Archived: Insiders Thread

[Balian]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Guys (and gals),
I know this has probably been a tough day for alot of you and you have my sympathy.

Believe me, the Blu crew has known about this potential “event” for quite awhile and I posted a purposely oblique reference to it in a codec thread on A Virtual Smackdown forum, as soon as I could fit it in, without the HD VD protagonists catching on and milking the leak to death (to further their cause) because I felt that the official announcement was just a matter of hours.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=124

The saddest thing that I personally find (about this decision) is that the techie people at Paramount (like us on this forum) who are truly interested in the best format believe that Blu-ray is just that……the technologically superior format. Which I think is what paidgeek may have said or alluded to a couple pages back...........and he wouldn’t do so dishonestly and thusly invoke the wrath of his colleagues in town. In any case, the bean counters won over the engineers at Paramount.

Keep in mind though, that a decision like this does not win a format war. Unfortunately, it simply prolongs it for awhile. Paramount’s decision was indeed anticipated and has been *factored in* for the future.
This in no way caught the Blu crew unawares, it’s just that not much could be done about it. This war is a game of chess, not checkers.

If you guys saw this coming, why the hell didn't BDA make them an offer??? Sony is gonna spend $100 MILLION ON THAT STUPID HDNA AD CAMPAIGN! Instead wasting money on promotions, spend it where it counts! Buy exclusivity!!

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Balian

If you guys saw this coming, why the hell didn't BDA make them an offer??? Sony is gonna spend $100 MILLION ON THAT STUPID HDNA AD CAMPAIGN! Instead wasting money on promotions, spend it where it counts! Buy exclusivity!!

You don't want to get into a bidding war with Microsoft.

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Guys (and gals),
Paramount’s decision was indeed anticipated and has been *factored in* for the future.
This in no way caught the Blu crew unawares, it’s just that not much could be done about it. This war is a game of chess, not checkers.

Not that you could elaborate, but could there be any more suprises like the magnitude of this for either camp upcoming?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Guys (and gals),
I know this has probably been a tough day for alot of you and you have my sympathy.

Believe me, the Blu crew has known about this potential “event” for quite awhile and I posted a purposely oblique reference to it in a codec thread on A Virtual Smackdown forum, as soon as I could fit it in, without the HD VD protagonists catching on and milking the leak to death (to further their cause) because I felt that the official announcement was just a matter of hours.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...&postcount=124

I don't go there much anymore, so I'm afraid any hints left in enemy territory I won't pick up on. It was definite 2x4 to the back of the head for me. I still look at the numbers (and the Amazon rankings) and can't believe such a BUSINESS decision was made.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

The saddest thing that I personally find (about this decision) is that the techie people at Paramount (like us on this forum) who are truly interested in the best format believe that Blu-ray is just that……the technologically superior format. Which I think is what paidgeek may have said or alluded to a couple pages back...........and he wouldn’t do so dishonestly and thusly invoke the wrath of his colleagues in town. In any case, the bean counters won over the engineers at Paramount.

Keep in mind though, that a decision like this does not win a format war. Unfortunately, it simply prolongs it for awhile. Paramount’s decision was indeed anticipated and has been *factored in* for the future.
This in no way caught the Blu crew unawares, it’s just that not much could be done about it. This war is a game of chess, not checkers.

Bean counters for sure. Especially those looking to pad the quarterlies, and really don't give a damn about the mid or long term. "Bonuses, options, and perks! What business are we in again?"

I think the movement to AVC and lossless showed where the techno-people at Paramount were heading. I wonder what THEY will think about this. And, no doubt, being told that VC-1 and lossy is the PERFECT way to go?

What should worry everyone is whether this lands HDM a serious or fatal blow? Because, really we must think this prolongs the war at least two years.

Gary

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Balian

If you guys saw this coming, why the hell didn't BDA make them an offer??? Sony is gonna spend $100 MILLION ON THAT STUPID HDNA AD CAMPAIGN! Instead wasting money on promotions, spend it where it counts! Buy exclusivity!!

Is what was done legal?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Is what was done legal?

I take some solace in the idea that the BDA wasn't caught shocked and off guard like us mere mortals on the streets.

So I have very simple question: What's the BDA going to do about it?

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Can you guys convince Fox and Lucasfilm to release Star Wars on blu-ray this holiday season and have players from Sharp, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung all for MSRP $199 with TrueHD, DTS-MA and 1080p?

Cheers,
~doby

Even just Phantom Menace. That would mean something. Even I'd buy it, which believe me, is saying something.

Originally Posted by paidgeek

We have a good working relationship with the Paramount technical staff and they have told us repeatedly that they would like Blu-ray to become the single dominant format. The primarly reason for their support is that bandwidth and disc capacity are a nuisance with HD-DVD. That said, I think they were made a very generous offer (as was Uni) that was too good to pass up.

You have to recognize that there is little if any money to be made on either format at this moment. The cost of promoting a new format has to be amortized over later years when it hits the growth curve. If you can get paid to support one format, that is real money you can bank, while the opposing format potentially gains strength and grows into a substantial installed base of players. So fast forward a year or two. Your support for pay deal expires and what do you know... you get to release the same movies all over again on the dominant format with healthy sales numbers.

You would know better than me or everyone else for the most part, but going by this...they could have just stayed as they were and make money off of both formats.

