Article: Waiting on Toshiba

[Tekman]

LAS VEGAS—For Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures, the waiting has begun: waiting to see what Toshiba does in the wake of Warner Bros.’ defection to the Blu-ray camp; waiting to see what happens with HD DVD hardware sales; waiting to see if consumers notice.

Here at CES, Toshiba continued to make brave noises about soldiering on. But for the studios in the HD DVD camp, it’s time to make serious contingency plans.

“There’s still a chance,” one HD DVD studio exec told Media Wonk. “But it’s a pretty slim chance.”
Should Toshiba decide to fold its tent, of course, the decision is made for them. They have to go Blu-ray. Even if Toshiba doesn’t fold its tent but hardware sales go flat, Universal and Paramount will need to go with the side that’s growing. That’s business.

But they shouldn’t expect any break on the royalties from Sony. That ship sailed with the Warner tide.
HD DVD backers at CES expressed deep frustration over Warner’s move, not only because it could mean their side looses but because they still have grave doubts about Blu-ray.

“None of the facts have changed,” one studio exec said. “The problems that existed [with Blu-ray] in December still exist. They didn’t go away because Warner changed sides.”

Among those, in the exec’s view, are disc manufacturing constraints, high costs and high consumer prices.
“I think the days of falling prices are over,” another studio exec said. “The hardware is going to be $300, and discs are going to be $27. We’ll see if the consumer buys it.”

They also don’t buy Warner’s stated reason for its move: a purported clear consumer preference for Blu-ray evident in sales data and consumer research from the fourth quarter.

“What consumers?” one HD DVD exec asked, sarcastically. “The numbers aren’t there to show a preference.”

One non-studio HD DVD backer offered a bet that, come Dec. 31, 2008, the numbers still won’t be there for Blu-ray, even if Toshiba were to fold tomorrow.

Media Wonk didn’t take the bet, but it’s still on the table

http://www.contentagenda.com/blog/15...800019780.html

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Tekman

LAS VEGAS—For Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures, the waiting has begun: waiting to see what Toshiba does in the wake of Warner Bros.’ defection to the Blu-ray camp; waiting to see what happens with HD DVD hardware sales; waiting to see if consumers notice.

Here at CES, Toshiba continued to make brave noises about soldiering on. But for the studios in the HD DVD camp, it’s time to make serious contingency plans.

“There’s still a chance,” one HD DVD studio exec told Media Wonk. “But it’s a pretty slim chance.”
Should Toshiba decide to fold its tent, of course, the decision is made for them. They have to go Blu-ray. Even if Toshiba doesn’t fold its tent but hardware sales go flat, Universal and Paramount will need to go with the side that’s growing. That’s business.

But they shouldn’t expect any break on the royalties from Sony. That ship sailed with the Warner tide.
HD DVD backers at CES expressed deep frustration over Warner’s move, not only because it could mean their side looses but because they still have grave doubts about Blu-ray.

“None of the facts have changed,” one studio exec said. “The problems that existed [with Blu-ray] in December still exist. They didn’t go away because Warner changed sides.”

Among those, in the exec’s view, are disc manufacturing constraints, high costs and high consumer prices.
“I think the days of falling prices are over,” another studio exec said. “The hardware is going to be $300, and discs are going to be $27. We’ll see if the consumer buys it.”

They also don’t buy Warner’s stated reason for its move: a purported clear consumer preference for Blu-ray evident in sales data and consumer research from the fourth quarter.

“What consumers?” one HD DVD exec asked, sarcastically. “The numbers aren’t there to show a preference.”

One non-studio HD DVD backer offered a bet that, come Dec. 31, 2008, the numbers still won’t be there for Blu-ray, even if Toshiba were to fold tomorrow.

Media Wonk didn’t take the bet, but it’s still on the table

http://www.contentagenda.com/blog/15...800019780.html

Absolutely, incredible, they really are beyond denial...

[Deane Johnson]

Toshiba, at this point, sort of reminds me of some of the politicians in the primary races. They keep coming in near last place but vow to press on and win in the end.

