Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[spicynacho]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

The issue isn't as black and white as it seems on the outside, I don't blame Universal, they did what they thought was best for their business without any regards to anyone else, selfish - yes, but out of character - no.

With regards to the retailers, Toshiba are taking an absolutely huge charge on these players, bigger than when they did the $169 sale because of nice retailer margins they were told to give this time. Don't worry though, I think the retailers are at their wit's end when it comes to the format war and this could be one of the last times they play this card.

Do you think that this round or price drops could be a reaction to retailer demands on their supplier. Something along the lines, "drop your MSRP to x, y and z or we will pull your product from our shelves." Wal*mart is notorious for this. At this point, the retailers really have Tosh's nuts in a vice grip.

[CptGreedle]

I have more of a call to arms than a question, but here it goes.

I know that retailers are getting tired of this war. I know consumers are getting tired of this war. I know WE are getting tired of this war.
And yet Toshiba insists on prolonging the end of the war as long as they can so they can hurt Blu-ray more than help themselves.

I say WE pressure the retailers to STOP CARRYING HD DVD products altogether! I do not want to see retailers participating in these fire-sales, I do not want to see them participating in prolonging a pointless format war! I do not want to see ads showing how HD DVD is the future when it clearly is not!
I say that retailers have to make a choice now to stop carrying Universal and Paramount HD products. And they should stop carrying Toshiba products until this war is over.

It is time for people to make the obvious choice and end the war Toshiba is intent on keeping alive! We have to do something to lessen the retailer participation in this! Any suggestions, ideas or insiders that might know of anything, please speak up!

The longer we wait to end this war, the longer it will be until people accept HDM!

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

The issue isn't as black and white as it seems on the outside,

You're starting to sound like my wife!!! LOL

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I don't blame Universal, they did what they thought was best for their business without any regards to anyone else, selfish - yes, but out of character - no.

I hope it's a short term deal. Either way, market forces will either force them to sell Blu-Ray, or their future in packaged media will be finished (obviously not right away, but in the coming years as we get to the 'planned obsolescence' of DVD in lieu of BD another fine Insider alluded to a week or so ago).

[badboi]

Wondering if any of the insiders know if we'll be getting Batman, Batman Returns and Batman and Robin on Blu anytime soon?

Also, off topic but related to what's being discussed. Do Paramount and Universal think we are really going to welcome them with open arms if they are, in fact, siding with Toshiba and helping to ruin it for everyone with regards to HD media? I know if those two drag it out much longer, I have no interest in their offerings in either Blu, HD DVD or SD. I can manage without them and will do everything I can to support Blu friendly companies.

[BigB88]

Originally Posted by plee

I think you can guesstimate about 2 months of DUD players in the pipeline so if your Toshiba it's your Hail Mary... if it fails, I guess you can say you gave it your best shot. But in the end your still losing money, if I was a stock holder I would be PO'ed as this is cutting into profits.

Just be patient as Penton has stated...

I predict Toshiba will lower prices even more as the US Economy begins to enter a low growth period, which means consumer sales overall will be weak. Speaking for myself, since their are recession worries, an HD-DVD or even a Blu ray player would be the last item I would be purchasing. Just necessity items only. In addition, we all know that outside the US, HD-DVD is already dead. Toshiba was counting on the US market and their last chance with this past holiday season. I think their finished, but they don't know it yet.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

I have more of a call to arms than a question, but here it goes.

I know that retailers are getting tired of this war. I know consumers are getting tired of this war. I know WE are getting tired of this war.
And yet Toshiba insists on prolonging the end of the war as long as they can so they can hurt Blu-ray more than help themselves.

I say WE pressure the retailers to STOP CARRYING HD DVD products altogether! I do not want to see retailers participating in these fire-sales, I do not want to see them participating in prolonging a pointless format war! I do not want to see ads showing how HD DVD is the future when it clearly is not!
I say that retailers have to make a choice now to stop carrying Universal and Paramount HD products. And they should stop carrying Toshiba products until this war is over.

It is time for people to make the obvious choice and end the war Toshiba is intent on keeping alive! We have to do something to lessen the retailer participation in this! Any suggestions, ideas or insiders that might know of anything, please speak up!

The longer we wait to end this war, the longer it will be until people accept HDM!

I echo your sentiments! This foolishness is riduculous. Graffeo and the rest of the uni excs deserve the blame for this. There was an opportunity for an immediate resolution, but they could care less. Let the customers waste their money as long as they get their $$$ now. Can't wait to see all of their behinds on fire. Starting with Graffeo!

[Spankey]

I'm assuming Warner has a contract clause that keeps them from abandoning HD-DVD completely until March. As much as I thought they should have honored their HD-DVD committment and release all previously announced titles, now I wish they would have pulled a Paramount.

[CptGreedle]

I am blaming Toshiba more than anyone else. They are the ones that stopped Universal from making any announcements already. And probably paramount as well. But if retailers pressured them, they would be more likely to give into the retailers demands than the HD DVD PG's demands.
I will not blame Graffeo for this, but I do blame the policy of Universal. WB did the right thing, and decided to take a potential loss in sales by ending HD DVD support and going Blu, but Universal not at least going neutral is ridiculous.

I do not want to see this format war drag on for another 6 months!

