WB may be looking for the way out....

[BTBuck1]

Last we heard, Warner's "Total HD" hybrid disc was due in early 2008, but now the studio says it's on hold, with no release date currently in sight.

The studio shook things up at CES this past January when it announced that it would introduce a new HD DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc by mid 2007. A single disc capable of being played on both Blu-ray and HD DVD players seemed to offer a compelling (if inefficient) short term solution for the format war, and appeared to be the anchor of Warner's dual-format stance throughout much of the year.

Alas, it looks like Total HD is not to be -- at least not in the foreseeable future. After previously delaying its initial mid-2007 launch date until early 2008, now the studio says that the hybrid format is "on hold for now."

In comments first published by TWICE Magazine, Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders explained, "we’re concerned that as the only one publishing on it, it would be hard to make it go." He went on to say the company was still talking to retailers about rolling out the hybrid format sometime in the future.

As for the rumors that Warner is weighing lucrative offers to go format-exclusive, Sanders acknowledged discussions with both camps, but seemed to indicate that the studio would support both high-def formats through the holiday shopping season.

"We’re talking to both sides and it’s crazy right now," said Sanders. "We remain committed to both for the time being. We’ll see how the fourth quarter plays out. The consumer is still kind of divided, and we still believe that we should offer the content in both formats. Now, we will watch the marketplace very closely, and see how it plays out, but for now we are supporting both."

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...ld_For_Now/965

[jermwhl]

Good riddens TotalHD!

[Intamin]

I say adios totalHD.

[bootman]

How is this "looking for a way out"?
Out of making TotalHD disk?

[bmr76]

Would total hd discs skew nielson numbers in favor of hd. Every wb movie would be counted as both blu and hd, right? Imagine how that would have screwed up "300" had it been total hd, I hope they discontinue the total hd.
Hd dvd would try to say they are now tied in sales, even though the disc is only being bought by the blu crowd!

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by bootman

How is this "looking for a way out"?
Out of making TotalHD disk?

Well they fired their Head dude Nickerson, now TotalHD is pretty much Dead until further notice, and now they are only promissing support for Both through the holiday, saying they will be watching the market.

This leads me to believe it's blu-ray's win they just gotta keep the ball in play.

[Razzy]

Wonder how much cash Warner wasted with Total HD. HD stands for "Huge Dollars" blown.

[Dadds]

Originally Posted by Razzy

Wonder how much cash Warner wasted with Total HD. HD stands for "Huge Dollars" blown.

HAHA wait to see how much money they wasted on HD-DVD.

[Blu Titan]

Ummm... I have a thought. Maybe Warner had some input into Newline's decision to release HD movies. At this point, the new releases will benefit Blu-Ray (Hd DUD has to wait for months after the movie is released in Blu-Ray). Warner knows that Blu-Ray is going to own Q4. Therefore I ask, is Warner leaning towards BLU?

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

Ummm... I have a thought. Maybe Warner had some input into Newline's decision to release HD movies. At this point, the new releases will benefit Blu-Ray (Hd DUD has to wait for months after the movie is released in Blu-Ray). Warner knows that Blu-Ray is going to own Q4. Therefore I ask, is Warner leaning towards BLU?

exaclty!

[powerSURG]

I think Warner is encouraging us--better yet, giving us an incentive--to buy their movies this coming season.

It's time to max out the Credit cards!!! (free money right )

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by powerSURG

It's time to max out the Credit cards!!! (free money right )

DAMN credit card companies keep calling me for money THOSE BASTARDS!!

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by powerSURG

I think Warner is encouraging us--better yet, giving us an incentive--to buy their movies this coming season.

It's time to max out the Credit cards!!! (free money right )

Yeah, filing for bankruptcy can fix those maxed out credit cards. Fix 'em good.

Anyhoo, I think that Warner is looking at BOTH sides very hard and does not want to SHOW any favoritism right now. Yeah, everyone here will say, "Warner still has yet to release Batman Begins, Matrix, et al on Blu, so they must favor HD-DVD."

I don't think that's true. Why release some of your biggest titles when the format still has an extremely limited adoption rate? The only reason to release these movies like Matrix, and Batman Begins to hi-def previously would be if they had received some additional incentive to do so. Toshiba paid off Paramount to go exclusive, so how much would they be willing to give Warner for "limited" exclusivity on a title by title basis?

At the time Batman Begins and Matrix were released on HD-DVD, selling exclusivity of these titles to Toshiba/HD-DVD would not radically effect the outcome of the war considering the quantity of HD-DVD titles that sell at retail was, and still is, very small. No harm done, and Warner pockets some extra cash.

This holiday season is going to be a different story. With the PS3 selling fairly well worldwide, the Blu-ray install base is large enough to release these great catalog titles on Blu-ray and GREATLY turn the tide of this war. Releasing Batman Begins the week after Thanksgiving would put them in a good position to sell a large quantity of units. By waiting until the holidays to release these previously exclusive HD-DVD titles to Blu-ray, they will actually sell more copies than if they had been available on Blu-ray since they were released on HD-DVD. The buzz on these titles coming to Blu-ray would be huge around the holidays!

