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

[Blu-Beard]

Way off topic please keep these areas clear. You have a place for this sort of thing, but not here.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Ok ok ok!!!! I was just curious if Paramount jumped if it were REMOTELY possible if they could have Bee Movie ready for blu by their original March 11th date. I like that movie and there is no way in HELL Im buying it on dvd or HD-DVD.

Its now obvious to me that this question cant be answered without leading to major speculation and more questions being thrown at you that you are not in a position to comment on.

So, we'll just leave it at that.

Merrick, let me give you a pro-tip: There are ways to sidestep the rules without ruffling people's feathers over things like NDAs.

Observe!

---

Bill,

To the best of your knowledge, were a studio shift to Blu-ray occur from either of the two holdout studios, how much time would it take for us to see the first releases on store shelves?

[Grisle]

That's a funny pic, but Hellboy is actually looking really good. I'm pissed that it's Universal and not Sony, but I heard Universal is throwing more money to it so I hope they'll be Blu soon enough.

[Blue]

Enough of this off topic please. The rules for the insiders threads are very clear and we have to be strict in these threads.
Suspensions are about to be handed out.

For those that notice a continued pattern of off topic posts here, please report them but don't respond.

[zipbags]

With the newly announced news that Walmart is going blu. You would have to think that Paramount/Universal will not wait a few more months like you originally said. But, move to release sooner.

[RickD]

Bill,

Love the HD-DVD picture you just posted on The Bits!

Rick

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by Icemage

Merrick, let me give you a pro-tip: There are ways to sidestep the rules without ruffling people's feathers over things like NDAs.

Observe!

---

Bill,

To the best of your knowledge, were a studio shift to Blu-ray occur from either of the two holdout studios, how much time would it take for us to see the first releases on store shelves?

I would guess about 90 days. However, Paramount has a few BD titles sitting in storage - the ones they cancelled when they went HD-DVD. Blades of Glory, for example, could be out with just a couple weeks' notice.

[BPHusker]

Should we be expecting more 'big' news in the next week, such as Uni/Para responding or Toshiba dropping it?

[Bill Hunt]

Originally Posted by BPHusker

Should we be expecting more 'big' news in the next week, such as Uni/Para responding or Toshiba dropping it?

I would watch for maybe more retailers to say something in the next week or two. I don't know if I would expect studio announcements for another 2 or 3 weeks at least. But stay tuned...

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I would watch for maybe more retailers to say something in the next week or two. I don't know if I would expect studio announcements for another 2 or 3 weeks at least. But stay tuned...

Bill, this sounds promising. Reason being for the lack of studio comments is still the desire to move older product?

[TauHeel05]

Thanks Bill!

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I would guess about 90 days. However, Paramount has a few BD titles sitting in storage - the ones they cancelled when they went HD-DVD. Blades of Glory, for example, could be out with just a couple weeks' notice.

Thanks, Bill.

[DaViD Boulet]

I would imagine that the only issue from the studios would be to move out the existing HD DVD product. However, at this point, the only way it's going to mov anyway is with some serious discounts in "blow out" sales (ie, no new HD DVD consumers, just current ones cashing in on low-cost HDM hitting close-out sale prices). The remaining studios holding red won't stop the stagnation of HD DVD sales at this point given this industry movement. They might as well announce for blu and mark those HD DVDs at discount prices now.

[ezcobar411]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

I would imagine that the only issue from the studios would be to move out the existing HD DVD product. However, at this point, the only way it's going to mov anyway is with some serious discounts in "blow out" sales (ie, no new HD DVD consumers, just current ones cashing in on low-cost HDM hitting close-out sale prices). The remaining studios holding red won't stop the stagnation of HD DVD sales at this point given this industry movement. They might as well announce for blu and mark those HD DVDs at discount prices now.

I agree. I really don't see how the companies could think that there is still a viable market even for the clearance approach that they are using. As this news become more mainstream sales will only continue to decline dramatically and then they will be in no better of a position than they are now.

Bill, what do you think BDA should do to make a substantial dent in the DVD market?

[sAvAgE69]

Hello Bill:

Regarding your Answer you stated that there may be some other retailers thay maybe going to be going blu exclusive. would it be safe to say that the next retailers may well be planning in putting the final nails in the coffin for HD-DVD. perhaps an online retailer?, or other major vendors?


Thanks in advance Bill.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by sAvAgE69

Hello Bill:

Regarding your Answer you stated that there may be some other retailers thay maybe going to be going blu exclusive. would it be safe to say that the next retailers may well be planning in putting the final nails in the coffin for HD-DVD. perhaps an online retailer?, or other major vendors?


Thanks in advance Bill.

I'm about 7000 miles from being an insider (well except for Max, LOL), so Bill feel free to kick my Irish arse......but if you're alluding to Amazon, I'd bet they'll pretty much be the last haven of the HD DVD hardcore. The big B&M retailers will have stopped selling HD DVD long before (months) Amazon do.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Bill Hunt

I would guess about 90 days. However, Paramount has a few BD titles sitting in storage - the ones they cancelled when they went HD-DVD. Blades of Glory, for example, could be out with just a couple weeks' notice.

Aside from Blades of Glory, what else might they have in storage?
After Blades of Glory, the next Paramount release was Top Gun. Or Face Off had it not been delayed.

[WickyWoo]

Jack Ryan, which I'm sure they'd like to have out in time to pimp with Indy

[rbd3000]

Bill,

On upcoming titles that we know are coming to HD-DVD, like Beowulf and Sweeney Todd, if the studios do make the switch soon and take 3 months to release stuff as you said, will they at least make an anouncement that these movies are coming?

Thanks in advance.

[RickD]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Jack Ryan, which I'm sure they'd like to have out in time to pimp with Indy

I wonder if Paramount is going to misplace the extras on the Blu-Ray too.

Rick