Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by Vendetta-akk

It is not like all those future adaptors will not buy it as well. 300 and Casino Royale are still at the top of the Blu-Ray sales list, that is new customers buying the mediums best titles after picking up the player.

If big releases like Godfather, Indi, Star War, and LOTRs were release now it would only persuade more people to adapt, and increase Blu-Ray's chances of lasting. And all those future adapters will likely pick these titles up almost immediately upon buying their players. The sales come out the same way in the long run, and Blu-Ray is more likely to last.

thanks, i think you stated it better then I tried to

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by Vendetta-akk

...If big releases like Godfather, Indi, Star War, and LOTRs were release now it would only persuade more people to adapt, and increase Blu-Ray's chances of lasting. And all those future adapters will likely pick these titles up almost immediately upon buying their players. The sales come out the same way in the long run, and Blu-Ray is more likely to last.

If my recent trip to Fry's Electronics was any indication, curiosity among consumers is definitely on the rise. Fry's has placed a display showing high definition fare right in the middle of the aisle. It was pretty congested as I tried to snatch up my $11.99 titles last Friday. I have no doubt that sales will reach a fever pitch when players and software prices come down to earth on a permanent basis. Most people will scoff at paying nearly $30 for a Blu-ray disc they can purchase on DVD for less than half that price. That fact more than any particular title will have the greatest effect.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by AaronSCH

There may indeed be a minority of us who voice our displeasure over so-called 'special' packaging, however, I believe the majority would prefer standard keep case packaging. The steel books, digipaks, coffee table books, brief cases and the like serve a consumer niche. However, I would be more than willing to wager that the vast number of consumers prefer the good 'ol keep case. We are not a minority.

there is NOTHING wrong with Steelbooks. They aren't crappy and they last a long time. They are well designed and I don't care how they might look different to you they look great to me and if I had the choice I would chose a steelbook over a keep case any day.

EDIT:

On the topic of Indy:

At the begging of the year I was confident a box set would be out this year.... now I just hoe the fourth will be out on Blu!

[WickyWoo]

But as some point the install base will catch up, is it believed that later adopters will not go back and purchase the film? The logic seems to be that releasing it later to a bigger install base will make more profit then releasing it earlier to a smaller base + all the later purchases as the install base grows?

As I've stated before, big business would rather sell you 1 million units this quarter than 3 milion over the next 2 years. It's all about the quarterlies

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

As I've stated before, big business would rather sell you 1 million units this quarter than 3 milion over the next 2 years. It's all about the quarterlies

which is sad really. I'm sure Indy would sell tons during the holidays and I'm sure people would buy into Blu just for Indy!

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

As I've stated before, big business would rather sell you 1 million units this quarter than 3 milion over the next 2 years. It's all about the quarterlies

The consequences of the quarterly fixation in business have been constant lesson in my life.

My father's career was in landing gear and flight control systems (nearly every one of you out there that has ever flown on a Boeing jet has landed safely on gear built by a mid-size company going by several names over the years based in Montreal and then Oakville, ON but mostly owned by bean counters in NYC).

He spent his career fighting to insure manufacturing machinery and then test systems were properly maintained and ahead of the curve, while all the bean counters wanted was to do is save money to pad the quarterlies and boost their own stock options and bonuses.

The lost opportunities over the years were just staggering.

Gary

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Lucas expected HD media to be available around 2000 instead of 2006. That's a big reason he held his stuff back as long as he did. He thought DVD was a stopgap

It should be pointed out that Lucas also refused to allow Star Wars to be released on DTheater in 2003. Undoubtedly because everyone knew that was a stop-gap.

Gary

[Vendetta-akk]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

As I've stated before, big business would rather sell you 1 million units this quarter than 3 milion over the next 2 years. It's all about the quarterlies

A very good point, but how irrational is this thinking. They could conceivably ruin BRs chances of survival, and all the future revenue that could gain from it.

[WickyWoo]

A very good point, but how irrational is this thinking. They could conceivably ruin BRs chances of survival, and all the future revenue that could gain from it.

And that's what has to be measured in responsible business

Unfortunately long term thinking isn't always there.

[MerrickG]

Hey Bill,

Is there anything going on in the world of Star Wars?

ANYTHING at all? Not necessarily bluray related.

[WickyWoo]

Im sure the Clone Wars movie will come out on Blu, especially after how well TMNT did. And as long as the ratings don't tank, or Obi-Wan gets a new job opening letters with that beard the series will make it out as well.

