Archived: Insiders Thread

[john_nemesh]

Burbank, Calif. — Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group said it named Thomas Gewecke president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to help pilot the company’s expanding digital strategy.

Gewecke will be responsible for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in the emerging digital markets world wide for all Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s assets.

He will work closely with Kevin Tsujihara, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group president, to further extend the group’s digital strategy and reach across current and emerging platforms, the company said.

Gewecke will drive development and execution of activities in the wireless, online, transactional video-on-demand (VOD)/pay-per-view (PPV) and electronic-sell-through (EST) sectors. He will also be responsible for identifying strategic partnerships and next generation distribution channels to open new revenue streams.

Gewecke most recently served as Sony BMG Music Entertainment Global Digital Business executive VP, where he headed worldwide digital business development efforts and oversaw the creation of new digital ventures.

Gewecke was credited with helping to evolve Sony BMG’s digital distribution model and was engaged in strategic initiatives, including the development of new digital product and sales plans.

In addition, Gewecke oversaw the company’s online advertising, digital long-form video, and direct-to-consumer commerce businesses, and led its expansion into the U.S. off-deck mobile market.

Source: Twice Magazine, www.twice.com

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

The NYT is reporting that Toshiba is going to cut the MSRP of HD DVD's by 2 bucks. Someone suggested that it may be misattributed to Toshiba since they own zero content. MSRPs are set by content owners. If this is being done by the studios in a coordinated effort to undercut the competition, does this not constitute a cartel or monopolistic maneuver and is the BDA’s legal team looking into the driving force behind this effort?

http://www.nytimes.com/paidcontent/P...ref=technology

The only way I can see them doing this is that Toshiba has offered the content producers (Uni, Para, Dream and Warner) to pay them $2 per disc sold during the promo period, probably under the guise of a "Promotional budget". The only way it could be illegal was if Uni, Para, Dram and Warner were doing meetings and setting prices together to undercut the competition (which they probably do, but you still have to prove it hehe).

[blix01]

oooooo!

[aphex]

Can anyone confirm what Dave Vaughn apparently said? About no title selling 100k copies on POTC3 week? I was really assuming this title would at least hit 100k, especially considering DH4 did.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by aphex

Can anyone confirm what Dave Vaughn apparently said? About no title selling 100k copies on POTC3 week? I was really assuming this title would at least hit 100k, especially considering DH4 did.

DH4 did not actually get 100k copies. We do know that.

[Crackbone]

Originally Posted by aphex

Can anyone confirm what Dave Vaughn apparently said? About no title selling 100k copies on POTC3 week? I was really assuming this title would at least hit 100k, especially considering DH4 did.

VS doesn't include all numbers. I'll do this again.

No title sold over 100K this week. In fact, according to the VS numbers, Transformers didn't sell that many, SP3 didn't sell that many and DH4 didn't sell that many. The VS numbers don't count all outlets nor does it account for sales to rental outlets, so while I'm very confident that all of the titles listed above sold over 100K copies in their firest week, they include all sales and not just the VS sales data.

Transformers didn't hit 100K under videoscan.

Don't let them spin ya. :P

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by john_nemesh

Burbank, Calif. — Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group said it named Thomas Gewecke president of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, to help pilot the company’s expanding digital strategy.

Gewecke will be responsible for identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in the emerging digital markets world wide for all Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group’s assets.

He will work closely with Kevin Tsujihara, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group president, to further extend the group’s digital strategy and reach across current and emerging platforms, the company said.

Gewecke will drive development and execution of activities in the wireless, online, transactional video-on-demand (VOD)/pay-per-view (PPV) and electronic-sell-through (EST) sectors. He will also be responsible for identifying strategic partnerships and next generation distribution channels to open new revenue streams.

Gewecke most recently served as Sony BMG Music Entertainment Global Digital Business executive VP, where he headed worldwide digital business development efforts and oversaw the creation of new digital ventures.

Gewecke was credited with helping to evolve Sony BMG’s digital distribution model and was engaged in strategic initiatives, including the development of new digital product and sales plans.

In addition, Gewecke oversaw the company’s online advertising, digital long-form video, and direct-to-consumer commerce businesses, and led its expansion into the U.S. off-deck mobile market.

Source: Twice Magazine, www.twice.com

Interesting, but it doesn't look like he will have anything to do with Blu-ray.

[blindcat87]

Can anyone do something about Vaughn doing this every week? It has to violate some rule or policy. Maybe complaints from others in the industry to Videoscan or his publication ? It takes a lot to make me really, truly dislike someone for online statements and actions. But this behavior has dont it. I not only have found myself truly despising this individual, I find it absolutely unprofessional and perhaps even unethical that his publication continues to, even tacitly, support this behavior while claiming to hold a neutral stance. If there is one thing I can't stand, it is bald face lying. I am a Blu supporter. I am slanted towards BD. I hold nothing against others for making the other choice. Lots of folks I like and respect online are HD DVD fans. What I cannot abide and just think is beyond pathetic and craven is fake "I am neutral" crap followed by backhanded, hypocritical acts and statements.

This individual has absolutely no credibility, and his publication demeans itself by going along with this self aggrandizing foolishness. I am actually glad he is not on our side because I would be ashamed to have BD associated with his ilk.

