Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.) - Page 13 - Blu-ray Forum

Bobby Henderson · 01-19-2008, 05:44 PM

Given the amount of time it takes to author content for HD-DVD or Blu-Ray release and then market and distribute such releases, I expect Paramount and Universal will have to make some kind of Blu-Ray announcement no later than mid Summer.

I think Blu-Ray players are going to be a very hot item for the 2008 Christmas gift shopping season. Some of this summer's possible/probable hits will be released on Blu-Ray this fall in time for that holiday season.

What ever short term costs Paramount and Universal are trying to avoid eating in existing HD-DVD movie disc stock will be nothing compared to the money they will lose by not having Blu-Ray versions of their big summer titles in stores this fall.

elwaylite · 01-19-2008, 05:45 PM

Biggest thing to me is that the Hulk, Iron Man, Star Trek and Hellboy 2 are on BD.

NoQuestion · 01-20-2008, 02:50 PM

Hey Bill, im glad to see you on bluray.com now. My question relates to your post about master and commander and the other titles that you mentioned that was going to be released for Fathers Day. At the end you said that others were lined up for release to go along with the promotion.

Is there anything you can say about these "other" titles that are set to release with the FOX/MGM titles?

Are they more FOX/MGM titles or are they from other studios?

Also, are all these titles set to release on the same day?

EDIT: one more question, whats the word on Weinstein Company?

Thanks in advance for any type of info back on these questions.

JBlacklow · 01-20-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwaylite

Biggest thing to me is that the Hulk, Iron Man, Star Trek and Hellboy 2 are on BD.

"The Incredible Hulk" and "Iron Man" look like they'll be distro'd by Concorde in Germany, which means we should see them on Blu-ray there.

Of course, it will be fall/winter before they're released, so with any luck either or both will be available in the US, too.

SpikesBluBlooded · 01-20-2008, 05:06 PM

Hi Bill,

Again, welcome to the forum! Now that we know it's officially you, I'm glad to see that they've given you your own thread so that people can ask and find answers to questions from you. I don't have one at this time, but what I do want to say is that I really appreciate you quoting the text of the questioner in your response. It allows me to just scan through to your posts, and get to the meat of the matter. Some times I don't have a lot of time to read through pages of posts, and this makes it much easier to get caught up-to-date. Thank you!

jackinbox · 01-20-2008, 06:04 PM

Bill,

It's great to have you here. I've been visiting your site since 1997 and I remember when you fought the good fight against DIVX and non-anamorphic tranfsers.

I was always afraid that Warner would choose HD-DVD because of their close ties to Lieberfarb. Do you think the change of leadership at the beginning of the year played any part in this, or was the decision made prior to that?

Lastly, who do you like in the NFL playoffs?

owa · 01-20-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoQuestion

EDIT: one more question, whats the word on Weinstein Company?

He answered that already. Check here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=199

jknuss01 · 01-21-2008, 02:38 AM

I am sure you (all) are getting tired of the Paramount/Univeral questions by now......

I would be interested to find out if there was any reaction (by either) after the 85:15 number came out on friday.....

elwaylite · 01-21-2008, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jknuss01

I am sure you (all) are getting tired of the Paramount/Univeral questions by now......

I would be interested to find out if there was any reaction (by either) after the 85:15 number came out on friday.....

Im willing to bet(especially after penton's comments about talks that have happened) its not a surprise to them.

zipbags · 01-21-2008, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwaylite

Im willing to bet(especially after penton's comments about talks that have happened) its not a surprise to them.

I have been hearing people discuss Penton's comments. But, cannot find where they started. What did he say...hint?

Thanks!

elwaylite · 01-21-2008, 02:51 AM

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=133

zipbags · 01-21-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwaylite

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=133

Thanks. Yeah I saw that. But, it why do some people think it will be happening soon (ie-days or a week)?

elwaylite · 01-21-2008, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipbags

Thanks. Yeah I saw that. But, it why do some people think it will be happening soon (ie-days or a week)?

