BBC to Continue Dual-Format Support for the time being - Blu-ray Forum

Loudninja · 01-16-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Warner's switch to Blu-ray exclusivity will not sway its distribution partner BBC Home Video from its dual-format stance.

That's word from from a company spokesperson, who late yesterday told TVShowsonDVD.com that the BBC will continue its format-agnostic strategy for the time being, and that they "will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format."

The company cited the stellar sales of its 'Planet Earth' box set (whose HD DVD version has outsold the Blu-ray) as added reasoning behind the decision, as well as an upcoming line-up of multiple (but as yet unannounced) high-def titles it has planned for both formats in 2008.

The BBC's decision to stay put come in the wake of moves made last week by Warner subsidiaries New Line and HBO to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity. The BBC is now the only Warner-distributed company to remain format neutral.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1378

E-Dogg · 01-16-2008, 05:10 PM

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...t_Support/1378

CptGreedle · 01-16-2008, 05:12 PM

looks like you posted twice.
Also this was already reported in another thread. Their sales for Planet Earth were so high on HD DVD that they will keep releasing both for the time being.

E-Dogg · 01-16-2008, 05:13 PM

I posted once and it was at the exact same time as someone else. Close the thread mods. Ty for the update Cpt

Loudninja · 01-16-2008, 05:17 PM

Sorry E-Dogg, mods can close either one.

Manco · 01-16-2008, 05:13 PM

Unfortunately their "stellar sales" are about to come to a grinding halt as retailers stop selling HD-DVD gear.
Talk about being clueless

NutsAboutPS3 · 01-16-2008, 05:17 PM

You have to remember that the BBC is a little different to other content providers in that they are publically funded by the UK population, and hence have a responsibility to make available to the public, the content that the public has paid for the making of.

If they dropped HD DVD you would get howls of protest from HD DVD owners saying "I paid part of the cost of you making this content, how dare you not release it on the high def format I own."

That isn't to say they have to release everything on all available formats, but they do have to pay a certain amount of special attention to making their content available to all.

Rike255 · 01-16-2008, 05:16 PM

Wow you and E-Dogg posted the exact same thing at the exact same time. That's nuts.
This move makes sense to me especially when they already have releases planned for HD DVD. May as well make as much money back as they can.

BlurayManiac · 01-16-2008, 06:26 PM

Warner's switch to Blu-ray exclusivity will not sway its distribution partner BBC Home Video from its dual-format stance.

That's word from from a company spokesperson, who late yesterday told TVShowsonDVD.com that the BBC will continue its format-agnostic strategy for the time being, and that they "will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format."
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The company cited the stellar sales of its 'Planet Earth' box set (whose HD DVD version has outsold the Blu-ray) as added reasoning behind the decision, as well as an upcoming line-up of multiple (but as yet unannounced) high-def titles it has planned for both formats in 2008.

The BBC's decision to stay put come in the wake of moves made last week by Warner subsidiaries New Line and HBO to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity. The BBC is now the only Warner-distributed company to remain format neutral.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...t_Support/1378

eat_me_cool · 01-16-2008, 06:30 PM

The BBC will keep supplying HD-DVD's as long as they continue to sell. Damn right as well, considering how much I have to pay them every year.

Denzelio · 01-16-2008, 07:03 PM

Narrow minded aren't they 'just 1 title sold more on Hd dvd' Never mind the fact that Blu-ray beats Hd dvd in sales in every region week after week consistently but what can i say don't think i'll ever buy a BBC title anyway

blukrank · 01-16-2008, 07:07 PM

Speaking of The BBC.When is Torchwood going to be released on Blu-Ray?The DVD version is coming out this coming Tuesday.Why no High Def?

glenn22 · 01-16-2008, 07:07 PM

doesn't suprise me at all. Every company looks at sales to determine their decisions. Warner switched to Blu exclusivity due to it much larger sales numbers and to put an end to the format war (also for financial reasons). The BBC takes into account the larger sales figures of HD-DVD as well as the huge advantage of Blu-ray and sees that they can probably make more money in the short term releasing on both formats. It all makes logical sense from a finanical standpoint.

eat_me_cool · 01-16-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denzelio

Narrow minded aren't they 'just 1 title sold more on Hd dvd' Never mind the fact that Blu-ray beats Hd dvd in sales in every region week after week consistently but what can i say don't think i'll ever buy a BBC title anyway

They are publicly funded (they collect an annual TV license, £135) and its in their charter that they have to be accessible on every medium, TV, satellite, IPTV, cable etc. Refusing to supply on Blu-ray or HD-DVD could get them in trouble.
They have to supply on HD-DVD, its the law.

navychop · 01-16-2008, 07:32 PM

If that were true, I'd be able to buy "The Monastery" (as in the original BBC series) on DVD. I'd LOVE to have that series- we watched a couple episodes while on vacation there. Not available. And I must not be the only one bugging them about it, because they put up on their web site that it was NOT available on DVD.

