"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[WickyWoo]

ay what? I'm referring to their $14.99 price during their debut release week. Almost all the major dvd releases that debut are around $15. Don't you ever look at a Best Buy or Circuit City ad?

Virtually all of those discs are being offered at or below cost as an incentive for you to come in and buy many reguarly priced goods. The $1 or less they may make on each disc is supposed to be offset by those other purchases, and by the volume they move

Considering that the total number of Blus moved across all retailers nationwide doesn't typically equal a single district for Best Buy for the standard DVD release on a hot new title, Blu hardly does the volume that justifies that kind of pricing. Since Blu's SRP is typically $5 over the DVD as well, it's still impossible to match it, because theyn they're majorly losing money. Amazon is loss leadering I Am Legend, and whether it's with WB's backing(cutting them a deal) or not, the wholesale cost per disc is $22.75

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Again, can't we get past this? I don't see the need to play internet police when random *******s on other forums say something we don't like. I'd especially think that the insiders would behave professionally. Though I guess it's easier to not worry about that when not only is your name anonymous, but your position and the name of the company you work for as well.

If they were random *******s, I'm sure you wouldn't hear much about them.

There are individuals who have had considerable influence in the past. And if they are out there spewing nonsense that could affect the adoption of Blu-ray, then the forum dedicated specifically to the adoption of Blu-ray (as well as its insiders) will naturally take interest at what is being spewed.

And another veiled attack on insider''s choosing to be anonymous so they can speak more freely is not appreciated.

Gary

[bassbone57]

Originally Posted by JasonR

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthre...d=1#post569515

My one man battle....

I wouldn't even bother with them. Those guys on that thread are just nuts! I'd jump in and join your fight but I'm not a member, and I don't really feel inclined to join THAT group/forum.

-K

[WickyWoo]

Yes well, please take the battle to the Rant thread in OT where it belongs. Thanks

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Virtually all of those discs are being offered at or below cost as an incentive for you to come in and buy many reguarly priced goods. The $1 or less they may make on each disc is supposed to be offset by those other purchases, and by the volume they move

Considering that the total number of Blus moved across all retailers nationwide doesn't typically equal a single district for Best Buy for the standard DVD release on a hot new title, Blu hardly does the volume that justifies that kind of pricing. Since Blu's SRP is typically $5 over the DVD as well, it's still impossible to match it, because theyn they're majorly losing money. Amazon is loss leadering I Am Legend, and whether it's with WB's backing(cutting them a deal) or not, the wholesale cost per disc is $22.75

Do you see any release for this year where Best Buy will offer up a heavy 1st week discount? I've read posts here and there saying 2009 will start the big boom for BD. Is it likely we'll still be dealing with the pricing structure we have now for the remainder of the year? Or will there be any sort of price drop on software towards the end of the year, in order to kickstart the large adoption in 2009?

Also, what do you think Fox's expectations were for first week sales of ID4 and I, Robot? From what I've read, they both sold in the 5-7k range. Now, judging from personal experience and other online reports, both of these titles were very hard to find in stores. We all want more catalog titles. I hope these low sales don't scare them off on releasing more. But in this case, I think the low inventory affected the sales. Thoughts?

[dakota81]

Actually, on a positive note, the latest rounds from that side, have not spread across the internet like before. Everything previous, all the blogs, all the out of context quotes, they were plastered all over the place. Barely even a mention at any of the main forums either. Could be a sign that the nonsense might actually be coming to an end. There will always be some joker making wise cracks, but users are just not listening to them like before.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by dakota81

Actually, on a positive note, the latest rounds from that side, have not spread across the internet like before. Everything previous, all the blogs, all the out of context quotes, they were plastered all over the place. Barely even a mention at any of the main forums either. Could be a sign that the nonsense might actually be coming to an end. There will always be some joker making wise cracks, but users are just not listening to them like before.

Well as March comes to an end, so does Hd-dvd's existence on Best buy's shelves. And what you don't see, you forget. Soon the dud will be forgotten, probably around the same time we hear some oh-so sought after title announcements from two companies.

[WickyWoo]

Do you see any release for this year where Best Buy will offer up a heavy 1st week discount? I've read posts here and there saying 2009 will start the big boom for BD. Is it likely we'll still be dealing with the pricing structure we have now for the remainder of the year? Or will there be any sort of price drop on software towards the end of the year, in order to kickstart the large adoption in 2009?

