Will Warner Bros start exclusivity now? - Blu-ray Forum

UTVOL06 · 02-19-2008, 04:32 PM

With the recent Toshiba announcement declaring HD-DVD dead and plans for Universal and Paramount to start releasing Blu-ray soon. Will Warner Bros go ahead and stop producing any HD-DVDs?

Does this mean we can start getting Blu specific encodes now instead of waiting until the original dumping of HD-DVD titles completely by June as originally planned by WB?

I sure hope so..I would really like WB to step up with the encodes now rather than later. Just look at how much better sister company New Line Cinema's Blu-ray movies look in VC-1 with the higher bitrates.

ranma · 02-19-2008, 05:31 PM

I doubt those titles set to release on March are already goes off compress lines and sitting in warehouses. So WB probably will continue to release HDDVD until April.

UTVOL06 · 02-19-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranma

I doubt those titles set to release on March are already goes off compress lines and sitting in warehouses. So WB probably will continue to release HDDVD until April.

I hope not..

bajor27 · 02-19-2008, 05:36 PM

I'm guessing that we'll see a few catalog's not get released on HD-DVD afterall. Twister is one I see not ever coming.

I do still expect to see I am Legend released on HD-DVD though.

Spankey · 02-19-2008, 05:39 PM

I was wondering the same thing. It seems that all HD-DVD production is going to grind to a halt. I don't see the need to extend this now that Toshiba has pulled the plug.

hardcore_canadian · 02-19-2008, 05:41 PM

Toshiba is still Selling them until March no? so that's why i see them making them until then

CptGreedle · 02-19-2008, 05:42 PM

WB is not as mean as Paramount, and I would not be surprised if they decided to have a limited release of their already announced titles to HD DVD. It would be nice to the HD DVD owners, but at the same time, they should stop purchasing HD DVD and start getting into Blu-ray.
WB should drop them altogether, perhaps only releasing those that are already ready to ship (no point in hanging onto them), but who knows.

Nooff · 02-19-2008, 05:44 PM

I don't know why WB is considered "mean" if they cancel their HD DVD releases today. Like you said Greedle, there isn't any future for HD DVD anymore and sooner or later people will have to buy into blu-ray to get high def movies.

tron3 · 02-19-2008, 05:44 PM

Warner has a promise to keep, but what good is their word that HD DVD will live on when the queen bee is dead?

If people demand it, maybe limit the released to 10 or 20 thousand copies. In a market of 600,000 players in the US, that should dry up rather quickly.

I am just SO happy those HD DVD to blu-ray convertions will finally come to an end.

Spankey · 02-19-2008, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardcore_canadian

Toshiba is still Selling them until March no? so that's why i see them making them until then

March yes, but not late May. May is a long way off. It may just not be worth it given the current climate. I don't think Warner even expected things to end this quickly when they announced. Toshiba has really pulled the plug on HD-DVD.

Danger Duck · 02-19-2008, 05:49 PM

I really can't see them going until the end of May like they had stated. I think they will release anything thats finished or almost finished thats is the production line, but everything else will be stopped.

GregBlu5 · 02-19-2008, 05:49 PM

At this stage--and I and others have said this before during earlier stages of this war--why would anyone buy any more HD DVD titles? Even if someone can buy three, four, or five more titles between now and the very bitter end, why toss more good money after bad? Buy a PS3 or Blu standalone and get on with a new Blu life. A person will be much happier in the long run....

goodstuff · 02-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Yep, I think they'll put out what was already scheduled through March and just bail at the end of taht month like Toshiba is.

Smackos · 02-19-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nooff

I don't know why WB is considered "mean" if they cancel their HD DVD releases today. Like you said Greedle, there isn't any future for HD DVD anymore and sooner or later people will have to buy into blu-ray to get high def movies.

