Archived: Insiders Thread

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Petra

I don't if someone has commented on this, but I want to clarify that unlike Warner, Paramount was never in BDA group, they're only blu-ray supporting company. Warner was offered a member seat in BDA, they signed a bunch of contract agreements, they paid the membership-fee and in turn will get some royalty from any blu-ray profit in the future.

I was surprised that Paramount was never offered a seat in BDA when they decided to support blu-ray a year ago

Good info, thanks!

[blublublu]

Originally Posted by Petra

I don't if someone has commented on this, but I want to clarify that unlike Warner, Paramount was never in BDA group, they're only blu-ray supporting company. Warner was offered a member seat in BDA, they signed a bunch of contract agreements, they paid the membership-fee and in turn will get some royalty from any blu-ray profit in the future.

I was surprised that Paramount was never offered a seat in BDA when they decided to support blu-ray a year ago

I am not sure if any insiders know, but how does Warner operate within the BDA?

As a "neutral" party, does Warner "opt out" when discussions of strategy on countering HD DVD take place (assuming such discussions occur)?

[supabilly8]

Originally Posted by blublublu

I am not sure if any insiders know, but how does Warner operate within the BDA?

As a "neutral" party, does Warner "opt out" when discussions of strategy on countering HD DVD take place (assuming such discussions occur)?

yeah im wondering the same thing

what input does warner have in the bda?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Delta_FX

What is this I'm hearing of a major Blu-ray announcement soon? When/where did this rumor start?

To keep things on-topic...

Paid,

Is it possible for Sony/other studios to release HD(1080p) trailers for upcoming movies that are going to be released on Blu-ray.

For example, Sony is releasing "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", to have an HD trailer for that would be awesome!

Is this possible?

Do you mean can a CE3K trailer be released on an earlier title?

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Do you mean can a CE3K trailer be released on an earlier title?

A PSN download would do, similar to what has already been done with The Lives of Others. Would that be possible?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JackBauer24

Hi Paidgeek and Penton-Man

This may have been shot down before but do you think now Sony, Disney and Fox should increase their output of titles in the coming months? I know Paramount wasn't exactly inundating us with waves but perception is the key here.

We are doing our best, but there is a lot of planning a preparation for each title. It's not easy to drop them into the schedule less than several months in advance.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

Paidgeek,

Any news on "THE INCREDIBLES" coming to BD? Any chance of whispering it to someone....

It should look great, but I don't have any influence on Disney's release plans.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Icemage

A PSN download would do, similar to what has already been done with The Lives of Others. Would that be possible?

Good question, let me check...

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by krinkle

Insiders:

Please do something to shore up Warner Bros. support! Everyone is saying on other forums that Warner Bros is going to announce exclusive support for HD-DVD at CEDIA. That will be enough to make it impossible for Blu-ray to win.

If the HD-DVD promotion group can come up with $150mil in incentives for Paramount, why can't the BDA do the same thing for Warner or Universal?

I hope the BDA remains deadly serious about winning the war. The future royalty streams from a Blu-ray victory will far outweigh the cost of an incentive package today.

I think I speak for all Blu-ray fans when I say that I hope you guys do whatever it takes to hold this thing together!

I think the upper levels of Sony are paying attention to this.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by blublublu

I am not sure if any insiders know, but how does Warner operate within the BDA?

As a "neutral" party, does Warner "opt out" when discussions of strategy on countering HD DVD take place (assuming such discussions occur)?

They participate fully.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

We are doing our best, but there is a lot of planning a preparation for each title. It's not easy to drop them into the schedule less than several months in advance.

I, for one, am impressed by what Sony has accomplished so far. According to http://www.blu-raystats.com/ Sony has released 25% of all Blu-ray titles (72).

We know what happens when a studio pushes too hard on quantity, the result is Universal.

Quality over quantity any day. We want these to be special. And I think Sony has mastered an extraordinary balance.

Gary

[Jack Torrance]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I think the upper levels of Sony are paying attention to this.

