on this forum. After all, it's a fairly new format, and the "war" issue was just settled. It was a long time before very many worthwhile titles were released on any past format. Tough it out.

And...I never implied we should have only happy talk. And I, personally haven't "won" anything. I don't qualify as a Blu fan-boy, having amassed 122 HD-DVD titles over the past year and a half. For some reason, I just want to get past all the shit talk. So sue me. Jeez...talking these format issues is about as rewarding as talking politics during the past eight years, or religion at any time. I really don't know what's worse, listening to the endless rattle of 15 year old gamer-heads on some of the other forums, or tuning in here, to the "older, wiser, more mature, highly informed" people on this forum, continue with the same piss talk, day in and day out, rattling on about the sure, forward march of downloads...and market penetration, and price points.

Yeah, they're really bleeding us to death with those $23, 1080p, TrueHD titles. Yes, the format is going down in flames with those bloody prices. I suppose that if they're not given away, the format is doomed, we're all doomed, headed for bankruptcy. It's a HOBBY, not a life sustaining product. If you can't hack it, then...cry me a river, and find another hobby.

What is it with people, anyway? Bitch, bitch, bitch. Whine, whine, whine. Maybe too many of us have way too much time on our hands, if we get so wound up and over emotionally invested in something as inconsequential as the format war. None of this matters. We're not saving lives here. Why can't people, in general, let go of this silly shit? That was the point I tried t make a couple of pages back. It used to be about home theater. It used to be about movies. Maybe some people around here need more actual problems in their lives to help add perspective.

I used to spend time here, casually, to relax and catch up on matters related to the home theater hobby that I enjoy so much. Not anymore. I know that a lot of you will get all choked up, but I'm unsubscribing from this thread. It's the first time I've done so at HTF, during an active thread. In the past, I've done so, only to cull out the old dead ones.

No joy here. No joy at the 15 year old gamer-head forums. Am I the only one? Am I over reacting? Or are there plenty of other people tired of the non-stop shite?

Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow

Well, now you're completely misinformed. Thankfully, actual sales data from Nielsen and the studios is available that trumps your source, which I can only assume was incorrect data from an unknown entity. Q108 Blu-ray sales have been equal to Q407 Blu-ray sales. For Q1 sales--which traditionally are a huge drop-off--to equal holiday sales is very good news. In addition, the ratios of BDs to DVDs has shot up. Where a BD used to sell 1%-3% as well as it's DVD counterpart, they're now selling 8%-10%, sometimes almost 15% as well. This is on a format only 1.5 years old going up against a 10-year old format that is the most successful media released.

With HD DVD out, Blu-ray sales on the rise
Ugh. Not only were you basing your "theories" on incorrect data, but you also have the audacity to snidely mock an industry source and fellow forum member whose data has been correct far more than your posts have been.

In fact, I should point out that it was Bill Hunt and other sources you decry were the ones that first mentioned at the retailer and studio dominoes that were going to fall, despite the hints from HD DVD "insiders" all over the Internet that Warner's defection was "not what it seemed" and HD DVD had something planned to strike back. Of course, Toshiba, the retailers, and the studios have since revealed that they had essentially begun planning the announcement of HD DVD's cancellation by the end of CES. So next time you want to attack "Dr. Bill", maybe you should remember that he's been pretty much dead-on in his predictions of late.

Originally Posted by Dave Moritz

IMHO Blu-ray is doing extremely well considering that the economy is on the verge of depression.

Originally Posted by troy evans

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but, I think the future looks bright for Blu-ray. It's a new format and like sd dvd, it'll more than likely open some doors. Before sd dvd, we never had so much available to us on the other formats. Now, we have all kinds of tv shows and movies and live concerts that before we could only have taped from tv if we were lucky or if it even aired. We have so much in fact, we debate on the ones still hanging in limbo. Rather than being happy with the ones we have. With Blu-ray more surprises are in store for us down the line. It's exciting and with Blu-ray raising the bar what will sd dvds answer be? Lower prices? Better transfers? Ultimately with HDM everyone will gain in some respects and that is awesome. I can't wait to see how all the 3-D stuff plays out. Man, times are great for home theater right now.

