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

[zombie]

Originally Posted by ay221

I wonder if we do have dual format players, in 5 years what type of disc will the studios make?

While I believe dual format players will be very successful for a few years. I'd be willing to bet that well within 5 years one format's discs will be outselling the other format's discs by a huge margin and then the studios will all support that greater selling format and slowly phase out issuing their movies on the lesser selling format.

[SDK]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

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?

There is no point in defining correlation as it is well known since PC has been developed. The more space you have for data storage the more details you can store. In terms of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, you get less "squares" with higher storage capacity owing to lesser compression applied. Another actual surplus is that you can have one Blu-ray disc roughly containing two HD-DVDs

[BTBuck1]

I just don't understand the point of both sides having all studios. If thats the case, there is no reason for HDDVD. Also, right now...aside from Universal pictures and a few yet to be releases WB titles, there is no need for HDDVD. All HDDVD is doing is lighting a fire under the BDA's ass to get a move on with it's potential. once BD reaches full potential...it's OVA!

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by SDK

There is no point in defining correlation as it is well known since PC has been developed. The more space you have for data storage the more details you can store. In terms of Blu-ray and HD-DVD, you get less "squares" with higher storage capacity owing to lesser compression applied. Another actual surplus is that you can have one Blu-ray disc roughly containing two HD-DVDs

Then how does one explain how Good Night and Good Luck looks equal on both discs despite the 10GB delta? Because the consumer is missing the correlation between the different codecs and how that affects storage. Data storage is different because you're talking about a file system. This isn't easy stuff to convey to consumers and it's one of the reason why the brick and mortar stores are struggling in this endeavour. The appeal to simplicity here is to state "well format A gives you more storage so it 'must' be better". Sadly it's never that easy.

[theknub]

10 gb delta. they used a sl bd and hd-dvd for each?

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by theknub

10 gb delta. they used a sl bd and hd-dvd for each?

Yup. The HD DVD is a 15/9.4 combo.

[PeterTHX]

Yet some reviewers think the MPEG2 Good Night & Good Luck looks BETTER than the HD DVD version. Hmmm. Wonder why.

Also wondering why the 197 minute Spartacus, which doesn't look all that great BTW, has no extras whatsoever, not even a trailer. I'm telling you, HD DVD has hit the capacity wall.

[theknub]

peter, you know that is a myth

hd-dvd can do it all as a SL disc as was just discussed

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Neither has the conclusive advantage so it seems illogical to me to see exclusive studios.

I disagree 100%.

In fact I am really surprised that WB and Paramount are releasing in both formats since they are going to more expense to release any given title than the other studios who are just doing it for one format.

It seems that Warner is only doing one encode with saves money with respect to two formats - Paramount's approach of a completely different release seems crazy to me.

Originally it was a split and I was kinda surprised that it didn't stay that way. If it had, things could be very different right now.

Getting Warner and Paramount to release BDs was a huge coup by the BDA.

On the other hand, if everyone released on both formats as you claim is logical, there would be no end in sight. Both formats would become accepted and neither would be as strong as a 'single format'. And once a sufficient user base is on both sides it would never make sense to stop making either format. So they would be stuck authoring for both until the next format comes... This would be just like SACD and DVD-A - no winner.

That is my opinion.

[SDK]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Then how does one explain how Good Night and Good Luck looks equal on both discs despite the 10GB delta?

I won't be making comparison for end-users on such title at all, it is Black-and-White. This is like playing mono songs on 7.1 set, imho

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

I just don't understand the point of both sides having all studios. If thats the case, there is no reason for HDDVD.

Now THAT's pure logic.

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Then how does one explain how Good Night and Good Luck looks equal on both discs despite the 10GB delta?

I've explained that a few times already. People making evaluations about High Definition watching it on 50" sets, is like comparing different 35mm film stocks using 16mm reduction prints. You're too far away, or the image is too small. You'll have to look very careful or look closer. Few people do this.

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Yet some reviewers think the MPEG2 Good Night & Good Luck looks BETTER than the HD DVD version. Hmmm. Wonder why.

See?

Originally Posted by SDK

I won't be making comparison for end-users on such title at all, it is Black-and-White. This is like playing mono songs on 7.1 set, imho

Yup.

A B/W image, properly encoded takes 50% less space or bandwidth. Multiply file sizes or bitrates by 1.5x of the HD-DVD/BD to get the color equivalent.


Talking about bitrates, The Last Stand's one is equivalent to the Swordfish one and slighly better than Eight Below, The Great Raid, etc etc, so I presume it be the best yet.

(The only one that I saw in benes's table in a quick glance that might be higher would seem to be Blazing Saddles)
__________________
"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.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Brian@BBY

I just don't understand the point of both sides having all studios. If thats the case, there is no reason for HDDVD. Also, right now...aside from Universal pictures and a few yet to be releases WB titles, there is no need for HDDVD. All HDDVD is doing is lighting a fire under the BDA's ass to get a move on with it's potential. once BD reaches full potential...it's OVA!

Exactly right.


No amount of talking points and apologisms can cover up this very simple fact:

Regardless of anything else, if Universal woke up today and some suit said: "Hey, we can make more money throwing both formats some bones."

At the very instant they start acting on that, BD will have 100 percent studio support and that's basically all she wrote.

[WriteSimply]

On an unrelated but PS3-note, Musictap.net just released news that the entire Genesis catalog is going to be remastered and remixed.

TAP reader, Grant Hittinger, acting on our link to the Genesis announcement, has sent us the results of the announcement, which occurred on Tuesday, Nov 7. Here's the deal. Genesis, with their core element of Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Tony Banks, will reform for a tour, their first in 15 years. It is a Euro tour and is called Turn It On Again. We just have to hope for a US tour as well (trust me, it'll happen). But that's not even the best news.

It appears that the Genesis camp (we knew this was happening at some point - we reported on this last year) will be reissuing all Genesis albums...in SACD Surround. They will be issued as SACD/DVD Double Disc sets and will be phased released. The first releases will be A Trick of the Tail (1976); Wind & Wuthering (1977); ...And Then There Were Three (1978); Duke (1980); and Abacab (1981). This first fruits phase will begin in March of 2007.

The second phase will include Genesis (1983); Invisible Touch (1986); We Can't Dance (1991); and Calling All Stations (1997). This phase will begin in either June or July of 2007.

The final phase includes the real gems of the set with Trepass (1970); Nursery Cryme (1971); Foxtrot (1972); the magnificent Selling England By The Pound (1973); and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974). This final phase (the Peter Gabriel period phase) will begin in late 2007 or early 2008. Gives you a chance to save your pennies.

And you think BD is going to empty your wallet. HAH!


fuad

[Jazar]

That's awesome news! I'm a big Genny fan.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

On an unrelated but PS3-note, Musictap.net just released news that the entire Genesis catalog is going to be remastered and remixed.


And you think BD is going to empty your wallet. HAH!


fuad

Jeezuz. My wallet is crying already.

[dobyblue]

Great news - not that I ever thought SACD was dead, on the contrary I argue the opposite.
Can't wait to get some of these! Hopefully Phil will release some of his old albums too. I'd like to get No Jacket Required on SACD Multi-channel.

[iceman]

Fox, Lionsgate and Disney have stated several times that they are going to stay Blu-ray exclusive, so obviously they are going to stay Blu-ray exclusive.

Thread closed.