Universal's Kornblau wants format war to continue

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Охранное

You don't think that it has more to do with the total compensation package on the table? Kind of a game of chicken isn't it? What is Universal's neutrality worth to the BDA? If their neutrality effectively ends the format war....that should be a pretty aggressive incentive package.

I think you need to re-read the articles more carefully and read kjack's and Penton's responses more carefully.

Long/short of it: The BDA threw them a good package and they irrationally turned it down.

If Universal personnel like Graffeo and Kornblau are anything to go by, then clearly there's some lack of good business decision making going on and a case of irrationality to boot.

The only way it makes sense is politics.


The reasons for that should be obvious: They have their contract with HD-DVD and they're connected via the NBC-GE-Universal-MS conglomerate.

This isn't a business decision. It's a political one.

Common sense tells us that you had better believe the BDA offered them a very reasonable and aggressive package and yet they still turned it down.

But to be honest: The BDA really doesn't NEED Universal to win this thing. It just would be/would have been nice to wrap it up a bit more expediently.

Originally Posted by Охранное

So if Uni was only waiting for the availability of cheaper hardware and advanced profiles, why did the BDA make an incentive offer?

Why not?

Get it all over with that much faster.

If you've kept up with all of this over the months: Universal keeps throwing out these "moving targets" of criteria anyways.

I appreciate Keith's statements, but it sure is curious that Penton-Man talks about bringing incentives to the table but claims there is more money in "soft red suitcases" if it's only a question of pricing and interactivity that are destined to be delivered in the near term anyway.

That's Microsoft for you. It may not be a situation of just money, but since they're all under that above mentioned conglomerate...there's some political pressure here as well. MS is going to make this thing last for as long as they possibly can.

They've got deep pockets and there's a clear political connection under that conglomerate.

Penton's statements and the common interpretation of kjack's statements appear to be contradictory is all I'm saying. YMMV.

It's just you. Please re-read everything carefully.

Also read these:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...EWS09/70809084

http://www.videobusiness.com/index.a...leid=CA6467868

[Glow007]

I agree with the post above. Universal doesnt seem to have a choice in this war from here on out. There is no way of talking their way out of it and spinning the facts. HD-DVD is done but they cannot quit until Microsoft says so. They basically flat out admitted it in Kornblau's interview.

BTW, Does anyone know where I can find exactly how many HD-DVD players have been sold?

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by JTK

Common sense tells us that you had better believe the BDA offered them a very reasonable and aggressive package and yet they still turned it down.

But to be honest: The BDA really doesn't NEED Universal to win this thing. It just would be/would have been nice to wrap it up a bit more expediently.

But the HD DVD group does need them to even survive at a reasonable level. So, their support could be more important to that side and going by the logic that the aggressiveness of an offer is based on how much they are needed, they may get more from the HD DVD side. However, both sides may have some difficulty making an offer for exclusivity, while an offer for neutrality won't get them in any anti-trust trouble. I think that if sales ratios for new common titles are 1.7:1 and higher (as they were the last 2 weeks) through the rest of the year, the odds of Universal going neutral by the end of CES 2008 are over 50%.

--Darin

[JTK]

Originally Posted by darinp2

But the HD DVD group does need them to even survive at a reasonable level. So, their support could be more important to that side and going by the logic that the aggressiveness of an offer is based on how much they are needed, they may get more from the HD DVD side. However, both sides may have some difficulty making an offer for exclusivity, while an offer for neutrality won't get them in any anti-trust trouble. I think that if sales ratios for new common titles are 1.7:1 and higher (as they were the last 2 weeks) through the rest of the year, the odds of Universal going neutral by the end of CES 2008 are over 50%.

--Darin

Agreed 100 percent, especially if this Christmas ends up being the blow out for BD that I'm expecting it to be.

[Anthony P]

This thread is way too long and I did not get a chance to read everything. So here is my .02$ onj some of the stuff I did see discussed

1) it is total BS that this war is good to consumers because it causes prices to drop. Have prices gone down? yes, but not faster then they did with DVD. Yes HD DVD has had exceptionaly well priced fire sales and loses money on the players sold. But anyone that just buys into HD DVD because of the price got conned into wasting hios money. And anyone that buys both paid way more then he did for a DVD player any which way you cut it.


2) MS is not into HD DVD nor does it think it has a fututre (if they did they would have included it into the elite), but they are helping HD DVD a lot and are a major pusher (like CK pointed out MS is giving them money for their stand). The reason they are supporting and pushing HD DVD is that it will hopefully kill HD disks (like the DVD-A SACD war did to top quality music) so that then they could push for their DL service. If BD (or any HDoM) takes off then MS would have to wait for years to start working on crappy DL and pushing media servers using windows in our homes, windows servers at the MSP, not to forget that the content will be VC-1, WMA-pro audio, HDi, and draconian MS CP

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by shadblz

what i am worried about, is an act of desperation on universal's part. for example, what if they decide to go ahead and release jurassic park, back to the future, ET, gladiator etc... for the 4th quarter, where would bluray stand in the picture?

