4K Blu-ray Confirmed, Coming in

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, I’ve now viewed (and heard) commercial theater exhibitions of the fresh 35mm. release print incarnation (very fuzzy), the 4K DCP presentation (soft) and the IMAX 70mm version (sharper than the other two versions).

Sound at all 3 venues? too LOUD , but what else is new? http://lintvkxan.files.wordpress.com..._rome_2013.pdf
At least cinemas in Flanders are leading the way…. http://www.flanderstoday.eu/current-...lemish-cinemas

Something I forgot to mention in the above ^ , also add me to the list - http://www.slashfilm.com/interstellar-sound-issues/2/

of those who couldn’t hear/understand a significant portion of the dialog (at least in regards to the film (35mm and IMAX 70) presentations…admittedly I *zoned out* at times by thinking about things on my daily to do list rather than concentrating on the movie with the 4K DCP presentation, as that was the 3rd time I’d watched the motion picture in a relatively short time span), but....

the most depressing thing is that the unintelligible speech problem is not exclusive to Interstellar, as this Washington Post writer points out - http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifest...b67_story.html

[Geoff D]

I don't have the greatest hearing (my right ear in particular) and yet I didn't have a problem with Interstellar at the BFI IMAX. There were a few moments when the speech was overwhelmed, yep, but they were during the bigger action beats so the dialogue simply wasn't all that crucial, and I didn't leave the theater thinking that I'd missed out on anything.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by PenguinMaster

Why do you assume that if studios stopped making DVDs, Blu-ray would stay the same price? Blu-ray continues to be priced the way it is now because it is a premium over DVD. If Blu-ray was the standard format, it would have to drop in price therefore causing studios to make less profits overall.

Exactly.

Having 3 formats simultaneously marketed to retail isn't going to be sustainable. But I doubt they will just instantly phase out or drop any of them, it will take awhile. 4K will eventually just push the others further down the chain.

4K blu-ray will probably come out of the gate with MSRP's at least $39.99 or $49.99. My suspicion is that as 4K prices come down, we will see more 4K/BD combo packs - and over the course of years - standalone BD releases will be phased out in favor of these 4K/BD combo packs (as eventually that will be the only way they can maintain a $20+ price point). It would be nice if they just moved on immediately from the lowest format (DVD) - but it isn't going to happen. They will all be continued until the market finally dictates their demise. My guess is it will actually be the standard BD that is "phased out" from the major's (just talking new releases here) in favor of combo-packs for 4K. DVD will keep living on as a low end product.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I don't have the greatest hearing (my right ear in particular)...

Me neither (years of motorcycle racing, with the pipe on the right), but my wife does have normal hearing (tested in one of dem fancy audio booths that looks like a gas chamber to me) and even she had problems hearing the dialog at times.

Geoff, I think you’re either underestimating your true audio capability, or since there has been so much backlash from the public about this issue , to a point where theater owners are putting up signs - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...r-nolan-748866 , I wouldn’t be surprised if some projectionists are going out of spec and turning up the center channel - http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2...d-mix-problem/ as a *fix*.

On a more positive note, my prediction is that, although not shot with an IMAX camera, Monkey Kingdom (4K) will be as sharp as the IMAX 70 version of Interstellar (when the animals hit their marks, that is) and although you may not understand what the hell the characters are saying without having advanced knowledge of monkey-speak, at least you’ll definitely be able to hear their dialog in no matter which venue you view the presentation….

Disneynature's Monkey Kingdom - Official Trailer - YouTube

[Esox50]

Some of our old HD-DVD friends in that trailer Penton, eh?

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

On a more positive note, my prediction is that, although not shot with an IMAX camera, Monkey Kingdom (4K) will be as sharp as the IMAX 70 version of Interstellar (when the animals hit their marks, that is) and although you may not understand what the hell the characters are saying without having advanced knowledge of monkey-speak, at least you’ll definitely be able to hear their dialog in no matter which venue you view the presentation….

IMDb has no camera info on Monkey Kingdom but it appears it was shot with Sony F65's. Sure would like to have it on UHD BD.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

IMDb has no camera info on Monkey Kingdom but it appears it was shot with Sony F65's. Sure would like to have it on UHD BD.

Well, despite the current lack on info on imdb, I can at least inform you that the plan is for commercial theaters to be getting a 4K deliverable. And, on a more personal side note, despite being bitten on my arse by a crazy one back in the day in Cartagena, Columbia…. I still like dem monkeys.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, despite the current lack on info on imdb

Well shucks, I forgot to add the link in my post, info from here.

And, on a more personal side note, despite being bitten on my arse by a crazy one back in the day in Cartagena, Columbia…. I still like dem monkeys.

Have heard they can be a real PITA

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Well shucks, I forgot to add the link in my post, info from here.

Yes, that’s a nice link for touting the acquisition (Sony F65) for the production but, even that link offers no information as to the finish (post production)…which is why I chimed in.

For those not following, to be clear, shooting in 4K don’t necessarily mean things will be finished in 4K, e.g. Oblivion…http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1483013/...ef_=tt_dt_spec from which theaters received a 2K deliverable as so – Image Format: 2048 x 858 (2K scope), File size: 110GB, Audio: 5.1

On the other hand, I expect the source format, the master format and the theatrical deliverable for Monkey Kingdom to be 4K.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Have heard they can be a real PITA

Not then, but now, years later I can

[Penton-Man]

Question:
Will people be pissed if an official (even brief) Progress Note on the state of 4K Blu-ray isn’t issued in about 6 weeks at the upcoming CES? In other words, do you feel, something…anything...should be said to reassure interval progress of the project since mutterings at IFA in Berlin last Sept…..or are you good for now?

