Universal's Kornblau wants format war to continue

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by JTK

Here's the real trick to the whole thing: If the interview is a bunch of garbage then we should be seeing or hearing about Kornblau himself going ape@#$% on someone and/or issuing some kind of clarification or statement of some kind.

Obviously I can't imagine someone like him sitting idly by if he felt like he was being misrepresented in some manner.

So that'll be something to watch out for, I guess.

Two problems, though:
A) Overstatements, definitely, but as long as Kornblau claims he said the quotes, and that he'd had the conversation with Hentrick (however brief), there's not much ground for legal retraction,
and/or
B) Scott/HiHD may have sunk to the point that the HD folk don't even consider it an industry "threat" anymore, and simply another nutso fan-community infomercial, albeit a slick big-budget one.

(Which it essentially is, except that it first went around bragging its corporate and studio connections, and now third-party industry news people are still under the delusion it really IS some kind of news site, as opposed to fan-blog.
It would be nice if we did have some other more actual industry/press-authorized fair-and-balanced Blu-related site as backup, but Scott's Nyah-Nyah Site got all the press first.)

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Охранное

You don't think that it has more to do with the total compensation package on the table? Kind of a game of chicken isn't it? What is Universal's neutrality worth to the BDA? If their neutrality effectively ends the format war....that should be a pretty aggressive incentive package.

Read between the lines of what Keith seems to be saying. We know BD Profile 1.1 and BD Live PRofile 2.0 are coming later this year and early next year. Keith also obviously has information on lower cost player and when those will hit.

I don't think he's saying Universal is about to go neutral, but read between the lines...

[Blu_J]

Originally Posted by Охранное

You don't think that it has more to do with the total compensation package on the table? Kind of a game of chicken isn't it? What is Universal's neutrality worth to the BDA? If their neutrality effectively ends the format war....that should be a pretty aggressive incentive package.

kjack is an insider, so I think he'd know.

Here is a bit from another insider on the Insiders Thread

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Scott H. is correct in his reporting. The Blu crew did approach Uni directly this past summer to offer enhancements for them to follow the Blu bricked road and get in step with everyone else in the parade.

Unfortunately, these incentives appear to be not comparable to what is delivered in soft red suitcases regularly.

At the present time, all is quiet and I mean dead quiet on that front and will be for the foreseeable future. Uni and Blu-ray supporters should not expect the Blu crew to approach them again – with more enticing incentives. Aint gonna happen. Uni got the best proposal there was to offer.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Read between the lines of what Keith seems to be saying. We know BD Profile 1.1 and BD Live PRofile 2.0 are coming later this year and early next year. Keith also obviously has information on lower cost player and when those will hit.

I don't think he's saying Universal is about to go neutral, but read between the lines...

After a bit of extra thought, this is the conclusion I came to as well.

It seems that this is all a tacit admission that if Blu-ray provides Universal with the same stuff that HD DVD does (interactivity etc...) then he will have no further reason to continue the format war.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

After a bit of extra thought, this is the conclusion I came to as well.

That's because you are smart.

The HD DVD talking points will have fallen.

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

After a bit of extra thought, this is the conclusion I came to as well.

It seems that this is all a tacit admission that if Blu-ray provides Universal with the same stuff that HD DVD does (interactivity etc...) then he will have no further reason to continue the format war.

And we have all seen from "300" how important interactivity is to the average consumer...

I STILL think there is a bit of "under the table" incentivising going on

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by EricJ

The lack of direct quotes or interview form makes it sound as if he just got passing comments in a phone conversation or quick five-minute grab between EMA or ComicCon sessions--
Which is okay for a sound-bite, if it's identified as a passing comment, but a little disingenuous to pass off as sweeping Pronouncements for the Industry.

(But--now that cooler typing-fingers prevail--can we still get a few shoutouts for Blu-fans who are embarrassed by HiHD's "We can do it too!" attempts to out-Ken Graffeo the HD blogs, or at least have enough spin-skepticism to stop posting everything HiHD says as "Good news for the industry"?
Like I said in the other thread, Blu fans should be taking the high road at this stage, and the site is exactly the kind of low road we should be running away from at top speed.)

Why? Should we be like the British, stand in a line and wait for the colonists to blow us away by hiding in the brush and behind trees? War is war my friend. In it, you'll find that these types of roads, high or low, get blurred, and winning becomes a focus.

Besides, I don't find anything within this article that would be considered a low road.

[WickyWoo]

It's a blog entry. An editorial.

Since when are editorials required to have news story structure and fairness?

Since certain elements in this country have spent the last 30 years or so programming the american people that it's not journalism unless it's stenography, and gives equal time to all sides, no matter how inhumane, laughable, cruel, violent or otherwise they may be. They find analysis very threatening

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by marzetta7

Why? Should we be like the British, stand in a line and wait for the colonists to blow us away by hiding in the brush and behind trees? War is war my friend. In it, you'll find that these types of roads, high or low, get blurred, and winning becomes a focus.

