General Blu-ray News and Discussion - PART 4
#76
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Speaking of the Harry Potter giftset, it is number 87 on Amazon right now which is pretty amazing considering it is an expensive set and all. Very impressive.
#79
Suspended
Thread Starter
Sony...Again, Really? Just either say "We will WIN!!!!" or nothing at all. You're only going to retract this in a few days
http://www.tvpredictions.com/stringer121107.htm
http://www.tvpredictions.com/stringer121107.htm
Sony CEO Damns Blu-ray With Faint Praise -- Again
CEO Howard Stringer says it's unclear which high-def disc format war will win.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 11, 2007) -- Sony's Howard Stringer is at it again.
The chief executive of Sony, the top supporter of the Blu-ray high-def DVD format, tells the Associated Press that he doesn't know whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will win the format war.
Stringer said he believes Blu-ray is winning, but suggested that his company's format fave is hardly running away with the race.
"We have momentum," he told the wire service this week. "But that's all we have at the moment."
Last month, Stringer said in a speech in New York that the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD had become a "stalemate." (Blu-ray and HD DVD are rival formats competing for the new high-def disc audience.)
Saying it's a "difficult fight," Stringer even openly speculated what Sony would do if HD DVD prevailed. (Basically, stop including Blu-ray players in Play Station 3 game consoles.)
The comments ignited a storm of controversy at blogs and Internet message boards with some posters saying that Stringer seemed to be throwing in the towel.
The Sony chief seemed to try to make amends a few weeks later in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
He told the publication that Blu-ray has the "scale" to eventually defeat HD DVD.
The Sony executive noted that four major studios, including Disney and Fox, are exclusively supporting Blu-ray over HD DVD. (Two majors are backing HD DVD exclusively; studios that back one format over another only release titles in that format.)
But now Stringer appears to have reversed course once again, saying all that Blu-ray has is "momentum."
Stringer's remarks are at odds with other Blu-ray backers such as executives at Panasonic who have said Blu-ray has already won.
His latest comments could fuel more speculation that Sony would be open to a single format negotiation with Toshiba, the leading supporter of HD DVD.
CEO Howard Stringer says it's unclear which high-def disc format war will win.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (December 11, 2007) -- Sony's Howard Stringer is at it again.
The chief executive of Sony, the top supporter of the Blu-ray high-def DVD format, tells the Associated Press that he doesn't know whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will win the format war.
Stringer said he believes Blu-ray is winning, but suggested that his company's format fave is hardly running away with the race.
"We have momentum," he told the wire service this week. "But that's all we have at the moment."
Last month, Stringer said in a speech in New York that the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD had become a "stalemate." (Blu-ray and HD DVD are rival formats competing for the new high-def disc audience.)
Saying it's a "difficult fight," Stringer even openly speculated what Sony would do if HD DVD prevailed. (Basically, stop including Blu-ray players in Play Station 3 game consoles.)
The comments ignited a storm of controversy at blogs and Internet message boards with some posters saying that Stringer seemed to be throwing in the towel.
The Sony chief seemed to try to make amends a few weeks later in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
He told the publication that Blu-ray has the "scale" to eventually defeat HD DVD.
The Sony executive noted that four major studios, including Disney and Fox, are exclusively supporting Blu-ray over HD DVD. (Two majors are backing HD DVD exclusively; studios that back one format over another only release titles in that format.)
But now Stringer appears to have reversed course once again, saying all that Blu-ray has is "momentum."
Stringer's remarks are at odds with other Blu-ray backers such as executives at Panasonic who have said Blu-ray has already won.
His latest comments could fuel more speculation that Sony would be open to a single format negotiation with Toshiba, the leading supporter of HD DVD.
#80
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: In the Universe.
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think it'd be really stupid even if HD-DVD won to start removing the Blu-Ray player from the PS3. The extra space is going to be a boon in a few years.
#81
Suspended
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by jiggawhat
I think it'd be really stupid even if HD-DVD won to start removing the Blu-Ray player from the PS3. The extra space is going to be a boon in a few years.
#82
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: In the Universe.
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Blu-ray will never be removed from PS3, ever. All current games would not play, and developers would be pissed. Removing Blu-ray from PS3 is not even an option.
#84
Suspended
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
I think Sony should just focus on getting better catalog releases out there. Disney is doing a better job than they are.
I think right now, on both formats, its New Releases that make money, not catalog titles. The Matrix didn't sell well, neither did Close Encounters.
#85
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: AUSTIN - Land of Mexican Coke
Posts: 3,921
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Yes...I need more BOGO titles to choose from
I think right now, on both formats, its New Releases that make money, not catalog titles. The Matrix didn't sell well, neither did Close Encounters.
