Universal's Kornblau wants format war to continue

[WickyWoo]

Toshiba and Microsoft could give up on HD DVD and come back with something really cool for downloads.

Put a 1TB drive in a device that can download movies, and stream off a home media server.

What do you think the soon to ship Windows Home Server is for?

BTW, there is rumour that M$ plans to release BD add-on to XBOX360.. I don't know if this is true

It was started when an Xbox rep said "Sure we could produce a BR addon"
He was stating they could do it easily, never that they WOULD.

[phil]

OH I don't really think it's so much that they would or would not, but more about if Sony would want them to do it. A Blu Ray add on could possibly hurt the sales of the PS3 wouldn't it? In either case the move shouldn't be taken lightly, I mean take a stroll to the what you use your PS3 thread in here. You'll find that nearly everyone uses their PS3 for Blu Rays more then anything, right?

[phil]

You know reading about 300, I didn't even realize how well Warner was doing this year especially with high def disks:

In a press release issued this morning, the studio boasts that '300' now joins five other Warner titles in the top ten best selling high definition titles -- a list that includes 'The Departed,' 'Superman Returns,' 'Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series,' 'Batman Begins,' and 'Happy Feet.'


I mean thinking about it now, I completely now understand why they want to be neutral and release their stuff on both formats. I mean they just want to rack in the dough, this is a great year for Warner, not so much for Universal . Warner is just being Greedy trying to rack up all the dough they can possibly get, while Universal is shooting themselves in the foot this year, I bet in terms of sales Universal NEEDs to go Neutral, their films aren't having a hot year(I mean it's one film all year one filme! and that one film hasnt' even been released yet!!!). Warner would be doin just find even if they went Blu Ray Exclusive only.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by phil

I mean thinking about it now, I completely now understand why they want to be neutral and release their stuff on both formats. I mean they just want to rack in the dough, this is a great year for Warner, not so much for Universal .

The thing is, they are getting these sales because of the titles. Not because they are on both formats.

300 has sold in excess of 165K units. It didn't do that because it's also available on HD DVD. It did it DESPITE it.

Gary

[phil]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The thing is, they are getting these sales because of the titles. Not because they are on both formats.

300 has sold in excess of 165K units. It didn't do that because it's also available on HD DVD. It did it DESPITE it.

Gary

Well I figure Warner is just having a very hot year, and they know it, therefore they're just trying to milk it all, and yeah it's all on very shot term looking aspect for them. They're basically treating it as if it's a fire-sale

[richteer]

Originally Posted by phil

You know reading about 300, I didn't even realize how well Warner was doing this year especially with high def disks:

In a press release issued this morning, the studio boasts that '300' now joins five other Warner titles in the top ten best selling high definition titles -- a list that includes 'The Departed,' 'Superman Returns,' 'Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series,' 'Batman Begins,' and 'Happy Feet.'


I mean thinking about it now, I completely now understand why they want to be neutral and release their stuff on both formats. I mean they just want to rack in the dough, this is a great year for Warner, not so much for Universal . Warner is just being Greedy trying to rack up all the dough they can possibly get, while Universal is shooting themselves in the foot this year, I bet in terms of sales Universal NEEDs to go Neutral, their films aren't having a hot year(I mean it's one film all year one filme! and that one film hasnt' even been released yet!!!). Warner would be doin just find even if they went Blu Ray Exclusive only.

WRT to Warner, historically and short term, you're correct (Dialog's comment notwithstanding): being neutral has helped Warner make more cash.

However, I think we've reached the point where the format war is actually hindering sales. If Warner et al want to make as much $$$ as possible, they need to grow the market for HD media, and that means ending the format war ASAP. Warner can help bring that about by taking a deep breath, and going Blu-exclusive (though I'd be surprised if they actually had the balls to do this!).

[ra1024]

Originally Posted by richteer

However, I think we've reached the point where the format war is actually hindering sales. If Warner et al want to make as much $$$ as possible, they need to grow the market for HD media, and that means ending the format war ASAP.

I feel like BR's momentum is really picking up and I think we may soon reach the point where it doesn't matter what Warner or Universal does. We now have 2 must have titles in CR and 300. After the holidays, we'll have Spidey and a lot of other strong titles. I think these combined titles will push the ratios into the 70's with peaks in the 80's. By the start of 2008, I suspect even Universal's support won't be enough to keep HD DVD alive. If you we were to see another PS3 price cut or the Chinese BR players, it would strenthen the momentum even further.

I'm beginning to suspect the war will truly be over before Uni even goes neutral. It could end up being the end of the war makes Uni go neutral instead of the other way around.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by ra1024

I feel like BR's momentum is really picking up and I think we may soon reach the point where it doesn't matter what Warner or Universal does. We now have 2 must have titles in CR and 300. After the holidays, we'll have Spidey and a lot of other strong titles. I think these combined titles will push the ratios into the 70's with peaks in the 80's. By the start of 2008, I suspect even Universal's support won't be enough to keep HD DVD alive. If you we were to see another PS3 price cut or the Chinese BR players, it would strenthen the momentum even further.

I'm beginning to suspect the war will truly be over before Uni even goes neutral. It could end up being the end of the war makes Uni go neutral instead of the other way around.

I'm beginning to suspect the war will truly be over before Uni even goes neutral. It could end up being the end of the war makes Uni go neutral instead of the other way around

This is how I want it to go down. Then there will be absolutely no doubt to ANYONE about what dumb asses the Universal executives are.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by werewuf

This war is not just about Universal, the company really driving it is Microsoft. I had a client recently who works for Microsoft and we had a discussion about Home Theater in general and we got on the subject of High Definition discs. I expressed my opinion that Blu-Ray would succeed and he said "Never underestimate Microsoft, they hate to lose and they will keep on fighting".

