Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[Steverhcp02]

Originally Posted by galz

Isn't Sony working on their own dl service for content?

Yes. but what MSFT is doing is essentially telling studios if they want MSFT's money and backing they MUST release in HD DVD only, and then they also must release digitally only through them. So basically theyre saying "you want money from us? You support HD DVD and our downloads only or you get nothing" Basically, its the most ludicrous request i could eevr imagine as BD is close, HD DVD not so much and digital downloads....yeah call me in 10 years. Id like to think no studio would forgo a safe revenue in a single HDM to sign a deal for digital distribution and back an abomination of an HD format.

But hopefully Penton will chime in and confirm my belief

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02

Yes. but what MSFT is doing is essentially telling studios if they want MSFT's money and backing they MUST release in HD DVD only, and then they also must release digitally only through them. So basically theyre saying "you want money from us? You support HD DVD and our downloads only or you get nothing" Basically, its the most ludicrous request i could eevr imagine as BD is close, HD DVD not so much and digital downloads....yeah call me in 10 years. Id like to think no studio would forgo a safe revenue in a single HDM to sign a deal for digital distribution and back an abomination of an HD format.

But hopefully Penton will chime in and confirm my belief

MS are providing a platform to download from, the content providers are the ones with the real power, especially with Sony, Apple, Google, retailers, not to mention CE's, all sure to want a piece of the download pie.

MS have already learned this lesson by the lack of success for the Xbox in Japan, due to lack of Japanease content.

[galz]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02

Yes. but what MSFT is doing is essentially telling studios if they want MSFT's money and backing they MUST release in HD DVD only, and then they also must release digitally only through them. So basically theyre saying "you want money from us? You support HD DVD and our downloads only or you get nothing" Basically, its the most ludicrous request i could eevr imagine as BD is close, HD DVD not so much and digital downloads....yeah call me in 10 years. Id like to think no studio would forgo a safe revenue in a single HDM to sign a deal for digital distribution and back an abomination of an HD format.

But hopefully Penton will chime in and confirm my belief

I thought I read them saying they were also allowing separate contracts for HDM than the dl's. Sony has their own record studies, movie studios...you can not tell me they will allow that content to go through someone else's download service other than their own once it is up and running, so as a business move you can't blame ms for trying to corner exclusive contracts for dl's as well.

[Steverhcp02]

Originally Posted by galz

I thought I read them saying they were also allowing separate contracts for HDM than the dl's. Sony has their own record studies, movie studios...you can not tell me they will allow that content to go through someone else's download service other than their own once it is up and running, so as a business move you can't blame ms for trying to corner exclusive contracts for dl's as well.

Im not blaming MSFT for reuesting this....hell theyd have accomplished sinking HD DVD which they neevr cared about, and finally start marketing exclusive download services. Im not knocking MSFT's inent from their angle.

however, its important to note MSFT doesnt own the world. Whats apparantly happening is MSFT is now tieing their future with HD DVD into digital distribution. The two arent connected, but MSFT will apparantly only continue as if they are. So, to continue HD DVD support of WB or the format itself, it seems that any money MSFT invests into HD DVD must also be tied to MSFTs own digital distribution. Sure on the surface it sound fine, but instead of supporting the "better format" its now clear they are only using it as leverage to get what THEY want in an entirely different medium.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by merrick97

The studios now realize that HDM will not be as successful as DVD was and if the right amount of dollars are offered they will take the money.

I dunno about that. I think HDM, done correctly, could easily be as profitable for the studios as DVD was. OF course, part of being "done correctly" is having only one format (that being Blu-ray, natch!).

[blubloodz]

ah!! the great digital downloads is going to dominate the tv, satellite waves and dvd conspiracy theory. Im a blu-ray fan but I havnt let it goto my head yet. Do you ever think mayb Sony, Apple, MS are getting into digital downloads as another form of transport to that select SOME of people who sit infront of other devices other than there TV all day? Last time I checked streaming radio hasnt taken over the world just yet and thats free. If this is the case though I will let my poor slow Internet Provider know they better increase my speeds and remove the monthly bandwidth cap they have on there customers cause MS, Sony, and Apple said so.

Have aliens landed yet?

