Warner, New Line, Paramount, Universal ... The Studios/Networks Thread - Part 2
01-15-08, 07:59 AM
#726
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Originally Posted by wewantflair
The point is that they didn't buy DIVX media at all - they rented it. You paid $4.50 for a DIVX disc, which is the cost of a rental. Therefore, there is zero risk attached to "ownership" of DIVX discs, since you don't own them.
In addition, DIVX paid off several studios (Dreamworks, 20th Century Fox, and Paramount Pictures according to wikipedia linky ) to release exclusively on DIVX. Doesn't that seem familiar?
A lot of people really despised Circuit City for their role in DIVX, and some still do. At the end of the day, CC took a large write-off and partly as a result of the whole fiasco Best Buy left CC behind in a cloud of dust.
Trivia note: There used to be a hilarious page called the "divx lover". Looks like the only remnant is a cached page at google It has some real blasts from the past like reel.com coupons! Also a cached page at archive.org.
David
Last edited by diverdave; 01-15-08 at 08:13 AM.
01-15-08, 08:23 AM
#727
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
Perhaps I should have left off the s, but the reason my posts have not been challange is because they can't be. If there are 2 movie formats that require 2 different players to watch all of the movies, with 2 different sides supporting each format, you're telling me there is no risk involved if you only pick 1 side? You don't think there's a risk by possibly picking the side that loses?
I've owned both formats for a long time, so I don't care that those who bought a $99 HD DVD player in November may feel burned about the WB news. I'm quite certain they realized that machine is unable to play the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, the Spiderman trilogy, the Die Hard series, and hundreds of other BD exclusive titles.
And now with these drastic price cuts, Toshiba is doing more harm by getting new customers to buy their products, knowing full well that they only have 2 major studios to support it.
I just find it bizarre you think there's no risk involved in this war. Are you still pissed that WB will be Blu-only after May?
I've owned both formats for a long time, so I don't care that those who bought a $99 HD DVD player in November may feel burned about the WB news. I'm quite certain they realized that machine is unable to play the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, the Spiderman trilogy, the Die Hard series, and hundreds of other BD exclusive titles.
And now with these drastic price cuts, Toshiba is doing more harm by getting new customers to buy their products, knowing full well that they only have 2 major studios to support it.
I just find it bizarre you think there's no risk involved in this war. Are you still pissed that WB will be Blu-only after May?
Furthermore, other format wars have been resolved by an explosion in popularity of one format over the other, usually for a particular reason. This format war has not experienced anything remotely approaching an explosion in popularity. In fact, these formats were and are so unpopular that single releases account for huge percentages of weekly sales.
My point, essentially, is that there really is no risk attached to this format war either. I am certain that, as BD-supporting companies start competing with one another, many of them will add HD DVD playback in an attempt to court a percentage of the very limited HDM market.
01-15-08, 09:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
No, I really don't care. I didn't care when people screamed "Pay off!" about Paramount, and I don't care now. How does a pay off affect us at all, now that it's happened? There was a stalemate between the two formats, and Sony broke it with money and incentives. Toshiba tried to do the same thing with Paramount, but it didn't work. Okay, deal's done, let's move on already.
This topic will not go away for a long, long time, and neither will some hard feelings, no matter if it is time to move on.
01-15-08, 09:07 AM
#729
Originally Posted by wewantflair
I really don't care one way or the other about the WB thing. The point is, you posted this one-line response several times for the express purpose of upsetting sensitive people. You provided no logical substantiation for making this claim. It just bugged me on a fundamental that the claim was incorrect. Format wars aren't always risky. They are very seldom risky. That's why many people feel upset, because historically, there hasn't actually been much risk attached to these things.
Furthermore, other format wars have been resolved by an explosion in popularity of one format over the other, usually for a particular reason. This format war has not experienced anything remotely approaching an explosion in popularity. In fact, these formats were and are so unpopular that single releases account for huge percentages of weekly sales.
My point, essentially, is that there really is no risk attached to this format war either. I am certain that, as BD-supporting companies start competing with one another, many of them will add HD DVD playback in an attempt to court a percentage of the very limited HDM market.
Furthermore, other format wars have been resolved by an explosion in popularity of one format over the other, usually for a particular reason. This format war has not experienced anything remotely approaching an explosion in popularity. In fact, these formats were and are so unpopular that single releases account for huge percentages of weekly sales.
