Warner Bros. To Begin Blu-ray Combo Packs On All Theatrical New Release Titles

[Blu-News]

Burbank, Calif. December 16, 2009 - Warner Bros. Home Entertainment today announced two Blu-ray(TM) packaging initiatives that will give consumers greater value and portability when shopping for the best possible way to watch movies at home. Beginning in the first quarter of 2010, Warner Home Video will be releasing its entire Theatrical New Release slate as Blu-ray combo packs, containing a Blu-ray Disc of the film with exclusive special features and exciting BD-Live interactivity, a standard-definition DVD and a Digital Copy of the film. For no additional cost, Blu-ray combo packs offer consumers significantly more value by merging the unsurpassed quality of Blu-ray with the convenience of being able to watch the film in any format, on just about every playback device.

Warner Home Video is also launching the industry’s first line of Blu-ray Double Features, priced at $24.98 (SRP). Beginning February 23, the attractively packaged and entry-level priced Blu-ray Double Features pack will include a pair of well-matched catalog hits spanning multiple genres – comedy, action, drama/thriller and horror. The first wave will include “Dirty Harry” and “Magnum Force” starring Clint Eastwood; “Analyze This” and “Analyze That” starring Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro; “Presumed Innocent” and “Frantic” starring Harrison Ford; “Miss Congeniality” and “Miss Congeniality 2” starring Sandra Bullock; and Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.

“When people experience Blu-ray – they love it, and with Blu-ray combo packs on all of our top new releases, we are giving consumers the titles they want without having to sacrifice convenience and portability,” said Ron Sanders, President, Warner Home Video. “And our new Blu-ray Double Feature sets make it easier and more affordable than ever for consumers to build or expand their home movie libraries and discover why Blu-ray is simply the best way to watch movies at home.”

According to third quarter figures compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), Blu-ray is on the rise. In 2009, Blu-ray Disc set-top player sales grew 112 percent over the same period last year and this holiday season consumers are seeing Blu-ray player prices starting around $100, making it that much easier for home audiences to see the films they love the way they were meant to be seen. Blu-ray devices are at the top of many consumers’ holiday wish lists this year are projected to be in 15 million U.S. homes by the end of this year.

[Blu Titan]

That is great! A much better approach to Universal's "flipper" fiasco.

[that1guystudios]

Well that's cool. A few new titles in there. Miss Congeniality 1 sounds great. Too bad you'll have to claim that the 2nd one is in your collection, though.

[truffleshuffle83]

Great news. If Warner was smart they wouldn't even put out a DVD. 1 sku should drive costs down and convert more people to blu since they'll own blu rays

[saprano]

I rather no DVD at all but its free so whatever.

At least its better than what the jack asses at fooliversal are doing.

[detective392]

Awesome I love combo packs. Good to hear WB is doing this.

[Diesel]

Suck it flippers

I like this.

[BDestroyer8418]

Sweet I love it....

[blindcat87]

Definitely a step in the right direction.

Chris

[Clark Kent]

The flipper product appears to be Universal going at it alone. I hope the other studios refuse to emulate them.

[GGX]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

That is great! A much better approach to Universal's "flipper" fiasco.

Agreed 100%

[Diesel]

So this is going to start with their first release of Q2 2010 or just during Q2?


Edit: wait a second, doesn't Q1 of 2010 start in like October

[BDestroyer8418]

I ban those Flipper Disc. And why does one of my fav trilogy The Bourne Collection have to get them.

[Rblu-Dblu]

I could do without the free coaster. I know some people like to have an extra dvd copy laying around for the kids. Beats the hell out of the flipper discs.

[RodChester]

Well, I don't really care about getting a DVD copy of a movie. However, I think this is way better than a digital copy of the film on a DVD disc that will be more useless than it already is in a few months. I suppose at the very least I could print out some decent cover art work and sell the DVD on eBay for a few bucks.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Diesel

So this is going to start with their first release of Q2 2010 or just during Q2?


Edit: wait a second, doesn't Q1 of 2010 start in like October

Q1 of 2010 would be January 2010 through March 2010. I think you're thinking of fiscal quarters which are on a slightly adjusted calendar, but I don't believe that is what is being discussed in this article.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

Q1 of 2010 would be January 2010 through March 2010. I think you're thinking of fiscal quarters which are on a slightly adjusted calendar, but I don't believe that is what is being discussed in this article.

Oh yea, that's what I was thinking. My mistake.

[Beta Man]

I love getting the DVD copy with the "Family Oriented" movies.... and I think getting them with all other movies would be nice too.

[KilloWertz]

Too bad they didn't start this a little sooner since I've bought a decent amount of Warner titles lately, but either way it's still nice to see. I like getting the DVD copy with my movies when they're offered. I may also pick up a couple of those Double Feature packs too as they have some good combos coming out.

[fdm]

Frantic would be nice. Would be nicer if separately available and for half the price of a 2pak. Suppose Presumed Innocent would be okay, but really wouldn't be all that interested if available separately.

And... would prefer just a BD (no dvd copy, no digital copy, no digibook, no whatever) in a case.