Lion's Gate CEO: "in terms of HD, Blu-ray is really the technology of the future"

[JTK]

http://www.worldscreen.com/interview...heimer1006.htm

WS: Lionsgate has chosen the Blu-ray DVD format over HD-DVD. Why did you choose that, and are the two competing DVD formats going to hurt the DVD industry?

FELTHEIMER: We need to get resolution on this and, of course, you don’t want to make the consumer sit around and wait, not knowing which format is going to win. I have to be clear; we aren’t formally bound to Blu-ray. We do have the flexibility to go with whichever is the winning format, but we have chosen Blu-ray for a number of reasons, mostly technical. It has very robust copy protection, which is obviously very important for anti-piracy. It’s got great capacity—50 gigs—that is going to be very important not just for the additional features [that can be offered on a DVD] but for enhanced resolution as well. You’ve got seven studios supporting the format. We think that is important. There are lots of hardware manufacturers supporting it as well, and we felt in terms of high-def, this is really the technology of the future.

Can't state the facts much more clearly than this.

At the very least, I think it's pretty clear that Lion's Gate isn't going to be fudging on their BD only support anytime real soon...if ever.

[BTBuck1]

PWNED!

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

PWNED!

LOL! Too funny...

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

PWNED!

^^
Nice one!

[marzetta7]

Nice! Good news, however, I'm awaiting the "but" monkeys in 3...2...1...

"but, he says they're not formally bound to Blu-ray"

"but, Hollywood studios will go where sales are and HD DVD is outselling Blu-ray 3 to 1"

"but, Lionsgate has canceled all of their Blu-ray releases execept for one in 2006, which means they're going HD DVD."

"but, Lionsgate is going to use one encode of VC-1 for future releases, which means they'll be going HD DVD"

etc, etc, etc.

[Chris Beveridge]

Originally Posted by marzetta7

Nice! Good news, however, I'm awaiting the "but" monkeys in 3...2...1...

"but, he says they're not formally bound to Blu-ray"

"but, Hollywood studios will go where sales are and HD DVD is outselling Blu-ray 3 to 1"

"but, Lionsgate has canceled all of their Blu-ray releases execept for one in 2006, which means they're going HD DVD."

"but, Lionsgate is going to use one encode of VC-1 for future releases, which means they'll be going HD DVD"

etc, etc, etc.

Just read the AVS thread for that. You read the quote/article and then the replies and you feel like you read two different things.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

Just read the AVS thread for that. You read the quote/article and then the replies and you feel like you read two different things.

And then you see who wrote what and there's absolutely no surprise to any of it whatsoever.

[hmurchison]

It's not a Fox level committment but it's a step in the right direction if you're a Blu-ray fan.

[SDK]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

It's not a Fox level committment but it's a step in the right direction if you're a Blu-ray fan.

I don't think you need to be a fan of BD to get a simple math result, 30 vs 50GB?

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by SDK

I don't think you need to be a fan of BD to get a simple math result, 30 vs 50GB?

Those are just numbers. What's important is defining the correlations between those numbers. Can an extra 20GB really improve the final product? What other efficiencies may that surplus offer?

Specs mean nothing until we can clearly articulate the advantages of said specs. Saying something is for the "future" means little until a roadmap of the future can at least be conjectured upon.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by marzetta7

Nice! Good news, however, I'm awaiting the "but" monkeys in 3...2...1...

"but, he says they're not formally bound to Blu-ray"

"but, Hollywood studios will go where sales are and HD DVD is outselling Blu-ray 3 to 1"

"but, Lionsgate has canceled all of their Blu-ray releases execept for one in 2006, which means they're going HD DVD."

"but, Lionsgate is going to use one encode of VC-1 for future releases, which means they'll be going HD DVD"

etc, etc, etc.

But Feltheimer seems to be calling for a swift resolution to the format war so that people can buy in confidence. To that end, Lionsgate is doing BD only for the various reasons he lists. Going neutral would only confuse consumers further and prolong the format war-- things Feltheimer does not want to see happen.