My point, essentially, is that there really is no risk attached to this format war either. I am certain that, as BD-supporting companies start competing with one another, many of them will add HD DVD playback in an attempt to court a percentage of the very limited HDM market.
It's very simple. HD DVD and BD were competing to be the SOLE HD format, the supposed successor to dvd. IF you picked ONE side, then you ran the RISK of picking the losing side, the one that would lose support in the end.
01-15-08, 09:11 AM
#730
Originally Posted by wewantflair
I am certain that, as BD-supporting companies start competing with one another, many of them will add HD DVD playback in an attempt to court a percentage of the very limited HDM market.
Toshiba will be the one who makes a dual format player to help out their HD DVD supporters.
I have a feeling that new Samsung dual format player that was shown at CES will be their last. I believe they were quoted as saying they will shift their focus back to BD due to the WB announcement.
01-15-08, 09:20 AM
#731
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by diverdave
Actually there were various flavors of DIVX discs, at least one of which would allow unlimited play. It's been so long ago that I really can't (and don't want to) remember.
That war was a bit different. At the end of it your rental discs just went in the trash once they shut down the servers. HD DVDs will live on so its not like you have to sell them. I almost guarantee Toshiba starts selling combo players once they give up the war.
01-15-08, 10:46 AM
#732
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Qui Gon Jim
I think if you want to slap down this topic, then you need to to slap down every mention that WB did what they did for the good of HDM, and that they went the direction they did because of "market forces" and the consumer.
This topic will not go away for a long, long time, and neither will some hard feelings, no matter if it is time to move on.
This topic will not go away for a long, long time, and neither will some hard feelings, no matter if it is time to move on.
MOD NOTE: Perhaps this may need to be closed soon. Or maybe this thread will just die on its own. I'm hoping for the latter. -namja
01-15-08, 10:51 PM
#733
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Via Bill Hunt reflecting Fox's official address of the article posted in this thread earlier:
Finally, as to these rumors about Fox... does anyone REALLY believe Fox would have flipped to the HD-DVD camp after all their talk about how important Blu-ray's added BD+ copy protection was? As some of you might recall, Fox actually delayed releasing titles on Blu-ray for a period of many months last year in order to wait for BD+ to be finalized. And all this was happening while AACS decryption keys were being extracted from HD-DVD releases and posted online. Fox has been one of the most vocal supporters of Blu-ray. The idea that they would suddenly flip to HD-DVD exclusivity, when software of their preferred format is not only more protected in their eyes but has also been outselling HD-DVD for over a year now, is completely absurd. That would be like a marathon runner with a significant lead at mile twenty-four suddenly deciding to sit down for a coffee break before finishing the race. The belief that Fox was about to go HD-DVD only may simply have been a case of wishful thinking, but wishing does not make it so.
As it happens, I've actually spoken about this today with Fox's senior VP of corporate and marketing communications, Steve Feldstein, who echoed something Warner's Ron Sanders has also said in recent days: "The kind of money they're talking about [in these stories] isn't worth jeopardizing a multi-billion dollar business." In other words, payoffs would not have impacted Fox and Warner's decisions. Feldstein also told me that when The Pittsburgh Post Gazette piece broke, he contacted Lindich immediately to let him know that he was being misled by someone. When Don posted the same piece on his own blog, it was edited to reflect this. Specifically, the references to $120 million and $500 million payoffs were gone - something that's worthy of note.
As it happens, I've actually spoken about this today with Fox's senior VP of corporate and marketing communications, Steve Feldstein, who echoed something Warner's Ron Sanders has also said in recent days: "The kind of money they're talking about [in these stories] isn't worth jeopardizing a multi-billion dollar business." In other words, payoffs would not have impacted Fox and Warner's decisions. Feldstein also told me that when The Pittsburgh Post Gazette piece broke, he contacted Lindich immediately to let him know that he was being misled by someone. When Don posted the same piece on his own blog, it was edited to reflect this. Specifically, the references to $120 million and $500 million payoffs were gone - something that's worthy of note.
01-15-08, 11:23 PM
#735
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Thread Starter
This thread has clearly become a catch-all for developments related to the Warner decision, and since Fox was listed as a studio ready to go neutral, it's not off topic.
P.S. Great signature.
P.S. Great signature.
01-16-08, 01:28 AM
#736
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First announced new WB BD release with staggered HD-DVD release?
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
01-16-08, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by namja
With regards to the WB "payoff" comments, they are all speculations. The HD DVD die-hards would like to believe that there was most certainly a huge payoff while the BD die-hards would like to believe that there was no payoff and that it was all because of the market forces. A reasonable person will know better that it's somewhere in between.
