Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[krinkle]

Originally Posted by Rich Peterson

Hope I see you in Vegas.

The AVS boys should really post an apology to all the club members that were banned for choosing Blu-ray over HD DVD, back when the site was more or less Amir's official headquarters.

I think AVS also owes an apology to all of our insiders for the treatment they endured there.

AVS chose the wrong side in the format war.

maybe you can pass this on to your employer.

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I should have clarified. NL will make their own announcement when they see fit, they are still a fully autonomous studio, but the BDA have made a deal with Time Warner and you can rest assured that it includes all studios operating under TW.

Just to clarify, if in fact there was a "deal", the BDA as an organization can not and would not enter into any sort of business arrangements of this nature. A "deal" would have to be between Warner and one or more companies acting independently of the BDA.

Now back to the party...

[Sling]

Originally Posted by edge

Lets hope the HD-DVD camp dont go and buy out another studio and try to prolong this further. Let this be ended now. No idea what kind of fight they have left.

Today was a good day, I happily purchased some more Blu-rays with a smile on my face.

No Studio wants to sell there soul to Microsoft movie downloads..Warner wouldn't

[Seretur]

Scott Hettrick has a good post on his blog, calling on all Hollywood studios to unite behind Blu-ray ASAP.

Seriously, there's no point in prolonging this any further. Microsoft, you had your fun with Hollywood, now please let Toshiba join the BDA, let the filmmakers and film producers put out their work on the format that can actually make them money in the long run -- them, not pirates -- and, oh, while you're at it, just stop producing operating systems for our PCs. My Vaio doesn't like your Windows, and it's been begging me to switch to Linux for a while now. And it's not like it hasn't tried...

Got to go now, my pint is getting warm...

[Ben]

Originally Posted by Rich Peterson

Hope I see you in Vegas.

As if! Everyone knows that Penton-Man is invisible!

[OokieSpookie]

So insiders, is it true that Toshiba has canceled their CES conference?

http://wesleytech.com/ces-hd-dvd-eve...ouncement/483/

[Esox50]

Hey guys!!! I saw the news, but was delayed at work due to some circumstances (good $$$ though ).

Anyway, special thanks to our Insiders. Also thanks to our fellow Blu supporters who held the line and stayed Blu only over the last year and a half. As home theater enthusiasts, this is a great victory for the better format to have pulled this off. We've had to put up with a lot of sh!t from some dubious folks, but let's put all that in the past!!!

Thanks for WB for making the right decision, and allowing everyone (industry, retailers, and consumers) to finally move forward. I hope the other remaining HD DVD studios will be on Blu soon (well, at least Universal. Paramount deserves to be stuck with HD DVD for the duration of their contract...don't worry Paramount...we'll have plenty of Blu to buy without you until you have to come crawling back asking for forgiveness!!! ).

Ok, thats it for me...at least in the Insider's Thread (I think). I'm going to go join the party in the other threads and check out the reaction on the rest of the web while I throw in a Blu, crack open a beer, and relax after a hairy day at work.

Today is what we've been waiting for!!!

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

So insiders, is it true that Toshiba has canceled their CES conference?

http://wesleytech.com/ces-hd-dvd-eve...ouncement/483/

Not Toshiba, but the North American HD DVD Promotions Group. Nonetheless, it's true. Or, in Princess Bride-speak, "It's Twue! It's Twue!"

[MerrickG]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...4#post12687264

Talk does indeed confirm at AVS that replication is something that needs to be done better for bluray to be ultimately successful. The good news is that the BDA can put a lot more effort into making sure that blu can handle the appropriate demand!

HD-DVD is dead, now to fight the true enemy DVD!!!!

[fomoco04]

Originally Posted by merrick97

HD-DVD is dead, now to fight the true enemy DVD!!!!

You've got that dead right

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by merrick97

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...4#post12687264

Talk does indeed confirm at AVS that replication is something that needs to be done better for bluray to be ultimately successful. The good news is that the BDA can put a lot more effort into making sure that blu can handle the appropriate demand!

I'll let Talk set the record straight. But, from what I read all he has done is confirm that replication capacity and/or cost was a concern of Warner's. This was already known. It was the same before Warner became neutral.

