What does CES hold in-store for the HD DVD vs Blu-ray war?

[dustin410]

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is almost upon us, and what, if anything, does this annual Geek Nirvana hold in-store for the HD DVD vs Blu-ray war.

The CES show starts January 7th in Las Vegas, and as tech fiends from around the world descend on Sin City, rumors are abounding about what will happen in the high definition format war. Of course the question remains if consumers will even care, but only time will tell on that front.

Back in early December, rumors were circulating that both HD formats were trying to woo Warner Brothers to exclusivity with them. Many sources were saying that it looked like Blu-ray would end up winning that fight, giving them control over 70% of the content released to the marketplace. The announcement was expected to happen at CES, effectively strangling HD DVD of any content. However, according to Home Media Magazine, who spoke with an unnamed Warner Brothers executive, this isn’t going to happen.

Other rumors are circulating that we may see a sub-$500 dual-format player coming out. Currently the models from LG have a suggested retail price of $999, so a player at half that price should have no trouble finding a market.

There should be many more announcements at the show this year, and we will be sure to bring them all to you.


http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20...s-blu-ray-war/

[ResOGlas]

I believe I speak for everyone here *that matters* when I say that I think we all hope for Warner to go Blu exclusive.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by ResOGlas

I believe I speak for everyone here *that matters* when I say that I think we all hope for Warner to go Blu exclusive.

True enough, though I wish everyone here wasn't setting up CES with that expectation. It's VERY unlikely the announcement will come that soon -- MUCH more likely to happen later in January, or early February.

CES is going to be very cool and there will be some cool product announcements, etc, but with everyone here going into it expecting the "final blow" to be dealt to HD DVD, there's going to be a lot of disappointed people here I'm afraid.

[NJMetsFan]

What if Universal annouces that they will go neutral?

[blitz6speed]

Warner is NOT going to announce it at CES, i can almost assuredly GUARENTEE you that. CES will have some fun stuff tho!

[ryoohki]

Meh,those events are always overhyped to death, don't be disappointed if we get a couple of PR crap about some selling number on both side, that the war is over, on both sides, and they will unveil their title for the year..

[richard lichtenfelt]

Dual format is unlikely to continue for long as retail will force a winner if the studios don't.

[Blue]

I don't think there will be that much at the CES as directly concerning the War, except some amazing titles announced. Expect lots of new Blu players, receivers and TV's with all bells and whistles.

Although anything is possible IF Warner makes an exclusivity announcement at the show the deal will have been finalised a day or two before the announcement - as much longer and the leaks will start.

Due to the massive CE support expect a Blu to dominate the CES except for a few companies.

Expect to see Blu slowly increase it's domination over the next few months until it can't be ignored anymore, I don't think this will be a knockout blow at the CES (however one can dream).

[Zazou]

From Engadget

Not that we'd put it past Microsoft or anything, but we can already smell a rumor brewing where there is probably none regarding the long-speculated and continuously denied plans to integrate an HD DVD drive into the Xbox 360. Granted, Bill's got to have something to talk about on stage at CES next week, but we we're not putting much stock in the pure speculation of a fresh Seattle Times piece, which, without sources, simply holds that "Microsoft could also make a splash by announcing plans to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive". Yep, they could do that which has been speculated endlessly since the HD DVD drive itself was announced in 2006 -- or not. Guess we'll find out for sure next week. Just don't get your hopes up.

Seems to me to be highly unlikely considering what I've been reading here about Microsoft beginning to seemingly distance themselves from the growing HD-DVD debacle.

Update - quite a few additional comments re: this in the off-topic area.

[BadAss]

Isn't it a bit late in the day for a built in HD-DVD drive? I mean surely MS are working on the next X-Box console by now?

[Bolaar]

Honestly I just see the announcement of some new titles...hopefully some big ones.

I am sure HD DVD will be touting their 51 gig disk...
Blu should tout their 100 gig to shut that right down.

Outside that...

No Warner exclusive.
No dual player under 500.
Blu hopefully with a cheaper player...

But overall...will be pretty quite I suspect.

[Deane Johnson]

I have to agree that there will not be a WB announcement at CES. However, in Sin City the cocktails flow freely and conversation gets loose. Perhaps some unofficial word may leak out as to what WB may be planning.

[Go Blu]

Digital Bits on Warner and CES:

Could Warner decide go exclusive to one of these high-def formats? Yes, it's absolutely possible. In fact, we think it WILL happen sooner or later in 2008. Warner knows that continuing to support both formats is not what's going to grow high-def packaged media beyond the early adopter market. Still, we don't believe this is likely to happen at CES. If and when it happens, our guess is it will happen at least a few weeks later. But it's going to be very interesting to see what kind of presence Warner has at CES in the booths and presentations of both camps.

[hc666]

Originally Posted by Go Blu

Digital Bits on Warner and CES:

Could Warner decide go exclusive to one of these high-def formats? Yes, it's absolutely possible. In fact, we think it WILL happen sooner or later in 2008. Warner knows that continuing to support both formats is not what's going to grow high-def packaged media beyond the early adopter market. Still, we don't believe this is likely to happen at CES. If and when it happens, our guess is it will happen at least a few weeks later. But it's going to be very interesting to see what kind of presence Warner has at CES in the booths and presentations of both camps.

CES isn't a soap opera... if it was maybe this would happen. How unprofessional would it be to announce, at CES, that you were dropping someone?

I wish they would go BLu as much as the next person here but ain't happening at CES.

[g.k.]

Originally Posted by hc666

CES isn't a soap opera... if it was maybe this would happen. How unprofessional would it be to announce, at CES, that you were dropping someone?

I wish they would go BLu as much as the next person here but ain't happening at CES.

It would be better to announce before or at CES, than to go CES and proclaim your neutrality then drop a format a few weeks later.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by g.k.

It would be better to announce before or at CES, than to go CES and proclaim your neutrality then drop a format a few weeks later.

Better...for who?

[g.k.]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Better...for who?

For everybody except the losing side.

[SGRSBSKIER]

Originally Posted by g.k.

It would be better to announce before or at CES, than to go CES and proclaim your neutrality then drop a format a few weeks later.

I have to agree to say your neutral at such a big event like that and then a few weeks later say never mind we are dropping a format, it reflects bad on your company. It also makes it look like you can't trust what that company has to say.

[upnorthsox]

Originally Posted by g.k.

It would be better to announce before or at CES, than to go CES and proclaim your neutrality then drop a format a few weeks later.

There's a part of me that really has to agree with this sentiment, unless there are major hints that a switch is eminent, IMHO a Q1 announcement is most likely out of the question. I'd also say that a surprise announcement at CES is also highly doubtful for all the same reasons, because of that there'd be some kind of pre-leak(probably Friday) that'd make the CES announcement a mere formality. I'd say the odds are still 90:10 that no announcement is forthcoming but keep your ears open this Friday.

[Bullseye]

I would expect a few new Profile 1.1 players from all the CE companies involved. I guess a couple of duel players. And hopefully a few new film announcements.