01-16-08, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by lgchan
First announced new WB BD release with staggered HD-DVD release?
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
I wonder if the HD-DVD will be a combo disc or not, since technically it's not a day-and-date release anymore.
01-16-08, 08:47 AM
#739
Originally Posted by Yavin
Wow, I'm very surprised that a) this is being released so soon; and b) that it is actually making it to HD-DVD.
01-16-08, 09:01 AM
#740
This is from Dave Vaughn on AVS:
"Warner will continue to do VC-1 encodes, but they are upping the bitrate to the max for BD encodes and according to a very good source at GDMX, this will speed up the encoding process considerably because of not having to hand tweak hard to encode scenes as much. This is one of the benefits of Blu-ray with the higher peak bitrate and will allow cost savings on the encoding side."
"Warner will continue to do VC-1 encodes, but they are upping the bitrate to the max for BD encodes and according to a very good source at GDMX, this will speed up the encoding process considerably because of not having to hand tweak hard to encode scenes as much. This is one of the benefits of Blu-ray with the higher peak bitrate and will allow cost savings on the encoding side."
01-16-08, 09:25 AM
#741
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
This is from Dave Vaughn on AVS:
"Warner will continue to do VC-1 encodes, but they are upping the bitrate to the max for BD encodes and according to a very good source at GDMX, this will speed up the encoding process considerably because of not having to hand tweak hard to encode scenes as much. This is one of the benefits of Blu-ray with the higher peak bitrate and will allow cost savings on the encoding side."
"Warner will continue to do VC-1 encodes, but they are upping the bitrate to the max for BD encodes and according to a very good source at GDMX, this will speed up the encoding process considerably because of not having to hand tweak hard to encode scenes as much. This is one of the benefits of Blu-ray with the higher peak bitrate and will allow cost savings on the encoding side."
01-16-08, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by lgchan
First announced new WB BD release with staggered HD-DVD release?
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
01-16-08, 09:39 AM
#743
Originally Posted by lgchan
First announced new WB BD release with staggered HD-DVD release?
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
I Am Legend Blu-ray and DVD - March 18
I Am Legend HD-DVD - April 8
Source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/i-am-leg...d-blu-ray/5129
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...s_HD_DVDs/1364
The studio has now confirmed the first titles to be affected by the transition, announcing a three-week-delay for the HD DVD/DVD combo versions of 'The Invasion' (now February 19, previously January 29), and 'The Assassination of Jesse James' (which will shift from February 26 to March 18).
01-16-08, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by RockStrongo
So basically, it doesnt mean that the picture will get noticeably better, but they can be more inefficient with their encodes due to the expanded space.
01-16-08, 09:57 AM
#745
DVD Talk Legend
Why is it surprising that IAL will be on HD DVD? It's such a big hit that I don't see why they would make it exclusive to BD. It may be their last day and date title though, with Twister being the last overall.
01-16-08, 09:58 AM
#746
DVD Talk Special Edition
Originally Posted by Hammer99
That's too bad...I hope Warner does the right thing and issues separate encodes.
01-16-08, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Gerry P.
I would assume that the delay for HD-DVD is due to a seperate encode. Right?
01-16-08, 11:22 AM
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The notion that Fox and/or Warner wouldn't take a payoff from the BDA because it would jeopardize their long-term is either a flat lie or ridiculously inept business. Accepting their story would require us to believe that the Paramount/Dreamworks exclusivity deal was a completely irresponsible decision and that Paramount/Dreamworks had zero concern for their own future. Bunk. Taking the short money does not jeopardize the long-term, ESPECIALLY in the case of this Fox/Warner deal. If their exclusivity to BD insures that format's dominance/success, then the only way for them to lose money in the long-term is for the format itself to implode.
With BD+ having been completely cracked within a month of its debut, what other incentive did Fox have to remain Blu-ray exclusive?
With BD+ having been completely cracked within a month of its debut, what other incentive did Fox have to remain Blu-ray exclusive?
01-16-08, 12:08 PM
#750
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by matome
The new release delays are actually beginning with January's release of The Invasion.
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...s_HD_DVDs/1364
The Brave One & Justice League have also added three-week delays to their HD-DVD release as well
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...s_HD_DVDs/1364
The Brave One & Justice League have also added three-week delays to their HD-DVD release as well
Surprisingly, no such change is planned for "Invasion".