Chris

PS - Apologies if this rant seems overboard to anyone. I am just so tired of this rubbish behavior from a supposed professional and just keep hoping he will make that move that goes too far leading to at least his part in this ending.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

Can anyone do something about Vaughn doing this every week? It has to violate some rule or policy. Maybe complaints from others in the industry to Videoscan or his publication ? It takes a lot to make me really, truly dislike someone for online statements and actions. But this behavior has dont it. I not only have found myself truly despising this individual, I find it absolutely unprofessional and perhaps even unethical that his publication continues to, even tacitly, support this behavior while claiming to hold a neutral stance. If there is one thing I can't stand, it is bald face lying. I am a Blu supporter. I am slanted towards BD. I hold nothing against others for making the other choice. Lots of folks I like and respect online are HD DVD fans. What I cannot abide and just think is beyond pathetic and craven is fake "I am neutral" crap followed by backhanded, hypocritical acts and statements.

This individual has absolutely no credibility, and his publication demeans itself by going along with this self aggrandizing foolishness. I am actually glad he is not on our side because I would be ashamed to have BD associated with his ilk.

Chris

PS - Apologies if this rant seems overboard to anyone. I am just so tired of this rubbish behavior from a supposed professional and just keep hoping he will make that move that goes too far leading to at least his part in this ending.

Oh no, it's not overboard at all, I agree 100%. Dave Vaughn is a total douchebag, and he proved that in his brief stint here.

[john_nemesh]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Interesting, but it doesn't look like he will have anything to do with Blu-ray.

I know he is not DIRECTLY involved, but you have to admit, that when taken together with the resignation/reassignment/pink slips of other Warner execs who were apparently pro HD-DVD, this seems to be yet more evidence of BIG CHANGES happening at WB...

[john_nemesh]

Originally Posted by sj001

Oh no, it's not overboard at all, I agree 100%. Dave Vaughn is a total douchebag, and he proved that in his brief stint here.

The whole "neutral" camp are douchebags as far as I have been able to see. Just how "neutral" have you found other forums?

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by john_nemesh

I know he is not DIRECTLY involved, but you have to admit, that when taken together with the resignation/reassignment/pink slips of other Warner execs who were apparently pro HD-DVD, this seems to be yet more evidence of BIG CHANGES happening at WB...

The champions of HD DVD get black balled while the champions of Blu ray climb the corporate ladder...interesting.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...3498c87ccb7945

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

Can anyone do something about Vaughn doing this every week? It has to violate some rule or policy. Maybe complaints from others in the industry to Videoscan or his publication ? It takes a lot to make me really, truly dislike someone for online statements and actions. But this behavior has dont it. I not only have found myself truly despising this individual, I find it absolutely unprofessional and perhaps even unethical that his publication continues to, even tacitly, support this behavior while claiming to hold a neutral stance. If there is one thing I can't stand, it is bald face lying. I am a Blu supporter. I am slanted towards BD. I hold nothing against others for making the other choice. Lots of folks I like and respect online are HD DVD fans. What I cannot abide and just think is beyond pathetic and craven is fake "I am neutral" crap followed by backhanded, hypocritical acts and statements.

This individual has absolutely no credibility, and his publication demeans itself by going along with this self aggrandizing foolishness. I am actually glad he is not on our side because I would be ashamed to have BD associated with his ilk.

Chris

PS - Apologies if this rant seems overboard to anyone. I am just so tired of this rubbish behavior from a supposed professional and just keep hoping he will make that move that goes too far leading to at least his part in this ending.

I dont understand why you feel so bothered by Dave Vaughn sharing numbers with us. Numbers are just that: NUMBERS. Dave Vaughn "predicts" that the ratio will be 76:24.

Its a no win situation for him, because he says the numbers and they are VERY nice for bluray, but if he chosen to remain silent, you would have scolded him for not sharing the numbers, because they favor bluray.

Seriously, how does one defend themself against that.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I dont understand why you feel so bothered by Dave Vaughn sharing numbers with us. Numbers are just that: NUMBERS

I agree. If he has the numbers and has been permitted to release some of them, I don't blame him. I DID have a problem when he previously dropped "hints" because those hints got the red flying ants (and several Blu fans also) flying into a frenzy. It's much calmer with him simply posting some of the numbers.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

I agree. If he has the numbers and has been permitted to release some of them, I don't blame him. I DID have a problem when he previously dropped "hints" because those hints got the red flying ants (and several Blu fans also) flying into a frenzy. It's much calmer with him simply posting some of the numbers.

He did get called out for that and said he wouldnt do it again.

[tvted]

It annoys me simply because it maintains the credibility of his "Insider" status, a ranking which I believe is second hand at best, held aloft by the air which is pumped his way.

ted

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I dont understand why you feel so bothered by Dave Vaughn sharing numbers with us. Numbers are just that: NUMBERS. Dave Vaughn "predicts" that the ratio will be 76:24.

Its a no win situation for him, because he says the numbers and they are VERY nice for bluray, but if he chosen to remain silent, you would have scolded him for not sharing the numbers, because they favor bluray.

Seriously, how does one defend themself against that.

I agree with this.

[Beta-guy]

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

'Don't forget to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine.....son of a *****.'

I just saw that movie (on DVD) I'll have to buy the Blu-ray version soon...

[kowhite]

I don't have a problem with Dave Vaughn leaking these numbers. The numbers are correct...that's what's important.

Granted, I don't hate the guy like some do here. I say soldier on Dave, I hate waiting until Friday!

[sj001]

Well hopefully when he leaks the numbers next week, it will be something very good, like a 70:30.

I think Dave Vaughn claims to have a lot more inside connections than he really has, he obviously has some, but the time he spent he really left a bad taste in my mouth. Especially with the whole replication costs fiasco, and the "recycling costs" for BD thing now.