All the news stories that jumped the gun made it out to be happening soon, which it still may be. Everyone just got excited.

Have you noticed any more online articles lately? Any more statements from Uni or Para touting they love HDDVD? Nope. Makes you wonder if someone didnt tell the reporters to shut their traps until the time was right.

Bill himself said he could not speak of what was going on.

bone crusher · 01-21-2008, 03:30 AM

Bill,

With New Line also going BD exclusive most of the hub bub is about LOTR eventually hitting Blu. One movie that I feel is a classic and would be amazing on Blu is Se7en. Have you heard any talks about this title hitting the format any time soon? Hopefully it won't be flipper like the first ever dvd version!

Big Daddy · 01-21-2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jknuss01

I am sure you (all) are getting tired of the Paramount/Univeral questions by now......

I would be interested to find out if there was any reaction (by either) after the 85:15 number came out on friday.....

One of my closest relatives works for a company (I cannot name) that produces HD-DVD for Paramount. Some of you may not be aware that Paramount outsources some of their DVD production.

I heard from him (100% reliable) that his company fired their HD-DVD expert last week. This may be significant as they expect Paramount to jump ship or they may have heard something.

Nick Graham · 01-21-2008, 04:33 AM

Bill, just a follow-up to my previous question on Netflix. Apparently out of the blue both Netflix and Blockbuster online yanked both the Blu and HD-DVD versions of Blade Runner from their services. If you had it in your queue, it was replaced with the old 1997 SD release. Something strange is happening in the world of rent-by-mail services and BD/HD.

ranma · 01-21-2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bone crusher

Bill,

With New Line also going BD exclusive most of the hub bub is about LOTR eventually hitting Blu. One movie that I feel is a classic and would be amazing on Blu is Se7en. Have you heard any talks about this title hitting the format any time soon? Hopefully it won't be flipper like the first ever dvd version!

This question is already answered by Bill. You need look at previous posts.

Bill thought because LotR is one of the very few blockbust movie from New Line, New Line will wait after mass adoption of blu-ray to release it, to ensure maxium profits. Bill didn't think LotR will be released before 2009, maybe it will be release d just after the Hobbits go to blu-ray.

WickyWoo · 01-21-2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

One of my closest relatives works for a company (I cannot name) that produces HD-DVD for Paramount. You may not be aware that Paramount outsources some of their DVD production.

All the studios except Sony (and Warner before they sold WAMO) outsource their DVD/Blu production to places like 1K, Technicolor, Deluxe, Ascent etc. There are even places that do nothing but QC other people's discs or just design menus. Special features are typically also done by independant contractors.

There are a few high volume independants like ADV that do their own production completely in house, but they're few and far between

Gremal · 01-21-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranma

This question is already answered by Bill. You need look at previous posts. Bill thought because LotR is one of the very few blockbust movie from New Line, New Line will wait after mass adoption of blu-ray to release it, to ensure maxium profits. Bill didn't think LotR will be released before 2009, maybe it will be release d just after the Hobbits go to blu-ray.

Bone crusher's question was about Seven, not LotR.

dialog_gvf · 01-21-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Graham

Bill, just a follow-up to my previous question on Netflix. Apparently out of the blue both Netflix and Blockbuster online yanked both the Blu and HD-DVD versions of Blade Runner from their services. If you had it in your queue, it was replaced with the old 1997 SD release. Something strange is happening in the world of rent-by-mail services and BD/HD.

These are interesting reads from a Blockbuster store manager:

Post 1

Post 2

The accusation is the studios deliberately hold back volume from Blockbuster, to stop cheap sells offs of previously viewed after the initial flush.

This explains why the studios would have no problem with download rentals.

But, it seems to be restraint of trade to me.

