Warner explains its move to Blu-ray

[saprano]

wow the presindent of warner even laughed at the end

Today Warner Bros. became the latest (and final) studio to pick a side in the high-def DVD battle. Until now it was the only major studio left that was producing discs using both HD DVD and Blu-ray technology.

Warner Home Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara spoke to a handful of us tech bloggers today to further explain why WB made the decision it did.

In a nutshell, said Tsujihara that WB had been "monitoring the [high-def] situation closely" and felt it was time to pick a side. The big problem? "Consumer confusion was beginning to happen even with standard-definition DVD," he said. "Both formats were having an impact that caused consumers to say, let's wait a bit to buy anything, even a standard-definition DVD. We were starting to see the worst of all worlds: No one was buying high-def and not buying standard-def either."

The argument that confusion between HD DVD and Blu-ray was causing people not to buy either high-def format has been with us for awhile, but this is the first time I've heard anyone make the connection to declining regular DVD sales. It makes sense, though: If you, as a consumer, feel a (real) move to a new standard is imminent, you're not going to buy the old one. Industry-wide, total DVD sales fell 4.5 percent last year, a huge decline that has some insiders nervous.

Tsujihara said that, not including WB's blockbuster Planet Earth release, the company had already been selling 60 percent of its high-def titles in Blu-ray format in the U.S. But that figure was 70%-plus in Europe and 90%-plus in Japan.

In addressing the oft-rumored "marketing compensation" paid to studios for switching high-def sides (aka payola), Tsujihara laughed and joked that he had heard these rumors too and was anxious to see such a check. "It's not a bidding war," he said. "It's all about what's best strategically for us." That said, he curiously didn't outright state that no payment had been received by Warner for dumping HD DVD. Not that it matters, I suppose. All's fair in love and home video.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/63608

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by saprano

wow the presindent of warner even laughed at the end http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/63608

This is what I had thought all along. Why was I so worried? All the AVSers I guess had put a nasty chill down my spine all year.

[Papi4baby]

Nice.

[DepTii]

There's a news release over at HDD that says Warner outright stated that they took no payment, but they may be referencing this same interview. It may take $150 million to get Paramount over to HD DVD, but apparently takes just a good decision to get Warner over to Blu-ray. It's pretty awesome to hear the words straight from Warner's mouth that they had been selling a lot more on Blu-ray than HD DVD, especially so much in the foreign markets.

[saprano]

another thing, someone over at n4g.com posted saying that warner plans to release the rest of there hd-dvd movies weeks after the blu-ray versions until may 2008, can anyone conferm this?. that would be so good.

[bluseminole]

That is correct. HD DVD versions of their releases from this point on may be released as late as one month later than their Blu-ray and DVD counterparts. Link is not handy, but this has been cited on several other threads.

[Downhere]

Originally Posted by DepTii

There's a news release over at HDD that says Warner outright stated that they took no payment, but they may be referencing this same interview. It may take $150 million to get Paramount over to HD DVD, but apparently takes just a good decision to get Warner over to Blu-ray. It's pretty awesome to hear the words straight from Warner's mouth that they had been selling a lot more on Blu-ray than HD DVD, especially so much in the foreign markets.

Well, I don't know, but the rumor is WB got 500 million.

http://formatwarcentral.com/index.ph...-from-the-bda/


I think it was a mixture of both ending the format war and getting some cash as well. But that's just me.

[aristotles]

Lee Stewart at AVS believes the rumors that Warner was paid off and that Fox was about to go HD DVD exclusive. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Quick, someone post this linked story on AVS.

[krispyjala]

Originally Posted by aristotles

Lee Stewart at AVS believes the rumors that Warner was paid off and that Fox was about to go HD DVD exclusive. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Quick, someone post this linked story on AVS.

Just like before when they believed that Warner will go HD DUD exclusive? lol. Gimme a break! Lee Stewart is as bad as HD NOW/rdjam in spreading red fud. Ignore/Delete ASAP!

[saprano]

Originally Posted by aristotles

Lee Stewart at AVS believes the rumors that Warner was paid off and that Fox was about to go HD DVD exclusive. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Quick, someone post this linked story on AVS.

ummm... question, are you keeping that A2 you have in your sig? and your movies?

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by saprano

ummm... question, are you keeping that A2 you have in your sig? and your movies?

I might keep the Combos to use as DVDs while on the road. No need to fill up the landfill prematurely. The HD DVD only titles might go to the thrift store along with the A2 or I might put them in storage as soon as Universal announces Neutrality or blu-ray exclusivity. I might want to pull it out to show future generations years from now.

No more HD DVD purchases for me.

[Blu-Runner]

HD DVD players will still probably be good upconverters for SD DVD.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Blu-Runner

HD DVD players will still probably be good upconverters for SD DVD.

And that's about it!

[Phatferd]

Some people are trying to rationalize all of their spending towards a format that is not going to hold up.

[Dalese]

Originally Posted by aristotles

Lee Stewart at AVS believes the rumors that Warner was paid off and that Fox was about to go HD DVD exclusive. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Quick, someone post this linked story on AVS.

When you live, breathe, roll in FUD so much it's must be hard to stop even when the truth is staring at you in the face.

What might have been's are for memoirs. Welcome to reality...