Agreed.. just got home from a slight arguement at work with someone over it all. He'd just recommended to a friend who'd been looking at going HD that nows the best time to get into HD-DVD!!!!:

"the prices will drop through the floor and you'll be able to build up a large collection of films very cheaply then if you do like HD films then you could save up and get a Blu-ray player at the end of the year"..

Since when the hell has throwing good money after bad been good advice..!
I replied that he'd be better off using that money towards a Blu-ray player now rather than waste it on a format thats now defunct.

Danger Duck · 02-19-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smackos

Agreed.. just got home from a slight arguement at work with someone over it all. He'd just recommended to a friend who'd been looking at going HD that nows the best time to get into HD-DVD!!!!:

"the prices will drop through the floor and you'll be able to build up a large collection of films very cheaply then if you do like HD films then you could save up and get a Blu-ray player at the end of the year"..

Since when the hell has throwing good money after bad been good advice..!
I replied that he'd be better off using that money towards a Blu-ray player now rather than waste it on a format thats now defunct.

Sounds like your co-worker gives about as good of advice as one Dr.Phil does..

rbd3000 · 02-19-2008, 05:55 PM

Everybody acts like HD-DVD's won't work anymore, the people that bought them can still enjoy all of the movies that they bought. Their players will work for awhile so its not like they have to completely start all over, they just have to get a Blu-Ray player for new releases.

glenn22 · 02-19-2008, 05:57 PM

Who cares? We have absolutely nothing to fear from HD-DVD anymore. If people are stupid enough to buy their movies on HD-DVD from here on out... it's their own fault.

miokti · 02-19-2008, 05:58 PM

No... Warner was nice enough to phase out HD-DVD slowly, so that people have the time to adjust, unlike Paramount, which basically flipped in a day. Warner should go through with their HD-DVD pull-out as planned as a courtesy to those who chose HD-DVD... they've gone through enough already...

Blus Brother · 02-19-2008, 06:05 PM

Through May will not happen now, I guarantee it! I bet that contract pretty much becomes null and void immediately.

U4K61 · 02-19-2008, 06:08 PM

Retailers and Studios will continue to sell DUD even after Toshiba has pulled the plug. I wonder how many people will buy into it, still thinking it is a viable format. Not everyone surfs the web and reads the paper. I am sure the number will be small, but still... It's also interesting how a dead format lingers on because "We will continue to provide technical support". I think some kind of credit toward a new blu purchase will go a long way to smooth things out in the fastest way possible.

02-19-2008, 04:32 PM	#1
UTVOL06 Expert Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Georgia Home Theater Gallery:7 4K collection:245 Blu-ray collection:480 Blu-ray reviews:83	Will Warner Bros start exclusivity now? With the recent Toshiba announcement declaring HD-DVD dead and plans for Universal and Paramount to start releasing Blu-ray soon. Will Warner Bros go ahead and stop producing any HD-DVDs? Does this mean we can start getting Blu specific encodes now instead of waiting until the original dumping of HD-DVD titles completely by June as originally planned by WB? I sure hope so..I would really like WB to step up with the encodes now rather than later. Just look at how much better sister company New Line Cinema's Blu-ray movies look in VC-1 with the higher bitrates.

02-19-2008, 06:08 PM	#20
U4K61 Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Connecticut Blu-ray collection:40 Blu-ray reviews:4	Retailers and Studios will continue to sell DUD even after Toshiba has pulled the plug. I wonder how many people will buy into it, still thinking it is a viable format. Not everyone surfs the web and reads the paper. I am sure the number will be small, but still... It's also interesting how a dead format lingers on because "We will continue to provide technical support". I think some kind of credit toward a new blu purchase will go a long way to smooth things out in the fastest way possible. Last edited by U4K61; 04-03-2008 at 08:03 PM.

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02-19-2008, 05:31 PM	#2
ranma Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 Blu-ray collection:321 Blu-ray reviews:3	I doubt those titles set to release on March are already goes off compress lines and sitting in warehouses. So WB probably will continue to release HDDVD until April.

