Official: Warner Bros goes BD exclusive in May 2008

[UltimateFighter]

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...n-that-format/

January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”

“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”

[beansbaxter]

Oh Yeah!

[monkyman]

**Champaign Corks Popping**

[UltimateFighter]

Hopefully this includes New Line?

[iamJackBauer]

yay, glad i went Blu

[Exodus]

Yeah, is New Line part of WB or are they a seperate studio? I can see it now, Lord of the Rings, 1st Blu Ray exclusive in May!

[garlad]

Finally!!! the news we all wanted to hear!!!! CELLLLLLLEBRATE GOOD TIMES! COME ON!

[mel2]

Rdjam, kosty, lee stewart and those losers can now watch blu-ray get the Dark Knight and I am Legend exclusively.

[marzetta7]

F--k yeah! Okay, uncalled for, but I had to say it!

[Amon37]

Originally Posted by mel2

Rdjam, kosty, lee stewart and those losers can now watch blu-ray get the Dark Knight and I am Legend exclusively.

I am legend may be out before may.

The more I read this the more excited I am.

[mel2]

They wait until May because they are a respectable company unlike paramount. warner will follow through with their titles that were announced before today. paramount pulled everything that week. remember blades of glory was a week away and paramount pulled their crap.

[MrVorhees]

Originally Posted by mel2

Rdjam, kosty, lee stewart and those losers can now watch blu-ray get the Dark Knight and I am Legend exclusively.

OHMAN! i was thinking the same thing! those losers just got owned as hard as they can!!!

If i think of all their bullshit comments especialy on highdeffforum....WOW!! Amazing, simply amazing!

[Jack]

This is the best thing that could happen to the consumer and hollywood.
Warner (i.e. Jeff Bewkes) really showed some "balls" and did the right thing. Blu-Ray is the way to go and very soon they will be celebrated as heroes for ending this war.

But what many people forget: Microsoft is the biggest loser in this.
This is really half-unexpected and really breaking on several levels....wow.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by Jack

But what many people forget: Microsoft is the biggest loser in this.
This is really half-unexpected and really breaking on several levels....wow.

You are very right about this.

This is a _VERY_ big loss for Microsoft. It means that Windows Media 9 (aka VC-1) could easily end up dead as a packaged codec... Also, at a downloadable codec (many are already better for quality/speed). It may also make HDi dead in the water since the Xbox 360 has hit the end of it's lifespan already (PS3 has overtaken it in sales) and is in decline. Even if MS announced an HDDVD capable 360, it would only make them look like fools now. They are screwed.

If Apple starts making the kinds of announcements expected at Macworld this time around, it could finally signal the turnaround the world has been waiting for where Microsoft simply can not bully anyone anymore and has to fight to survive and remain profitable. May the MacOS prevail.

Keep in mind this means WB walked out on the Live exclusive stuff also. I suspect iTunes may end up winning the digital download front down the line as well with these changes since it's infrastructure and dominating demographic far surpasses anything Xbox Live can show (we're talking billions compared to 10 million here).

I would be selling my MS stock right now if I had any, that's for sure. Buy Apple.

[hidefdvd]

Totally agree, i have been neutral and having both systems i feel, finally one dedicated format for hi-definition.

For me both systems are terrific but blu in my opinion has the major edge, paramount/universal time to get your act together as your company was the reason i purchased hd-dvds.

Did i hear correctly theres hopefully gonna be a ps3 update to profile 2.0 ? Fingers crossed

regards

Graham

[Scorxpion]

"There also are more Blu-ray players in homes thanks to all those PlayStation 3 video game consoles that have built-in Blu-ray drives. Meanwhile, it's rumored that Apple will announce later this month that some of its Mac computers will come with a Blu-ray drive."

THANK YOU WARNER for believing the truth and only the truth about PS3

[iamJackBauer]

Originally Posted by UltimateFighter

Hopefully this includes New Line?

according to Wiki, New line isn't apart of Warner Home Video...but since they are both owned by time warner, new Line's switch to Blu exclusive is imminent.

[Thegide]

Woohooo! The future really IS Blu

I'm drinking to celebrate, anyone else?

[Blu-Light]

Woohooo!!!!!

[AaronSCH]

Thank you Warner. Very smart move.