January 7-10: The CES 2008 Thread

[JBlacklow]

Figured I'd start up a CES thread to prepare us for the onslaught of news, whether it be good or bad. For right now, I'll post the schedule of hi-def related press events, so that you can hit PRNewswire, CNet, or whatever else at the right time. The HD DVD conference (Boo! Hiss!) is at 8:30pm PST/11:30pm EST on Sunday the 6th, and the Blu-ray conference is the next day (Monday the 7th) at 5pm PST/8pm EST

http://www.cesweb.org/press/events/exhibitor_events.asp

Sunday, January 6
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM: LG Electronics
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Pioneer Electronics
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM: Toshiba (Grrr...)
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM: Panasonic
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Sharp Electronics
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM: Philips Consumer Electronics
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM: Samsung Electronics
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM: Sony Electronics
8:30 PM - 10:30 PM: HD DVD Promotion Group(BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Monday, January 7
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Hitachi Ltd./Hitachi America
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Blu-ray Press Conference (YEEEEEEEHAAAAAW!)

[Phane]

Kind of curious, but if Warner were to paint CES Blu, around when and on what day would the paint start to fly?

[Go Blu]

Honestly I don't think Warner will announce anything at CES.
If anything it will be after at some point.
They wouldn't want to steal the thunder of the event.

I wouldn't mind it if they did though!
Like at the very end last day and last part of the Blu press conference.

This is how it would go:
Thank you all for coming and Ohh yeah, by the way Warner has agreed to go Blu Exclusive.

[Crackbone]

I tend to agree with that. It wouldn't totally shock me if Warner dropped the bomb @ CES, but I am thinking closer to mid Feb early March.

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by Crackbone

I tend to agree with that. It wouldn't totally shock me if Warner dropped the bomb @ CES, but I am thinking closer to mid Feb early March.

Unfortunately, I also have to agree. They want to wait out January to see how post-Christmas sales do with everyone opening their new players and PS3's. I honestly think they're wasting our time...we'll still see 2:1 lead for Blu-ray so why wait!

[DealsR4theDevil]

Originally Posted by Go Blu

They wouldn't want to steal the thunder of the event.

I would have thought it would want to steal the thunder. What company doesnt want to be the one everyone is talking about?

[Manco]

Originally Posted by Go Blu

Honestly I don't think Warner will announce anything at CES.
If anything it will be after at some point.
They wouldn't want to steal the thunder of the event.

RIGHT. Can you imagine the riot that would ensue and the possibility of violence and bodily harm to attendees.

A CES 2008 announcement from Warner's is NOT going to happen simply for safety reasons of the staff and attendees. Everyone knows this is a very visceral issue.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Manco

RIGHT. Can you imagine the riot that would ensue and the possibility of violence and bodily harm to attendees.

A CES 2008 announcement from Warner's is NOT going to happen simply for safety reasons of the staff and attendees. Everyone know this is a very visceral issue.

IF WB does not announce exclusivity at CES 2008, it would be crappy of them to announce a bunch of titles for HD DVD in 2008 only to cancel them shortly later.

I'm really hoping they will announce something after Christmas. Perhaps the first week of January... as it will give them a chance to see how many of those HD DVD players given for Christmas will be used to buy HD DVDs...

Of course, they could stay silent on HDM releases at CES (ala Universal at CES 2007), and announce exclusivity later that week, or the week after.

Personally, I would LOVE for them to hit the ground running at CES as an EXCLUSIVE studio so that their title announcements, etc... will get the most attention...

~Alan

[Manco]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

IF WB does not announce exclusivity at CES 2008, it would be crappy of them to announce a bunch of titles for HD DVD in 2008 only to cancel them shortly later.

I'm really hoping they will announce something after Christmas. Perhaps the first week of January... as it will give them a chance to see how many of those HD DVD players given for Christmas will be used to buy HD DVDs...

Of course, they could stay silent on HDM releases at CES (ala Universal at CES 2007), and announce exclusivity later that week, or the week after.

