Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[Pellaeon]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

And I hope retailers quickly do the right thing and stop selling soon-to-be-"obsolete" equipment and media to the public. And for those who feel they MUST continue doing that for a while, at least insure that those customers are made aware of the situation and trends.

Media no, maybe cut orders down on it but those folks should be able to purchase down the media. As for players absolutely, I wouldnt want them to polluting the consumer with them.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Agent Cooper

Well, I might have a couple of questions for the insiders and I wonder if there's any insiders here from Warner and Fox. I've read there's one (the one and only) from Fox, but i've never really figured out who it is.

First, welcome to the forum!

The Fox insider uses the handle "Fox Executive", but hasn't posted much. AFAIK, there's no Warner inside here (though it'd be nice to have one!).

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by Objectivity

People won't buy into the format until all movies are available on one format. Without Universal, people will still wait until they can get all their new releases in high def.

If Universal is the last remaining HD DVD studio, retailers like best buy, Target, CC would dump the format all together. Consumers wouldn't see any HD DVD titles available. Universal would have to stop producing HD DVD if they cared about sales.

[blindcat87]

I agree that Universal does not deserve incentives, their incentive ought to be wanting to continue making money instead of losing it. That said, with the BDA and various member execs speaking of olive branches, I think that the BDA should take advantage of the position they are in to do something positive for the format and their dedicated fans. They could offer Universal the same sort of start up help that they have offered or spoken of offering to other new studios, help in getting good remastering and compression going help with getting up to speed with bonus View and BD Live and such, in return for getting the help that they have not earned, and have no real right to ask for at this point, Uni agrees to no copout ports from their HD DVD releases and to halt the halfway done EE laden remaster use and to support lossless audio when possible along with the other features that the BDA members want to get going in the format. IOW, make peace and all of that but get something for those of us that have supported BD and those about to join the fun while you are at it.

Chris

[juanleche]

Originally Posted by Talkstr8t

He actually turned around upon landing at LAX and returned to Japan, where he was greeted at Narita by a throng of reporters (on a Sunday). I wouldn't be surprised if a round of resignations aren't likely soon.

Other CES tidbits:

• I'm told the Gates keynote was going to be 30% HD DVD related. Some quick editing was certainly required...
• There are reports that the HD DVD booth was completely redone at the last minute due to the Warner announcement, which might explain why it seems quite unfinished.

- Talk

Any truth to the rumor that Mr. Gates told him, "Stop calling me. This wasn't no long term thing. Look you knew how I role when we got into this thing. You knew the deal, and still you thought you could change my steeze. I'm done with ya, IT'S OVER." And then promptly changed his cell number to end the constant calls of "but, you told me you love me."
[/joke]

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Agent Cooper

Or maybe evrybody else knows; any hint of X-Men 1+2, Alien/Aliens or The Matrix movies on BD? I haven't had the time to follow the CES presentations closely the last couple of days, so I might have missed title announcements that have been brought up...

Thanx!

I have been told from my contact at Warner that Matrix (and several other IME titles) is (are) "ready to go" on BD, but they are waiting for more 1.1 players to hit the market.

This was a few days before the 1.1 update for the PS3.

[Agent Cooper]

Thx for the warm welcome guys.

Well, I was not expecting releasedates or anything for X-Men or the Aliens movies, just wondering if they were in the BD pipeline for 2008 release. I read Bill Hunts comments about Alien/Aliens release in 2008 as well, but that was posted quite a while ago and might not be accurate anymore.

Btw - Fox gems Predator, ID4 and Commando were just released in BD here in Scandinavia, so I'm going broke this weekend.

BTW:Some guys at this forum also wrote, that Children Of Men would be an instant buy if released in BD from Universal. Well, it's available in Scandinavia in Blu-ray in case someone are interested (I think it's regionfree, but not 100% sure at this time) and don't wanna wait - very nice picture but alas - no HD soundtrack.

BTW2: LOL - Ironically I don't drink coffey or smoke or use sun block 5000, but I'm cool. Cooper is my prefered alias (I'm a disciple of Lynch ) - AVS is the only forum where I don't use it.

[elwaylite]

http://www.reuters.com/article/compa...20151820080108

Even reuters has it. You figured if it was FALSE, Paramount would say something.

This looks like the WB thing all over again.

[Jimboc]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

Although I am no insider, I do believe that New Line will not be releasing any new more HD DVD titles (meaning only Pan's Labyrinth is on HD DVD), so that even titles like Hairspray will only be on Blu.
They did not have any release dates for their HD DVD releases so there is no reason to start now.

That does appear to be the case:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...o_Blu-ray/1351

Though it was widely assumed that New Line (whose parent company is Time-Warner) would follow Warner Home Video's lead and continue to release on HD DVD through May 2008, a company rep tells us that New Line's move will go into immediate effect, with all of the studio's planned HD DVD releases now cancelled (including the HD DVD versions of current Blu-ray releases 'Hairspray' and 'Rush Hour 3,' which had previously been planned for HD DVD release sometime in early 2008).