I think you and David are reading too much into his statement, jumping to a conclusion he is confirming there is an actual problem.

Originally Posted by merrick97

HD-DVD is dead, now to fight the true enemy DVD!!!!

Yep.

For the week ending Dec. 30 2007

DVD: 99
Blu-ray 1

Or did we get to 2?

[BluOgre]

For the love of god it's about time.

It looks like the blockbuster stores I purchase for will finally start getting Blu-ray sell thru product

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by Talkstr8t

Not Toshiba, but the North American HD DVD Promotions Group. Nonetheless, it's true. Or, in Princess Bride-speak, "It's Twue! It's Twue!"

Actually, I think that is Blazing Saddles speak... a movie which made it to BD

Unlike Princess Bride, which was, alas, delayed

[What'sHD]

Originally Posted by john_nemesh

I think Mr. Gates is gonna look a bit foolish introducing a new XBOX with HD-DVD at his keynote now!

hehehe, that is what my reaction was too. Considering how out of it MS is about innovation in technology, they might still introduce it.

"The new Xbox 360: More expensive and a dead format to boot."

Does any insider know if this was offered as a possibility to WB as a reason to stay with hddvd? I, and some others, would love to know some more details of the 11th hour offers by hddvd.

thanks

[GreenScar]

HD DVD group cancels CES press conference in wake of Warner announcement: daaamn

We just got an email which stated that the HD DVD group is canceling its CES press conference; tail severely between legs over today's explosive news that Warner -- the last "undecided" studio -- was going to the other side and doing Blu-ray discs exclusively. We're not sure if that's because the HD DVD group was in 11th hour negotiations with Warner or what, but the mood at that camp has to be beyond somber right now, so it's pretty hard to thump the tub when you've just been dealt a hard losing hand. Notice posted after the break.

Update: Toshiba, masters of the HD DVD format, also just issued a press release expressing their "particular disappointment" with Warner -- and also implying that the move to go Blu-ray exclusive is actually in breach of contract. The particularly depressing release is also posted after the break.

--snip (cancellation email)--
Notice of CES Press Conference Cancellation by North American HD DVD Promotion Group

Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD's commitment to quality and affordability – a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format.

We'll continue to keep you updated on new developments around HD DVD.
--end-

--snip (the release of disappointment, PR cousin to the walk of shame)--
Toshiba's Comment on Announcement from Warner Bros. Entertainment of Its Exclusive Support for Blu-ray Disc Format

TOKYO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner
Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact
that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning
the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long
maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together
to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define
and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor.

We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite
of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as
other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the
US market in 2007.

We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other
HD DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm
in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs
of the consumer.

[Esox50]

Question for Max (or any other Insider who may be able to estimate):
What is a realistic time frame where we will be past the "lowest common denominator" (i.e. made for HD DVD, ported to BLu-Ray) titles from WB/NL/HBO (they obviously had a pipeline for early 2008 in production), and be exclusively into "optimized for Blu-Ray" titles? Are we looking at 3 months, 6 months? Longer?

Thanks.

[GreenScar]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

and a family by joining this forum.....which is far more than simply an internet forum.

I have to agree, this is exactly how it feels here..

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by jasonbird

HD DVD group cancels CES press conference in wake of Warner announcement: daaamn

They were throwing a party and no one wanted to come!

[Member-9711]

I have a question not regarding Warner!

I looked at War (Blu-ray) at dvdempire.com and they list it as "Region All". The cover art says nothing about region like their most recent releases. Does anyknow know if this one is actually All Region?

They list delta farce as "Region All" as well, but it won't play on region B players according to www.allaboutbluray.co.uk. Who is right? Are lionsgates movies region all?

Perhaps anyone with connections at Lionsgate can ask them to put region logos on the cover art in the future

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

A while yet, I will flag up any titles I hear will be optimised for Blu when I am able to.

And there's always the hope that the inevitable double-dipped titles will be re-encoded to take advantage of Blu's superior specs.

Oh, you can add me to the list of jubulant Blu supporters over this wonderful news! :-)