I think right now, on both formats, its New Releases that make money, not catalog titles. The Matrix didn't sell well, neither did Close Encounters.
If we could just get these studios to do day and date with their catalog reissues. Warner does well. Their worst offense was Hamlet. But everyone else . . . where is Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Chinatown, Braveheart, Titanic. You would think Titanic would have been the best test for catalog reissues. But maybe people are just over it.
#86
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Malvern, PA
Posts: 5,010
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MBoyd
I just don't get that. All these movie forums I frequent we all seem more excited about the classics than anything else. I guess we aren't a true sample of the HD buying public.
Most high-def watchers do not want to rebuy their collection in HD, with few exceptions.
#87
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: In the Universe.
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Goldblum
Ding ding ding!
Most high-def watchers do not want to rebuy their collection in HD, with few exceptions.
Most high-def watchers do not want to rebuy their collection in HD, with few exceptions.
#88
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Goldblum
Ding ding ding!
Most high-def watchers do not want to rebuy their collection in HD, with few exceptions.
Most high-def watchers do not want to rebuy their collection in HD, with few exceptions.
#90
DVD Talk Legend
Decided to read some of the posts over at Amazon to see what some were saying about Warner and their stance. Some of the HD-Dvd backers can be as sickening as some of the Blu-Ray fanboys. Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/tag/hd%20dvd/f...x1ECTSLFUNY09S
http://www.amazon.com/tag/hd%20dvd/f...x1ECTSLFUNY09S
#91
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,582
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Uh oh....looks like WB is planning to go Blu....how do I know? Look at the Bonnie and Clyde DISCs in the coverart picture....
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...D_DVD_Art/1241
They are BOTH bluray discs!
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...D_DVD_Art/1241
They are BOTH bluray discs!
#92
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by RockStrongo
Uh oh....looks like WB is planning to go Blu....how do I know? Look at the Bonnie and Clyde DISCs in the coverart picture....
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...D_DVD_Art/1241
They are BOTH bluray discs!
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...D_DVD_Art/1241
They are BOTH bluray discs!
I think this and the packaging of Harry Potter HD DVDs in BD packaging may in fact be part of a new approach to TotalHD. Now they just expect each single-format owner to go dual, and then from here on out it'll just be a crap-shoot what format will be in each case!
#93
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by dsa_shea
Decided to read some of the posts over at Amazon to see what some were saying about Warner and their stance. Some of the HD-Dvd backers can be as sickening as some of the Blu-Ray fanboys. Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/tag/hd%20dvd/f...x1ECTSLFUNY09S
http://www.amazon.com/tag/hd%20dvd/f...x1ECTSLFUNY09S
#94
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by applesandrice
I think this and the packaging of Harry Potter HD DVDs in BD packaging may in fact be part of a new approach to TotalHD. Now they just expect each single-format owner to go dual, and then from here on out it'll just be a crap-shoot what format will be in each case!
#95
Suspended
Thread Starter
WB denies going Blu-ray (or HD DVD exclusive) anytime soon...
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multime...egy_Shift.html
Still seems like a smart movie for WB to stay neutral. Why sell to 50% when you can sell to 100%? I understand people think that by them going exclusive to either side would mean an end to the format war, but I don't think that will ever happen. Dual Format players will be the norm or you will start seeing studios go neutral (I believe a Blu-ray one first ((Disney or Lionsgate)) since Paramount/DW is locked in for another 15 months, and Universal going neutral would be like Sony going neutral). My opinion of course.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multime...egy_Shift.html
12/12/2007 | 06:33 AM ]
Warner Home Video said it has no intention to support Blu-ray exclusively and cease to release movies on HD DVD format. The comment comes as a denial to rumours spread by the members of Blu-ray camp which says that Warner would shortly proclaim exclusive support for Blu-ray disc.
“We have made no decision to change our present policy which is to produce in both HD DVD and Blu-ray,” said Jim Noonan, Warner Bros. senior vice president and general manager, reports Format War Central web-site.
Late last week an executive from Lionsgate studio said that, based on a rumour, Warner Home Video plans to switch to Blu-ray and abandon HD DVD format. Potentially, such move can provide Blu-ray approximately 70% of new releases, which is likely to force other backers of HD DVD to axe support of the format. But Warner Brothers, which is currently the only major studio to support both Blu-ray and HD DVD, was fast enough to deny possible switch to a single high-definition format.
“Our position hasn’t changed and certainly any comments that were published in the U.S. were not intended to suggest that we had changed our stance. We support both formats and we have not made any decision towards that policy and nor are any such announcements planned or in the pipeline. In terms of the short-term scenarios around the Q4 sales results, Warner Brothers are always reviewing our strategies and we can’t say what might happen in five or ten years, but for now, there’s been no decision made to change course,” said Warner Brothers Home Video Australia and New Zealand managing director Roger Clarke, reports Current.com.au web-site.