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by bferr1

But Feltheimer seems to be calling for a swift resolution to the format war so that people can buy in confidence. To that end, Lionsgate is doing BD only for the various reasons he lists. Going neutral would only confuse consumers further and prolong the format war-- things Feltheimer does not want to see happen.

I'm thinking you're being a bit liberal here with his wording. I'm reading that they feel like Blu-ray offers the superior technology and that's their horse but they naturally are open to supporting the winning format which may or may not be Blu-ray.

Going neutral won't confuse consumers anymore than they are with Warner and Paramount cranking out titles on both. Frankly I don't see things getting easy for exclusive studios. Right now there are less than 100k players for both platforms. Things change with there are are a million players for each with people eager to buy and rent movies.

Exclusivity is bad for consumers whether we're talking about HD DVD or Blu-ray.

[theknub]

what's worse for consumers than exclusivity is two formats. that leaves the consumer high and dry if they pick the wrong one. in this case, at least the consumer can make a more educated decision based upon which studios support what

[zombie]

Originally Posted by theknub

what's worse for consumers than exclusivity is two formats. that leaves the consumer high and dry if they pick the wrong one. in this case, at least the consumer can make a more educated decision based upon which studios support what

Agreed that two formats simply looks bad to the consumer but I honestly believe both format can coexist just as happens in the video gaming industry.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Exclusivity is bad for consumers whether we're talking about HD DVD or Blu-ray.

I think if both formats are still around in '08 then all studios will be supporting both formats then except for Sony. And I fully expect both formats to be doing quite well by then.

[Deciazulado]

monkeys in 3...2.. *schirrrrpfzzzzzz

"but, he says they're not formally bound to Blu-ray"

"but, Hollywood studios will go where sales are and HD DVD is outselling Blu-ray 3 to 1"

"but, Lionsgate has canceled all of their Blu-ray releases execept for one in 2006, which means they're going HD DVD."

"but, Lionsgate is going to use one encode of VC-1 for future releases, which means they'll be going HD DVD"

I totally "descent" with that:





__________________
"Yes, we are exclusive to HD-DVD and we choose to be with them because of their copy protection that they could provide and the fact that they are a more durable format. HD-DVD is doing very well and getting great press, but if Blu-ray comes along and takes the lead and proves they are a better fit then we'll have NO problem supporting them." - Universal rep.

[zombie]

I have to be clear; we aren’t formally bound to Blu-ray. We do have the flexibility to go with whichever is the winning format

That doesn't exact ensure confidence in me that they'll remain a Blu-ray exclusive. This guy says that while the studio prefers Blu-ray they aren't saying no to HD DVD.

[Jeff®]

I have to be clear; we aren’t formally bound to Blu-ray. We do have the flexibility to go with whichever is the winning format

Originally Posted by nyg

That doesn't exact ensure confidence in me that they'll remain a Blu-ray exclusive. This guy says that while the studio prefers Blu-ray they aren't saying no to HD DVD.

If (and that's a big if), HD DVD is "the winning format." That doesn't sound like someone who is predisposed to releasing on two existing high def formats at the same time.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Jeff®

If (and that's a big if), HD DVD is "the winning format." That doesn't sound like someone who is predisposed to releasing on two existing high def formats at the same time.

You're absolutely right. I just re-read that article again and was going to edit my post to reflect that very quote but you beat me to it. I withdraw my previous comments and am satisfied that Lions Gate is indeed a Blu-ray exlusive and intends to remain one for the time being. I must say this surprises me a bit and I will have to go back to my source and have him question his wife about this. She works for LionsGate and told him who told me that they were going to go format neutral. Clearly this is not the case. And we all know what that means... Good News For Blu-ray!

[Jeff®]

Originally Posted by nyg

I must say this surprises me a bit and I will have to go back to my source and have him question his wife about this. She works for LionsGate and told him who told me that they were going to go format neutral. Clearly this is not the case. And we all know what that means... Good News For Blu-ray!

Hehe. I have no idea what L.G. will do. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Perhaps you got accurate information, or perhaps they changed their mind. I was just stating, based upon the quote, they didn't sound prepared to go format-neutral at this time.