Sony doesn't know how to fight

[BTBuck1]

From Blu-ray Today, CES 2007
Interview with Andy Parsons:

Pioneer is managing expectations of first year sales of blu-ray players.
"It wont take off like a rocket ship. When we first started shipping DVD players in 1997 it was still a miniscule part of our business for the first one or two years compared to TV's and Laserdisc. It took a long time to get people excited about it."

Although laserdisc players and then DVD players were never the biggest category segment at Pioneer, Parsons said the company wants to be a leading brand in technology. "DVD was very important to our stategy, including our recording product categories."

But the company will not be imaptient for the market to develop more quickly than would be natural.

"The early adopters are most interested right now and that's very normal, When it becomes more mass market we will produce more products."

Parsons expects Blu-ray price erosion will happen more quickly this time allowing Blu-ray products to be more accessible.

There is no need right now for them (the BD camp) to ***** out these products. They are winning the war, and while not neccessarily winning the stand alone player war, they are not losing nearly as much as say Toshiba with their subsidized players and movie give-aways. When the timing is right they will unleash hell on HDDVD, But right now they are collecting the early adopter fees, and 2nd gen players are already half of what they were last year. It will only get better, and if the player manufacturers remain profitable, they will stay firmly in the BD camp. Shifting stances like LG/Samsung does this whole process no good

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

btw Beta wasn't better.

INYO, maybe.
But IMHO, and many news networks, film studios opinions, who to this day in many cases, still use Beta, it is far better then VHS.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by TJandBLU-RAY

INYO, maybe.
But IMHO, and many news networks, film studios opinions, who to this day in many cases, still use Beta, it is far better then VHS.

There were pluses and minuses. Beta supposedly had better PQ while VHS had more space.

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by Ascended_Saiyan

There were pluses and minuses. Beta supposedly had better PQ while VHS had more space.

Well, I can agree to that. And BETA had better editing.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by TJandBLU-RAY

INYO, maybe.
But IMHO, and many news networks, film studios opinions, who to this day in many cases, still use Beta, it is far better then VHS.

I think you're confusing pro Betacam and Beta I speeds etc with the consumer Beta II and III/Hi Fi formats.
There have been a few posts about this before so I'll just let someone whom I respect even more than myself with no caps 'talk' this time, but you can always use the Search function too to find the other additional 'talks'.





__________________

Format                       VHS  Beta II S-VHS SuperBeta
Sync Tip Freq (MHz)          3.4    3.6    5.4    4.4
Peak White Freq (MHz)        4.4    4.8    7.0    5.6 
FM Deviation (MHz)           1.0    1.2    1.6    1.2
Luminance Resolution (lines) 240    240    400    285
Vertical scan system (lines) 525    525    525    525

[Lord_Stewie]

my concern is when HD CRAP came out of april of last year, Sony had a BD player set for release yet they didn't release it till almost eight months later after HD CRAP. this gave the idea to people that HD CRAP is way better than BD cause sony "since it is the mastermind behind BD" doesn't know what they are doing, and are questioning their own technology since samsung released the BD player. I believe that this was sony's mistake to letting Toshiba win consumers first before them. then now i see that the BD technology is proving its worth, and i think sony shouldn't give toshiba the chance to say they are better. offense is always better than defense. i think sony should continue B?@$%slapping toshiba with their ads, campaigns, and exclusive releases. after all, I am a consumer that is well educated and that knows there is no better technology than Blu-ray. Why shouldn't they educate others

DEATH TO HD CRAP...........LONG LIVE BLU KING

[Anton]

If you place 'HD Exclusive to Blu-Ray' on a disc you are acknowledging another format exists. I was at a party this weekend and one of my friends commented to me how great Blu-Ray looks @ Best Buy (he was looking for a HDTV). Anyways, he actually had no idea HD-DVD existed which is how it should be... right?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Greenmatiz2

Are they at all concerned about winning this war?

Every Sony Blu-ray disk should have a sticker/flag on it that says, "You will not find this movie on any other HD format," or something similar to that.

The consumer needs to be reminded about this every time they see a big title like Pirates, a Bond movie, etc.

In general, myself and many others have had this complaint/concern for months: It just hasn't felt like the BDA as a whole really has tried that hard to win this thing outright.

You could argue that both ways for both formats, really.

It's been very slow to ramp up but that is happening on the BD side while the HD-DVD side just continues to exist merely on the grace and whim of MS's pocketbooks.

BD will ultimately win but IMO it will take/took a lot longer than it needed to.

I'm still waiting to see some real, format war ending shock and awe.

[KenThompson]

We rented the Black Dahlia during the weekend and at the beginning of the disc is an advertisement for HD Dead. A Universal flick but they went on about superior sound and picture etc etc. I have seen this a few times now. Why don't the Blu exclusives do the same and promote Blu-ray. If you can't fast forward and are forced to watch it at least people will see and hear about it that might never have.

[TauRus]

Originally Posted by Anton

If you place 'HD Exclusive to Blu-Ray' on a disc you are acknowledging another format exists. I was at a party this weekend and one of my friends commented to me how great Blu-Ray looks @ Best Buy (he was looking for a HDTV). Anyways, he actually had no idea HD-DVD existed which is how it should be... right?

Ditto! No need to promote the alternatives. But BDA needs to think of ways to make Blu-Ray a household name faster.

[bluflu]

The only advertisement for Blu-ray that I have seen was on Wheel of Fortune. I don't think Blu-ray player supply has reached a point worth much advertising. Got to get some more players out there first.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Can't remember where it was, but saw an advert on a website today milking The Matrix HD-DVD exclusivity, saying the only way to own The Matrix in High Definition is on HD-DVD.

