Warner Delays TotalHD

[AlaskaDon]

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6456115.html

I guess they are having second thoughts about it

[jermwhl]

Yes, to coincide with the failure of HD-DVD!

[jsb_hburg]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

Yes, to coincide with the failure of HD-DVD!

that makes sense...

[BLu-Balls]

Finally, A sensible move from WB

[Chad Varnadore]

Best news I've heard all day. But, I doubt they'll drop their plans. They've probably already invested too much in it. I'm sure the HD DVD promotion group is happy about it at least.

But the studio is committed to satisfying consumers.

If that's true, they're not listening to the actual consumers of their products. As few supporting BD or HD DVD seem to want such an abomination. It's good for nobody, except Warner.

[bluflu]

Warner would scrap THD completely if they're really committed to satisfying consumers.

[hyperdine]

Great news. I hope THD never sees the light of day. I think WB has read the writing on the wall.

[monkyman]

Good news maybe, but sounds like it will delay the release of the 10-20 blu-ray titles too, seeing as they will be on the same disc.

[Weati]

I cringe whenever THD is mentioned. I'm not going to pay more for a side that I'll never use. Hopefully their next annoucement will be that they're scrapping all their THD plans.

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by Weati

I cringe whenever THD is mentioned. I'm not going to pay more for a side that I'll never use. Hopefully their next annoucement will be that they're scrapping all their THD plans.

I know i exhaled a sigh of relief when I read this! I was dreading releases on THD......so much so, that I was considering not buying them at all.

[hyperdine]

Hmm...another thought just occurred to me on this topic. I believe Warner said that when they start to release New Line films they would be on THD. I wonder if this means that the New Line titles would be delayed as well?

My guess is that they won't. Which would actually jive with previous rumors that LOTR: EE would be released on Blu-Ray (which they probably wouldn't have enough space to do with THD).

[Shin-Ra]

I hope this TotalHD crap never gets released.

[jubaiweaponx]

I`m in the same boat as shin here this is an abomination and should never see the light of day

[Jim L]

". . . Nickerson said the studio wants to launch the discs with 10 to 20 titles so retailers can merchandise them together in one section and they don't get lost at retail."

Yeah, sure. Retailers like Best Buy want to waste more shelf space on another format displayed in its own area!


I think the real story is this:

• Come fall, the BDA will be pouring it on. The new spec for BD-J and BD-Live will be fully implemented with new players
• 1st and 2nd gen players will be selling at incredibly low street prices.
• Even cheaper Funai BD players hit our shores
• Warner itself is ready to "catch-up" titles for BD with some big blockbusters (Matrix, Batman Begins, V for Vendetta?, Riddick?, etc.)
• Sony and Disney have lots of big guns in their arsenals that will probably start hitting
• Fox (with MGM) will be back online
• New game titles, possible promotions, and firmware updates will drive PS3 sales up for the holidays
• More retailers taking the Blu side is a possibility
• Warner has seen polls like the one on this site that 85%+ of BD owners will not buy the THD discs which would definitely eat into their profits

With lots of positive news and events for Blu-ray in the second half of this year, Warner knows their favorite format could be HD DOA by year's end. Why waste more money and lose sales by proceeding with this bad idea?

Just my thoughts.

[Chad Varnadore]

Originally Posted by hyperdine

Hmm...another thought just occurred to me on this topic. I believe Warner said that when they start to release New Line films they would be on THD. I wonder if this means that the New Line titles would be delayed as well?

My guess is that they won't. Which would actually jive with previous rumors that LOTR: EE would be released on Blu-Ray (which they probably wouldn't have enough space to do with THD).

Sure they can. Microsoft will get the bitrate down to 5-10mbs just like current DVD and say it looks just as good. Of course that's without any extras.

If NL has held off this long because of the war, it would be foolish for them to support anything other than BD exclusively at this point. I'd guess they might wait on this holiday's sales too or go ahead with BD unless their parent company has any say in it or Microsoft throws them some loose change. Warner has already dug a hole for themselves by supporting HD DVD like they have. They can't just abandon their fans that bought into the format largely because of them. But THD is a poor attempt at salvation.

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Jim L

". . . Nickerson said the studio wants to launch the discs with 10 to 20 titles so retailers can merchandise them together in one section and they don't get lost at retail."

Yeah, sure. Retailers like Best Buy want to waste more shelf space on another format displayed in its own area!


I think the real story is this:

• Come fall, the BDA will be pouring it on. The new spec for BD-J and BD-Live will be fully implemented with new players
• 1st and 2nd gen players will be selling at incredibly low street prices.
• Even cheaper Funai BD players hit our shores
• Warner itself is ready to "catch-up" titles for BD with some big blockbusters (Matrix, Batman Begins, V for Vendetta?, Riddick?, etc.)
• Sony and Disney have lots of big guns in their arsenals that will probably start hitting
• Fox (with MGM) will be back online
• New game titles, possible promotions, and firmware updates will drive PS3 sales up for the holidays
• More retailers taking the Blu side is a possibility
• Warner has seen polls like the one on this site that 85%+ of BD owners will not buy the THD discs which would definitely eat into their profits

With lots of positive news and events for Blu-ray in the second half of this year, Warner knows their favorite format could be HD DOA by year's end. Why waste more money and lose sales by proceeding with this bad idea?

Just my thoughts.

And good thoughts they are....this is a sign to me that Warner knows HD-DVD is done.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by ps3andlovinit

And good thoughts they are....this is a sign to me that Warner knows HD-DVD is done.

I agree. It might not be that the "know" HD DVD is done, but it could certainly mean that they are having doubts about its long term viability. If so, then why waste the time and energy to develop this.

Even one WB exec said, "There's no rush." Basically, they'll re-assess next year...

Great new for all of us. No TotalHD this year...and if the BDA can bury HD DVD...maybe no TotalHD EVER.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by nyg

Agreed.

It makes good sense financially for Warner to wait till the upcoming holiday shopping season is over to see if HD DVD is still breathing. Hopefully Sony, Disney, and Fox will have a strong showing of BDs this fall and smother what little breath HD DVD has left once and for all.

That's not the consumers they're talking about though. They're refering to the folks who're skiddish over any HD format at all due to the war, and who don't realize that supporting a hybrid is counter-productive to a war resolution.

They're looking at gaining consumer share more so from the DVD market than either of their existing HD customers. Unforunately, delaying one format war [BD/HD-DVD] in favor of the other [Hi-Def / DVD] isn't a good idea unless you're really just hoping for Video on Demand services...

[darkpoet25]

You know what THD is an acronym for right? Total Highdef Distortion. I hope this doesn't happen. Makes about as much sense as releasing a dual sided Hd Dud disc.

[jaymzbo]

Hopefully TotalHD=Delayed will mean TotalHD=Dismissed

I would never purchase TotalHD