4K Blu-ray Confirmed, Coming in

[Mavrick]

Originally Posted by ouflak

Which is fine as long as all of the people who have relatively recently bought HD sets are ready to go out and replace that now-defunct set with a 4K TV. But I think most of those HD TVs are still functioning just fine. No reason to change.



I'll know it's about to get 'real' when the masses start replacing their old broken down HD TVs for 4K TVs. This wasn't so hard a decision with CRT. Less real-estate taken up, easier to move around, and the old CRT has died anyway so time for a new TV. Otherwise, 'Joe Public', isn't going buy no matter how much it's rammed down their throats. There's simply no reason to pull that trigger. They will buy in response to need (and that will always be very price sensitive). That's it.

If 4K streaming takes off, then I can see that generating some decent sales among enthusiasts though.

Don't worry, as soon as technika start selling 4k sets or some junk brand sells them sub £400 in the black Friday sales thousands of casuals will flock to the stores to buy them.

Remember the news last year with people fighting over the worst 1080p tv's you could imagine just because they were in supermarket black Friday deals? People will buy anything for the right price, even if it's non brand name bargain basement junk

And I'm willing to bet that the majority of people who eventually go on to buy 4k sets will end up using streaming services for the majority of their viewing. Just like those people that bought hdtv only to continue watching non hd content like DVD.

Me personally I dumped dvd the second I could, and I've already stopped buying the majority of Blu-ray releases because I don't want to double dip when the UHD BD hits.

6 months ago I was spending £200+ a month on Blu-ray's, since the news on the next format I barely spend £15 a month. So the sooner it gets here the sooner the studios can start taking my money again

[Derb]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

At the risk of repeating myself (which I admit to doing habitually), the link between 4K TV sales and 4K UHD BD sales will prove to be non-existent.

Virtually everybody has an HDTV. Most people have had an HDTV since BD was introduced. That fact had little effect on disc media sales. An overwhelming majority of people bought HDTVs and and overwhelming majority of people buy standard definition DVDs.

Why in the world do some people continue to think that the introduction of 4K TVs will have any measurable effect on media sales? We have a decade of evidence to the contrary. I can buy an HDTV at the drugstore...it's not helping BD sales.

If UHD BD is ever really introduced, it will absolutely be something that enjoys a market share in the very low single digits.

If we are in fact gonna be asked to pay what Japan is gonna have to for their first Panny UHD player, 4K is moot until at least 75% of that sticker is cut.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Derb

If we are in fact gonna be asked to pay what Japan is gonna have to for their first Panny UHD player, 4K is moot until at least 75% of that sticker is cut.

Come on, don't be so dramatic. Most reports floating around have intimated that the initial U.S. players (at least most of them) should be at least south of $500.

I really don't expect $1,000 players for a Blu-ray extension, do you?

This UHD Player and Terrestrial Broadcast Recorder is for the high end Japanese market ONLY.

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

At the risk of repeating myself (which I admit to doing habitually), the link between 4K TV sales and 4K UHD BD sales will prove to be non-existent.

Virtually everybody has an HDTV. Most people have had an HDTV since BD was introduced. That fact had little effect on disc media sales. An overwhelming majority of people bought HDTVs and and overwhelming majority of people buy standard definition DVDs.

Why in the world do some people continue to think that the introduction of 4K TVs will have any measurable effect on media sales? We have a decade of evidence to the contrary. I can buy an HDTV at the drugstore...it's not helping BD sales.

If UHD BD is ever really introduced, it will absolutely be something that enjoys a market share in the very low single digits.

Agreed!

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by MisterXDTV

What exactly are you supposed to record with a BD Recorder? HDMI is encrypted with HDCP for TV programs and movies...

You can record your own camera recordings and maybe videogames, that's it. Doesn't make any sense....

No. you are thinking of North America (most likely). In Japan, OTA is king and so there has always been an independent PVR market. Google Blu-ray PVR and you will get a lot of results for Japan or most of Europe. Here you have a small OTA market so a limited number of PVRs and as simple as can be, you have cable/sat/fiber but the different companies (for digital) use different techs and so for the most part the PVR is related (and built) by the same company that makes the cable/sat/fiber box.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

At the risk of repeating myself (which I admit to doing habitually), the link between 4K TV sales and 4K UHD BD sales will prove to be non-existent.

Virtually everybody has an HDTV. Most people have had an HDTV since BD was introduced. That fact had little effect on disc media sales. An overwhelming majority of people bought HDTVs and and overwhelming majority of people buy standard definition DVDs.

Why in the world do some people continue to think that the introduction of 4K TVs will have any measurable effect on media sales? We have a decade of evidence to the contrary. I can buy an HDTV at the drugstore...it's not helping BD sales.