[sj001]

Toshiba is just utterly ridiculous, and they are hypocrites to boot. To claim that HD-DVD is the choice of consumers, and then shove this obsolete format down their throats with this garage sale is a complete joke! They really piss me off!

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

I am blaming Toshiba more than anyone else. They are the ones that stopped Universal from making any announcements already. And probably paramount as well. But if retailers pressured them, they would be more likely to give into the retailers demands than the HD DVD PG's demands.
I will not blame Graffeo for this, but I do blame the policy of Universal. WB did the right thing, and decided to take a potential loss in sales by ending HD DVD support and going Blu, but Universal not at least going neutral is ridiculous.

I do not want to see this format war drag an for another 6 months!

Well Graffeo is the VP of The HD DVD Promotional Group and the person responsible for the direction of Universal's HD efforts. He deserves A LOT of the blame for prolonging the war and shafting consumers. That needs to be said and it continued to be expressed. I am taking a break from posting the rest of the day, because I am about to write something that will probably get me banned. Not that I care too much about that at this point.

[Nick Graham]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I believe the red velvet suitcases have made their way to Universal...

Paramount is a different proposition though, they will make a decision to a timetable that suits them, not anybody else's.

D'oh! Did the BDA's incentive piggy bank get wiped out between Warner and (speculating based on all the hearsay) Fox? Oh well, I suppose it's still only inevitable. I don't see Uni's logic here, especially with the Paramount situation,but I guess they figure sitting still for a couple of months and collecting even more money from Toshiba isn't a bad option, and they can still jump on Blu in time for the holiday $$$.

It's still over, guys. I wouldn't get too angry.

[Spankey]

In my best Jim Norton voice...

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Dude, that’s his job.
That’s what he was paid for. IS IT?

He never made it personal like the A-man. DID HE?

Hell, after a recent panel discussion several months ago, Ken walked up to Bill Hunt (who had been debating Uni's philosophy about the high-def formats) and shook Bill’s hand. He didn’t have to do that. DIDN'T HE?

Sorry Penton. This time I have to disagree. If Universal ever comes over, this guy will never have my respect.

[JAGUAR1977]

Insiders, please tell Toshiba, Paramount, Universal, Grafeo and co to go f*** themselves, their products are no longer welcome in my household.

The day Grafeo joins this forum as an insider is the day I leave.

[CptGreedle]

The way I see it is the BDA should do something to directly tackle this latest HD DVD move. I am thinking if Paramount or Dreamworks got enough in$entive, it might make a move that HD DVD PG could not stop.
Maybe Universal needs some in$entive too?

Or perhaps the retailers need something to promote BD over HD DVD even more. Sure Tosh can lower their prices, but if they have little shelf space or if BD has their own sales going on, maybe it will not benefit HD DVD at all.


I guess what Im posting for is to ask the insiders, "Is the BDA doing anything about this?"

[spam.curitiba]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

The way I see it is the BDA should do something to directly tackle this latest HD DVD move. I am thinking if Paramount or Dreamworks got enough in$entive, it might make a move that HD DVD PG could not stop.
Maybe Universal needs some in$entive too?

Or perhaps the retailers need something to promote BD over HD DVD even more. Sure Tosh can lower their prices, but if they have little shelf space or if BD has their own sales going on, maybe it will not benefit HD DVD at all.


I guess what Im posting for is to ask the insiders, "Is the BDA doing anything about this?"

To me it doesn't matter..by the end of this year both universal and paramounted will be on blu's side.....

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Insiders, please tell Toshiba, Paramount, Universal, Grafeo and co to go f*** themselves, their products are no longer welcome in my household.

The day Grafeo joins this forum as an insider is the day I leave.

+1 to that. I was going to go see Cloverfield this weekend until I heard about this news. Now I'm not spending a penny on any of these companies products. They can kiss my ass.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

A question for the insiders. In the South Florida area all of the Best Buy Stores are out of stock on the Sony 300S, and the the Samsung 1400. In addition, the Sharp BD HP-20 blu-ray player is almost sold out. In fact, most of the stores have been out of the Samsung and Sony models for a couple of weeks. How long will it be before the stock of BD players is replenished across the nation? I would hate for customers to walk in a store to purchase a player and have to leave empty handed due to availability issues.

Actually it's happening as we speak. Many BB stores in Miami are out of the Sony 300 and 500 the Samsung 1400 and in very low supply of the Sharps and Panasonic.

Cris store is even sould out of the Pioneer Elite 95

[aygie]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Insiders, please tell Toshiba, Paramount, Universal, Grafeo and co to go f*** themselves, their products are no longer welcome in my household.

The day Grafeo joins this forum as an insider is the day I leave.

Looks like its time to smash up my old Toshiba dvd/divx player.

oh well, i'll just have to get the Marantaz BD player.

[Jonty]

I figure since everyone else is posting their 2c...

It makes sense to me (from a business standpoint) that Paramount and Universal are willing to accept money (not opt out of an existing contract in Paramount's case) to hold off announcing support for blu ray. It is likely going to take them a few months to get all their ducks in a row, so to speak, so why not profit in the meantime?

[Petra]

Can BDA at the end of the war punish Toshiba? i.e make the royalty fee more expensive for them