Archived: Insiders Thread

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Sony basically ruined their whole gaming division to win this war,

Sorry i'm not a gamer and don't really understand what you meant by this comment, could you elaborate please? Thanks in advance.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by monkyman

Sorry i'm not a gamer and don't really understand what you meant by this comment, could you elaborate please? Thanks in advance.

he's trying to say that sony jepordized the ps3's success, mostly due to price, in order to get a few million blu-ray players out on the market. i disagree, each ps has included the next format in optical disc technology, thus the ps3 is supposed to have blu-ray in it.

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

You have to look at each of the companies willing to fight on each side. HD DVD have got Toshiba, MS don't want to get involved anymore and with Amir gone they won't get any internal pressure to fight dirty for HD DVD anymore. Blu-ray have got Sony, Panasonic, Fox and Disney willing to get down in the trenches. Sony basically ruined their whole gaming division to win this war, Panasonic are stepping it up (and will most likely be the source of any blank cheques), Fox and Disney will support Blu to the end with great titles and good PR.

Somehow, I think that in terms of strategic gains, MSFT would regard OOXML as being much more important than HDM. When it comes to spending executive time and company resources, I suspect OOXML is getting more mindshare at msft's executive meetings.

As for VC-1/WMV9, when h.264 royalties are nailed down for PC software, MSFT already disbanded the original WMV9 support team to other more pressing concerns in the company --- like the managed copy and downdload video and iptv thing that they have long term interests in.

It would be another big pffffft if the build up for tomorrow's call is all about Warner's release titles and a "go buy our movies" thing.

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by monkyman

Sorry i'm not a gamer and don't really understand what you meant by this comment, could you elaborate please? Thanks in advance.

I think that What Max means is that the gaming division of Sony is going through massive losses to support the format war, which was probably a decision made at the top echelons when they saw Toshiba releasing a HD DVD model early, and needed a somewhat affordable Blu Ray player to compete.

This would explain the too early launch (without a good game lineup), and the massive price reductions (selling at a loss) the PS3 went through.

This is nothing Sony can't recover from though
Sony Corp. has registered huge profits in Q3 overall, and one good positionning can flip a situation over on its own.

Look at what World of Warcraft did in '04 and there on to the VUG (Vivendi Universal Games) division, after a catatrophic '03, while Vivendi stayed quite profitable all the while (appart from the huge amount of cash they dropped on the table in '04 I think for the Next Gen Cell Phone licensing fees).

[spam.curitiba]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well the problem for MS is that they opened up WMV to prying eyes when they submitted it to the SMPTE for standardisation. WMV contians a lot of IP that doesn't belong to MS and they are going to get into trouble for it now.

HD DVD for MS is far more trouble than it's worth to them now. Amir getting 'fired' shows that.

Amir got fired? Didn't he get a new position?

[GJN]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Honestly, I think that this kind of decision has been already taken

If Warner has already decided, then it would make sense for them to make it known ASAP. Regardless of which format is chosen, there'll be a great deal of ill will generated on the losing side. Look at the ill will toward Paramount on the Blu-ray side and that wasn't nearly as much of a blow as Warner's move will be. Let's face it, this will be the A-bomb for the format war.

So, if Warner's made up its corporate mind, it should let people know before the Christmas shopping season. It won't affect their revenue. People on the losing side (hopefully HD DVD) who already have players will still snap up Warner titles while they're still available. People without players will at least know what they're getting into.

[JJ_L]

Originally Posted by GJN

If Warner has already decided, then it would make sense for them to make it known ASAP. Regardless of which format is chosen, there'll be a great deal of ill will generated on the losing side. Look at the ill will toward Paramount on the Blu-ray side and that wasn't nearly as much of a blow as Warner's move will be. Let's face it, this will be the A-bomb for the format war.

So, if Warner's made up its corporate mind, it should let people know before the Christmas shopping season. It won't affect their revenue. People on the losing side (hopefully HD DVD) who already have players will still snap up Warner titles while they're still available. People without players will at least know what they're getting into.

I think that its been decided but not certified. IE... The CEO wants to make it happens but needs the board to approve. They cannot say anything untils its been fully nailed.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Well, fired/given a non-job. Where's the difference...

That's what happens in the industry when you rub too many people the wrong way.

Amir is feeling a lot like Troy Duffy right now.

