Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[space2001]

hey guys just a quick question, I picked up live free die hard, and I noticed it throughout the whole movie, when the lipsync was off because of the swear words where cut out. will there be an exchange for an unrated or is it possible for people with the ps3 to download an alternate track for the unrated cut.

I was very upset to notice the voice over on both justin long and bruce willis.

did not think it was going to be this bad.

[Crackbone]

Originally Posted by merrick97

HD-DVD wins if they get Warner. The PR hit that bluray takes would be devastating. We have no reason to believe that Fox, Disney and Lionsgate would stay pat on blu if Warner goes HD-DVD exclusive. Its doubtful that Toshiba would have to offer any "incentives" at that point to any of those studios.

But whatever, Im just being pessimistic.

I dont care what it takes:
DONT LET WARNER GO HD-DVD EXCLUSIVE.

Amen.

Unfortunately you are correct. If WB gets nabbed from the BDA, they might as well go home. Personally, I certainly hope this doesn't happen but I have this feeling as if we are getting set up here to take a huge nosedive. I hope I am wrong.

[Steverhcp02]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well I wouldn’t worry, if I were you. I think it would be best described for a consumer to have cautious optimism.

I’m still confident for a good expedited outcome but, I have been in this business too long to count my chickens before their hatched…..meaning until the Fat Lady actually sings.

I’ve seen some of the most unexpected things happen at the last moment on the turn of a dime. (The only thing that I am 100% certain about in the near future is that Chris C. will be joining Sony on Jan.1, 2008 and be reporting directly to someone at Sony Pictures…… and he is a helluva a negotiator for things like 4K Digital Cinema )

The most encouraging thing that has come out of the behind the scenes maneuvering is that a software company is finally showing its true colors (a *we could care less attitude about packaged media*) as they are unwilling to get deeply involved with *oshibo* corruption unless a certain studio grants them a multi-year live download package.

I doubts that’s gonna happen.

Folks, this is when Penton commented on the meeting we NOW know about. He said to not be worried about him bracing us for bad news and even after said meeting hes said hes still confident in a quick outcome...so my logical reasoning is Penton knew of meeting, says hes still confident = no worries for me!

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Crackbone

Amen.

Unfortunately you are correct. If WB gets nabbed from the BDA, they might as well go home. Personally, I certainly hope this doesn't happen but I have this feeling as if we are getting set up here to take a huge nosedive. I hope I am wrong.

Granted, I dont want to make it sound like its easy to make a contract that makes everyone happy, but when considering whats at stake it should be a no brainer.

[PaulGo]

According to Amir the "retired" Microsoft insider, it was probably a meeting to discuss the CES.

Realistically speaking you will never get an official account of this meeting.

[MerrickG]

To be positive, we do know that Toshiba and Warner were unable to come to a deal on fridays meeting. This should mean that its the BDA's turn and they need to MAKE IT HAPPEN.

[g.k.]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

According to Amir the "retired" Microsoft insider, it was probably a meeting to discuss the CES.

Realistically speaking you will never get an official account of this meeting.

Well, the red brigade from HDD (formerly the red brigade from AVS) is now utterly convinced that this meeting means Warner is going red and that the ink is drying as we speak.

I think we should move this discussion to the Warner thread though, and leave this one for insider questions.

[BlueThunder]

Any insiders,

Should we read anything into the fact that Amir is now talking digital downloads as the future (not HD DVD anymore for some reason ) or is this just confirmation of the information we already have on the negotiations with WB.

[PaulGo]

The only way Warner gets "nabbed" by the HD-DVD coalition is if they want it to happen. I seriously doubt that is their wish. Even a several hundred million dollar payoff in the long run would not be beneficial to Warner since it bring the war to a stalemate and effectively kill HD media. The only winner again would be Microsoft. I think the Blu-ray association has already offered Warner a package they are comfortable with and Warner's main concern is long term profits not a temporary short term gain.

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

BD+

not having it is enough reason for FOX to not release HD content on ANY format. In fact, they froze their HD releases until Blu-ray authoring had BD+ working before resuming output.