Gary

01-20-2008, 02:50 PM	#243
NoQuestion Power Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Indiana Blu-ray collection:568 Blu-ray reviews:3	Hey Bill, im glad to see you on bluray.com now. My question relates to your post about master and commander and the other titles that you mentioned that was going to be released for Fathers Day. At the end you said that others were lined up for release to go along with the promotion. Is there anything you can say about these "other" titles that are set to release with the FOX/MGM titles? Are they more FOX/MGM titles or are they from other studios? Also, are all these titles set to release on the same day? EDIT: one more question, whats the word on Weinstein Company? Thanks in advance for any type of info back on these questions. Last edited by NoQuestion; 01-20-2008 at 03:50 PM.

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01-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#241
Bobby Henderson Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Oklahoma Blu-ray collection:96 Blu-ray reviews: 12	Given the amount of time it takes to author content for HD-DVD or Blu-Ray release and then market and distribute such releases, I expect Paramount and Universal will have to make some kind of Blu-Ray announcement no later than mid Summer. I think Blu-Ray players are going to be a very hot item for the 2008 Christmas gift shopping season. Some of this summer's possible/probable hits will be released on Blu-Ray this fall in time for that holiday season. What ever short term costs Paramount and Universal are trying to avoid eating in existing HD-DVD movie disc stock will be nothing compared to the money they will lose by not having Blu-Ray versions of their big summer titles in stores this fall.

01-19-2008, 05:45 PM	#242
elwaylite Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Mar 2007	Biggest thing to me is that the Hulk, Iron Man, Star Trek and Hellboy 2 are on BD.

01-20-2008, 05:06 PM	#245
SpikesBluBlooded Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Orlando, FL Blu-ray collection:719 Trading Score:1	Hi Bill, Again, welcome to the forum! Now that we know it's officially you, I'm glad to see that they've given you your own thread so that people can ask and find answers to questions from you. I don't have one at this time, but what I do want to say is that I really appreciate you quoting the text of the questioner in your response. It allows me to just scan through to your posts, and get to the meat of the matter. Some times I don't have a lot of time to read through pages of posts, and this makes it much easier to get caught up-to-date. Thank you!

01-20-2008, 06:04 PM	#246
jackinbox Senior Member Member since:Jan 2007 4K collection:68 Blu-ray collection:68 Digital collection:19 iTunes collection:3 Trading Score:326	Bill, It's great to have you here. I've been visiting your site since 1997 and I remember when you fought the good fight against DIVX and non-anamorphic tranfsers. I was always afraid that Warner would choose HD-DVD because of their close ties to Lieberfarb. Do you think the change of leadership at the beginning of the year played any part in this, or was the decision made prior to that? Lastly, who do you like in the NFL playoffs?

01-21-2008, 02:38 AM	#248
jknuss01 Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Woodstock, GA 4K collection:455 Blu-ray collection:468 iTunes collection:3 Trading Score:2	I am sure you (all) are getting tired of the Paramount/Univeral questions by now...... I would be interested to find out if there was any reaction (by either) after the 85:15 number came out on friday.....

01-21-2008, 02:51 AM	#251
elwaylite Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Mar 2007	https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=133

01-21-2008, 03:30 AM	#254
bone crusher Banned Member since:Jun 2007 Location:canada Trading Score:259	Bill, With New Line also going BD exclusive most of the hub bub is about LOTR eventually hitting Blu. One movie that I feel is a classic and would be amazing on Blu is Se7en. Have you heard any talks about this title hitting the format any time soon? Hopefully it won't be flipper like the first ever dvd version!

01-21-2008, 04:33 AM	#256
Nick Graham Senior Member Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:345 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:1	Bill, just a follow-up to my previous question on Netflix. Apparently out of the blue both Netflix and Blockbuster online yanked both the Blu and HD-DVD versions of Blade Runner from their services. If you had it in your queue, it was replaced with the old 1997 SD release. Something strange is happening in the world of rent-by-mail services and BD/HD.

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