What about Warner? Part the Second

[MallardRider]

If WB wants to go Blu-ray exclusive, they would do it @ CES. If nothing materializes then, well...I guess it would be business as usual. Hopefully.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Killing HD DUD in January would be stone cold,.. a simple kick in the teeth.

Sooner or later SOMEONE is going to have to take a (hard) kick in the teeth.

[Barnum]

Originally Posted by Longshot

We will know if there is any major announcements from either side or the studios themselves. IF WB does decide to go Bd exclusive we most certainly will hear about this before next weekend. If there is no WB announcement by next Friday I expect the same dog & pony show from each camp. Like most Bd fans I desperately want Warner to end this thing but I'm not holding my breath.

Let's hope between Jan. 1st and next Friday that Howard Stringer, Andy Parsons and Bob Chapek get the new CEO of Time Warner in a conference room and don't let him out until a deal is agreed upon.

Happy New Year to all my blu-brothers and insiders!

My God how many times does this have to be discussed? I would be surprised if they did anything until late 08.

[blu-rayfan101]

There is alot of talk about wether or not Warner will go blu-ray exclusive at CES. Some people think they will and others say they won't. Other think it's really to early to to tell and are undecided. But deep down what do you think is going to happen?

[JasonR]

I think CES is going to go over without much of a fizzle.

[JAGUAR1977]

In a word no, that will come later.

But I expect Weinstein to announce Blu-ray support, a major retailer to support Blu-ray exclusively in some form, and full profile Chinese players to be announced for under $300.

[Blu-Style]

When is this day ?

[Slapper]

Nope. I don't think Warner will announce anything at CES, but I hope I'm wrong.

I look for them to make a "going with Blu-ray exclusively" announcement early Spring. They will finish releasing all previously announced HD-DVD titles through the Summer, then gear up for a big Fall/Winter as a Blu-exclusive studio.

[ryoohki]

Not in a 1000000000 years. Warner is confortable in their situation. I'am pretty sure i would take a 90/10 for all year long on their title..

Like i said before, the best way to finish the fight is to buy Best Buy out, BluRay Exclusive MEDIA and HARDWARE and then, HD DVD become a Amazon.com exclusive format..

[Hamawy]

Absolutely, they will go Blu exc. its better for movies studios to choose one side sooner than later. and they wont repeat Paramount's deal

[HeavyHitter]

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think anything happens at CES with Warner. Having just released all of these big named titles (Potters, Blade Runner, etc.) I can't see them pulling the plug that quickly on HD DVD. My guess is something by spring will happen.

[blindcat87]

People keep bringing up this point or something along those lines. We already have an example that past or current release efforts or any other aspects of operation is no sign of what is coming. I don't know how many times the example of Paramount needs to be brought up. That is not a unique example either. The fact is that movie studios are almost always business as usual until usual changes. Any losses incurred in the switchover will be written off on next year's taxes.

Most of the things people point to like titles announced, not ticking off fans, etc are things that are perpetual. If they are going to switch, it will be the same story no matter when, only the name of the last title released and the number of folks they tick off will change. You know the old saying about ripping off a Band Aid?

Don't get me wrong, I really don't expect a CES announcement. It would be a lot kinder for them to do it and get it over with, but I think it is unlikely simply because WB wants to do it on their own terms and timetable and not make it a small part of a big industry event. I really do think, for many reasons that I have discussed on other threads, that before the end of January is very likely and that at the latest it will come 1st quarter. Since their fiscal calendar matches the actual calendar, I really think it makes much more sense. Especially since WB, like all of the rest of the industry, want to start counteracting the loss of revenue from the DVD slide ASAP. Early changeover makes for a quick shift into gear for a hard drive to increase adoption.

Anything is possible, but quicker makes much more sense.

Chris

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think anything happens at CES with Warner. Having just released all of these big named titles (Potters, Blade Runner, etc.) I can't see them pulling the plug that quickly on HD DVD. My guess is something by spring will happen.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

Anything is possible, but quicker makes much more sense.

Chris

At CES they will have to make their intentions clear. Given that, they will not flip flop in a month or in a quarter.

So I would say if nothing happens at CES, WB will be stable for some time.

I expect WB will continue to solidly back both formats, and CES will see the announcement of some of the titles previously exclusive to HD DVD.

[blindcat87]

No have to about it. It is not uncommon for studios and even CE companies to hold off on certain major announcements until after industry events. It depends on whether they want to hit the ground running or if they want the spotlight to themselves enough to put the announcement off until they don't have to have their press release be one more on a list. Anyone who relaxes and celebrates or goes off in a panic (depending on their point of view) if no announcement comes at CES hasn't been watching the industry long enough to realize that it has always had its own form of theater to it.

Also, don't forget that WB will still be breaking a new CEO of the parent corporation. The TW family may still want a little time to settle in, even if it is only a matter of weeks before pushing the button. A CES announcement is certainly possible, and on the surface seems the smartest, least painful way to do this. But it all depends on exactly how WB plans to make this happen, the way they want the change to be perceived by the industry and the public, and how much drama they want around it.

Chris

Originally Posted by blu2

At CES they will have to make their intentions clear. Given that, they will not flip flop in a month or in a quarter.

So I would say if nothing happens at CES, WB will be stable for some time.

I expect WB will continue to solidly back both formats, and CES will see the announcement of some of the titles previously exclusive to HD DVD.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

I would like to add that pretty much everything said in this thread regarding the topic at hand is all speculation, with many of us interjecting our own observations on how we think things will pan out at CES.

Penton-man, on the other hand, is a true insider, and what he has had to say regarding this whole mess is very promising. I put a lot more stock into what he says than anyone else that's posted in this thread.

[GaS]

I just approach the situation with Warner as it could still go either way. That way if we get bad news it will not be the kick in the teeth that paramount was.

[canerzi]

Does anyone else finds it weird that Warner has no hi-def release for the whole January?

Do you think it means something?

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by canerzi

Does anyone else finds it weird that Warner has no hi-def release for the whole January?

Do you think it means something?

very strange, yes i do think it means something. they have intentionally delayed certain titles that were supposed to come out in mid january (during CES) to the very end of the month.

[stringent]

We can speculate till the cows come home. Until there is a press release, or something firm, WB will remain neutral.

I DO hope they go Blu exclusive soon though. This is my personal preference (as I am sure its everyones!) I doubt it will be at CES, and as they are attending both HD-DVD and Blu conferences, it makes a better standing to do something at the end of this tax year (April in UK, is it the same for the rest of the world?!) so they start afresh. Then again, they could want to make money out of both sets of people. Surely if they released movies on both formats, they would make more money than just one.

[edge]

Originally Posted by canerzi

Does anyone else finds it weird that Warner has no hi-def release for the whole January?

Do you think it means something?

For both Blu and DUD ? That is strange, heh, maybe they stop support on both