It doesn't matter to be honest.
If Warner went red I can not see any but the most fanatical blu backer not going purple within weeks of the announcement.
We just have to hope that Sony has learned a lesson by losing big exclusives on the gaming side and will do whatever it takes to seal the deal.
But this is the INSIDER'S thread, we have a warner discussion thread.

[Esox50]

You guys seriously need to stay away from the FUD on other websites. How you can spin this into a "we're being set up for disappointment" I'll never know. The last word we have is from Max and Penton and neither seemed very worried about this. Sure, there is a possibility WB takes the deal and goes red, but what is the probability?

This is frankly baffling how someone like HDNOW (i.e. rdjam) can post how Penton and Max are "letting us down easy" and setting up M$ to be the bad guy because "bad news" is coming...and some ofyou start going around "worried" that Blu is going to be dead. It's so ridiculous guys, it really is...

[Crackbone]

Originally Posted by Esox50

You guys seriously need to stay away from the FUD on other websites. How you can spin this into a "we're being set up for disappointment" I'll never know. The last word we have is from Max and Penton and neither seemed very worried about this. Sure, there is a possibility WB takes the deal and goes red, but what is the probability?

This is frankly baffling how someone like HDNOW (i.e. rdjam) can post how Penton and Max are "letting us down easy" and setting up M$ to be the bad guy because "bad news" is coming...and some ofyou start going around "worried" that Blu is going to be dead. It's so ridiculous guys, it really is...

The FUD machine is clearly in full effect. HDD just had someone report that the deal was apparently signed. :P

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by merrick97

To be positive, we do know that Toshiba and Warner were unable to come to a deal on fridays meeting. This should mean that its the BDA's turn and they need to MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Where are you getting this information from? AVS??

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by Esox50

You guys seriously need to stay away from the FUD on other websites. How you can spin this into a "we're being set up for disappointment" I'll never know. The last word we have is from Max and Penton and neither seemed very worried about this. Sure, there is a possibility WB takes the deal and goes red, but what is the probability?

This is frankly baffling how someone like HDNOW (i.e. rdjam) can post how Penton and Max are "letting us down easy" and setting up M$ to be the bad guy because "bad news" is coming...and some ofyou start going around "worried" that Blu is going to be dead. It's so ridiculous guys, it really is...

I think the fact that the main reds are not pushing hd-dvd is something that should make blu feel pretty confident all and all in something big happening in our favor.

Then again, all of this talk about dd overnight all at once is rather creepy.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Where are you getting this information from? AVS??

Well, it was never specifically SAID, but Penton and Max all but confirmed meetings had taken place and that no deals had been made.

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by Crackbone

The FUD machine is clearly in full effect. HDD just had someone report that the deal was apparently signed. :P

I would check it out, except I have moved from the week long bans to now a two month ban.

[scott1256ca]

Maybe I missed something, but have we gone from
"MS says no money unless exclusive digital download is included" means MS is not as supportive of HD DVD as it used to be to
"MS says no money unless exclusive digital download is included" means that TimeWarner will go HD DVD exclusive because they want the digital download deal?

If so, I think you guys are really doing a chicken little. If MS said any cash they put into the deal must include exclusive digital download rights, they just pulled their pants down in front of everyone, because if I were negotiating for Warner, I'd immediately stop discussing HD DVD with MS, and start discussing how much MS would pony up for exclusive digital download on its own. Once I knew that, then I'd know how much value MS places on HD DVD.

I'm willing to bet that MS would pony up almost as much cash for exclusive digital download rights excluding HD DVD as they would for exclusive digital download rights including HD DVD. That means that TW can now exclude that part of the package from consideration, since they can get it from MS no matter what.

So the rest of the cash is Toshiba by themselves, and that is the amount the BDA has to match. I doubt Toshiba by themselves are willing to shell out the kind of money that will make the BDA refuse to match, if they even have to do that at all.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Well, it was never specifically SAID, but Penton and Max all but confirmed meetings had taken place and that no deals had been made.

But where was the 400 million mentioned?

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Sorry to be so pessimistic, but the fact of the matter is bluray loses if Warner goes HD-DVD exclusive.

Your dead wrong! If Warner goes red everyone losses since the market will be split 50/50.

[Bullseye]

If WB goes red then HDM dies. You need to see the bigger picture.