Warner most likely will be picking a side and going exclusive some time in the future

[HDTV1080P]

Since Warner is now the only major neutral studio left most likely sometime in the future Warner will move from being format neutral to supporting a format exclusively. Logically since movies like 300 on BLU-RAY are outselling the same 300 title on HD DVD by 2 to 1 it would make the most sense for Warner to one day go BLU-RAY exclusive.
Going BLU-RAY exclusive is best for the consumer and the market for consumer HDTV optical media. In reality it might all come down to which HDTV camp can secure an exclusive business deal first. If the HD-DVD camp was able to convince Warner to go HD-DVD exclusive this year then most likely we would hear a press release toward the end of October 2007. A Warner HD-DVD exclusive press release toward the end of October 2007 would cause the most damage to the BLU-RAY player sales momentum for the Christmas holiday season and consumers would most likely hold off until next year for under $500 combo players.
My hopes are for Warner to make the smart business decision and go BLU-RAY exclusive. One day in the future most likely Warner will announce exclusive support of either BLU-RAY or HD-DVD. It could be 2007 or sometime in 2008 that such an event occurs.

[cajmoyper]

I hope you're right but you said it...the only thing that is going to matter to them is who can offer the most money. And they're definitely thinking about it now that they've seen that Paramount could $150 million dollars to go exclusive to a format they know they won't have to produce too many discs for on account of it's inevitable death.

[Lord_Stewie]

lets hope the BD group is taking advantage of that, and try to get warner to join the blu team.

[Bond007]

Everyone needs to buy Warner BDs over the next two months. Even if it's only one BD a week.

[BigB88]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

I hope you're right but you said it...the only thing that is going to matter to them is who can offer the most money. And they're definitely thinking about it now that they've seen that Paramount could $150 million dollars to go exclusive to a format they know they won't have to produce too many discs for on account of it's inevitable death.

150 million to Paramount is a lot of "needed cash", 150 million to Warner is pocket change, that is the difference. It will take more then 150 million to buy off Warner, they have way more invested then Paramount did. Not saying it can't be done, but Microsoft will have to pony up a lot more $$$ to get Warner and I think with the Paramount deal, they are figuring they have done enough damage for now.

[Blubaru]

It will probably be as soon as today or Monday.

[mike79]

if they pick a side, I doubt it will be blu-ray. That is just my opinion. They seem to always favor hd-dvd.

[JTK]

Based on their track record and based on watching a studio that was arguably pro Blu in the press not too recently taking a $150 million bribe, I'm bracing myself for a pretty high likelihood of Warner going back to 100 percent HD-DVD support in the near future vs. the 60/40 or 70/30 ish routine they've been running all along anyways.

[E-Dogg]

I think Warner is going to stay neutral til after the holiday season to see how sales are for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

[XanderAE]

I personally think that if Warner Bros. did decide that HD DVD exclusivity was the way forward, I would have to reluctantly go neutral and own both. I know Blu-ray is better, but i'd have no choice to get the titles I want.

[BluDrew]

Originally Posted by mike79

if they pick a side, I doubt it will be blu-ray. That is just my opinion. They seem to always favor hd-dvd.

While I don't think they will go exclusive and will remain neutral, I think it is a pretty sure thing that they will go with HD DVD if they do in fact decide to drop a format. Their actions speak louder than words, and judging from their release history, they already seem to prefer HD DVD.

[buckshot]

didn't we just get news yesterday that the pro hd dvd heads at warner just left? shouldn't that be a good thing to consider? could it be because he didn't like the way the warner was going (pro blu if not exclusive) of that they (warner) realized that he was holding back their business from making more by supporting the side that wasn't yielding the sales? plus I don't think (hope) that the bda would allow 2 studios to be snatched away from them by m$.

[Xerious]

the fact that Warner Brothers is a part of the BDA, i highly doubt they will go exclusive to HD-DVD... the more rational thought would be they will stay neutral. they have released more and more titles for BD as time has come... i see the pattern of neglect ending soon

[dakota81]

Originally Posted by BluDrew

While I don't think they will go exclusive and will remain neutral, I think it is a pretty sure thing that they will go with HD DVD if they do in fact decide to drop a format. Their actions speak louder than words, and judging from their release history, they already seem to prefer HD DVD.

