Why is Dolby True HD going the way of the Dodo?

[Jeff Kleist]

I see your point and I would rather have 3 different lossless tracks than lossly tracks. But why not just give us the Uncompressed version then.... Isn't it cheaper from a production stand point??"

Everyone these days charges per track, regardless of the resulting format. They typically have set packages with so much extra per item outside of it.

It's not cheaper if you're including additional lossless tracks because you still have a bit budget to worry about, and a CBR 4.5mbps track (6mbps for 24-bit) is still 10-12% of available bandwidth at any one time.

There wasn't any marketing strategy at the time, it was contractual. I prefer PCM audio myself wherever possible because it eliminates decoding errors from the equation. Bandwidth and bit budgets aren't as cut and dried as you think, there's a very fine art to balancing the load, and not having a 5mbps that has to be there makes their lives a lot easier, and gives the video room to stretch its legs when it needs it.