CES 2008: Warner did not violate HD DVD contract

[Snake-V2]

Taken from here:

According to BetaNews, after the Blu-ray press conference at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Warner Bros. President Ron Sanders answered a question everyone has been wondering, whether Warner violated their contract to support HD DVD or not. The answer was, "We did not violate any contract."

We recently reported that one of the six big movie studios, Warner Bros., has abandoned the HD DVD high-definition format, and shifted towards Sony's Blu-ray. Shortly after the whole HD DVD camp expressed their disappointments and Toshiba even hinted that Warner broke the contract. Warner's Ron Sanders however isn't concerned about the situation, responding that Toshiba might be upset and could even file a lawsuit, but wouldn't have anything to accuse Warner of.

"Clearly, [Toshiba and the HD DVD Promotional Group] have reason to be upset... But we fulfilled our obligations to them. That's why we will continue to provide movies in the HD DVD format through May rather than stopping now. They very well could file a lawsuit, but we have done everything that was required of us. We did not violate any contract," said Sanders.

First I've heard of any potential breach of contract - I think it was assumed Warner were still supplying HD-DVDs for the next few months in order to keep with contractual obligations wasn't it?

Anyway...........

[GregBlu5]

Warner made it clear to everyone a few months back that they would be evaluating Q4 sales and making a determination about what to do. They are now giving consumers several months to keep investing in HD DVD or switch. What else could Warner do? Keep wasting money on a format that has proven it isn't the most popular choice at this stage between the two competing formats?

[hc666]

This is why support exists until May.

With no contract they would have stopped asap.

[Loudninja]

Its not like they are dropping support for HD-DVD right away. I fail to see how they violated there contract with HD-DVD.

[jimmy242]

toshiba is jus being a poor loser

[hc666]

Originally Posted by jimmy242

toshiba is jus being a poor loser

It's too bad they have to be seen this way and they make very nice stuff.

Love their TVs and laptops.

[StilettoViper]

Originally Posted by hc666

It's too bad they have to be seen this way and they make very nice stuff.

Love their TVs and laptops.

There is a division in Toshiba that's already working on their first Blu-Ray player. MARK IT DOWN! LOL

[Joon]

Basically he is saying. Blu-Ray is better and we have no choice by our contract to continue to release on HD-DVD till May. However we will stick it to them in the mean time by releasing all Warner titles on Blu-Ray and then have a delay and release on HD-DVD.

[Locklain]

I could see Toshiba trying to open a lawsuit for lost profits from the impact of the announcement. Then again who knows.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by jimmy242

toshiba is jus being a poor loser

I will never buy a Toshiba product again and on the contrary I will bad mouth them to anybody think of buying they're products. There is a time to be gracious in the face of certain defeat and there time has long passed in my eyes.

[hc666]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I will never buy a Toshiba product again and on the contrary I will bad mouth them to anybody think of buying they're products. There is a time to be gracious in the face of certain defeat and there time has long passed in my eyes.

It's a business. You can't hold personal feelings against Toshiba... well I guess you can but it's really not worth it.

Saying that Toshiba's TVs suck because you dislike HD DVD really makes no sense.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by hc666

It's a business. You can't hold personal feelings against Toshiba... well I guess you can but it's really not worth it.

Saying that Toshiba's TVs suck because you dislike HD DVD really makes no sense.

It's a business that made very bad business decisions. Decisions that did not consider the consumer (their customer) in the equation.

The 'it's just business' argument has never flown with me in anything because 'business' is made up of people and _that factor_ needs to be considered above all else.

Toshiba failed to consider people and the impacts of their actions on them. It appears that even in the face of defeat they can not help but make asses out of themselves.

My impression of their recent statements is more along the lines of 'we are going to market upconverting and DVD like a mofo now' in some feeble attempt to protect their dated technology as opposed to looking forward and strategizing how to produce new and innovative products that _benefit_ their customers and help them take advantage of other new technologies _better_.

No. I will not support Toshiba anytime soon. They have lost my business and respect.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I will never buy a Toshiba product again and on the contrary I will bad mouth them to anybody think of buying they're products. There is a time to be gracious in the face of certain defeat and there time has long passed in my eyes.

NO friggin' doubt!

I even let out a groan watching the ball drop on New Year's from NYC seeing the big red Toshiba sign.

Ha, ha.

[hc666]

Relax. Never take anything personal when it comes to business

I believe Toshiba manufactures the chipset for the PS3? Oh no! I guess you all may have to burn your PS3 because Toshiba is involed?!? Not likely I hope

Toshiba is a company that makes great stuff out to make a buck. Just like Sony and everyone else.

All all these companys are in bed with each other, as noted by the PS3 chipset.

Don't be fooled.

[ranma]

So, I begin to wonder how many dolloars need Paramount to pay BDA for breaking contract?

[Sonny]

WB is to BIG & to SMART to put themselves in any real trouble

[oscar_in_fw]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

I will never buy a Toshiba product again and on the contrary I will bad mouth them to anybody think of buying they're products. There is a time to be gracious in the face of certain defeat and there time has long passed in my eyes.

Toshiba might actually have been blindsided on 4 January. If so, can you really expect them to have made a decision on what they should do next with regards to HD DVD? I think they need to talk to the BDA about surrender terms (e.g. relieving movie studios from HD DVD support obligations in return for Blu-ray royalty concessions) or decide they'll do a hostile takeover of Disney to get a studio back before deciding their next course of action.

[Firestreak]

I wouldn't recommend a Toshiba laptop, my college had some sort of deal and we all had to buy Toshiba satellites. Worst computer I ever owned by far. That said, I would be willing to buy Toshiba products in the future... just not their laptops.

[hc666]

If a HD DVD 'fanboy' said they would never buy a Sony product I would be the first to tell them they were crazy for holding things personal.

Anyone going to answer the question... if you have a PS3 and know that Toshiba is involved with the chipset, wouldn;'t that mean you should thorw away your PS3?

Think about that and realize how silly you may be for holding things against a manufacturer.

[E-Dogg]

It's over and Toshiba needs to bow out gracefully.