Originally Posted by Dave Moritz

We could very well be suprised with what Dreamworks, Paramount and Universal puts out for 2008.

Originally Posted by troy evans

. Man, times are great for home theater right now.

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Robert,

confused... do you feel that BD prices should be lower???



you've managed to mention that even more than me talking about lossless audio... there should be a prize...



p.s. yes, we all agree that it would be nice if BD prices came down.

Originally Posted by Paul_Scott

Can't get a direct link but there is an interesting article here (3/27) from the replicators point of view- in particular the smaller replicators. There are also some numbers thrown around for the ultimate packaged costs of discs in smaller runs (25,000 @ $4-$5 each). When new releases may only do 70,000-100,000, $4-$5 per disc may be prohibitive for things like much of the Criterion catalog as well as multi-disc catalog sets and tv shows (Star Trek? BSG?). of course with the likely line congestion that is the main gist of the article, sets with 6-10 50gb Bds are probably going to be the first to be backburnered anyway.
Keep in mind, this post is really only intended to be seen by the 3 or 4 members who don't have me on the ignore list yet ; )

Originally Posted by Paul_Scott

When new releases may only do 70,000-100,000, $4-$5 per disc may be prohibitive for things like much of the Criterion catalog as well as multi-disc catalog sets and tv shows (Star Trek? BSG?).

Originally Posted by Goko

Mr Scott,
My laugh for the day. I find it hard to believe that in a forum such as this where people are encouraged to speak their minds that anyone would (or should) ignore you. You and your ideas are a presence that's, quite frankly, hard to ignore. To quote from a famous movie: " you tread heavily, but you speak the truth" as you see it. Besides, anyone that's afraid of a few words should re-think why they frequent this forum. I find the exchange of ideas on this forum simply delightful and I encourge your posting.

Originally Posted by FrancisP

Most of the higher cost of bluray is licensing fees. Some of these fees were not a part of hd-dvd or were optional. For example, the AACES fee was optional in hd-dvd but are mandatory in bluray. Some releases are not likely
to have piracy issues but they are still forced to pay the fee. It is interesting that titles like the Bob Hope double features, Road to Bali/Road to Rio and Son of Paleface/My Favorite Brunette, were not released in bluray. I suspect the higher fee structure is a part of this.

Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow

B) You might want to check your facts on releases. Only one Bob Hope double feature was released on HD DVD, and I'm sure the other two were announced for Blu-ray. In addition, BCI indefinitely postponed many of their titles ("Galaxina:, for example) before Warner dropped HD DVD.

Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow

It's also worth it to note that Blu-ray had much wider support (something like 2 to 1 before Warner) from indie and small studios.

Originally Posted by Jesse Blacklow

But hey, they've got support from the Chinese gov't...

Originally Posted by Douglas Monce

From what I can gather from BCI's website, they release exactly 4 high def titles, all of them on HD DVD.

Originally Posted by Jari K

They´ve released these in Blu-ray:

*The Night of the Werewolf/Vengeance of the Zombies (double feature)
(BCI/Deimos Entertainment)
Blu-ray Review: The Night of the Werewolf/Vengeance of the Zombies | High-Def Digest

*Sister Street Fighter / Sister Street Fighter 2 (double feature)
(BCI/Eclipse)
Sister Street Fighter , Sister Street Fighter II - Blu-ray

Perhaps these "Bob Hope"-films (which I want, BTW!) were released solely under the "BCI"-banner or something, but it´s not true that these 4 films are their only "high def titles"..
(and officially the second BH "double feature" was cancelled and some copies just leaked to the retailers => customers?)

Originally Posted by Jari K

"If we're sitting here in 12 or 18 months time, we'll be saying 'why were people even thinking about a disc format when it's really about digital distribution?'