Microsoft Looks To Sidestep Format Wars With HD Downloads

[Jeff®]

http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=205210258

Microsoft Looks To Sidestep Format Wars With HD Downloads

Deals announced at CES with ABC, Disney and MGM add more to High-Def content to Xbox Live service.
By Paul McDougall
InformationWeek
January 7, 2008 11:04 AM

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) stepped up efforts to avoid the next generation DVD format wars and turn its Xbox gaming console into a mainstream platform for downloadable, high-definition entertainment -- announcing a slew of partnerships that will put new HD content on its Xbox Live online service. Under deals disclosed Sunday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft will add to its Xbox Live download store HD movies and programs from ABC, Disney, and MGM Studios.

The offerings include hit ABC shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty.

Available Disney programming will include Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Meanwhile, movie lovers will able to download to their Xboxes HD versions of MGM Classics like Rocky, Dances With Wolves, and Rain Man.

"Partnering with Microsoft allows us to make our legendary library available to millions of Xbox Live members," said Jim Packer, co-president of worldwide television at MGM, in a statement.

Microsoft said that its Xbox Live service, which lets Xbox users tap games and movies over the Internet, now counts more than 10 million subscribers.
The deals are part of Microsoft's campaign to make Internet-connected televisions -- powered of course by Microsoft software and services -- the primary source for HD content.

If the company is successful, it could make moot the current format war between high definition DVDs encoded in the Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. Microsoft is hedging its bets however, as it currently sells an Xbox add-on that plays HD DVD discs.

Internet rumors were rife that Microsoft chairman Bill Gates would use his CES keynote Sunday to introduce a version of the Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD player, as Microsoft rival Sony includes a built-in Blu-ray player in its PlayStation console.

Such an announcement never materialized.
The HD DVD camp received a major setback last week after Warner Bros said it would no longer support the format and would henceforth release high-definition DVDs exclusively on Blu-ray. The move left Universal and Paramount as the only remaining studios supporting HD DVD.

If Gates was planning to unveil an HD DVD version of the Xbox 360, Warner's decision -- timed to coincide with the opening of CES -- may have scotched the plan. London's Financial Times reported that vendors at CES have canceled numerous HD DVD-related events and announcements on the heels of Warner Bros' move.

[Shin-Ra]

London's Financial Times reported that vendors at CES have canceled numerous HD DVD-related events and announcements on the heels of Warner Bros' move.

Hahahaha!

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Hahahaha!

That really is the only part of the article that needs repeating. Over. And Over. And over again.

[bhampton]

Cool,

I'm itching to give Microsoft more money.

Well, Actually,.. No.

That's why I'm typing on a MacBook and why I was l playing games on a PS3 earlier.

As far as I'm concerned that company can go away.

-Brian

[venusiansky]

If HD-DVD would have one, would we still be hearing all of this BS about downloads and that blu-ray never stood a chance and HD-DVD won't succeed in the long term, being up against downloadable content? I think it is just a topic that journalist use to make them sound like they are on the cutting edge.

[dialog_gvf]

Internet rumors were rife that Microsoft chairman Bill Gates would use his CES keynote Sunday to introduce a version of the Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD player, as Microsoft rival Sony includes a built-in Blu-ray player in its PlayStation console.

Such an announcement never materialized.
The HD DVD camp received a major setback last week after Warner Bros said it would no longer support the format and would henceforth release high-definition DVDs exclusively on Blu-ray. The move left Universal and Paramount as the only remaining studios supporting HD DVD.

If Gates was planning to unveil an HD DVD version of the Xbox 360, Warner's decision -- timed to coincide with the opening of CES -- may have scotched the plan. London's Financial Times reported that vendors at CES have canceled numerous HD DVD-related events and announcements on the heels of Warner Bros' move.

I doubt that an Xbox 360 w/HD DVD was coming. But, turn it around. What I think may have been planned is an announcement of a Toshiba HD DVD box w/Xbox 360 capability. Use Toshiba's name (still well respected in Japan) to help Xbox 360 sales in Japan.

There was general talk about Microsoft opening up the Xbox 360 platform to other makers. And this may have been the first example. But, now it will wait for other partners.

What we may see ahead is a Blu-ray player + Xbox 360 from LG and/or Samsung. Wouldn't that be ironic?