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by Pellaeon

Media no, maybe cut orders down on it but those folks should be able to purchase down the media. As for players absolutely, I wouldnt want them to polluting the consumer with them.

I think that even with media, other than new releases, they should phase out their availability at brick and mortar locations and offer them through their on-line sites. Frees up more shelf space for the true new generation high definition media Blu-ray.

[Seretur]

Special Agent, I think it's highly unlikely that any previously rumored titles would be scrapped now -- Fox for one promised at least a hundred catalog titles for this year.

They just need time to draw up release lists. It's obvious that this year isn't going to be about the format war anymore, but about mainstream acceptance of Blu-ray -- and for that, you need the most popular catalog titles. So it's safe to say that whatever has been published worldwide will also see US release, and then there'll be heaps more on top of that.

Hopefully Fox starts including all the existing supplements, on top of all the 1.1 and 2.0 tchochkes, though.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by Objectivity

People won't buy into the format until all movies are available on one format. Without Universal, people will still wait until they can get all their new releases in high def.

Not necessarily true my b/f tells me that for a Monday they sold as many blu-players as during the holidays. They are currently out of stock on the Sony 300 and the Samsung 1400. 5 Sharp where left.

No retailer is going to omit the fact of what's happening at the CES especially since it now seems like Paramount is days if not hours away from joining the blu-camp

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

No retailer is going to omit the fact of what's happening at the CES especially since it now seems like Paramount is days if not hours away from joining the blu-camp

I agree. Retailers will force Universal's hand. The BDA doesn't have to do anything to persue Universal. Once retailers start dropping HD DVD and Blu-ray sales go through the roof, it will cost Universal more to sit on the sideline or release on HD DVD than any payout they could ever take. The momentum is already in full swing.

[BPHusker]

Is there any ETA on LOTR being released on Blu? Any rumors?

[john_nemesh]

You know, some people here just don't get it....<sigh!>

Listen people, the titles we all want and are not available on Blu-Ray right now WILL come!

When a studio releases a title on a new format, they have to decide if it is financially viable for them to do so based on the installed base of players out on the market.

For instance, a movie released now for Blu-Ray would have a potential audience of about 3 million. Now, only a fraction of that number will BUY the movie, but there are 3 million players that CAN play the disc out there.

When there are 2 different formats to choose from, this makes it HARDER for a studio to say "sure, go ahead and spend the $5 million to remaster, encode, and produce this movie", (dollar figure pulled out of thin air...any insider care to let me know how close I am? I know its up there.) because the rather small market for HD movies is divided up into 2 different groups! They also know that 1 format will not be around at some point in the future, so the gains to be had are relatively short term.

When one format prevails, then it becomes a simpler equation: "if I invest x amount now, over the life of the format, I will sell y number of discs". Also, when they KNOW that a format will be around a while, the studios can take a more long term approach to deferring the costs of mastering and replication. If they don't make back the money immediately, they may make it back over the course of the next year or two on that specific title.

Rest assured, the studios want our business, and they want to sell us as many of their movies as possible. I know it is frustrating waiting for a favorite movie to come out, but if everything was released all at once, the studios would not be able to recoup the investment needed to bring these movies to market. I am sure that all studios involved are planning releases as quickly as possible to drive the market and ensure that interest in HDM is as active as possible.

We know the war is over, now we just need to have patience! The movies we want are on the way, we just don't know when for some of them. We do know that now that there is only one format, we will be seeing more and better releases from all studios from here on out. Just remember how slowly DVDs trickled onto the market and you will see how this will turn out!

END RANT....

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by JasonS

I agree. Retailers will force Universal's hand. The BDA doesn't have to do anything to persue Universal. Once retailers start dropping HD DVD and Blu-ray sales go through the roof, it will cost Universal more to sit on the sideline or release on HD DVD than any payout they could ever take. The momentum is already in full swing.

Exactly.

Once Paramount makes it official that they are going Blu exclusive, does anyone really believe that Universal will go it alone (other than Weinstein, which isn't a major studio anyway)?

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Rob Tomlin

Exactly.

Once Paramount makes it official that they are going Blu exclusive, does anyone really believe that Universal will go it alone (other than Weinstein, which isn't a major studio anyway)?

I'm sure rdjam believes it!!!

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Esox50

I'm sure rdjam believes it!!!

Yeah, luckily he isn't around AVS to spread that FUD!

[Esox50]

Anyway, we're getting off topic...

I'm going to "go out on a limb" and say (if any Insiders want to comment, but I doubt they can):
* Universal is Blu as you all read this. Just not announced yet, and since this is their first foray into Blu, it's going to take some time for details to be worked out.

ITS ALL ON THIS SITE FOLKS!!! Enjoy the treasure hunt.

[Pilam69]

Max,

I just wanted to say thanks for the info on this board (really thanks to all of you insiders) but, more than that, I just got done reading about 5 pages of AVS threads where you basically got beaten up for giving your opinion and stating true facts. Your patience and knowledge is appreciated both here and there. I just wanted to say thanks. Keep fighting the good fight.