Official: Warner Bros goes BD exclusive in May 2008

[UltimateFighter]

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...n-that-format/

January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
“Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices,” said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. “Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner.”

“A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry,” said Tsujihara. “Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.”

[beansbaxter]

Oh Yeah!

[monkyman]

**Champaign Corks Popping**

[zipbags]

Kudos for Warner for doing this now and not waiting even a few more weeks. This allows people who may have just purchased a hd-dvd player to return them.

[Glow007]

It kinda sucks that they are going to continue to release on dud til May but this is still GREAT news!!!

The fact that they are going to continue with dud til May means those people that still leap before they look may not realize that all those WB movies are about to disappear from the shelves. But who cares...THE WAR IS OVER!!!!!

[UltimateFighter]

Hopefully this includes New Line?

[iamJackBauer]

yay, glad i went Blu

[blu-rayfan101]

why do we have to wait until may?

[mattym]

wow! excellent news. Really excellent news.

[Exodus]

Yeah, is New Line part of WB or are they a seperate studio? I can see it now, Lord of the Rings, 1st Blu Ray exclusive in May!

[mel2]

Rdjam, kosty, lee stewart and those losers can now watch blu-ray get the Dark Knight and I am Legend exclusively.

[marzetta7]

F--k yeah! Okay, uncalled for, but I had to say it!

[Kratos3]

Originally Posted by blu-rayfan101

why do we have to wait until may?

I'm sure some movies already have distribution and sales of HD-DVDs in their contracts, and also there are prob many HD-DVDs currently in production. Either way, this effectively ends the format war.

[Braktastic]

I have to admit, I am a bit confused by this:

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.

If I am reading that correctly, it sounds like Blu-ray Disc will have the benefit of timed-exclusivity on HD releases until the end of May 2008 when Warner Bros. will no longer produce HD DVD at all. Is that correct?

[Jack]

This is the best thing that could happen to the consumer and hollywood.
Warner (i.e. Jeff Bewkes) really showed some "balls" and did the right thing. Blu-Ray is the way to go and very soon they will be celebrated as heroes for ending this war.

But what many people forget: Microsoft is the biggest loser in this.
This is really half-unexpected and really breaking on several levels....wow.

[garlad]

Finally!!! the news we all wanted to hear!!!! CELLLLLLLEBRATE GOOD TIMES! COME ON!

[Therickus]

Originally Posted by monkyman

**Champaign Corks Popping**

You laugh, but I am seriously considering it. Or maybe a bottle of Johnny Walker - Blu Label would be more fitting.

[Amon37]

Originally Posted by mel2

Rdjam, kosty, lee stewart and those losers can now watch blu-ray get the Dark Knight and I am Legend exclusively.

I am legend may be out before may.

The more I read this the more excited I am.

[mel2]

They wait until May because they are a respectable company unlike paramount. warner will follow through with their titles that were announced before today. paramount pulled everything that week. remember blades of glory was a week away and paramount pulled their crap.

[ceberhart]

1 Huge Step Closer To Never Having To Hear About Dud Again!!