The Dark Knight, and more as an overall format promotion than anything else.
Again, blu is priced $5 over DVD, it only seems high because the first week sales aren't as good.

Also, what do you think Fox's expectations were for first week sales of ID4 and I, Robot? From what I've read, they both sold in the 5-7k range. Now, judging from personal experience and other online reports, both of these titles were very hard to find in stores. We all want more catalog titles. I hope these low sales don't scare them off on releasing more. But in this case, I think the low inventory affected the sales. Thoughts?

Fox knows very well how many they're going to sell at that price point by now. I'm sure lack of being able to find it at retail had an effect. With HD DVD gone, they now have plenty of new and virgin shelves to fill with those titles, so you'll see them ordered to more stores, even if it's only a few copies.

I'm sure Fox will continue repricings of catalog titles throughout the year down to $29.99, with periodic specials like the one amazon just ran. The entire industry isn't planning to get aggressive with Blu until 2009. This is the warm up year

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

Do you see any release for this year where Best Buy will offer up a heavy 1st week discount? I've read posts here and there saying 2009 will start the big boom for BD. Is it likely we'll still be dealing with the pricing structure we have now for the remainder of the year? Or will there be any sort of price drop on software towards the end of the year, in order to kickstart the large adoption in 2009?

Also, what do you think Fox's expectations were for first week sales of ID4 and I, Robot? From what I've read, they both sold in the 5-7k range. Now, judging from personal experience and other online reports, both of these titles were very hard to find in stores. We all want more catalog titles. I hope these low sales don't scare them off on releasing more. But in this case, I think the low inventory affected the sales. Thoughts?

The thing is, and I believe Wicky said this, is that most companies don't make much profit on CE products. Just look at what happened when Toshiba when they made the huge price drops on their HD DVD players. Most companies and studios(if not ALL of them), make the most gross/net profit on software sales. I'm sure there will be price drops on BD titles but I personally don't see it happening anytime soon, not until there is a bigger adoption/attatchment rate like with DVD.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by savage1984

Well as March comes to an end, so does Hd-dvd's existence on Best buy's shelves. And what you don't see, you forget. Soon the dud will be forgotten..........

You know, recently a filmmaker approached me regarding the desire to shoot a documentary on the format war. Since he indicated that it is in the pre-production phase (starts shooting this summer), I would assume he has lined up funding to make at least a direct-to-video production. So, we’re talking about a very small project here, nothing that you would ever see at your local neighborhood theater.

Anyway, he asked me for recommendations/referrals on how and who to do on-screen interviews with from the BD insider camp. He also hinted that he would like to meet with me to discuss his planned documentary at the upcoming NAB.

I personally have declined his request because I would like to put all that unpleasantness behind us. I actually suggested that he postpone his project for awhile at least until all wounds weren’t so raw. In fact, my filmmaker friend, if you are reading this post, it may also be a good idea to postpone because by doing so - you just may have a better selection of lenses to choose from if you wait awhile.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Elvis Is Alive

Penton,

I vaguely recall an blu-ray insider talking very briefly regarding the planned phase out of dvd in the future. What criteria has to be met before we see a blu-ray only release? Is it a certain number of installed players, a certain average number of discs sold per title, a certain ratio of blu-ray discs sold vs dvd for a given title or something else?

Sorry, I can’t say.
All I can reveal is that as I have stated before there will be a concerted effort towards *planned obsolescence* of DVD’s in order to allow high definition optical discs more traction.

B.T.W.
Welcome to the forum Elvis.

[theBishop]

Hi Penton-Man!

Last week, our Japanese friends got this:



This is the Grindhouse package that should've been available on day 1. But what I really want is a 50GB Blu-Ray disc that holds the entire 3 hour theatrical experience without swapping discs. Intermissions and all.

Is Weinstein going to grant my wish?

[SquidPuppet]

Penton-man,

I ask this only after already having dug deep to no avail.

Any skinny on release date for V for Vendetta.

Thank you

[WickyWoo]

Penton has nothing to do with home release dates, packaging or anything else
in that area. If he chooses to share something, that's his perogative

The thing is, and I believe Wicky said this, is that most companies don't make much profit on CE products. Just look at what happened when Toshiba when they made the huge price drops on their HD DVD players. Most companies and studios(if not ALL of them), make the most gross/net profit on software sales. I'm sure there will be price drops on BD titles but I personally don't see it happening anytime soon, not until there is a bigger adoption/attatchment rate like with DVD.