And yes, Panasonic has lots of leeway with which to support Blu-ray, including the recent announcement of the first BD 1.1 profile player with an industry first 45nm chip.

http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/G...2602859&pgno=2

With Panasonic and Disney getting along VERY well there isn't a hope in hell for HD DVD moving forward.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

And yes, Panasonic has lots of leeway with which to support Blu-ray, including the recent announcement of the first BD 1.1 profile player with an industry first 45nm chip.

http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/G...2602859&pgno=2

Maybe I missed it but the article doesn't state when the player will be available. Anyone know?

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

You have to look at each of the companies willing to fight on each side. HD DVD have got Toshiba, MS don't want to get involved anymore and with Amir gone they won't get any internal pressure to fight dirty for HD DVD anymore. Blu-ray have got Sony, Panasonic, Fox and Disney willing to get down in the trenches. Sony basically ruined their whole gaming division to win this war, Panasonic are stepping it up (and will most likely be the source of any blank cheques), Fox and Disney will support Blu to the end with great titles and good PR.

Is this a known fact amongst insiders, have they had enough, meaning Toshiba are alone?

Thanks for your info, much appreciated.

[WickyWoo]

they're supposed to announce it today

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by AranhaHunter

Who's Amir?

Originally Posted by patrick99

Consider yourself fortunate not to know.

Originally Posted by Seretur

Bless you. From the bottom of my heart, bless you.

Also, to make this post legitimate. Paid, I just got through watching the AC/DC concert. Twice. If you know anyone involved with it give them a pat on the back for a job well done.

[space2001]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

he's trying to say that sony jepordized the ps3's success, mostly due to price, in order to get a few million blu-ray players out on the market. i disagree, each ps has included the next format in optical disc technology, thus the ps3 is supposed to have blu-ray in it.

to have blu-ray in it make perfect sense.

Uncharted takes up 24 gigs can't do that on DVD

http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=9...rview+Part+One

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

they're supposed to announce it today

Announce what? MS is dropping out of backing HD-DVD?

Sorry, Im just a little confused by all the talk going on here. What did I miss?

[Mr_Bester]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Announce what? MS is dropping out of backing HD-DVD?

Sorry, Im just a little confused by all the talk going on here. What did I miss?

I think he was talking about the panasonic 1.1 player....

[McBain]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Unfortunately no. Panasonic are keeping their cards very close to their chest on this one as they would be the first company to make a BD player compatible with 1.1.

The LG BH200 is the first Final Standard Profile player.

[UltimateFighter]

Originally Posted by Mr_Bester

I think he was talking about the panasonic 1.1 player....

Here she is: http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/s...leID=202800271

Can somebody add this to the news?

[CAB]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

they're supposed to announce it today

http://www.digitaltvdesignline.com/2...nline_dtvdlRSS

Edit: Sorry to post in the insider's thread. I didn't realize it till after I hit the button.

[BigB88]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

Honestly, I think that this kind of decision has been already tasken, before a Warner Exec (VP) would venture to make this kind of comments.

I may be proven wrong in the future, but let's look at the facts:

Warner is a member of the BDA

Warner was at the BDA conference at the CEDIA, but not the HD DVD one.

Warner France is part of the Blu Ray Partner Group, a group whose sole goal is to have Blu Ray win over HD DVD

Warner has its more prominent franchise featured in the new Blu Ray domination campaign ("I do Blu"), aka Harry Potter.

a Warner VP is now at a Blu Ray lounge for a Blu ray event, saying they are firmly comitted to Blu Ray, and probably about to re consider their neutral stance (without saying straight that they are going Blu, which makes sense for them to sell the titles they have coming on HD DVD till end of the year).


I don't know what that all tell you, but when I see a HD DVD fanboy saying Warner is going Red, I'm thinking "I gotta have some of what he's smoking".



Actually (unfortunately), Toshiba -the consortium- is also a 800 lbs Gorilla, and both Sony and Tosh have record profits this past Q3 (thanks to other activities, electronics for Sony, Industrial for Tosh). So, they can't really play the attrition game, that could go on forever, or until they are tired of losing money in one banch of activity.

Don't forget about New Line releasing some of their titles on Blu initially, with little mention of HD-DVD, only to say, they will be released "later".

[sjy1969]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

HD DVD for MS is far more trouble than it's worth to them now. Amir getting 'fired' shows that.

So in your opinion does this mean that HD DVD is effectively just Toshiba now?