DVD Not Going Away Anytime Soon Despite High-Def Format War, Say Studio Chiefs

[zombie]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...udio_Chiefs/51

DVD Not Going Away Anytime Soon Despite High-Def Format War, Say Studio Chiefs

Fri Apr 28, 2006 at 03:42 AM ET

Despite plateauing DVD sales in recent months and the looming high-def DVD format war, consumers will continue to want to purchase Hollywood's movies on pre-recorded disc-based media for the foreseeable future, say the heads of two major studios.

In an interview reported last yesterday by Home Media Retailing, Fox president and COO Peter Chernin, and Disney pres and CEO Robert Iger told the trade that consumer desire for prepackaged media continues to be "underestimated" by industry analysts, despite softening sales and potential cannibalization from rival technologies like video-on-demand and download services like Apple's iTunes.

"The fact is people like holding a DVD," Chernin told HMR, citing their wide availability at nationwide retailers and low prices as key to their continued appeal. "There is an assortment of DVDs generally within a mile of virtually every household in America. Wal-Mart does a pretty good job selling them at a loss on our behalf, and they are cheap to make. So I wouldn't assume those things are going away overnight."

However, while both Cherin and Iger both see disc-based media remaining as a primary distribution model for Hollywood, neither is happy about the looming high-def DVD format war. Both executive's companies are supporting Blu-Ray exclusively, believing consumers will eventually choose the format over rival HD-DVD.

"Peter [Chernin] and I talk about this all the time," Iger said. "It is frustrating to us and, in the end, it is not good for the consumer."

"Unfortunately, we can’t act as monoliths and make those ultimate decisions [for consumers]," added Chernin. "But we've [Fox and Disney] chosen the same format to support, and hopefully the others will see the light."

[hmurchison]

DVDs are so affordable and ubiquitous. With modern equipment they look good enough for many needs. I plan to replace only the movies with what I consider top notch cinematic prowess.

I have House of Flying Dagger on DVD but that's a must have purchase to me for Blu Ray.

I'll continue to buy movies in DVD format that don't require higher resolution (think comedies and some documentaries)

[AV_Integrated]

Heck, they still make VHS tapes... Why would there be any reason to stop making DVDs in the next 5+ years even if there were widespread adoption of Blu-ray technology? In 5 years DVD players will still be in more homes.

[digital.view]

This is good news. Why? Because the consumer, at first, doesn't like the idea of having to "replace" their whole DVD collection. It's only later that they will accept it; gradually. But for good resons. Not just Keeping-up-with-the-Jones'es (obsoleteness). But because it actually LOOKS better!

As you have said before. SEEING is BELIEVING!

hmurchison makes a good point about comedies and documentaries. 480p is good enought for most of those.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by digital.view

hmurchison makes a good point about comedies and documentaries. 480p is good enought for most of those.

While big action flicks often look the most eyecatching in HD I don't agree regarding the suggestion of keeping comedies in SD. I happen to think Everybody Loves Raymond looked spectacular on OTA-HD. I want this great quality for all of the movies I own. Comedies deserve the fine HD treatment as well. As for documentaries, I don't really have an opinion being that I don't watch them.

[digital.view]

Originally Posted by nyg

While big action flicks often look the most eyecatching in HD I don't agree regarding the suggestion of keeping comedies in SD. I happen to think Everybody Loves Raymond looked spectacular on OTA-HD. I want this great quality for all of the movies I own. Comedies deserve the fine HD treatment as well. As for documentaries, I don't really have an opinion being that I don't watch them.

Well, I actually would love for everything to be on HD! But I was reffering to the gradual shift that will occur (which as theme of the article) rather than if/when these type of films would ever make it to 1080p (higher than 720p for a Charile Rose interview? Sure..).

Sooner or later, we'll see higher and higher res for everthing. Espeically commericals! Uhg...ad nauseam in HD! Greaaaat....

P.S. I should have said that comedies and documentaries in 480p is good enough for most for the time being...

[zombie]

Originally Posted by digital.view

I should have said that comedies and documentaries in 480p is good enough for most for the time being...

