Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by TauRus

I know this was said a thousand times here already but please let me extend most sincere thanks to the BDA insiders, Paidgeek, Talkstr8t, Maxpower, Kjack, Penton for the support they offered us along this long and pretty dramatic ride! Kudos to you gentlemen!

Yep, I really wish paidgeek could have just popped his head in here Friday night (I know he's really busy though, so it's cool either way) during the celebration. Even if he only said something quick like, "Wooohooo, thanks for your support guys!!!" I feel like one of the guests of honor missed the party!!!

[Rob Zuber]

Sharp confuses issue in press release:

In addition, the BD-HP50U supports BD-ROM Profile 1.1, or BD Live, the latest version of the Blu-ray format.

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/sharp-re...ay-player/5077

D'oH! It's hard enough explaining these things to the average Joe without these kinds of mistakes. I appeal to our insiders to make sure the BDA educates member companies on proper marketing terms.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Wow, what a day so far.
I flew back to SoCal because our dog went into congestive heart failure (he's doing fine now) and one of the few board certified Cardiologists (in Veterinary medicine) is in Lawndale, so if Dr. Lesser is reading this, here is a BIG ………..Thank You from Penton-Man.

Anyway guys, I’ve got to hop on a plane and get back to Vegas - LVCC - Central Hall……..quick!

Later

Wow that must been scary, glad to see your doggie is doing better.

[onyxx]

Originally Posted by Talkstr8t

Outside of any major studio exclusivity announcements, I don't think CES itself is likely to present any blockbuster (i.e. war-ending) announcements so much as it will represent an inflection point where a series of moves over the next few months will make the outcome clear. In other words I anticipate an abundance of good Blu-ray news starting within the next few days which, in total, will make the eventual outcome clear.

This is starting to make so much sense, everything talk said seems to be happening and the outcome is totally clear...

[PaulGo]

Any of the insiders care to comment on this interview of Bill Gates. It appears he is not offering any support for HD-DVD, but is pushing the delivery of HD material via electronic distribution. This has been hinted all along as Microsoft's true intentions.

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2...tes-unplugged/

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by sleazypig

Who honestly buys Hd movies at target. They don't give any shelf space to either. Every body I know either goes to circuit city Best Buy Or Amazon.

Amazon will be the last retailer to stop selling HD DVD.

[What'sHD]

Penton-man, I know this is slightly off-topic but any rumblings re iTunes deals with studios? I ask since just recently we were discussing MS asking for exclusive licensing from WB for downloads. Thanks

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...scussions.html

"Warner Bros. and Paramount are reportedly mulling agreements that would see their movie catalogs made available on iTunes for both sale and rental through a similar set of arrangements, and Sony is also said to be interest."

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by What'sHD

Penton-man, I know this is slightly off-topic but any rumblings re iTunes deals with studios? I ask since just recently we were discussing MS asking for exclusive licensing from WB for downloads. Thanks

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...scussions.html

"Warner Bros. and Paramount are reportedly mulling agreements that would see their movie catalogs made available on iTunes for both sale and rental through a similar set of arrangements, and Sony is also said to be interest."

Why would it be "rumblings"?
Of course they are going to do it, why not?
That is the whole point of telling MS to sod off.

[Sanj]

Can any insiders be able to comment on the Target exclusive thing?

[BlurayManiac]

i want media nice blu boxes shinny discs. let bill download his movies he will be the only one.

[zipbags]

To insiders/Or anyone at CES....

Are their any rumors/talk of either Uni or Paramount going nuetral or blu-exclusive at CES? Uni's no comment when asked is very significant.

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Any of the insiders care to comment on this interview of Bill Gates. It appears he is not offering any support for HD-DVD, but is pushing the delivery of HD material via electronic distribution. This has been hinted all along as Microsoft's true intentions.

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2...tes-unplugged/

That's correct. Microsoft no longer backs HD DVD. Penton Man already answered your question a few pages back:

If people care to dwell now on past history, I think some should be asking how irritated Toshiba is about a certain software company for abandoning them during the defining moment of the format war.
In keeping with your “flirting” theme, it was kinda like ………

Tosh………
”But you promised you would marry me and it turned out to be a one night stand.”

