Panasonic & Disney Reps Claim BLU Victory after Q4

[Quinthoopachiefy]

I was down in Southern California two weeks ago and went to the Disney Blu Ray Magical Tour in South Coast Plaza. This being right after the Paramount/Dreamworks Tragic Decision. I asked what they were telling people about Blu ray VS HDDUD and they said even with the Paramount decision they believe that after the 4th quarter this format war would be over. Two different Reps, Panasonic and Disney said the same things. Some of those Panasonic Plasma screens looked great! CARS interactive features cool!

[Mote]

I don't think it will end after the 4th quarter (at least not immediately if that's what they meant), but I believe the 4th quarter will determine a lot about the future of both formats.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Quinthoopachiefy

I was down in Southern California two weeks ago and went to the Disney Blu Ray Magical Tour in South Coast Plaza. This being right after the Paramount/Dreamworks Tragic Decision. I asked what they were telling people about Blu ray VS HDDUD and they said even with the Paramount decision they believe that after the 4th quarter this format war would be over. Two different Reps, Panasonic and Disney said the same things. Some of those Panasonic Plasma screens looked great! CARS interactive features cool!

unfortunately if not backed by a proof, the topic isn't worth discussing, although i like the idea. i hope you understand what i mean.


and welcome to the forum.

[Quinthoopachiefy]

Yeah, talking to them they were really fired up to talk to everyone and show extreme confidence in the format and you could tell they were not happy about Paramount/Decision. Thanks for welcoming me.

[dakota81]

They're first and foremost salesmen. Good exposure, though.

[MOONPHASE]

i wish it became a reality but we will know that by the 4th Quarter

[Quinthoopachiefy]

It was a Huge set up and alot of people there for a Friday. They were giving out Flyers with buy one get one free coupons. Never realized just how much Panasonic is really pushing Blu.

[ReduxInflux]

Originally Posted by Quinthoopachiefy

I was down in Southern California two weeks ago and went to the Disney Blu Ray Magical Tour in South Coast Plaza. This being right after the Paramount/Dreamworks Tragic Decision. I asked what they were telling people about Blu ray VS HDDUD and they said even with the Paramount decision they believe that after the 4th quarter this format war would be over. Two different Reps, Panasonic and Disney said the same things. Some of those Panasonic Plasma screens looked great! CARS interactive features cool!

went to the same mall on a friday night. took my fiancee and her pre-teen cousins. got em hooked. as for the mall crowd - it was pretty dead around the time we were there (near closing). but the set-up was great...

war won't be over til late next year...barring unforeseen circumstances...

[Chris Gerhard]

That is good news, after the fourth quarter, the format war will be over. As long as they don't try to pin it down to a year, I know that is correct. It is very clear it won't be over before the fourth quarter.

Chris

[powerSURG]

After the 4th quarter is a very vague answer. That could mean anytime after, so by all means, they aren't lying.

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by Quinthoopachiefy

It was a Huge set up and alot of people there for a Friday. They were giving out Flyers with buy one get one free coupons. Never realized just how much Panasonic is really pushing Blu.

My theory is that if we seek out who really invented blu-ray, we might find the lowly dvd-ram as the starting point, and a lot of matsushita engineers behind the original work. People think BD is Sony, but my guess is that it might be more Matsushita than Sony.

In japan, panasonic had the largest market share of HDM recorders, almost half of the market as I recall, and sony is far behind in mkt share, but still respectable.

The drives, have matsushita fingerprints around the internals.

---

XMAS '07 (or january '08) numbers will be closely watched. The expectation of it being over by jan '08 was before transformers and shrek3 disappeared from the BD list, now, it's likely going to depend on the actual installed base. I suspect it'll be closer to 2:1 (maybe less) than the 4:1 ratio that people were expecting with the old scenario.

[tron3]

Like they do in the old westerns, cut them off at the pass.

Talk to all your friends who potentially are getting an HD disc system this year. Don't sway them from a PS3 vs a player. Either helps our cause right now.

Price cuts from HD-DVD will make the fight harder than we expect. But the public is coming with open wallets. Our movie selection is wider and better. Our support on this board is better than the constant bashing I hear is going on in the other camp. Sure, we bash back... but it's not the heart of this forum.

You're not in the HD-DVD section any more. This... is.. blu-ray! (kicks moron back into the DVD abyss)

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by dakota81

They're first and foremost salesmen. Good exposure, though.

I agree. It's strategy and propaganda. If I merely heard of Blu & HD-DVD and were interested in buying but didn't know which to get, hearing a general statement like this would probably shift my thoughts toward checking into blu-ray. But don't get me wrong, a post 4th quarter win would be great!

[stockstar1138]

i think we will see universal go neutral after Q4, cheap players and a flood of titles. that should pretty much seal the deal.

[LoneRangers]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

i think we will see universal go neutral after Q4, cheap players and a flood of titles. that should pretty much seal the deal.

I sure hope so.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Mote

I don't think it will end after the 4th quarter (at least not immediately if that's what they meant), but I believe the 4th quarter will determine a lot about the future of both formats.

If it ends 10 years from now, it's still after "the Q4 2007". Now if you mean "right after Q4", well maybe not.

[statikcat]

Both sides say the same thing. It is marketing BS. Come on.. just because someone says it and is Bluray supporter does not make it true. Are they prophets or something?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by statikcat

Both sides say the same thing. It is marketing BS. Come on.. just because someone says it and is Bluray supporter does not make it true. Are they prophets or something?

Eh, you never know what insider information they may have. As I have said before, it is not just market share, sometimes it is mind share. Upon hearing this, lots of people will probably go blu-ray by this Christmas or soon after. Blu-ray's sales numbers are consistent enough to make this an accurate prediction.

There was a time I had to choose between Beta and VHS. I went VHS and it won. I was not mistaken in going to DVD and shunning Superbit, though I considered it. Now I am here at camp blu-ray. If history is repeating, I am confident of my choice.

Come and bask in my high definition glory. ................

[Copywriter]

If you walk into a restaurant, do they tell you that the place down the street has better food? I hope you said no.

Your "mind share" is market share. Show me just one company that has a majority #1 recall spot in a top of mind reference study that isn't a force in their market.

Yes, we all love to hear how a $6 an hour employee said this or that, but it's just spin and wishful thinking.

And if a low-level employee has "insider info," that company is in serious trouble.

Let's just hope that the best PRODUCT wins. Whatever side Disney is on will have the best chance. They are THE force.

Go Blu-ray!

[WickyWoo]

And if a low-level employee has "insider info," that company is in serious trouble.

Unless it's someone like me. I was a store buyer and I worked my way up the chain pretty good. Helped me do my job better too.