This is GOOD to hear. I hope the appropriate actions are being taken!

[Papi4baby]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

This is GOOD to hear. I hope the appropriate actions are being taken!

Amen to that, on a side note i hope we don't go to the level HDDVD went and open the bank, now discounts and help by the BDA wouldn't be fair and not too intrusive.

[Razzy]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I think the upper levels of Sony are paying attention to this.

My god they had better pay attention along with the rest of the BDA. I can live without Paramounts movies (Transformers on DVD will look great upconverted through my PS3 anyways) but I don't think I, or quite a few others can live without Warner.

[Azumi]

Paid, Penton:

I have a question in the broad sense of the word over the events in the past few days.

Paramount's announcement has been met with a lot of puzzlement by the people at large, because it's not a business win but rather the withdrawal of a commodity from a big chunk of the audience. It's therefore legitimate to wonder if the consumer's preference still *accounts to something* in today's world (especially since Blu-ray is leading the sales), or if people are shown nothing but contempt by Studios who can flip-flop as they see fit.

Most of us realize that there's more than meets the eye behind the format war. But as the Warner's rumor grow stronger, we can ask ourselves if these Studios are totally disconnected from the reality and risk to alienate the very consumers they're after.

If we take the most vocal fans and detractors out of the equation, all we see out there, is that people DO NOT UNDERSTAND why the war is still on and keep getting fueled by business wins that treat people like simple statistics.

If Warner becomes exclusive to HD DVD, perhaps Blu-ray will still win the war. Or perhaps the red pill will win. But isn't there also a tiny possibility that consumers at large will just get fed up, and shun the high def formats? What happens to the Studios then if they end up losing this market and find themselves stuck with the diminishing returns of DVD and the uncharted territories of the VOD?

If the high def market fails, it'll become one day a subject for business schools, where people will exactly see the turning points where decisive actions would have made the difference, and wonder what made film studios run blindfolded towards the cliff.

Don't studio executives and creative people see this danger looming? Do they read the papers and meet real people aside from valets and gardeners?

Paid, Penton, I'm sorry if these words are a bit brisk -- they're not aimed at your efforts. I feel that it would be great if the upper levels (within the BDA members, but also at Warners) are made aware of these concerns.

Also, lots of good people out there gave Blu-ray the lead through their efforts and their wallets. Although that might seem naive, people on the street would like to think that their voices - and the numbers of 300 - still count.

In order to end this post with a purposeful question, Steve Jobs is someone who has a big influence in Hollywood... and they've been sitting on the board for three years. Isn't it time that you use this weapon and ask him to pay a visit at Warners and at the 5 or 6 big market-turning companies in the field?

Thank you for listening and sorry for the long post.

[kwhiplash]

Azumi,

Wow, that was a mouthful! Great points!

[gand41f]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

I, for one, am impressed by what Sony has accomplished so far. According to http://www.blu-raystats.com/ Sony has released 25% of all Blu-ray titles (72).

Let me second that! The love and care that went in not only to the high visibility titles, but to those like Warriors of Heaven and Earth and Seven Years in Tibet is simply amazing.

Good job folks. I'm sure you are as pissed of Para***** as we all are, but keep up the good work and we will follow.

thanks
gandalf

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by supabilly8

yeah im wondering the same thing

what input does warner have in the bda?

And conversely, what input does the BDA have in Warner? Were there any eyebrows raised over The Matrix and Batman Begins?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

paidgeek/Penton-Man... do either of you know the financial elements involved for studios when releasing their material on either format? I was reading somewhere that when releasing on HD-DVD the studio has to pay a licensing fee of $8,000/year. I also heard that the licensing fee for a studio releasing on Blu-ray is $18,000/PER TITLE!!! With your resources, could you verify/deny this incormation???

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

It should look great, but I don't have any influence on Disney's release plans.

Thanks Paid! Hopefully Disney will give us this title soon - I am sure it would be a huge title.