Currently Warner Home Video releases movies both on Blu-ray and HD DVD, thus, making them available to a wider audience of people. But a problem for Warner could be the fact that despite of the rise of sales via the Internet many people still get their digital video discs from retail stores. Since shelf space is limited in conventional “brick and mortar” stores and Warner is interested in offering the widest choice of movies possible, it may eventually make certain decisions that would limit the number of supported formats.
Still, since neither Blu-ray, nor HD DVD has become a de facto replacement for DVD due to high prices of players and discs, it is hardly logical for Warner to cut support of one format.
Warner Home Video said it has no intention to support Blu-ray exclusively and cease to release movies on HD DVD format. The comment comes as a denial to rumours spread by the members of Blu-ray camp which says that Warner would shortly proclaim exclusive support for Blu-ray disc.
“We have made no decision to change our present policy which is to produce in both HD DVD and Blu-ray,” said Jim Noonan, Warner Bros. senior vice president and general manager, reports Format War Central web-site.
Late last week an executive from Lionsgate studio said that, based on a rumour, Warner Home Video plans to switch to Blu-ray and abandon HD DVD format. Potentially, such move can provide Blu-ray approximately 70% of new releases, which is likely to force other backers of HD DVD to axe support of the format. But Warner Brothers, which is currently the only major studio to support both Blu-ray and HD DVD, was fast enough to deny possible switch to a single high-definition format.
“Our position hasn’t changed and certainly any comments that were published in the U.S. were not intended to suggest that we had changed our stance. We support both formats and we have not made any decision towards that policy and nor are any such announcements planned or in the pipeline. In terms of the short-term scenarios around the Q4 sales results, Warner Brothers are always reviewing our strategies and we can’t say what might happen in five or ten years, but for now, there’s been no decision made to change course,” said Warner Brothers Home Video Australia and New Zealand managing director Roger Clarke, reports Current.com.au web-site.
Currently Warner Home Video releases movies both on Blu-ray and HD DVD, thus, making them available to a wider audience of people. But a problem for Warner could be the fact that despite of the rise of sales via the Internet many people still get their digital video discs from retail stores. Since shelf space is limited in conventional “brick and mortar” stores and Warner is interested in offering the widest choice of movies possible, it may eventually make certain decisions that would limit the number of supported formats.
Still, since neither Blu-ray, nor HD DVD has become a de facto replacement for DVD due to high prices of players and discs, it is hardly logical for Warner to cut support of one format.
#96
Senior Member
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
WB denies going Blu-ray (or HD DVD exclusive) anytime soon...
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multime...egy_Shift.html
Still seems like a smart movie for WB to stay neutral. Why sell to 50% when you can sell to 100%? I understand people think that by them going exclusive to either side would mean an end to the format war, but I don't think that will ever happen. Dual Format players will be the norm or you will start seeing studios go neutral (I believe a Blu-ray one first ((Disney or Lionsgate)) since Paramount/DW is locked in for another 15 months, and Universal going neutral would be like Sony going neutral). My opinion of course.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multime...egy_Shift.html
Still seems like a smart movie for WB to stay neutral. Why sell to 50% when you can sell to 100%? I understand people think that by them going exclusive to either side would mean an end to the format war, but I don't think that will ever happen. Dual Format players will be the norm or you will start seeing studios go neutral (I believe a Blu-ray one first ((Disney or Lionsgate)) since Paramount/DW is locked in for another 15 months, and Universal going neutral would be like Sony going neutral). My opinion of course.
I still could see Warner picking a side at CES. They will simply announce it when THEY are ready to announce it...after the holidays. Until then..."Right now we are nuetral and we have no plans to change that right now."
#97
Suspended
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by Matto1020
But to counter that...if WB is planning on picking a side in the near future...the last thing they would want to do is admit it to a reporter/journalist during the week of perhaps their biggest HDM releases (Harry Potter) and sabatoge the sales for one format.
I still could see Warner picking a side at CES. They will simply announce it when THEY are ready to announce it...after the holidays. Until then..."Right now we are nuetral and we have no plans to change that right now."
I still could see Warner picking a side at CES. They will simply announce it when THEY are ready to announce it...after the holidays. Until then..."Right now we are nuetral and we have no plans to change that right now."
#98
DVD Talk Reviewer/ Admin
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Greenville, South Cackalack
Posts: 28,757
Received 1,865 Likes
on
1,228 Posts
Originally Posted by Matto1020
But to counter that...if WB is planning on picking a side in the near future...the last thing they would want to do is admit it to a reporter/journalist during the week of perhaps their biggest HDM releases (Harry Potter) and sabatoge the sales for one format.
#100
New Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Every studio should just go neutral.