It's not a war right now, it's a siege
(And besides, War is still a matter of gaining Hearts and Minds):

Blu has HD surrounded and massively outgunned in a way they didn't a year ago--And now we're just sitting around waiting two months for Mandate Day to take away their two tactical advantages, and five months for the January CES '08 cavalry to ride in with reinforcements (with highly believable mainstream tech-press writing national third-party Convention reports about how starved and beaten HD now appeared with licensees).

HD seems to believe it's a siege, too, and that they're Davey Crockett holding off the Mexican army at the Alamo--
Which would be correct, seeing as, IIRC...Crockett & co. LOST.

[LeoneFan]

Yes, like most of you I have absolutely had it with this format war. I am also extremely angry regarding FOX, so angry in fact that on a few occasions I've contemplated on selling all my Blu-ray discs and just going back to DVD. If FOX doesn't announce anything by late September, particularly MGM titles, I will be doing just that. I don't need to sink money into a format that doesn't want to provide content and I don't mean teenager drivel like spiderman and pirates.

[Охранное]

Originally Posted by Blu_J

kjack is an insider, so I think he'd know.

Here is a bit from another insider on the Insiders Thread

So if Uni was only waiting for the availability of cheaper hardware and advanced profiles, why did the BDA make an incentive offer?

I appreciate Keith's statements, but it sure is curious that Penton-Man talks about bringing incentives to the table but claims there is more money in "soft red suitcases" if it's only a question of pricing and interactivity that are destined to be delivered in the near term anyway.

Penton's statements and the common interpretation of kjack's statements appear to be contradictory is all I'm saying. YMMV.

[phil]

Originally Posted by Iceman_II

And we have all seen from "300" how important interactivity is to the average consumer...

I STILL think there is a bit of "under the table" incentivising going on

OH totally, I mean we're are sitting here pulling are hairs out trying to analyze this going how could they be so stupid, etc. etc. I mean we've looked at it from all perspectives, I swear some people in here have even stood on their heads looking at the situation, and are still no where beyond square one. (Hope all of you guys heads and headaches get better soon, lol) But in the end this is the only true logical explanation to all of this that anyone could at this point accept, not even accept but partially understand.

[RangerSix]

Originally Posted by EricJ

It's not a war right now, it's a siege

Excellent analogy.

The Alamo is applicable in this case. Inside you have your three main protagonists – Travis (Toshiba), Jim Bowie (Microsoft), and David Crockett (Universal). The AVS fanboys are the remainder of the defenders. Like the Texas defenders, the HDDVD group is praying for time and waiting for Sam Houston (HD player sales/saturation) to come to their rescue.

Unfortunately for HDDVD, they are outclassed in almost every category: capacity, bandwidth, protective coating, security, studio and CE support, and with an increased frequency, retailers such as Blockbuster and Target are starting to flock to the BD cause. The rally cry of lower player prices will not be enough to coax defections from the BD side. On top of that, most of the industry, as well as consumers don’t want this war. In my opinion, this war is fundamentally over and Universal in its heart of hearts knows it. It now just a matter of meeting their contractual obligations to Toshiba and the HDDVD group before going neutral. Until then they must put on a smiley face and still demonstrate publicly their solidarity toward HDDVD. I would not expect anything less from them.

[jcdDigix]

I Think It's Just A Matter Of Time For Uni To Go Neutral!

[What'sHD]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Aug 28 - Release of Heroes on HD DVD

On the same day we should have "Send a Message to Kornblau Day". A buy-a-thon with a direct purpose.

Where are we on this? Anything stirring?

How about we encourage PS3 owners we know to buy 300?

[What'sHD]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

After a bit of extra thought, this is the conclusion I came to as well.

It seems that this is all a tacit admission that if Blu-ray provides Universal with the same stuff that HD DVD does (interactivity etc...) then he will have no further reason to continue the format war.

A quote from the blog:

"Even if, for the sake of argument, you go along with Universal's belief that the format war is driving prices down more quickly, Kornblau admits that there is only a limited window of time for which this situation can be interpreted as beneficial for consumers, retailers, and studios. He says that window will start to close when players drop to a price of $200 and consumers start making their choice, which is what will guide Universal's ultimate course."

If this is correctly reported, BDA needs one of those cheap-ass 1080i players at the 200 price-point right now, or at least pre-Xmas.

The coming chinese players may help. I am sure cool heads at the BDA are looking at meeting Universal's "demands". These demands, even if they seem stupid and unreasonable, are real and will make a difference, if met.

The demands are firstly for cheap players and 2ndly, interactivity.

Perhaps, they can be persuaded away from the inter. nonsense since the people who buy 200 dollar players are probably not dying for next-gen inter. features. That part does not add up.

[thebluemax]

Since Universal is beyond stupid, a smart move would be for Warner and Paramount go exclusive BLU-RAY-that would end the war and fast.

[Neo]

I myself COMPLITELY DON'T AGREE TO CONTINUING THAT WAR . Its a waste of time and money


I hate them .Are they stupid are what ???

[zebracrackhead]

as annoying as it is, not to being able to buy the HD DVD titles we want, I have to say...if it wasn't for the format war, prices would be nowhere near what they are right now.

I do want it to end sooner rather than later, but this war is really great for the consumer.

[phil]

Nobody in this forum should agree with it, LOL.