Exactly what I've been tearing my hair about saying on these boards:

Bill Hunt can keep saying "C'mon, Universal", and we can keep making high-school-Usenet jokes about "Kornblau in a blender" and "Kornblau looks like Osama"...
But the more you watch the video or read the transcripts, the more Kornblau comes off as the sweaty, nervously positive hired PR-man from the corrupt tobacco company thrown out in front to be interviewed by Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes. (Or "thrown to the wolves", as the corporate expression has it):
He's using every last-and-we-do-mean-last PR-spin trick of his trade ("If you look at the numbers, DiVX wasn't that bad a failure") to try and make national headlines look "misunderstood", and how his company is providing "new ideas for innovation", because he knows he's expendable, and that his Very Big Employers are standing behind him like Hassan with the scimitar, ready for the chop.

I've no DVD love for Universal either, but let's face it--I've grown up with 20 years of seeing Microsoft as WorldDominationCo., why we are suddenly not seeing them as the Machiavellian bad guy now?
(Or is that "C'mon, Bill Gates isn't such a bad guy, and he's not with the company anymore!" guy going to throw another tantrum again? )

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by richteer

WRT to Warner, historically and short term, you're correct (Dialog's comment notwithstanding): being neutral has helped Warner make more cash.

However, I think we've reached the point where the format war is actually hindering sales. If Warner et al want to make as much $$$ as possible, they need to grow the market for HD media, and that means ending the format war ASAP. Warner can help bring that about by taking a deep breath, and going Blu-exclusive (though I'd be surprised if they actually had the balls to do this!).

I think you're right about the format war hindering sales now. I think Warner is fully aware of this and is simply playing the HD-DVD disc buyers for the suckers they are. They're getting those poor folk to buy Warner HD-DVD discs now and later have them double dip for the Blu-ray versions of the same discs. Heartless corporate souls. Sucker consumers being fleeced.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by JTK

What else do they have? It's obvious, barring something unbelievable, tha they aren't going to be whipping out Spielberg movies and stuff like that.

This is going to be a bloodbath, straight out of Sparta.

what i am worried about, is an act of desperation on universal's part. for example, what if they decide to go ahead and release jurassic park, back to the future, ET, gladiator etc... for the 4th quarter, where would bluray stand in the picture?

in my own perspective the best in hi def should be available and that would be Bluray. but going back to an act of desperation after all releasing their best releases would be an act of desperation.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by shadblz

what i am worried about, is an act of desperation on universal's part. for example, what if they decide to go ahead and release jurassic park, back to the future, ET, gladiator etc...

Probably exactly what would happen the last time they tried to...

(That's why they won't.)

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by shadblz

what i am worried about, is an act of desperation on universal's part. for example, what if they decide to go ahead and release jurassic park, back to the future, ET, gladiator etc... for the 4th quarter, where would bluray stand in the picture?

They can't just do it. Spielberg has to say OK. But assume they do, they go up against:

Bram Stoker's Dracula
Close Encounters
Spider 3 and Trilogy
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Live Free or Die Hard
The Simpsons Move
Pirates 3
The Rock
Lost - The Complete Third Season
Cars
Ratatouille

I count SEVEN new releases there. Seven discs that nobody owns on ANY format. Versus convincing people (they keep hammering over the head how great the DVD upconversion is on their entry level Toshiba disc player) to buy a replacement for their DVD.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Live Free or Die Hard
The Simpsons Move

Hope you're right, but they are Fox titles and I don't care what anyone says about imminent announcements...we've been hearing that since May.

Unless Penton-Man is able to find out something and if he is able to post it, then I'm expecting ZERO from Fox from here on out. This has gone beyond ridiculous w/ Fox...

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Esox50

Hope you're right, but they are Fox titles and I don't care what anyone says about imminent announcements...we've been hearing that since May.

Unless Penton-Man is able to find out something and if he is able to post it, then I'm expecting ZERO from Fox from here on out. This has gone beyond ridiculous w/ Fox...

He's counting Spielbergs before they're hatched, I can count Foxes.

Be fair, give odds:

Fox on BD in Q4 v. Spielberg on HD DVD

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

He's counting Spielbergs before they're hatched, I can count Foxes.

...With Jodie Foster?--That hasn't been out on disk in years!
Doesn't seem like that'd be a big competing seller, though.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by EricJ

...With Jodie Foster?--That hasn't been out on disk in years!
Doesn't seem like that'd be a big competing seller, though.

LOL!

Touche!

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The thing is, they are getting these sales because of the titles. Not because they are on both formats.

300 has sold in excess of 165K units. It didn't do that because it's also available on HD DVD. It did it DESPITE it.

Gary

Totally agree with that

[LeoneFan]

One thing I don't understand is this. Why doesn't GE, the parent company of Universal, just put their foot down and demand that they release on Blu-ray? I know that they are definitely not pleased with Universal's decision and stance on the format war. If they truly own Universal then why don't they just outright demand this?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by LeoneFan

One thing I don't understand is this. Why doesn't GE, the parent company of Universal, just put their foot down and demand that they release on Blu-ray? I know that they are definitely not pleased with Universal's decision and stance on the format war. If they truly own Universal then why don't they just outright demand this?

Because someone just as big who does own HD is also making outright demands...
If GE doesn't have a stake in the HD game, they can't touch the chips.