This doesn't make any sense what they did.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by danielpwnz

My question got lost in the Paramount hoopla...have you heard anything about the Marie Antoinette Blu-ray, paidgeek?

Thanks in advance.

It is not on the schedule at this time.

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Is what was done legal?

this is a good question... it is why the term 'promotional support' is being thrown around. That means 'bribe' in business speak, btw.

If shareholders of Viacom show any displeasure over this, I guarantee the SEC will be looking into it. As a business decision it makes absolutely no sense. Large payoffs do not qualify as legitimate business earnings, especially since they can not continue into mid and long terms. Shareholders do know this.

Viacom has made a decision that cripples them in the mid term business model. The long term will be harder to predict, but they will need to do some damage control later on. Short term they will look like sweethearts this quarter and all the top people will get fat bonuses right before jumping ship.

[Papi4baby]

Originally Posted by Balian

If you guys saw this coming, why the hell didn't BDA make them an offer??? Sony is gonna spend $100 MILLION ON THAT STUPID HDNA AD CAMPAIGN! Instead wasting money on promotions, spend it where it counts! Buy exclusivity!!

I rather HD films die than think that BD paid up to get support for their products, while it is a bussiness and they are here to make money, the money in the end comes from the consumer. And we are it, in the long run it will affect them trust me, this is a new age with comunication being vast and free mostly. This deed will not go to bed soon, and will be remembered for a while.

[blitz6speed]

It just sickens me that MS is paying out whatever it takes to prolong this Sh*t more and more. If i were to see amir, i would probably stab him, thats how upset i am over this crap. I think i will start a website on how to convert hd-dvd exclusives to BD-RE discs and let people know how to get 100% of HD movies on blu-ray. F U Toshiba.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

This in no way caught the Blu crew unawares, it’s just that not much could be done about it. This war is a game of chess, not checkers.

I think it's high time for the BDA to pull out the "nukes". Git-R-Done!!!

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Penton Man

View Post
This in no way caught the Blu crew unawares, it’s just that not much could be done about it. This war is a game of chess, not checkers.

Please don't take this the wrong way and certainly with all due respect but this is where the change needs to happen.

Change the game. Instead of playing chess, take out a sledgehammer and destroy the table, please?

Or as Esox said, and I'll paraphrase Aliens: "Nuke the entire area from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

It's been overdue for the nukes to come out IMO. Now's the time for sure.

[BTBuck1]

Insiders,

RE: Paramount/Dreamworks films on BD;

Do any of you guys know if in fact the disc "Blades of Glory" or any other of their upcomming titles were actually pressed? Best Buy still shows it on order in their system. My store shows 38 BD's on order, 19 HDDVD's. Also it isn't canceled on any websites...and even Highdefdigest still shows it as comming Aug 28th. Is this in fact doomed never to come out? Also, what is to come of their current BD selections? sell through?...send back? Continued printing upon demand?

THanks!

[BigB88]

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

It just sickens me that MS is paying out whatever it takes to prolong this Sh*t more and more. If i were to see amir, i would probably stab him, thats how upset i am over this crap. I think i will start a website on how to convert hd-dvd exclusives to BD-RE discs and let people know how to get 100% of HD movies on blu-ray. F U Toshiba.

Since HD-DVD has little to no copy protection (as M$) wants it, this is entirely possible, feasible and doable. I'm sure the hackers are already working on this.

[WickyWoo]

Do any of you guys know if in fact the disc "Blades of Glory" or any other of their upcomming titles were actually pressed? Best Buy still shows it on order in their system. My store shows 38 BD's on order, 19 HDDVD's. Also it isn't canceled on any websites...and even Highdefdigest still shows it as comming Aug 28th. Is this in fact doomed never to come out? Also, what is to come of their current BD selections? sell through?...send back? Continued printing upon demand?

You won't see the cancellations in the system for a few days at least

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by JTK

Please don't take this the wrong way and certainly with all due respect but this is where the change needs to happen.

Change the game. Instead of playing chess, take out a sledgehammer and destroy the table, please?

Agreed.

[muchaman]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

In any case, the bean counters won over the engineers at Paramount.

That's the one thing that sucks about being an engineer , bean counters have more power.

[jubaiweaponx]

Originally Posted by JTK

Please don't take this the wrong way and certainly with all due respect but this is where the change needs to happen.

Change the game. Instead of playing chess, take out a sledgehammer and destroy the table, please?

Or as Esox said, and I'll paraphrase Aliens: "Nuke the entire area from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

It's been overdue for the nukes to come out IMO. Now's the time for sure.

congrats on your 5800th post jt,shame it had to come under such bad circumstances ,I agree with you the time for pulling punches and shoves is over ,bring out the big guns ,perhaps even the wave motion gun ,lol

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by muchaman

That's the one thing that sucks about being an engineer , bean counters have more power.

Yes we do, and it's why we run the world. I believe it was Motorola that proved you cannot put an engineer in charge.

Still, as I posted previously, I'm sure it does suck to come into work and know you have to make compromises (i.e. HD DVD) when you believe you can do something better (i.e. BD).

[Anthony P]

Some time ago there were articles on the EU launching a probe on the decision of studios to be exclusive to one format. Not because there is anything wrong with a studio having a preferred format but it is illegal to pay someone (or company) so that they can win and create a monopoly.

Does anyone know if this investigation is still on, and if it is if anyone has tried to bring this "deal" to the EUs attention?