It could go either way. They saw with 300 that you don't have to include loads of extras to become the biggest selling hd movie, by a large margin, too (but I'm not saying I don't want extras come profile 1.1). Also, they've already released several big titles on hd dvd exclusively, they can't resell those titles again on hd dvd, but they can on blu-ray.

My guess they stay neutral.

[Blue]

Warner is on the board of directors of the BDA. Paramount or Viacom are not even members and this site has not been updated for a while.

http://www.blu-raydisc.com/general_i...009/Index.html

With high sales and a 2:1 ratio or more and Blu-ray gaining more and more of the disc sales it will take much more than $150M or even the 200+M that has been rumoured. My guess and this only a guess the next big studio move will be Universal going neutral - when who knows.

[Joon]

Why is it that when HD-DVD only had Universal exclusive, all the HD-DVD guys wore true red and never went neutral and were barely able to keep HD-DVD alive. Now as BD supporters we hear Paramount and then the "what if" for Warner going exclusive to HD-DVD and everyone would go "neutral" then. I will not go neutral even if Warner goes exclusive to HD-DVD. I don't abandon a fight. I stick with my decisions and will never just "give in" or "give up."

[Longshot]

My best guess is Warner Bros will stay nuetral. If we don't hear something in the next few days I think they'll stay put. Nickerson was pro HD DVD no matter how the zealots try and spin it. Probably wanted WB's to go exclusive HD DVD and they refused. Now he's gone. It's called "irreconciable differences".

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Longshot

My best guess is Warner Bros will stay nuetral. If we don't hear something in the next few days I think they'll stay put. Nickerson was pro HD DVD no matter how the zealots try and spin it. Probably wanted WB's to go exclusive HD DVD and they refused. Now he's gone. It's called "irreconciable differences".

Or his job is done getting WB on board with HD-DVD and he is going somewhere else as a reward.

We don't know.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by buckshot

didn't we just get news yesterday that the pro hd dvd heads at warner just left? shouldn't that be a good thing to consider? could it be because he didn't like the way the warner was going (pro blu if not exclusive) of that they (warner) realized that he was holding back their business from making more by supporting the side that wasn't yielding the sales? plus I don't think (hope) that the bda would allow 2 studios to be snatched away from them by m$.

It was just one guy. We have no idea how meaningful that is, if at all.

Originally Posted by Blue

Warner is on the board of directors of the BDA. Paramount or Viacom are not even members and this site has not been updated for a while.

http://www.blu-raydisc.com/general_i...009/Index.html

With high sales and a 2:1 ratio or more and Blu-ray gaining more and more of the disc sales it will take much more than $150M or even the 200+M that has been rumoured. My guess and this only a guess the next big studio move will be Universal going neutral - when who knows.

^^ Pesky facts like these didn't slow Paramount down worth a damn, and they were arguably getting downright pro Blu not too long ago.

I'd argue that it might take less than $150 million to flip Warner from the quasi HD-DVD supporter they've been all along back to 100 percent without pretense.

Besides, they'd be saving a ton of money and resource out of the other hand if they abandon that wretched THD combo disc idea.

[Blue]

Originally Posted by Joon

Why is it that when HD-DVD only had Universal exclusive, all the HD-DVD guys wore true red and never went neutral and were barely able to keep HD-DVD alive. Now as BD supporters we hear Paramount and then the "what if" for Warner going exclusive to HD-DVD and everyone would go "neutral" then. I will not go neutral even if Warner goes exclusive to HD-DVD. I don't abandon a fight. I stick with my decisions and will never just "give in" or "give up."

Don't believe it, a number of the fanboi's have a secret supply of Blu-ray and a player. I know of on FANBOI that admitted he would be privately getting a Blu (but continuing to keep his reputation I interpret that to mean spreading FUD against Blu-ray). The slots left in the pressing plants will be quickly taken by someone, they will not sit idle. Although Paramount has some nice films I would like, Blu-ray was only going to see a handful from them before the end of the year, we got over 20 out of Fox for the same time frame (this may have happened anyway, but the timing is a little too convenient), so that's a 'fair' swap!