Wasn't Universal supposed to apologize last week?

[domerdel]

I don't discredit blu-ray.com's news, but the vibe it gives others that when it's the only source (Mr. Levy Interview about Spielberg HD-DVD misunderstood titles) that it may be a bit fabricated to some level. Did this make news elsewhere? and where is the statement from Universal saying they were wrong?

[Joe Cain]

Just out of curiosity, why do you expect a public apology when the only one they have to apologize to is Speilberg?

[davidPS3]

They were suppose to give a public "We're sorry" annoucement, but I certainly have not seen or heard anything either.

They probally figure they are big enough that they don't have to say sorry twice to him, or they know he is leaving and taking his bags with him so they have nothing to gain by saying they are sorry.

Just my take.

[domerdel]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Just out of curiosity, why do you expect a public apology when the only one they have to apologize to is Speilberg?

From Blu-ray.com
Mr. Levy also mentioned that Universal will be making a public statement regarding this mistake in the coming days.

[Joe Cain]

I still don't understand why one would think this site fabricated the news. Levy is a spokesperson for Spielberg; he doesn't represent Universal and can't speak for Universal. Uni doesn't stand to gain anything from making an apology, public or private, except a less-pissed off Steven Spielberg; since this has already happened once this year, Universal would only make themselves look more stupid by giving the incident any higher profile than it already has. Keep in mind this was never a "news" story in any mainstream media sense, it was an internet rumor that took hold based on scant, misinterpreted evidence. Someone here at blu-ray.com got tired of shutting down related misinformed threads every fifteen minutes and went straight to the source; if one were truly concerned this item was fabricated, one could try to do the same.

Mr. Levy's statement would undoubtedly have been more accurate had he said "We expect Universal to issue a public statement in the coming days about this mistake," with the subtext that there would be consequences if this expectation were not met.

Bottom line: Spielberg doesn't want his films released on HD-DVD anyway.

[domerdel]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

I still don't understand why one would think this site fabricated the news. Levy is a spokesperson for Spielberg; he doesn't represent Universal and can't speak for Universal. Uni doesn't stand to gain anything from making an apology, public or private, except a less-pissed off Steven Spielberg; since this has already happened once this year, Universal would only make themselves look more stupid by giving the incident any higher profile than it already has. Keep in mind this was never a "news" story in any mainstream media sense, it was an internet rumor that took hold based on scant, misinterpreted evidence. Someone here at blu-ray.com got tired of shutting down related misinformed threads every fifteen minutes and went straight to the source; if one were truly concerned this item was fabricated, one could try to do the same.

Mr. Levy's statement would undoubtedly have been more accurate had he said "We expect Universal to issue a public statement in the coming days about this mistake," with the subtext that there would be consequences if this expectation were not met.

Bottom line: Spielberg doesn't want his films released on HD-DVD anyway.

I agree with you, but this was more of a curiosity than anything since it was on the front page of blu-ray.com under news and not forums. I just thought this would make more news if Mr. Levy went to other sources saying the same thing.

And why would I want this? Same reason Red camp is exploiting the BD+ issue (now resolved). It was never a big deal, but it hit the front page of every hi-def site, making BD look bad (totally blown out of proportion)... I just figure the same should be done against Universal, since this isn't the first time they've done something like this.

[Sonny]

Steven S. is on his way out so why would they say sorry again

[Jamh]

EDIT: Apparently, the link changed but the HD-DVD PRG did make a statement saying that the slide was a mistake.

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Steven S. is on his way out so why would they say sorry again

Speilberg works for Paramount/Dreamworks. He may be on his way out there, but this is Universal. Unless by "on his way out" you meant out of the industry. If he leaves Paramount/Dreamworks then Universal is one of the places he could go, although I think Warner might be a good fit for him and them (there seem to be lots of lovers of film at Warner, based on the restorations they've done).

--Darin

[Thundercrash07]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm0T7_SGee4

[Jamh]

Okay I figured it out, all you have to do is go to http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2 and do a search for Spielberg. I'd give a direct link but I'm on my cellphone and it keeps going to the wrong article.

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by Joe Cain

Just out of curiosity, why do you expect a public apology when the only one they have to apologize to is Speilberg?

I would argue they owe the PUBLIC an apology because they PUBLICly claimed they were releasing Spielberg titles. Sure Spielberg should get one too, but if that info were allowed to continue some folks mighta bought into HDDVD because they thought they could buy Spielberg titles. THAT wouldn't sway ME, but you some would.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Jamh

Okay I figured it out, all you have to do is go to http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2 and do a search for Spielberg. I'd give a direct link but I'm on my cellphone and it keeps going to the wrong article.

I noticed this on Friday too. The article headline says No Spielberg Titles will be coming to HD DVD, kind of like they mean never. I don't think they are going to issue an apology, this is all he's probably going to get.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by Matt X

I would argue they owe the PUBLIC an apology because they PUBLICly claimed they were releasing Spielberg titles. Sure Spielberg should get one too, but if that info were allowed to continue some folks mighta bought into HDDVD because they thought they could buy Spielberg titles. THAT wouldn't sway ME, but you some would.

Except Uni didn't claim anything. There are two posts floating around here from folks who actually witnessed the presentation and understood the language; they both have said that the sense of it was "these are titles we hope to make available," which is hardly categorical.

If there were websites that made claims based on those photos, they should absolutely post retractions if they have any pretension to journalistic integrity; fans on forums are hardly subject to such stringent evaluation.

I sincerely doubt even one person bought an HD-DVD player because of this incident. If someone did---well, caveat emptor.

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by Jamh

Okay I figured it out, all you have to do is go to http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm?sec_id=2 and do a search for Spielberg. I'd give a direct link but I'm on my cellphone and it keeps going to the wrong article.

That is not a public apology...it's just the HD camp saying in a brief statement that the films are not coming out after all. An apology states somewhere that someone is sorry for the action committed.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Mericalis

That is not a public apology...it's just the HD camp saying in a brief statement that the films are not coming out after all. An apology states somewhere that someone is sorry for the action committed.

If you look at the original article, there is nothing said about an apology. It says that Universal would make a statement, that's all.

[mattym]

..and they did make a statement, saying the slide was an error...

[Rob71]

I have found a link to the official Universal apology.