I'm sure Warner knows this. If they choose to wait until after the holidays to release Batman Begins and Matrix then I will say Warner DOES NOT favor Blu-ray or HD-DVD. If they release Batman Begins and Matrix before the holidays, then I say they MUST favor Blu-ray.

If this "war" does not sort it itself out naturally by the end of the first quarter of '08, I think ALL the hollywood studios need to get together and vote on which format should be the new standard so that hi-def on disc can thrive. Each studio's vote could be weighted by the overall "BOX-OFFICE-VALUE" of the titles in their "portfolios". Whichever format wins, all the companies have to agree to support that hi-def disc format alone. End of nonsense.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

This leads me to believe it's blu-ray's win they just gotta keep the ball in play.

If Harry Potter and Oceans sell as well on Blu-ray against the HD DVD as 300 did (over 2:1) you can bet that Warner will give up releasing on both formats early in 2008 and support Blu-ray exclusively.

I think that's another reason behind New Line waiting until 2008 to support HD DVD. It's not just region coding, it's because there's a chance all the Time Warner companies will be going Blu-ray exclusive; HBO, Warner Bros. and New Line.

[sohjonn]

you know what this means: Warner is contemplating exclusivity, but with whom.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Slapper

By waiting until the holidays to release these previously exclusive HD-DVD titles to Blu-ray, they will actually sell more copies than if they had been available on Blu-ray since they were released on HD-DVD. The buzz on these titles coming to Blu-ray would be huge around the holidays!

Unfortunately it doesn't look like Batman Begins or Matrix will hit until after Christmas, but we do have a couple catch up titles already announced; Terminator 3 and Polar Express. There will be more to come for sure.

Batman Begins is probably not coming out until May/June next year to tie in with The Dark Knight and The Matrix is definitely not coming out until 1.1 profile players are released. If the PS3 is certified 1.1 compliant after Halloween then this would be a huge boost towards Warner releasing several of their IME titles quickly on Blu-ray as they are no doubt all ready to go, they just need to be replicated.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Razzy

DAMN credit card companies keep calling me for money THOSE BASTARDS!!

Promise to pay, and ask them for a credit increase for the 18th

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

If Harry Potter and Oceans sell as well on Blu-ray against the HD DVD as 300 did (over 2:1) you can bet that Warner will give up releasing on both formats early in 2008 and support Blu-ray exclusively.

I think that's another reason behind New Line waiting until 2008 to support HD DVD. It's not just region coding, it's because there's a chance all the Time Warner companies will be going Blu-ray exclusive; HBO, Warner Bros. and New Line.

I fully agree. In addition, the "new" Warner does not appear to be biased towards HD DUD. In fact, I have a hunch that they are thinking BLU! I am buying all the movies mentioned above

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

I fully agree. In addition, the "new" Warner does not appear to be biased towards HD DUD. In fact, I have hunch that they are thinking BLU! I am buying all the movies mentioned above

I will be buying all the Oceans and Harry Potter movies and will pick up Troy for sure.

It would be great if we can embarrass the HD DVD release of Troy with a massive buy on the 18th that puts the Blu-ray Disc version of Troy ahead of the HD DVD versions together in disc sales within a few weeks.

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Batman Begins is probably not coming out until May/June next year to tie in with The Dark Knight and The Matrix is definitely not coming out until 1.1 profile players are released. If the PS3 is certified 1.1 compliant after Halloween then this would be a huge boost towards Warner releasing several of their IME titles quickly on Blu-ray as they are no doubt all ready to go, they just need to be replicated.

I think Warner would actually sell MORE copies of Batman Begins if they released it on Blu-ray before the holidays than if they were to wait and try to market it with the Dark Knight next year. They could get their holiday $$$ for Batman Begins and then when they advertise for Dark Knight they could add at the end, "...and don't miss Batman Begins on DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-ray!" It would be a win-win, versus a lose/win.

Everyone keeps saying that Warner is waiting for the new profile, but I think Warner took notice when the non-PIP Blu-ray version of 300 outsold the PIP HD-DVD version of 300 by roughly 2/1 and I don't believe that "Blu-ray Profile 1.1" is why they are STILL WAITING to release Batman Begins and Matrix. It may have been the reason initially for delaying the Blu-ray editions of Matrix and Batman Begins, but not anymore.

Ya know, as an HT nut I would NOT mind buying a "bare bones" movie edition of every movie (as long as the PQ & AQ were outstanding) - for a premium, if the studio could get me the movie on Blu-ray within 6 months of the theatrical debut. They can always release a "special edition" with all those crazy bonuses at a later time and I WILL NOT EVER COMPLAIN about the studio double-dipping. I think there are a lot of people here who feel the same way.