I never said that. I'm talking software. CE products have a fine profit margin

[Woody]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

say what? I'm referring to their $14.99 price during their debut release week. Almost all the major dvd releases that debut are around $15. Don't you ever look at a Best Buy or Circuit City ad?

And since the debut of a title gives the studio the best chance of moving alot of copies, it would be nice if they would do the same for their BD counterpart. I hope when The Dark Knight releases, that we see a debut price of around $18-$20, instead of $29.99. Amazon has done that with I Am Legend. I want a b&m to do the same.

What is the point of making BR if it doesnt make any more money than DVD?

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Penton has nothing to do with home release dates, packaging or anything else
in that area. If he chooses to share something, that's his perogative



I never said that. I'm talking software. CE products have a fine profit margin

Is there a more appropriate insider thread where I can inquire? I looked and this seemed most logical.

Thanks

[WickyWoo]

Not really, as we don't have anyone from marketing at any of the studios posting reguarly on the forum right now. We're working on it.

Most of our insiders are from the tech end. Engineers, authors, sound guys etc

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Fox knows very well how many they're going to sell at that price point by now. I'm sure lack of being able to find it at retail had an effect. With HD DVD gone, they now have plenty of new and virgin shelves to fill with those titles, so you'll see them ordered to more stores, even if it's only a few copies.

I'm sure Fox will continue repricings of catalog titles throughout the year down to $29.99, with periodic specials like the one amazon just ran. The entire industry isn't planning to get aggressive with Blu until 2009. This is the warm up year

Just thought I would say my experiences with Fox over the past 8 years says they like the high prices. They are probably the only pro rental studio out there. It's of no surprise to me that distributor cost is the most on both catalog and New Releases (funny a few reps have told us they prefer the old rental pricing structure from VHS days). Getting Fox to reduce prices is like getting Britney to stay sober for a week.......it might happen every once in a while but don't read too much into it.

To me it seems they don't want the same thing that happened with DVD happen to Blu-ray.....where in a blink of an eye you had $4.99 Wal-Mart dump bins. Talk about undervaluing your product.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

You know, recently a filmmaker approached me regarding the desire to shoot a documentary on the format war. Since he indicated that it is in the pre-production phase (starts shooting this summer), I would assume he has lined up funding to make at least a direct-to-video production. So, we’re talking about a very small project here, nothing that you would ever see at your local neighborhood theater.

Anyway, he asked me for recommendations/referrals on how and who to do on-screen interviews with from the BD insider camp. He also hinted that he would like to meet with me to discuss his planned documentary at the upcoming NAB.

I personally have declined his request because I would like to put all that unpleasantness behind us. I actually suggested that he postpone his project for awhile at least until all wounds weren’t so raw. In fact, my filmmaker friend, if you are reading this post, it may also be a good idea to postpone because by doing so - you just may have a better selection of lenses to choose from if you wait awhile.

It seems that with this subject, there is at least finality in it. A declared winner... with enough resources time and the right people, an excellent documentary can be made.
2 years ago, I worked on a documentary dealing with Steroids and a trio of brothers and how it impacted their lives. I must admit I was on the bottom of the line, but it seemed to me that there is an ever-expanding list of topics and fields to attack on this subject. It seemed like a documentary that no matter how much it covered over how many years, still wouldn't cover it all. I don't know if that makes sense.
I just mean to say that being able to take a step back and see the big picture is an advantage this film-maker has, as you have pointed out. Steroids still run rampant through the media. The film I worked on could be good but doesn't have the advantage of being able to encompass all aspects.

[WickyWoo]

Just thought I would say my experiences with Fox over the past 8 years says they like the high prices. They are probably the only pro rental studio out there. It's of no surprise to me that distributor cost is the most on both catalog and New Releases (funny a few reps have told us they prefer the old rental pricing structure from VHS days).

Of course they did. It was much better for the indy guy

Movies had a 6 month window before being priced for sale (some movies took YEARS. Hackers was $24.99 on DVD while it was still $70 on VHS 2 years+ after release). They got 3 bucks a night instead of for 3-5 days, and they had a lot less previously viewed copies to sell off afterwards in the time before the sellthrough version comes out