[bassbone57]

It's just really, really sad. Move on.

-K

[Go Blu]

We'll see if the consumer will buy it????? HUH

Aren't they already?

[stockstar1138]

how do they know blu-ray replication was a problem in dec.?

they must of been looking into blu-ray plants

[Bourne1]

One word....PATHETIC!

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Tekman

Among those, in the exec’s view, are disc manufacturing constraints, high costs and high consumer prices.
“I think the days of falling prices are over,” another studio exec said. “The hardware is going to be $300, and discs are going to be $27. We’ll see if the consumer buys it.”

Did I miss the falling HD DVD disc prices somewhere along the line?

300 HD DVD $27.95

Yes, discs are going to be $27. What the heck did you guys do about THAT?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

how do they know blu-ray replication was a problem in dec.?

they must of been looking into blu-ray plants

Insider DV told them.

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by Tekman

“What consumers?” one HD DVD exec asked, sarcastically. “The numbers aren’t there to show a preference.”

http://www.contentagenda.com/blog/15...800019780.html

Huh? Pass some of that crack that you're smokin', Mr. HD DVD Exec. BD outsells HD-DVD by a wide margin, more BD players in the market (and yes, you need to count the PS3), more studios on BD, yet the numbers aren't showing a preference? Wow.

[mtl007]

Maybe something like this was discussed in the Toshiba boardroom:
- they will eventually hold a monopoly to the HD-DVD market (because everybody left the ship).
- scarcity is good because then they can charge whatever they want at retail as well as the after market as a collector's item...just see what the going rate is for a tombstone of the Egyptian emperors.
- perserverence is good and fighting till death is their company culture. They will gain the ultimate respect of their shareholder and ultimately the consumers for the brand.
- who needs options anyways? Shuff HD-DVD drive into everybody's laptop regardless of whether there is a need for it.

Anyways, lets not get too harsh on Toshiba. We have to sensitive to their feelings ;-)

[ground chuck]

wow, look up denial in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of these jack@sses.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

First of all, the fact that no names are used is very suspect. C'mon, you're going to quote an executive, verbatum, and not tell people which executive made the statement? Sounds like more fanboi FUD to me...

This is a very suspicious article, IMO...

[JTK]

“There’s still a chance,” one HD DVD studio exec told Media Wonk. “But it’s a pretty slim chance.”

This guy and anyone like him should be fired and heads should roll.

This needs to be stopped and put down. It's delusional at best.

I have a better chance of swan diving off my roof right now and flying then HD-DVD's prospects at life.

Get real! I'm honestly waiting to see Toshiba implode from the inside and meltdown.

Fanboi FUD or not, this stuff's so weak and pathetic, but it just shows you the kind of delusion that continues to run inside that company. Re-Read their red Kool Aid press release in response to Warner bolting. Every single one of those people need to be fired post haste.

[TruBlu2]

More denial and more FUD.

Toshiba needs to grow up. But then again they have acted like children through the whole war.

Toshiba needs to move away from denial to acceptance.

lol, if they can

[Blu Titan]

I will be that the studio exec quoted ont he article is graffeo. His a$$ is on the line

[GregBlu5]

HD DVD's chances? Slim or none? My money is on NONE!

[Spankey]

not only because it could mean their side looses but because they still have grave doubts about Blu-ray.

It's LOSES!

God, this first grade spelling mistake drives me nuts...

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Spankey

It's LOSES!

God, this first grade spelling mistake drives me nuts...

It tells you right away what you're in for.

[PeteS]

Originally Posted by Tekman

LAS VEGAS—For Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures, the waiting has begun: waiting to see what Toshiba does in the wake of Warner Bros.’
...
One non-studio HD DVD backer offered a bet that, come Dec. 31, 2008, the numbers still won’t be there for Blu-ray, even if Toshiba were to fold tomorrow.

Not even a brave face, just sour grapes; if you read between the lines this is pretty much an admission of absolute defeat. The last comment about Toshiba, I believe, is prophetic (or inevitable).