[Geoff D]

It'd be very reassuring to hear something a bit more affirmative in January IMO. I don't want to have to wait for the next IFA.

[Richard Paul]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Question:
Will people be pissed if an official (even brief) Progress Note on the state of 4K Blu-ray isn’t issued in about 6 weeks at the upcoming CES? In other words, do you feel, something…anything...should be said to reassure interval progress of the project since mutterings at IFA in Berlin last Sept…..or are you good for now?

I would prefer to hear something as long as it isn't bad news (we decided that 4K resolution is the only feature that is needed, that 50 GB discs are sufficient, that 8-bit video is fine for consumer displays, ....). I think the BDA needs to show up at CES if only to say that they are working on 4K Blu-ray.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Question:
Will people be pissed if an official (even brief) Progress Note on the state of 4K Blu-ray isn’t issued in about 6 weeks at the upcoming CES? In other words, do you feel, something…anything...should be said to reassure interval progress of the project since mutterings at IFA in Berlin last Sept…..or are you good for now?

Pissed is too strong a word. Disappointed is what I would be.


I would think they would at least say where they were at, at the very least. Plus it would help them show off the new 4K UHD TVs and monitors at CES if they had some content. I doubt a company like Samsung wants to user heavily compressed Netflix streams and they won't use Sony's 4K content player.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Question:
Will people be pissed if an official (even brief) Progress Note on the state of 4K Blu-ray isn’t issued in about 6 weeks at the upcoming CES? In other words, do you feel, something…anything...should be said to reassure interval progress of the project since mutterings at IFA in Berlin last Sept…..or are you good for now?

not me, it was nice to have something at IFA and I was expecting something similar at CEDIA ( due to it being different markets) a few days later. But honestly at this point just reiterating the same stuff (end of 2015 but we have no other info because the specs won't be finalized before mid year) is not necessarily all that interesting and I doubt they would (or can) give any extra real info. So I don't really care either way.

[bailey1987]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Question:
Will people be pissed if an official (even brief) Progress Note on the state of 4K Blu-ray isn’t issued in about 6 weeks at the upcoming CES? In other words, do you feel, something…anything...should be said to reassure interval progress of the project since mutterings at IFA in Berlin last Sept…..or are you good for now?

I suspect CES will be fairly quite in regards to pretty much anything?

If anything is mentioned I predict it will be about version 3 of HEVC. The last 2 version were announced in April and finalised in the July, August, September period. But if you ask me they are cutting it short finalising MPEG H which is why I think before we see anything physical we will see white papers for HEVC and MPEG H.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

...Disappointed is what I would be.

I would think they would at least say where they were at, at the very least....

Do you or anyone here think such a reassuring revelation (with invariable subsequent publicity) would undermine sales/adoption of alternative 4K delivery solutions as itemized here - https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...n#post10033572 to a point where the involved distributors and content producers would lose any revenue?

Or, on the other hand, would the increased awareness/exposure addressing the topic of 4K by spokesperson(s) for the BDA at CES, if anything, actually help sell those non-disc options to current 4K TV/projector owners….esp. those clueless or uncaring to the advantages of physical media.

I’m looking for a risk vs. reward analysis here. Will anyone (any company) suffer as the result of a January BDA update, and if so, who would be hurt the most?

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

...So I don't really care either way.

Do you think not giving even a frugal update would be a missed opportunity (sort of like not releasing teaser trailers before a motion picture debuts) and thusly make the 4K BD format a more difficult *sell* to the public because little or no lead-up momentum had been established at preceding consumer electronics shows where there is a worldwide audience?

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Do you think not giving even a frugal update would be a missed opportunity (sort of like not releasing teaser trailers before a motion picture debuts) and thusly make the 4K BD format a more difficult *sell* to the public because little or no lead-up momentum had been established at preceding consumer electronics shows where there is a worldwide audience?

don't know. The way I see it is that anyone who cares (nuts like us looking for info) already know it is on the way (maybe at Cedia back in September they might caught some off guard). On the other hand if we are talking general public, the question is if they really care a year in advance to have none-information like "in a year there will (might) be a format but we can't give any more info because none of the decisions are formalized yet"? Personally I think it would not matter much.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m looking for a risk vs. reward analysis here. Will anyone (any company) suffer as the result of a January BDA update, and if so, who would be hurt the most?

I think it won't matter much.

If person A wants streaming, BD 4k won't matter and so neither would any announcement made at CES.

If person B is waiting for 4K BD none of the other options matter so neither would any announcement made at CES.

the only place it becomes interesting is if someone does not know it has been announced already and

1) they are asking themselves " do I continue to buy temporarily into 4K on format X or do I stop and wait for 4K BD and here I don't see an impact either (the person that spent $$$$$ for 4k won't care about spending a few more dollars for a year of 4k movies).

2) they are asking themselves " do I buy temporarily into 4K on format X or do I wait for 4K BD" here there might be a slight impact, but most likely not much. (what I mean- to go with a couple of personal examples which will amount to not much - I used to pay attention to D-VHS back in the old days but I knew it would not amount to anything and so never bought into it even though at the time there was no info on HD disks. On the other hand In the fall of 2006 even though I did not want a Samsung player and I knew all the other players where on the horizon I gave in and bought the Samsung player because I could not wait any more. The impulse of "do I give-in or not" is much more important than a date.


Now if we change it to some real info like colourspace, HDCP, supported refresh rates..... then that might have an impact on some stuff (the TV / AVR... I might buy will most likely be good or not) but we are assuming a real announcement and mostly on HW.