Warner says releasing in both HDTV formats helps push mainstream adoption

[HDTV1080P]

I understand the real reason why Warner is releasing in both formats. Its about money. Warner has sold over 100,000 Departed discs.

I disagree with the following quote from Warner

““High Definition media represents an incredible opportunity for the industry, and we, as content providers, can help push mainstream adoption by producing in both formats and giving the consumer a simple choice,” said Sanders. “At a time when the home video business is flat and high definition media presents our best hope for near term growth, it is unfortunate that we as an industry continue to perpetuate consumer confusion.”

http://www.tvpredictions.com/departed052407.htm


If Universal Studios, Disney, 20th Century Fox, and Sony went format neutral then the format war would drag on for years like VHS and BETA did. Short term Warner is making more money releasing in both formats but long term it would be better if Warner only released titles in the higher quality BLU-RAY format. If there was only one HDTV disc format then there would be multimillions of consumers purchasing players and discs and Warner would sale more discs compared to having two separate HDTV formats.

[The Big Blue]

Warner sucks.

That is all.

[thunderhawk]

Look, Warner just thinks about their revenue. Can't blame them, it's the economics.

Sure dislike the fact they support both formats though.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by thunderhawk

Look, Warner just thinks about their revenue. Can't blame them, it's the economics.

Sure dislike the fact they support both formats though.

If they are making more PROFIT from this, then they have a chance of convincing other studios.

But, double production and distribution, even with the encoding savings, isn't likely to be very profitable.

Gary

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

If they are making more PROFIT from this, then they have a chance of convincing other studios.

But, double production and distribution, even with the encoding savings, isn't likely to be very profitable.

Gary

Except for Warner & Paramount, the rest of the studios seem to believe/understand that a prolonged format dispute is not in their long term best interests. Therefore, I can only view this as Warner saying that they believe it's inevitable that there will be two formats longer term, and that releasing in both is the best way to go for their counterparts. This is of course a self fulfulling prophecy by WB (as long as they remain neutral).

All of this being said, the longer this thing drags on, the more likely it is that the studios on both sides will go neutral longer term unless BD completely buries HD DVD in the next year or so (I don't see that happening though unless the BDA has some nice tricks in their sleeves).

Considering WBs actions with title like the Matrix (not necessarily the actual release, but rather the "curious" timing of it), one could also read this statement as a desperate plea by WB. One last ditch attempt to get at least one of the BD studios neutral to ensure HD DVDs survival (from which WB receives a larger stake of royalties) longer term. Again, self-fulfilling on WBS part.

Either way, I don't care what WB thinks. I have 90% studio coverage with BD, and longer term I know that Universal will be releasing BDs at some point in the future. That will be either by HD DVD dying, OR the longer term stalemate (Warner seems to want so badly) where all studios (except maybe Sony) go neutral.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Per WB...

“High Definition media represents an incredible opportunity for the industry,
and we, as content providers, can help push mainstream adoption by producing in both formats and giving the consumer a simple choice.”

If WB were really interested in offering "choice" then they'd release "Matrix" in both formats at the same time. This is pure self-centered spin.