[Dalese]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Encoding/authoring hasn’t even begun on II so, if the studio desired to release them together, you’re talking about a long delay.

Please don't delay Men in Black I for II.

[sj001]

I think this thread is straying way off topic, remember guys, Insiders' Thread.

[DaViD Boulet]

Question:

So we've got "insider" confirmation in this thread by our own trusted sources that the MS offer was real.

That satisfies us.

But Bill Hunt can't post this on the bits, and as far as HD DVD supporters go, we'd need outside verification in order for MS's "true colors" to be made plain to the masses.

Is such evidence at hand? Will it be made available, or are these non-disclosure-talks all hush-hush so that even if we get leaks from back-channels like on this forum, nothing "official" can ever be stated for the broader audience?

[MerrickG]

I do know one thing:

If the BDA lets Warner get away then they will have proven that they are an incompetent organization that has no business defining the future for HD media.
Seriously, if they cant collectively beat a supposed $400 million offer from Toshiba, then why should we as consumers have ANY faith that they can hold onto Fox, Lionsgate and eventually Disney?

Seriously, everything the BDA has worked for is on the line here. All the Nielsen wins and PS3 sales will mean NOTHING if they allow Warner to go HD-DVD exclusive.

I really hope that all this talk about Microsoft wanting downloads is not hiding the the possibility that the BDA is getting very nervous and they are starting to "spin" this already in case they lose out.

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

[Steverhcp02]

The forums all over have been crazy all day. I would love to have Penton comment on this much discussed meeting a little more now that its kind of "out there".

[sj001]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I do know one thing:

If the BDA lets Warner get away then they will have proven that they are an incompetent organization that has no business defining the future for HD media.
Seriously, if they cant collectively beat a supposed $400 million offer from Toshiba, then why should we as consumers have ANY faith that they can hold onto Fox, Lionsgate and eventually Disney?

Seriously, everything the BDA has worked for is on the line here. All the Nielsen wins and PS3 sales will mean NOTHING if they allow Warner to go HD-DVD exclusive.

I really hope that all this talk about Microsoft wanting downloads is not hiding the the possibility that the BDA is getting very nervous and they are starting to "spin" this already in case they lose out.

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

No, correction, BOTH formats lose if Warner goes HD-DVD exclusive.

[gandley]

well with AMIR picking up the ball about dowloads on AVS, then i doubt its fuelled by the BDA to cover any deal Toshiba is doing.

However the BDA have to win this one for sure.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by sj001

No, correction, BOTH formats lose if Warner goes HD-DVD exclusive.

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.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by gandley

well with AMIR picking up the ball about dowloads on AVS, then i doubt its fuelled by the BDA to cover any deal Toshiba is doing.

However the BDA have to win this one for sure.

So I guess Amir has gotten his orders from the higher ups over at M$. "Time to switch gears Amirim and start pushing downloads.......we're finished with HD DVD"

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02

The forums all over have been crazy all day. I would love to have Penton comment on this much discussed meeting a little more now that its kind of "out there".

+1

[gandley]

Originally Posted by Razzy

So I guess Amir has gotten his orders from the higher ups over at M$. "Time to switch gears Amirim and start pushing downloads.......we're finished with HD DVD"

yes, 18mths at best then HDM is toast evidently, because this is what there seeing behind closed doors!

[DaViD Boulet]

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.

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.

[DaViD Boulet]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02
The forums all over have been crazy all day. I would love to have Penton comment on this much discussed meeting a little more now that its kind of "out there".

Would also be interested in the larger "official" story that's fit for newsfeed and the general public. Without a clear official-story to circulate, rumors on BD-fan sites can only carry so much weight. Sure would be nice if this was all 100% confirmed by the industry at large. That would make HD DVD/MS look pretty bad to a lot of folks... on both sides of the format war.

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by Razzy

So I guess Amir has gotten his orders from the higher ups over at M$. "Time to switch gears Amirim and start pushing downloads.......we're finished with HD DVD"

And you thought Amir's talk about VC-1 looking "transparent" at low bit rates was all for the good of HD-DVD.

It serves the idiots, who lapped this nonsense up, right. The only thing "transparent" was MS's motivations from day one.