Fozziwig · 01-16-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eat_me_cool

They are publicly funded (they collect an annual TV license, £135) and its in their charter that they have to be accessible on every medium, TV, satellite, IPTV, cable etc. Refusing to supply on Blu-ray or HD-DVD could get them in trouble.
They have to supply on HD-DVD, its the law.

No they don't. The BBC's home video output it controlled by a for-profit business called BBC Worldwide.

Quote:

BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2007 it had a turnover of £810.4m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Worldwide

There is no law that says they have to release anything on HD DVD! It will be a purely commercial decision, hence the line:

Quote:

"....will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format."

The BBC will dump HD DVD, don't worry about that.

01-16-2008, 05:10 PM	#2
E-Dogg Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Blu-ray collection:159	BBC to Continue Dual-Format Support http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...t_Support/1378

01-16-2008, 06:26 PM	#9
BlurayManiac Active Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Staten Island NY	BBC to Continue Dual-Format Support Warner's switch to Blu-ray exclusivity will not sway its distribution partner BBC Home Video from its dual-format stance. That's word from from a company spokesperson, who late yesterday told TVShowsonDVD.com that the BBC will continue its format-agnostic strategy for the time being, and that they "will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format." ADVERTISEMENT The company cited the stellar sales of its 'Planet Earth' box set (whose HD DVD version has outsold the Blu-ray) as added reasoning behind the decision, as well as an upcoming line-up of multiple (but as yet unannounced) high-def titles it has planned for both formats in 2008. The BBC's decision to stay put come in the wake of moves made last week by Warner subsidiaries New Line and HBO to shift to Blu-ray exclusivity. The BBC is now the only Warner-distributed company to remain format neutral. http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...t_Support/1378

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01-16-2008, 05:12 PM	#3
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	looks like you posted twice. Also this was already reported in another thread. Their sales for Planet Earth were so high on HD DVD that they will keep releasing both for the time being.

01-16-2008, 05:13 PM	#4
E-Dogg Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Blu-ray collection:159	I posted once and it was at the exact same time as someone else. Close the thread mods. Ty for the update Cpt

01-16-2008, 05:17 PM	#5
Loudninja Member Member since:Aug 2007	Sorry E-Dogg, mods can close either one.

01-16-2008, 05:13 PM	#6
Manco Special Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Tucumcari	Unfortunately their "stellar sales" are about to come to a grinding halt as retailers stop selling HD-DVD gear. Talk about being clueless

01-16-2008, 05:17 PM	#7
NutsAboutPS3 Expert Member Member since:Apr 2007 Location:UK Blu-ray reviews:1	You have to remember that the BBC is a little different to other content providers in that they are publically funded by the UK population, and hence have a responsibility to make available to the public, the content that the public has paid for the making of. If they dropped HD DVD you would get howls of protest from HD DVD owners saying "I paid part of the cost of you making this content, how dare you not release it on the high def format I own." That isn't to say they have to release everything on all available formats, but they do have to pay a certain amount of special attention to making their content available to all.

01-16-2008, 05:16 PM	#8
Rike255 Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:AB, Canada PSNetwork: Rike255 Home Theater Gallery:44 Blu-ray collection:57	Wow you and E-Dogg posted the exact same thing at the exact same time. That's nuts. This move makes sense to me especially when they already have releases planned for HD DVD. May as well make as much money back as they can.

01-16-2008, 06:30 PM	#10
eat_me_cool Active Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Battersea	The BBC will keep supplying HD-DVD's as long as they continue to sell. Damn right as well, considering how much I have to pay them every year.

01-16-2008, 07:03 PM	#11
Denzelio Active Member Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Australia	Narrow minded aren't they 'just 1 title sold more on Hd dvd' Never mind the fact that Blu-ray beats Hd dvd in sales in every region week after week consistently but what can i say don't think i'll ever buy a BBC title anyway

01-16-2008, 07:07 PM	#12
blukrank Senior Member Member since:Mar 2006 Location:MO Blu-ray collection:224 Blu-ray reviews:5	Speaking of The BBC.When is Torchwood going to be released on Blu-Ray?The DVD version is coming out this coming Tuesday.Why no High Def?

01-16-2008, 07:07 PM	#13
glenn22 Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Vancouver, Canada	doesn't suprise me at all. Every company looks at sales to determine their decisions. Warner switched to Blu exclusivity due to it much larger sales numbers and to put an end to the format war (also for financial reasons). The BBC takes into account the larger sales figures of HD-DVD as well as the huge advantage of Blu-ray and sees that they can probably make more money in the short term releasing on both formats. It all makes logical sense from a finanical standpoint.

01-16-2008, 07:32 PM	#15
navychop Active Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Northern VA	If that were true, I'd be able to buy "The Monastery" (as in the original BBC series) on DVD. I'd LOVE to have that series- we watched a couple episodes while on vacation there. Not available. And I must not be the only one bugging them about it, because they put up on their web site that it was NOT available on DVD.

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