If UHD BD is ever really introduced, it will absolutely be something that enjoys a market share in the very low single digits.

I have been reading some reviews about movies that have been remasterd in 4k e.g My Fair Lady and Spartacus and they have done a outstanding job.
If they continue to give jaw droping transfers for 4k disk it might blow HD out of the water.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Been busy for a while and not following UHD BD news so can anyone confirm or deny the following

not as far as I know but lets face it

Ultra HD Blu-ray are the same diameter as Blu-ray, DVD, and CD optical discs, but are capable of storing up to 100GB. You will not need an internet-connection to play UHD Blu-ray Discs, but there is a mechanism in place for such a requirement if content producers want to use them (perhaps as an activation key for pre-release review discs), though implementation will likely be rare.

what I made bigger made what you bolded useless. It is stupid to say you won't need an internet connection if some titles at the will of the people that might make the disk will require it in order to work.

Ultra HD Blu-rays remain as shareable and re-sellable as Blu-rays with one extra benefit. Kiss Region Coding goodbye -- all UHD Blu-rays are region free.

no idea but I seriously doubt it. If UHD BD was to drop region support (or it would change in any way like it did with BD) it would be a selling point so why would they keep it quiet?

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

...
If they continue to give jaw droping transfers for 4k disk it might blow HD out of the water.

In my opinion, BD blows DVD out of the water...but that has not translated to sales.

I like 4K. I'm extremely impressed by 4K. I'm a fan. I don't want anybody to think that I'm opposed to 4k in any way. However, really liking something and being a big fan of it shouldn't cloud our judgement.

Honestly, I'm mystified that BD never really took off. I would never have guessed that people would buy HDTVs but still settle for SD images. In fact, I'm still mystified. The fact that almost everybody owns a 1080p TV but most buy DVDs (if they buy discs) makes no sense to me. Nevertheless, it is a FACT. As much as it baffles me, it is a fact: there is very little correlation between the capabilities of people's TV sets and the media that they buy.

Do I expect the 4K on disc to be substantially better than Bd. In most cases: yes ("Blow it out of the water" is subjective). Do I expect the superior image of 4K to eat into a substantial portion of the BD market? No. I would expect the movie selection to be tiny and I'd expect UHD BD to capture a tiny, single digit, market share. UHD BD will be a footnote to the home video market, not a serious contender.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

In my opinion, BD blows DVD out of the water...but that has not translated to sales.

I like 4K. I'm extremely impressed by 4K. I'm a fan. I don't want anybody to think that I'm opposed to 4k in any way. However, really liking something and being a big fan of it shouldn't cloud our judgement.

Honestly, I'm mystified that BD never really took off. I would never have guessed that people would buy HDTVs but still settle for SD images. In fact, I'm still mystified. The fact that almost everybody owns a 1080p TV but most buy DVDs (if they buy discs) makes no sense to me. Nevertheless, it is a FACT. As much as it baffles me, it is a fact: there is very little correlation between the capabilities of people's TV sets and the media that they buy.

Do I expect the 4K on disc to be substantially better than Bd. In most cases: yes ("Blow it out of the water" is subjective). Do I expect the superior image of 4K to eat into a substantial portion of the BD market? No. I would expect the movie selection to be tiny and I'd expect UHD BD to capture a tiny, single digit, market share. UHD BD will be a footnote to the home video market, not a serious contender.

Hollywood did a crappy job of selling Blu-ray and even HD content in general to the masses and in conjunction, they should have started phasing out DVD's as they did with LP's and cassettes once CD players became more prevalent.

It's the only way to help nudge the average buyer to new forms of technology.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

In my opinion, BD blows DVD out of the water...but that has not translated to sales.

I like 4K. I'm extremely impressed by 4K. I'm a fan. I don't want anybody to think that I'm opposed to 4k in any way. However, really liking something and being a big fan of it shouldn't cloud our judgement.

Honestly, I'm mystified that BD never really took off. I would never have guessed that people would buy HDTVs but still settle for SD images. In fact, I'm still mystified. The fact that almost everybody owns a 1080p TV but most buy DVDs (if they buy discs) makes no sense to me. Nevertheless, it is a FACT. As much as it baffles me, it is a fact: there is very little correlation between the capabilities of people's TV sets and the media that they buy.

Do I expect the 4K on disc to be substantially better than Bd. In most cases: yes ("Blow it out of the water" is subjective). Do I expect the superior image of 4K to eat into a substantial portion of the BD market? No. I would expect the movie selection to be tiny and I'd expect UHD BD to capture a tiny, single digit, market share. UHD BD will be a footnote to the home video market, not a serious contender.

well i sold all my dvd's along time ago and i only buy dvd if its not out on blu ray. UHD will follow the same footsteps as blu ray did and have a very small market . The bottom line is Dvd will allways be the ultimate formate for movies and tv shows.

