MarkHastings
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2003
- Messages
- 12,013
Damn, I hate being so late to these kinds of threads because there's way too much to catch up on. Hopefully I'm not repeating something here...I find it rather amusing that people assume that releasing "movie only" discs is 'unethical' and assume that the studios are trying to screw the consumer over.
I'm not a business major, but from my limited knowledge, I think I can put it into perspective...
When a new format comes out, it is usually VERY expensive. It will take YEARS for prices to come down to the level where every consumer can get into the format.
In order for the format to 'take off', sales must be good. Now, if the studios immediately released SE versions of HD-DVD's, I would think the prices would be WAY over some people heads and the market for HD-DVD would be a tough struggle.
Look at LD, if they weren't so expensive to begin with, the regular consumer may have gotten into it (thus, driving prices down)...
If 'bare bones' HD-DVD's do come out initially, I'm sure the studios plan isn't "Let's put out bare bones editions first, THEN make them pay for SE's down the line (insert evil laugh)"
I think it's more to the effect of "If we want HD-DVD to take off, we need to keep the prices down so they are 'attractive' to more people than just the HT enthusiasts, so instead of screwing ourselves like LD, let's try to make the initial HD releases 'affordable'. If that means bare bones, then that's what we have to do..."
IMHO!
I'm not a business major, but from my limited knowledge, I think I can put it into perspective...
When a new format comes out, it is usually VERY expensive. It will take YEARS for prices to come down to the level where every consumer can get into the format.
In order for the format to 'take off', sales must be good. Now, if the studios immediately released SE versions of HD-DVD's, I would think the prices would be WAY over some people heads and the market for HD-DVD would be a tough struggle.
Look at LD, if they weren't so expensive to begin with, the regular consumer may have gotten into it (thus, driving prices down)...
If 'bare bones' HD-DVD's do come out initially, I'm sure the studios plan isn't "Let's put out bare bones editions first, THEN make them pay for SE's down the line (insert evil laugh)"
I think it's more to the effect of "If we want HD-DVD to take off, we need to keep the prices down so they are 'attractive' to more people than just the HT enthusiasts, so instead of screwing ourselves like LD, let's try to make the initial HD releases 'affordable'. If that means bare bones, then that's what we have to do..."
IMHO!