Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[LeoneFan]

Oh no, not another "big" and "interesting" anouncement by the BDA. We've been down this road many times before and we've been disappointed every time by a not so big or interesting anouncement. I'm not getting my hopes up.

[richard lichtenfelt]

^No chicken little posts, remember.? That disqualifies nearly every post you've ever made on blu-ray.com from making the insiders thread.
I've noticed that GE, the parent company of Universal, and Toshiba work together on many different enterprises, including turbine components, silicone products, and even nuclear technology. Is this why Universal has remained hd dvd exclusive?

[The Don]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

Oh no, not another "big" and "interesting" anouncement by the BDA. We've been down this road many times before and we've been disappointed every time by a not so big or interesting anouncement. I'm not getting my hopes up.

who were the people to bring about the previous announcements?..

also...did PM have anything to add to them or was he mum?..

do your homework..

[blitz6speed]

I cant wait to get the Fast and Furious Trilogy on blu-ray.

[mattym]

Doh! Max i hope you both get better soon.

As for DV, well...we could all claim to have inside sources, press doesnt automatically mean you have inside sources though, you might only get company reps, and they dont know much at all...

so Penton-Man, we look forward to CES and to see how your coded messages shake out, you do us proud!

I would like to take this post oppertunity to wish all the insiders a Very merry Christmas and A Prosperous and Succesful 2008.

Happy Blu Year!

[DaViD Boulet]

guys,

have you seen this article saying that Harry Potter HD DVD outsold the BD version:

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6515097.html

Here's what really confuses me: it's UNIVERSAL studios making the claim!

Additionally, notes Universal research, Warner Home Video’s HD DVD release of Order of the Phoenix is edging out the titles’ BD version by a 55-to-45 ratio. Order of the Phoenix also streeted Dec. 11. That claim matches information gathered from Amazon.com sales rankings in recent weeks.

Does Universal even have access to SKUs from Warner to comment on this? Lotus and 630 at avrev are using this link as confirmation. Insiders, what's the real scoop here with Harry Potter???

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Skiing was fun, had to come back early though, I fractured my left ankle and will be on crutches for the next three weeks (the crutches are amazing though, Swiss, much better than the NHS standard crap we get here!) and my gf busted her right wrist.

AND Arsenal beat Spurs on Saturday!! (sorry couldn't resist, but I bet that was all you needed after busting your ankle)

Completely off topic, but were you at the 5-4 game a couple of seasons ago?
I was, and no, I'm not an Arsenal supporter.

Get well soon, and enjoy the Christmas break (presuming you'll have one)


ON TOPIC....DV has been massaging numbers over on the HDD forums, claiming that HD DVD sales for Warner titles are moving closer to 1:1 with Blu-ray. (in fact, I think he's claiming 60:40 in HD DVD's favour)
Has he any grounds for this?

[Raikun]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

ON TOPIC....DV has been massaging numbers over on the HDD forums, claiming that HD DVD sales for Warner titles are moving closer to 1:1 with Blu-ray. (in fact, I think he's claiming 60:40 in HD DVD's favour)
Has he any grounds for this?

Well, I'm not an insider, but I can give my take if it's okay -

David I think has just been exaggerating the significance of a minor trend. A couple releases have been not as wide of a gap as some earlier releases by WB, so he's claiming that with an "apples to apples" comparison, the gap is closing.

But to look at it this way - You have two camps, one with 750 people and one with 500 people.

The camp with 750 people has a fruit salesmen that sells both apples and oranges, and the camp with 500 people has a salesment only selling apples. Which camp is going to sell more fruit and which more apples?



In the fourth quarter, Blu-ray has had a lot more blockbuster releases, and a better selection of movies...so even with so many more people buying movies, their purchases are being split up between a larger number of titles, while the HD-DVD users have less titles to buy so their numbers are more focused.

[plee]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Skiing was fun, had to come back early though, I fractured my left ankle and will be on crutches for the next three weeks (the crutches are amazing though, Swiss, much better than the NHS standard crap we get here!) and my gf busted her right wrist.

ouch...did you get to ride down the mountain with the ski patrol?

Why is DV again becoming relevant? He was called out before on his "info" so now he got a few sales numbers correct and so his word is gold

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Skiing was fun, had to come back early though, I fractured my left ankle and will be on crutches for the next three weeks (the crutches are amazing though, Swiss, much better than the NHS standard crap we get here!) and my gf busted her right wrist.

Wow, sounds like a rough trip. Pain killers are your friend!!! Hope you and the lady wind up ok.