I think they could get this sort of message across for Blu-ray without explicitly ackowledging the other format, e.g. with a general advert for the Blu-ray exclusive movies like Pirates and Casino Royale, saying "Buy these movies in high definition, only on Blu-ray disc".

[MasterXeus]

I agree Sony should be pushing to end the war faster.

I feel Blu-ray is taking to long.
Warner is waiting for BDJ so HD-DVD is getting some of the better movies now, while we're waiting for them, i.e. Batman Begins, The Matrix Movies, V for Vendetta. Fox is waiting for BD+, New Line Cinema is no where to be found.

Let’s face it HD-DVD can’t hold out much a longer. Universal only has so many titles, if we look at HD-DVD last two major releases/ preorders they’re both from WB. Planet Earth and The Matrix Collection.

[TJandBLU-RAY]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

I think you're confusing pro Betacam and Beta I speeds etc with the consumer Beta II and III/Hi Fi formats.
There have been a few posts about this before so I'll just let someone whom I respect even more than myself with no caps 'talk' this time, but you can always use the Search function too to find the other additional 'talks'.

Gee, um, Thanks.

I talk like I talk in real life, on these boards. I am not shouting when I use 'caps'. It's just a way to put emphasis on a word. Not a big deal, when you get used to it.

I guess I am old, and veteran of forums; been doing it for over 20+ years. Sorry if it bothered you.

[Gremal]

Part of the problem we are failing to admit to ourselves is that we are not average consumers.

The average consumer thinks DVD is perfect, just like they think CD is perfect.

I encountered a lot of these types of threads following the launch of SACD hardware and software. Everyone second-guesses Sony. Everyone thinks he's a marketing expert.

And just like with the supposed "format war" between SACD and DVD-A, people think there is a format war between blu-ray and HD-DVD. Maybe on the smallest of scales, there is. Let me tell you. The real war is between standard definition and high definition. Joe sixpack is just not interested in the more expensive formats. When prices come down--not just hardware prices but all the blu-ray titles--then and only then will blu-ray or HD-DVD be ready for the mass market.

Right now it's a niche product and Sony knows this. Spending a hundred thousand on stickers to educate an uninterested market segment is going to accomplish nothing. It is far better to mention blu-ray in the ads that announce the initial DVD launch.

[Anton]

I know what your trying to say Gremal, but I'm not in total agreement. I don't think the average consumer thinks SD Technology (and therefore DVD) is perfect, because there is plenty of consumer awareness of HDTV.

In fact, I doubt many consumers would even want to purchase a SDTV if they had the choice.

Regarding 'The Matrix', I'm astonished at how far HD-DVD owners go to make out this is an Exclusive. It's not guys, its a timed exclusive.

Also, can someone with a little insider knowledge inform us how well the BDJ discs are coming along. I'm always interested in behind the scenes info, and there just isn't enough of it around.

[Greenmatiz2]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Right now it's a niche product and Sony knows this. Spending a hundred thousand on stickers to educate an uninterested market segment is going to accomplish nothing. It is far better to mention blu-ray in the ads that announce the initial DVD launch.

You know nothing about advertising rates.

100,000 is a drop in the bucket for TV. You would be lucky to get more than a few national ads in just the USA for that these days. Stickers would cost very, very little, and would be much more effective for the money.

Sony is multi-million-dollar company. They should be spending money promoting BR more than they are.

And stickers were just one small sample idea of how they could be doing more than they are.

If you want to win a football game, you don't leave your best players on the bench -- and you don't handicap yourself by not using your best plays. Sony isn't using their best, or highlighting their strengths enough.

Sometimes I wonder if it's a "Japanese thing" or not. My gf works for a Japanese company, and says that at the corporate level, Japanese companies have meeting after meeting, and everyone must come to a consensus on everything. That is the Japanese way. For better or worse, they decide everything serious together. Some argue that this kind of "group-think cultural mentality" hurt them severely when fighting WWII.

Sometimes I wonder if Sony doesn't sit around debating what to do at the upper levels so much, that they don't react fast enough. This is why I worry they will do too little too late.

[theknub]

but it isn't just sony.

there is the whole BDA to consider

[haiku_aubade]

i think all the exclusive studios should put a "ONLY ON BLU-RAY" sticker on their movies

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by TJandBLU-RAY

I guess I am old, and veteran of forums; been doing it for over 20+ years. Sorry if it bothered you.

He no worries, you didn't bother me , (heck not even the new fromage bothered me it's all fun and games) (don't pay attention to my cheese reference, TJandBLU-RAY, it's from another thread )
btw I've been online for 10 on a Mac too

Originally Posted by haiku_aubade

i think all the exclusive studios should put a "ONLY ON BLU-RAY" sticker on their movies

well it would have to be something more like ONLY ON BLU-RAY in high definition, because there's DVD too


Anyway, I think the BDA could be doing a little more to promote Blu-ray awareness and educate the people on the benefits of High Def and how Blu-ray is the best medium to deliver it. Maybe a bigger online presence on forums (as there's where the other camp has been relentless and very vocal, giving the illusory impression to the newcomers that everybody thinks HD DVD is best; and other media like audio/video magazines. I remember when CD was introduced the magazines had lots of extensive articles explaining the science and advantages to the most minute detail, and how Sony had ads that said 7th row, center with a picture of the best seat in a concert theater, and you could send in, for a couple of bucks, for a CD info kit that came with a demo CD, a booklet, a huge poster of the 7th row enter ad, and a full book on digital audio. etc.

I guess in today's atmosphere where most magazines tend sometimes not to be as scientific as those old Audio and video mags were, we don't get many real-skinny articles like that, that would make for a very aware consumer interest.