Personally, I would LOVE for them to hit the ground running at CES as an EXCLUSIVE studio so that their title announcements, etc... will get the most attention...

~Alan

It will be a Press Release after CES is all said and done when all the execs are safely back at home base.

Although personally.... I don't think an annoucement is imminent. My gut is sometime Summer '08.

The entertainment industry is cut-throat. They will care little about stiffing either side on releases. WB neutrality is all about $$$. They are using BD and HD-DVD supporters alike to the benefit of their own greedy ends. Make no mistake. If you are looking for something else, join a Missionary organization of your local church.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Manco

RIGHT. Can you imagine the riot that would ensue and the possibility of violence and bodily harm to attendees.

A CES 2008 announcement from Warner's is NOT going to happen simply for safety reasons of the staff and attendees. Everyone knows this is a very visceral issue.

Not likely, I think. CES is an industry-only show, and I suspect that industry peeps will less, umm, physical in their reactions than regular Duddites.

[Manco]

Originally Posted by richteer

Not likely, I think. CES is an industry-only show, and I suspect that industry peeps will less, umm, physical in their reactions than regular Duddites.

Somewhat agreed. But the CE's and Studios are well aware that AVS shut down their HDM forum due to activities that ultimately included "threats and police activity with certain individuals".

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Manco

RIGHT. Can you imagine the riot that would ensue and the possibility of violence and bodily harm to attendees.

A CES 2008 announcement from Warner's is NOT going to happen simply for safety reasons of the staff and attendees. Everyone knows this is a very visceral issue.

Uh, attendees will all be business professionals and reporters, not HD DVD fanboys, I don't think there would be any kind of riot. Correct me if I am wrong, but they are generally not open to the public.

[gearyt]

Blu-Ray Disk
Las Vegas Convention Center
South Hall ~~ Tech Zone !!!

[zipbags]

The problem with them NOT announcing at CES. Is that both sides are "expecting" them to make the announcement. If it doesn't happen it will be hd-dvd giddyness that they didn't. Even if a few weeks later Warner does go exclusive. It will be a symbolic victory for hd-dvd'ers.

[blix01]

Originally Posted by zipbags

The problem with them NOT announcing at CES. Is that both sides are "expecting" them to make the announcement. If it doesn't happen it will be hd-dvd giddyness that they didn't. Even if a few weeks later Warner does go exclusive. It will be a symbolic victory for hd-dvd'ers.

The evidense of the market's preference for blu technology is shown over the past year. If they decline to make a move by CES, it pretty much indicates they've been yanking our chains for $. waiting another month. oh wait. one more month.. oh wait.. another quarter isn't going to change their minds. That's my opinion.

[Whytewash]

anyone notice that HD DVD gets an extra hour to talk?!?!

What the hell! Why is that the case? they should have equal times

[Thegide]

One hour of that two-hour block is reserved for crying and denying the PS3 as a blu-ray player.

Also notice how its 8:30-10:30pm? Hell, that's practically prime time huh? I'll tell you, when I'm on a business conference, I usually skip those things in favor of having a night on the town.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Whytewash

anyone notice that HD DVD gets an extra hour to talk?!?!

What the hell! Why is that the case? they should have equal times

Because it takes a lot of time to deflect, put up straw men, smoke, mirrors, and make up a bunch of false "facts" and "figures" and make vague promises that will never see the light of day.

In other words, they need more time to bull@#$% everyone.

[Blu-Jawa]

Originally Posted by Whytewash

anyone notice that HD DVD gets an extra hour to talk?!?!

What the hell! Why is that the case? they should have equal times

Maybe it takes a bit extra time to "Brain Wash" People? "Now everyone look at the moving watch and repeat after me, ... You like HD-DVD" j/k

[g.k.]

8:30 PM - 10:30 PM: HD DVD Promotion Group(BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

Primo time slot there.. wow.

Hmm two hours for HD DVD and one hour for Blu-ray?