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

well i sold all my dvd's along time ago and i only buy dvd if its not out on blu ray. UHD will follow the same footsteps as blu ray did and have a very small market . The bottom line is Dvd will allways be the ultimate formate for movies and tv shows.

The ultimate for picture and sound? I think not... not even close. For just sheer title numbers... yes.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

The ultimate for picture and sound? I think not... not even close. For just sheer title numbers... yes.

That's what i ment

[bailey1987]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

The ultimate for picture and sound? I think not... not even close. For just sheer title numbers... yes.

Didn't VHS still top the number of titles on DVD, I know of some films that haven't been seen on anything other than VHS.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

Hollywood did a crappy job of selling Blu-ray and even HD content in general to the masses and in conjunction, they should have started phasing out DVD's as they did with LP's and cassettes once CD players became more prevalent.

It's the only way to help nudge the average buyer to new forms of technology.

The timing was horrible for Blu-ray.

The format war from the get-go was a negative and it didn't end until the spring of 2008 - by the fall of 2008 there was the great recession and economic collapse. Then the meager "recovery" started in 2009. Streaming was gaining ground in the meantime and I think studios just didn't want to gamble pulling DVD when it was an already a steady stream of revenue. What if they pulled the DVD and many didn't want to spend extra for the Blu was the thinking I am guessing.

[Dex Robinson]

It's fun to look at the older posts here and see what was being said earlier in the year. From Ron Martin, VP of Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in May:

"A September launch is designed to ensure Ultra HD Blu-ray hardware and discs are in shops and available to buy in time for Christmas.

"Asked about the Ultra HD Blu-ray release date, Martin said: "Certainly for Panasonic, and most manufacturers, by IFA time in September we want to have players showing content. By holiday season, we want these to be available."

"I think everybody is planning to come out September time and make their announcements. It's a good healthy environment..."

[bailey1987]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

It's fun to look at the older posts here and see what was being said earlier in the year. From Ron Martin, VP of Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory in May:

"A September launch is designed to ensure Ultra HD Blu-ray hardware and discs are in shops and available to buy in time for Christmas.

"Asked about the Ultra HD Blu-ray release date, Martin said: "Certainly for Panasonic, and most manufacturers, by IFA time in September we want to have players showing content. By holiday season, we want these to be available."

"I think everybody is planning to come out September time and make their announcements. It's a good healthy environment..."

I'm still fuming and for that matter re planning Christmas. Although if the launch players are going to be two grand either side of the pond I wouldn't have got one either way.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

But what does it meeeeeeeeeeean?

it means that a rapporteur’s group for the international standards body (which has truly transformative implications to TV viewing for years to come) is looking into trying to combine the HDR signal path into what’s called OOTF and if a single definition of OOTF can be agreed upon, then the camera can be what’s considered informative.

[ouflak]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Don't worry, as soon as technika start selling 4k sets or some junk brand sells them sub £400 ...<snip of specific day> ... thousands of casuals will flock to the stores to buy them.

Not if their existing HD TVs are working just fine. Those 'thousands' have no reason to replace a perfectly fine working TV. None whatsoever. Enthusiasts, sure. The overwhelming majority of those who are not enthusiasts? I don't see it. History has already demonstrated this point multiple times, including recently.

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Remember the news last year with people fighting over the worst 1080p tv's you could imagine just because they were in supermarket Black Friday deals? People will buy anything for the right price, even if it's non brand name bargain basement junk

I don't remember hearing anything about this, but it doesn't matter since Black Friday is hardly a reflection of typical and historical market interaction.

Originally Posted by Mavrick

And I'm willing to bet that the majority of people who eventually go on to buy 4k sets will end up using streaming services for the majority of their viewing.

That's a safe prediction no matter what happens with TV sales of any kind. BUT, I do think that UHD streaming could push some enthusiasts to buy 4K sets that might not have done so otherwise. We'll just have to see how that all works out.

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Just like ... Me personally..

Sorry to kind of hack your post, but you, me, and most of the people posting on this forum just don't share the same enthusiasm for this stuff with the overwhelming majority of the market. Most people clearly just don't care enough, and never will. It's a hard lesson partly learned from being active on this forum and other related ones since the release of Bluray.

[murphywmm]

I have never seen such a lack of fanfare for a new format (whether it be video or otherwise). That's very telling, and not in a good way. Supposedly this format is set to launch soon but I've only seen Fox announce any titles for it. The very few who stopped (or cut down on) buying BD in anticipation of this format are going to be very disappointed.

[Rocklandsboy]

Originally Posted by murphywmm

I have never seen such a lack of fanfare for a new format (whether it be video or otherwise).

It's not a new format. That's the problem - from a promotional perspective. It's still blu-ray.