Giving props to Disney! (USA Today article)

[WriteSimply]

Read the full article here.

Disney hits the road to shine a light on Blu-ray

By Thomas K. Arnold, Special for USA TODAY
Coming soon to a mall near you: a lavish Disney road show, complete with towering widescreens, interactive video-game and movie stations, and even a mini theater.

The focus of it all isn't a hot new movie or Disney Channel show. It's the Blu-ray Disc.

Blu-ray, along with HD DVD, is what's known as "next-generation" discs, with high-definition visuals primed for the wave of HDTVs entering American homes. The problem is, the formats have been out a year, and viewers still don't understand that special players and DVDs — in addition to HDTVs — are needed to get the full high-def effect.

Disney's Magical Blu-ray Tour, which will visit 18 malls for three-day runs, aims to change all that.

"There's a lot of consumer confusion out there, and we want to help everyone understand this amazing new technology," says Bob Chapek, president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

MALL TOUR DATES AND LOCATIONS

-Westfield Topanga, Canoga Park, Calif.
Aug. 17-19

-South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, Calif.
Aug. 24-26

-Westfield North County, Escondido, Calif.
Aug. 31-Sept. 2

-Westfield San Francisco, San Francisco
Sept. 7-9

-Washington Square, Portland, Ore.
Sept. 14-16

-Westfield South Center, Seattle
Sept. 21- 23
-Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.
Sept. 28-30

-Orland Square, Orland Park, Ill.
Oct. 5-7

-Westfield West County, St. Louis
Oct. 12-14

-Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Va.
Oct. 19-21

-Roosevelt Field, Garden City, N.Y.
Oct. 26-28

-Burlington Mall, Burlington, Mass.
Nov. 9-11

-King of Prussia, King of Prussia, Pa.
Nov. 16-18

-Circle Centre, Indianapolis
Nov. 23-25

-Lenox Square, Atlanta
Nov. 30-Dec. 2

-The Galleria, Houston
Dec. 7-9

-Barton Creek Square, Austin
Dec. 14-16

-Chandler Fashion Center, Chandler, Ariz.
Dec. 21-23

I love the fact that they said BD is "Better Than Perfect". Now their own BD roadshow? Too much!


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[WriteSimply]

Interesting stats on the side of the page.

A recent study by the NPD Group showed 83% of reported high-definition-disc purchases are actually regular DVDs. "We know this because the titles aren't available on high-def disc," analyst Russ Crupnick says.

Another study by Leichtman Research Group found that nearly half of the 24 million households that have HDTVs aren't watching high-definition programming of any sort.

This is why the BD roadshow is needed. I wonder if Disney will hammer the fact that only with BD will consumers get Disney content.


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[HDJK]

Good to see that they're trying to spread the word to the average consumer. It's about time too..

[gand41f]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Gawd, that's an...amazing looking Kiosk. Are they really going to drag that thing through the entire nation???

impressive
gandalf

[bluetyler]

Actually we should also be thanking Panasonic as they appear to be sponsoring the tour.

[KingDeezie]

War Over; end game.












.... really, what average consumer doesn't love or have kids who love something from Disney.

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by gand41f

Gawd, that's an...amazing looking Kiosk.

Now, how to get one of those in my living room?

[Spankey]

I'm sure, over at AVS, they are saying this is a sure sign Disney is about to go neutral.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Interesting stats on the side of the page.

"A recent study by the NPD Group showed 83% of reported high-definition-disc purchases are actually regular DVDs. 'We know this because the titles aren't available on high-def disc,' analyst Russ Crupnick says.

I'm confused by this stat. How can 83% of "reported high-definition-disc purchases" actually be counted as such when they are really just regular DVDs and not even available in HD?

[BLu-Balls]

Do I see a PS3 in that pic? I think so

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by BLu-Balls

Do I see a PS3 in that pic? I think so

Wow, another amazing promo from Disney. And congrats to Panasonic. Great times for Blu-ray.

And the BD marketting juggernaut begins.

Gary

[Jim L]

This is so much better than that stupid truck that drives around the country for Microsoft and Toshiba promoting HD DVD.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by BLu-Balls

Do I see a PS3 in that pic? I think so

Yes, console on the far left. Nice.

That is a huge thing as well, and how nice of Disney to do what Somy won't... clearly advertise the darn thing a sa blu-ray player.

[Wondermaker]

They're coming to the mega mall! w00t!

*marks September 28 weekend on calendar*

[kjack]

Originally Posted by gand41f

Are they really going to drag that thing through the entire nation???

The tear down, packing, and assembly of these things are pretty easy these days. The kiosks we use in our trade show suites fold down to store/ship in a large luggage-type bag, complete with built-in wheels and handles.

Nice to see someone finally doing this!

[kjack]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ray Buckeye

That is a huge thing as well, and how nice of Disney to do what Somy won't... clearly advertise the darn thing a sa blu-ray player.

Sony does do this at trade shows, with the PS3 in Blu-ray booth playing movies. They also show their laptops playing BD movies.

[matthewrounds]

I will try to go when it is in San Francisco. I hate going to San Francisco though, but it looks to be the closest since I am in San Jose.

[Longshot]

Anyone else here from the Washington DC area? Would be great to meet some of my fellow members at Tysons Corner during this promo.

[Blubaru]

Originally Posted by Longshot

Anyone else here from the Washington DC area? Would be great to meet some of my fellow members at Tysons Corner during this promo.

I am!!!

I would definitely be up for a Blu-ray meet

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by bferr1

I'm confused by this stat. How can 83% of "reported high-definition-disc purchases" actually be counted as such when they are really just regular DVDs and not even available in HD?

It's something like this:

Census Taker: Do you buy HD discs regularly?

Lecter: Of course. 83% of the time. The last HD disc I bought was The Silence Of The Lambs.

Census Taker: But that's not released yet on BD. MGM stalled that release.

Lecter: Hmmm. I may have to eat the salesman's liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. (sound effect)



Colonel Jessup: Are we clear?!?


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