Gary

[eli1277]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

I doubt that an Xbox 360 w/HD DVD was coming. But, turn it around. What I think may have been planned is an announcement of a Toshiba HD DVD box w/Xbox 360 capability. Use Toshiba's name (still well respected in Japan) to help Xbox 360 sales in Japan.

There was general talk about Microsoft opening up the Xbox 360 platform to other makers. And this may have been the first example. But, now it will wait for other partners.

What we may see ahead is a Blu-ray player + Xbox 360 from LG and/or Samsung. Wouldn't that be ironic?

Gary

Nothing can help that hahaha!!!

[gandley]

I expect ONKYO went, "Dang it, not again"

[JTK]

Microsoft tossed Toshiba under the bus and it probably happened a month or so ago when the Warner rumors started in earnest and we saw Amir and some of the other MS guys shift completely to digital downloads talk.

[BBlue]

Warner Brothers said last week it was backing Blu-ray exclusively. Will Microsoft remain committed to the HD DVD format even if it appears that the media companies are backing Blu-ray?
Certainly we supported both Blu-ray and HD DVD as Windows peripherals. The last announcement was Paramount opting for HD DVD and now this one is going the other way. I still think a format battle is going on there. Our contribution is the HDi Interactive format piece has been really well received. We hope to see that used broadly. I think the real competitor in the long run is digital (video) download. Just like in music, it is going to be the biggest of the three.

You kind of sound agnostic about the formats.
No, not really. We have definitely worked with HD DVD in a very strong fashion. Our codecs and HDi are available on the other format and we are a leader in digital download so we have some involvement in all three approaches. In the long run, people don’t want physical media. You don’t say to yourself, what’s the format battle after CD. If someone tried to introduce a new music format, you’d laugh and say ‘well isn’t that my phone, my iPod and my Zune?’ And you’d be right.

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2...tes-unplugged/

[Cyorg]

Well, I know I won't be downloading anytime soon.
It does sound like M$ is slowly backing away from HD DVD though.

[blu-rayfan101]

This tells all! Wow this part is stupid "In the long run, people don’t want physical media."

[JJ]

Music mp3 = 4 MB. HD Movie = at least 4 GB, if not 40.

Something is rotten in the state of Bill Gates' mind.

[marzetta7]

Confirmation to those HD DVD schmucks who were telling everyone how crazy they were for thinking Microsoft was in it--HD DVD--simply to confuse the consumer and get them to downloads.

Also, I think Bill is also wrong on the music front. As I would be totally interested in a high-end music format from Blu-ray with 7.1 surround sound, amped up sampling, etc.

As a matter of fact, I'm expecting to see it soon. And then I'll rip these into iTunes if I need to.

[PLASMA-1080P-FULLHD]

F Bill Gate$ and M$, He can download all he want nor anyone cares

[BluRayExplosion]

Originally Posted by BBlue

Warner Brothers said last week it was backing Blu-ray exclusively. Will Microsoft remain committed to the HD DVD format even if it appears that the media companies are backing Blu-ray?
Certainly we supported both Blu-ray and HD DVD as Windows peripherals. The last announcement was Paramount opting for HD DVD and now this one is going the other way. I still think a format battle is going on there. Our contribution is the HDi Interactive format piece has been really well received. We hope to see that used broadly. I think the real competitor in the long run is digital (video) download. Just like in music, it is going to be the biggest of the three.

You kind of sound agnostic about the formats.
No, not really. We have definitely worked with HD DVD in a very strong fashion. Our codecs and HDi are available on the other format and we are a leader in digital download so we have some involvement in all three approaches. In the long run, people don’t want physical media. You don’t say to yourself, what’s the format battle after CD. If someone tried to introduce a new music format, you’d laugh and say ‘well isn’t that my phone, my iPod and my Zune?’ And you’d be right.

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2...tes-unplugged/

Disgusting. I'm sick of shitty quality music.

[xtop]

ugh. i WANT physical copies to put in a digital player. call me conservative. but i want to be able to hold what i bought

[juanleche]

shed a tear for amir, not really, anyone notice he's been posting a bunch today, guess whe's not very busy at CES, did he even go?

[love blu or go home!]

I might be the only one here but I would love to download HD movies. One movie server for my whole house.

[jkwest]

It really is true and makes a lot of sense in a business standpoint....it just won't happen as soon as Billy would like it to. My home still can't get dial-up....so, download HDM is just a pipe-dream until at least FIOS has world-wide availability...