02-19-2008, 05:36 PM	#4
bajor27 Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Location:BC, Canada Blu-ray collection:1031 DVD collection:2 Trading Score:5	I'm guessing that we'll see a few catalog's not get released on HD-DVD afterall. Twister is one I see not ever coming. I do still expect to see I am Legend released on HD-DVD though.

02-19-2008, 05:39 PM	#5
Spankey Power Member Member since:Oct 2006	I was wondering the same thing. It seems that all HD-DVD production is going to grind to a halt. I don't see the need to extend this now that Toshiba has pulled the plug.

02-19-2008, 05:41 PM	#6
hardcore_canadian Power Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Victoria, BC Blu-ray collection:70	Toshiba is still Selling them until March no? so that's why i see them making them until then

02-19-2008, 05:42 PM	#7
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	WB is not as mean as Paramount, and I would not be surprised if they decided to have a limited release of their already announced titles to HD DVD. It would be nice to the HD DVD owners, but at the same time, they should stop purchasing HD DVD and start getting into Blu-ray. WB should drop them altogether, perhaps only releasing those that are already ready to ship (no point in hanging onto them), but who knows.

02-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#8
Nooff Senior Member Member since:Oct 2007	I don't know why WB is considered "mean" if they cancel their HD DVD releases today. Like you said Greedle, there isn't any future for HD DVD anymore and sooner or later people will have to buy into blu-ray to get high def movies.

02-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#9
tron3 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Aug 2004 Location:New Jersey Blu-ray reviews:3	Warner has a promise to keep, but what good is their word that HD DVD will live on when the queen bee is dead? If people demand it, maybe limit the released to 10 or 20 thousand copies. In a market of 600,000 players in the US, that should dry up rather quickly. I am just SO happy those HD DVD to blu-ray convertions will finally come to an end.

02-19-2008, 05:49 PM	#11
Danger Duck Active Member Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray reviews:1	I really can't see them going until the end of May like they had stated. I think they will release anything thats finished or almost finished thats is the production line, but everything else will be stopped.

02-19-2008, 05:49 PM	#12
GregBlu5 Power Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Indio, CA 4K collection:794 Blu-ray collection:3954 iTunes collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:1	At this stage--and I and others have said this before during earlier stages of this war--why would anyone buy any more HD DVD titles? Even if someone can buy three, four, or five more titles between now and the very bitter end, why toss more good money after bad? Buy a PS3 or Blu standalone and get on with a new Blu life. A person will be much happier in the long run....

02-19-2008, 05:49 PM	#13
goodstuff Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2006 4K collection:509 Blu-ray collection:6535 Blu-ray reviews: 85 Trading Score:6	Yep, I think they'll put out what was already scheduled through March and just bail at the end of taht month like Toshiba is.

02-19-2008, 05:55 PM	#16
rbd3000 Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray collection:423	Everybody acts like HD-DVD's won't work anymore, the people that bought them can still enjoy all of the movies that they bought. Their players will work for awhile so its not like they have to completely start all over, they just have to get a Blu-Ray player for new releases.

02-19-2008, 05:57 PM	#17
glenn22 Power Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Vancouver, Canada	Who cares? We have absolutely nothing to fear from HD-DVD anymore. If people are stupid enough to buy their movies on HD-DVD from here on out... it's their own fault.

02-19-2008, 05:58 PM	#18
miokti Expert Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:San Diego, CA	No... Warner was nice enough to phase out HD-DVD slowly, so that people have the time to adjust, unlike Paramount, which basically flipped in a day. Warner should go through with their HD-DVD pull-out as planned as a courtesy to those who chose HD-DVD... they've gone through enough already...

02-19-2008, 06:05 PM	#19
Blus Brother Senior Member Member since:Jun 2007	Through May will not happen now, I guarantee it! I bet that contract pretty much becomes null and void immediately.

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