[Frode]

Looks like this thread has derailed again quite a bit. But... if we're talking sales numbers, I think the ones we see this month is only the tip of the iceberg. Remember the PS3 last year? What happened was that after Xmas the numbers shot through the roof, BD managed to catch up to HD DVD sales, and from there on it was smooth sailing. That was a 1-punch. I think the same thing is going to happen this time, effectively becoming a 1-2-punch. Just as the HD DVD fanboys are claiming there will be an effect from HD DVD players being given as xmas gifts, so will the PS3 and BD players - but even more so. We won't see the full effect until the numbers for January are available however, which is why Warner is waiting and probably won't announce anything at CES.

Just be patient, keep buying, and keep enjoying movies in hidef.

[Ops2p]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Take note that WB haven't had a press release like they had for 300 (their other release on this scale), it should tell you all you need to know.

If they don't have a press release is that good or bad. I assume you mean it in a good way, but in what context?

As far as PM cryptic statement, my take is Paramount is backing out of their contract due to Toshiba did not live up to what ever 'if any' guarantees their were. Besides the 150m I'm sure Toshiba painted a rosy picture and those rose petals have started to fall off.

Anyhoo enough talking out of my butt... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

ON TOPIC....DV has been massaging numbers over on the HDD forums, claiming that HD DVD sales for Warner titles are moving closer to 1:1 with Blu-ray. (in fact, I think he's claiming 60:40 in HD DVD's favour)
Has he any grounds for this?

Isn't his credibility already shot?

Why is he being elevated to a status he doesn't deserve?

He's HD-DVD fanboys new poster boy, his annonymous sources claims are often the complete opposite of TRUSTED, RELIABLE, PROVEN Blu-ray Insiders.

IMO, his whole purpose appears to be to gee up the HD-DVD hardcore who keep being hit over the head, day after day, with positive Blu-ray success stories.

[JasonS]

In regards to the Sin City comments earlier, I would say that the movie will definitely be announced with a release date on Blu-ray at CES. I just watched Deja Vu on BR the other night and there was a big trailer for Sin City with Blu-ray box art pictures so it's just a matter of time.

Penton sure seemed to directly say that Warner is going Blu at CES. Everything seems to be pointing that way especially if "leaked" Nielsen numbers from last week are true (61:39) even after the Amazon HD BOGO, and Bourne. I thought that week would be a lot closer than it was. The trend is becoming to obvious to have to wait for sales numbers for all of "5th quarter" it seems.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

Oh no, not another "big" and "interesting" anouncement by the BDA. We've been down this road many times before and we've been disappointed every time by a not so big or interesting anouncement. I'm not getting my hopes up.

If you don't have anything positive to contribute, please refrain from contributing, no offense.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Isn't his credibility already shot?

Why is he being elevated to a status he doesn't deserve?

He's HD-DVD fanboys new poster boy, his annonymous sources claims are often the complete opposite of TRUSTED, RELIABLE, PROVEN Blu-ray Insiders.

IMO, his whole purpose appears to be to gee up the HD-DVD hardcore who keep being hit over the head, day after day, with positive Blu-ray success stories.

It is shot, but he wants to use his credible sources to pump up attention to himself... he is an attention *****.

Max, hope you and the GF have a speedy, glad you didn't hit a tree or something!

[DiverDRA]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Indeed. DV is only as good (or in this case, as bad,) as his sources. 'Tis the pleasure and curse of being a journalist.

Skiing was fun, had to come back early though, I fractured my left ankle and will be on crutches for the next three weeks (the crutches are amazing though, Swiss, much better than the NHS standard crap we get here!) and my gf busted her right wrist.

Max, what exactly were you and your girlfriend doing when you broke your ankle and she broke her wrist? Tandum skiiing can be risky.

[androvsky]

Any idea how long we'll have to wait on the VideoScan numbers? I find myself increasingly interested in the end of all this lunacy. I'm not too worried even if there were more copies of Harry Potter sold on HD-DVD than on Blu-ray, I'm sure Warners is smart enough to realize they had to compete with Pirates 3, Cars, and Ratatouille for family movie dollars on the Blu side, even if the red fanboys ignore it.

My take on the CES interesting news: It's player related most likely, being CES, so I'll guess that MS is going to offer a blu-ray add-on for the 360 (or better yet, a combo drive).

[g.k.]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

No idea, it is up to HMR and Neilsen.

Plus it's Xmas eve tomorrow so most people won't be at work tomorrow. I wouldn't expect until Thursday as the 25th and 26th are obviously public holidays.

26th isn't a public holiday in the US.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by g.k.

26th isn't a public holiday in the US.

Yeah, in the U.S. on the 26th it's business as usual.