[scott1256ca]

It isn't just about quarterly numbers.
It will cost the studio less to manufacture and sell 1 million in one quarter than to manufacture and sell 1 million over 3 years. Economies of scale, or at a minimum reduced warehousing costs.

I think Disney takes a long term view of their assets, moreso that some of the others, and while as a consumer I don't necessarily like it, I think that they make more money in the long run with the

"buy Sleeping Beauty today before it goes back in the vault for 5 years"

mentality than they would if they just left it on the market indefinitely. It creates marketing buzz, they can justify the advertising, and ultimately I think it entices people into purchasing it who otherwise wouldn't. I think it is smart marketing.

I also think if you look, you will find a number of releases that the studios put out just to prime the pump, so to speak. They aren't making any money or at least very little on a number of titles, or at least not as much as if they had waited a couple of years. But they put them out anyway, because they know we have to have something to buy or the format will never take off.

Not every blockbuster is going to be here by 2010, that is reality. If nothing else satisfies you, look at it this way, it keeps your interest and anticipation heightened.

[micks_address]

i sold my region 1 copy of the indiana jones dvds when i bought my region b/2 ps3... i can now only watch region 2 or region free dvds..

i'd like to watch the films again before crystal skull comes out.. but i'd hate to buy the triliogy now and then see the 4 films being released on Blue Ray later in the year

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by micks_address

i sold my region 1 copy of the indiana jones dvds when i bought my region b/2 ps3... i can now only watch region 2 or region free dvds..

i'd like to watch the films again before crystal skull comes out.. but i'd hate to buy the triliogy now and then see the 4 films being released on Blue Ray later in the year

I think you will be safe enough for this year. They were shown on BBC HD over the past few weekends. They showed The Last Crusade last night.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

I think you will be safe enough for this year. They were shown on BBC HD over the past few weekends. They showed The Last Crusade last night.

How did it look? (presuming you watched it)
I don't have SkyHD

I'm not so sure we'll have all 4 Indy movies on Blu this year, Bill's enthusiasm is definitely more muted than Max's was a couple of months ago.

3 in a row for Ireland!!!

[Bullseye]

It looked great. Unfortunately I could not record it onto my skybox as it was in the "other" channel section.

[micks_address]

same here.. couldnt record it either it did look good, but the SD broadcast was so crap (4:3) that you couldnt do a fair comparison.. i would have loved to be able to stick on the upscaled dvd via my ps3 and see what the differences were like..

Originally Posted by Bullseye

It looked great. Unfortunately I could not record it onto my skybox as it was in the "other" channel section.

[milou6]

Originally Posted by scott1256ca

It isn't just about quarterly numbers.
It will cost the studio less to manufacture and sell 1 million in one quarter than to manufacture and sell 1 million over 3 years. Economies of scale, or at a minimum reduced warehousing costs.

I know you're both just using illustrations to make your point but Wicky's numbers were "1 million units this quarter than 3 milion over the next 2 years" not "1 million in one quarter than to manufacture and sell 1 million over 3 years"

Having worked in the corporate world in the past I can say that rigging numbers for quarterly profit at the expense of long-term was the norm in my experience -- one time our regional manager "downsized" staff then hired more salesmen knowing full well staff couldn't handle the workload as it was much less with less staff and more accounts to service. He didn't care, he made a fortune in bonuses for a year then left right before all our clients bailed on us.

[kaliraver]

Hello Mr. Hunt, I have a question in regards to the standard Blu-Ray box release of Batman Begin. I am wondering if the standard blu-ray box will come with the ticket coupon to see Batman Dark Knight? Also does the boxset include the standard blu-ray box release of Batman Begins inside? or will it be like the harry potter boxset with a flap type holder for the BD disc?

[AaronSCH]

Originally Posted by gamma626

there is NOTHING wrong with Steelbooks. They aren't crappy and they last a long time. They are well designed and I don't care how they might look different to you they look great to me and if I had the choice I would chose a steelbook over a keep case any day.

If you derive some pleasure from a tin, aluminum, or steel case that is just dandy with me. Please refer to the post where I attacked the quality of a steelbook—because I think you will find it doesn't exist. I was referring to the digi-books or coffee table style books. I just want the standard keep case available as well. Why is that a concept so hard to grasp? I simply prefer what I consider to be the perfect packaging for Blu-ray discs—the keep case. It is the standard which can be replaced for less than a buck should it become worn, torn, cracked or lose the ability to secure the disc. We don't all think alike my friend, and we certainly don't all have the same likes and dislikes. So don't get your panties in a bind.