They can do that only if they wholly finance the picture.

With JP, BTF and ET, they were developed by Amblin. Gladiator was developed and produced by Dreamworks. So the properties do not entirely belong to Universal. Gary is right in that they need Spielberg's approval.

And as somebody else had pointed out, Universal screwed Spielberg on the SKG deal. I think that soured their relationship a bit.


fuad

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by JTK

Agreed 100 percent, especially if this Christmas ends up being the blow out for BD that I'm expecting it to be.

Don't count on it since FOX will be a no show.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

Don't count on it since FOX will be a no show.

Dude, we know you're venting and all but give it a rest. Each post you make dissing Fox is not going to make their BD+ testing research go any faster.

Besides, didn't you say that you're done with both HD-DVD and BD already?


fuad

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Dude, we know you're venting and all but give it a rest. Each post you make dissing Fox is not going to make their BD+ testing research go any faster.

Besides, didn't you say that you're done with both HD-DVD and BD already?


fuad

I've never owned HDDVD and I never will. And yes, for now I am done with BD purchases until the BDA stops messing around and gets their act together in regards to hardware and software availability.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

I've never owned HDDVD and I never will. And yes, for now I am done with BD purchases until the BDA stops messing around and gets their act together in regards to hardware and software availability.

Domination in disc sales
Domination in overall player sales
Leading now in recent stand-alone player sales (despite HD DVD now approaching $200)

What act do the BDA need to get together?

We need Fox for total HD DVD armagendon, not for domination.

[LeoneFan]

I'm sorry but a barely 2:1 ratio is not domination. Despite the fact that Blu-ray has a 5:1 major studio advantage, the number of releases thus far are almost equal compared to HDDVD. That is absolutely pathetic. They keep pushing back titles and canceling titles. They don't give a damn about finishing the war. This isn't the way you fight a format war. If the BDA doesn't care about winning the war then I don't care about the format. I will sit it out until they show me that they are determined to see this through.

Oh and as far as FOX goes, they don't even count as a Blu-ray studio any longer. They can take their movies and shove them up their paranoid asses. As much as we make fun of Universal, at least they support the format they are backing.

[ReduxInflux]

JTK must stand for Just That Kickin' awesome. sweet commentary packin' posts. agree.

politics shmolitics.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Domination in disc sales
Domination in overall player sales
Leading now in recent stand-alone player sales (despite HD DVD now approaching $200)

What act do the BDA need to get together?

We need Fox for total HD DVD armagendon, not for domination.

OK, I'm confused. I thought FOX is with us??? I haven't keep myself up-to-date for several months. Anyone tell me?

[oldmike]

has fox made ANY blu-rays yet?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

OK, I'm confused. I thought FOX is with us??? I haven't keep myself up-to-date for several months. Anyone tell me?

Yes.

Originally Posted by oldmike

has fox made ANY blu-rays yet?

You're kidding, right? Yes they have.

[CptGreedle]

Fox did indeed make some Blu-rays but they stopped when they wanted to update/fix the BD+. Now that BD+ has been fixed/updated, they are planning on releasing their titles again but still have to work on putting the movies into the format.
Still waiting for those release dates....

[oldmike]

Originally Posted by JTK

Yes.





You're kidding, right? Yes they have.

not realy kiding just all the movies i like on fox are not out and cant think of one fox movie comeing out on blu-ray
also keep seeing post about fox being MIA

[w_tanoto]

thanks for the answer. I'm really expecting simpson the movie.... to my small library of BD.

OK, just now, I read a post regarding FOX "rejoining" BD, which is expected to be soon. How soon?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by oldmike

not realy kiding just all the movies i like on fox are not out and cant think of one fox movie comeing out on blu-ray
also keep seeing post about fox being MIA

Last batch of Fox titles included things like Aliens vs. Predator, Xmen III, Courage Under Fire, Usual Suspects, Flyboys, Men of Honor, and a few other things possibly that I can't remember off the top of my head.

The next batch of Fox titles will be out in time for the holidays.

Last batch of Die Hard DVD's that came out and Fox had a promo advertising "Coming soon to Blu-Ray" so I'd place a bet that we're going to see some kind of Die Hard lovin', among other things, on Blu-Ray by Fox in time for the holidays.

[phil]

CAn't wait to Die hard again. http://youtube.com/watch?v=OTyw6cq86kY