No big deal. Big action flicks are great motivators for those tempted to buy into HD but are not sure if they should yet. I'm all for driving the sales with those type of movies. I just want some comedies thrown in the mix too. In the end though, it'll take a long time to get a lot of the best movies out on BD, just as it did with DVD. That said, I'm sure I'll be happy with what we do get in the next few months. There's already a handful of titles announced that interest me.

[JTK]

Good point made in here:

Either format would make a critical error if they marketed themselves as DVD's replacement/successor ANYTIME in the forseeable future.

Many people finally rolled over to DVD not too long ago. Many of those same people have yet to even own HDTV's to have any incentive or interest in HD material whatsoever.

You will see rank hostility from a vast majority of people at the idea of having to go through another VHS-DVD rollover. It won't happen. No one wants to see that again. The next time you see something like that will be when there's an outright paradigm shift to a new technology outright, like holographic media or something high end that we can't even really imagine that. We're many years away from this sort of thing.

I think even a lot of us are probably going to be more judicious in what material gets the royal treatment of true HD vs. just sticking with our DVD's for the rest of it.

I know that I most certainly will not be replacing my entire DVD collection, even though my collection is probably smaller than a lot of other people's. (I think I own maybe 100 DVD's tops.)

[zombie]

Originally Posted by JTK

I think even a lot of us are probably going to be more judicious in what material gets the royal treatment of true HD vs. just sticking with our DVD's for the rest of it.

I'd agree that those of us who have spent a lot of money replacing our VHS collections with DVD with tend to be pickier when buying HD versions. However, those that never got into VHS or perhaps were to young to have an interest in it, haven't experienced what's it's like to upgrade an entire movie library. I fully expect there will be a nice chunk of the home video loving population that will upgrade to HD discs. Once we have a handful of movies in our HD collections, SD DVDs aren't going to look "good enough" anymore. Speaking for myself, once I got started watching OTA-HD I could no longer tolerate watching regular SD shows. They didn't look "good enough" as I had become spoiled. Same thing will happen with HD discs I suspect. Perhaps not as quickly as the transition from VHS to DVD but it'll happen IMO.

[digital.view]

Originally Posted by nyg

Speaking for myself, once I got started watching OTA-HD I could no longer tolerate watching regular SD shows. They didn't look "good enough" as I had become spoiled. Same thing will happen with HD discs I suspect. Perhaps not as quickly as the transition from VHS to DVD but it'll happen IMO.

Yep!

I have recently (about ten months ago) talked someone into getting broadband for their home. He's in his 50's and really didn't know much about technology. He's had dial-up for a long time and his stories about his experience was painful. He hated using the internet on dial-up. I had switched to broadband about five years earlier (around 2000). So, knew what it was like and they had worked out most of the early adopter bugs. When I told him the price was $39.95 to $49.95 for broadband he freaked! "What? For internet! That's crazy!"

He had thought the pain of using internet was synonymous with any type of internet connection; with a little bit more speed. And there was no way he would spend $40 a month for a "little bit more speed + all the trouble."

After a few weeks of coercing. He said he would try DLS. They came, hooked it up and he has never looked back since!

"It's worth it!" He says. And all that "pain and trouble" has gone.

Relative Price + Extra Performance = Value

Blu-Ray has to measure this too. Seeing is believing. But, they always ask about price later. As they walk around the show room looking at the eye-candy. That's when judgment will start to kick-in...and the brain starts working...weighing the pros-and-cons.

[zombie]

digital.view,

Broadband versus dial-up is a terrific example of where when you pay more you get better quality. I've had broadband internet for several years now as well. There's no way in hell I'd go back to dial-up and it's multiple disconnections per hour.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by nyg

digital.view,

Broadband versus dial-up is a terrific example of where when you pay more you get better quality. I've had broadband internet for several years now as well. There's no way in hell I'd go back to dial-up and it's multiple disconnections per hour.

For real.

If I couldn't afford broadband, and I had to go back to dialup, I'd simply use it for email and give up on the Internet outright.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by JTK

If I couldn't afford broadband, and I had to go back to dialup, I'd simply use it for email and give up on the Internet outright.

Same here. Once you've seen how good broadband is there's no going back to crappy dial up... no matter what.