Software Company……..
“Wam, Bam………Thank You Mam…..It’s been swell but, marry into a family with packaged goods?,…… sorry you got the wrong impression”.

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by Fozziwig

That's correct. Microsoft no longer backs HD DVD. Penton Man already answered your question a few pages back:

Which proves YET AGAIN that Microsoft is the true evil empire that doesn't give two shits about any of it's "partners." As soon as you stop being useful to their motives / pocketbooks you're toast no matter what the terms were.

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by JasonS

Which proves YET AGAIN that Microsoft is the true evil empire that doesn't give two shits about any of it's "partners." As soon as you stop being useful to their motives / pocketbooks you're toast no matter what the terms were.

Yes, as opposed to most companies who deeply care about their partners and will carry them for years after they ceased to offer anything in the partnership.

[Jazar]

Question to anyone who knows difinitively,

when can we expect the first title to use BD Live features (2.0 spec) reach consumer's hands?

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by Jazar

Question to anyone who knows difinitively,

when can we expect the first title to use BD Live features (2.0 spec) reach consumer's hands?

TalkStr8 said WAR has BD Live functions on the disc. Im pretty sure Saw 4 has them as well. Both lionsgate titles.

[blindcat87]

I would like to see some real market research done on exactly what portion of the population does not want physical media. Any surveys or studies done by MS or, any company with a vested interest in the download business model are inherently useless, conflict of interest. They might do everything required to keep the data valid, but other companies trusting the numbers would be like all of those cigarette industry studies over the years being taken seriously.

I think a signifigant sample with a truly random selection not limited to company insiders, populations that drool over content that is easy to distribute after they hack the DRM, and other fringe populations will show very different results from those that MS has convinced themselves are the general consumer. I mean, I think the average internet household is still on dialup at the moment. WhenI first got broadband back in 2001, the average connection was just hitting 14.4k over the entire US population IIRC.

To the studio folks that read this thread, including all of those that only lurk, I say participate in all the download models you want. I think the service providers are probably going to be offering a lot of lucrative offers to content providers over the coming months. As long as they don't stipulate any limitations on your physical media production, I say take their money and let their models die or find their niche based on their own merits. But before buying into MS's uncanny ability to know exactly what the real consumer doesn't want and to never accept that it was their lack of connection with the consumer and not the consumers' fault, do some valid market research of your own. I have a very strong conviction that research based on getting valid data and not getting the result the gatherer wants to see will show completely different results.

I have no problem with downloads existing as an option, but I want my little disc that I can hold in my hand, that won't die on me unless something really catastrophic happens to it, that I can take anywhere and play in any compatible player, and that sometimes comes with really cool stuff like my kickass Blade Runner set that I now consider the bar for future ultimate sets to match or beat.

Chris

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by TheRealBob

Yes, as opposed to most companies who deeply care about their partners and will carry them for years after they ceased to offer anything in the partnership.

Toshiba is still a partner..apparently just no longer on HD DVD. No sympathy for Toshiba from me .. it was pretty clear it was MS's game plan since the very beginning .. just a matter of when they pulled the plug and left Toshiba holding the bag. Now that the FUD jig is up - their gone since that time has now come.

[scott1256ca]

If you check the HD torrent sites, you'll find, by far, the most popular movie size fits on a SL dvd. So even those who DO download, want their media on disk.

I would very much like to hear from the insiders if they know
1. Do the studios think downloads are the wave of the future?
2. If so, when do they expect this to start in earnest?
3. Has MS or apple with Itunes tried seriously to sign them up for any exclusive download deals for movies?
4. Is the model download to keep, or just download to view for a specified time?
and just to tie it in
5. Do they expect it to coexist with all the viable HD Disk formats? (In other words BD).

Thanks

[JBlacklow]

Penton-Man's "hunches" proven right once again!

12:19PM - Don comes back on the stage to wrap things up with a surprise. Now they are downloading a HD video from online featuring Will Smith. Can download new trailers or other new features for the disc. Will looks good in HD and talks up his new movies, as well as Men In Black on Blu-ray.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/l...activity-demo/