81:19 Nielsen/VideoScan Weekly Sales Numbers

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by richard lichtenfelt

How about a source for the supposed adamant statement denying blu-ray exclusivity.
A guy from the strategic marketing dept. of WB saying that Mr. Silverburg's statement was taken out of context doesn't seem like WB boldly declaring their commitment to hd dvd.

+1

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by blu2

Why do you think Warner will go exclusive when they have adamantly said they will not?

Because they haven't said that. Let's disect the statement:

Speaking to High-Def Digest, Jim Noonan, SVP of Strategic Promotion and Communication for Warner Home Entertainment Group said, "I can tell you that Warner's position has not changed,

Correct, we already know that.

and I know that Dan did not intend to suggest that wasn't the case.

I'm sure he didn't.

We support both formats and we have made no decision to alter that policy,

Yet

nor are there any such announcements coming, or being planned.

Yet

Like any major company, we are always reviewing our strategies in every aspect of our business, it is what smart companies do.

And this is supporting HD DVD how?

I can't say what may happen five, ten years down the line.

We're we asking about the distant future? 5 or 6 months would do - wonder why he started talking about 5 or 10 years?

But right now,

Today

Warner Bros. has made no decision to change course. We are still onboard with both formats,

Yes, yes, we still know that.

and will continue [with a strong line-up of new releases and catalog titles], just as we have in the past in supporting HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Continue until when? 2012? 2017? Or maybe sooner?

Well, I didn't see anyone adamantly saying they won't be dumping HD DVD in the near future (jn that statement), but I can see how people might misconstrue Jim Noonan's words.

[scragham]

Originally Posted by blu2

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...h_Formats/1135



Seems pretty clear.

by the same token, that statement makes no commitments to neutrality. it just says that right now, no decisions have been made... with very vague references to 5, 10, whatever years down the road.

[richard lichtenfelt]

Seems more like Mr. Silverberg, the VP of high definition media for WB, stated something that raged out of control over the internet in a way that he hadn't imagined. Then someone from the Strategic Promotion and Communication division for Warner Home Entertainment Group had to engage in crowd control.
I'm not certain, but it just seems to me that to say they adamantly denied exclusivity is not entirely accurate. Do you remember when it leaked about the PS3 price being lowered to $399? Sony came out and denied it, but it happened anyway.

[Blu Titan]

WickyWoo does not need anyone to defend him, but I am going to share my thoughts on this. It really amazes me how some posters take shots at somebody who has proven to be: 1. very knowable about the HD/movie industry. 2. Continuously shares the most reliable, timely information I have witnessed in the HD "war" forums. 4. Has been a voice of reason in times of rumors and FUD 4. Has always been unwavering in his support of Blu-ray. I could not care less about the people sharing their little info in the forum, and then crying when it is disputed and proven to be wrong. There are like three or four people that provide irreplaceable value to this forum and WickyWoo is one!

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by richard lichtenfelt

Seems more like Mr. Silverberg, the VP of high definition media for WB, stated something that raged out of control over the internet in a way that he hadn't imagined. Then someone from the Strategic Promotion and Communication division for Warner Home Entertainment Group had to engage in crowd control.
I'm not certain, but it just seems to me that to say they adamantly denied exclusivity is not entirely accurate. Do you remember when it leaked about the PS3 price being lowered to $399? Sony came out and denied it, but it happened anyway.

Somebody knows what he is talking about! Thank you sir.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by richard lichtenfelt

Seems more like Mr. Silverberg, the VP of high definition media for WB, stated something that raged out of control over the internet in a way that he hadn't imagined. Then someone from the Strategic Promotion and Communication division for Warner Home Entertainment Group had to engage in crowd control.
I'm not certain, but it just seems to me that to say they adamantly denied exclusivity is not entirely accurate. Do you remember when it leaked about the PS3 price being lowered to $399? Sony came out and denied it, but it happened anyway.

If you really want to believe they are going to go exclusive, that's fine.

You're right that one cannot trust anything that a company says these days.

I just don't think it will happen based on the latest statements. It seems clear, and Warner has always claimed they are better off neutral.

I for one will not be sitting on the edge of my seat for CES 2008 announcements on studio movement. We're stuck with the current alignments for some time I think.

[Elandyll]

The "5 or 10" year comment is extremely obvious as an attempt to not scare off buyers of either formats for the end of the year.

Xmas is a huge sales period for DVDs, and now probably for HD medias.
How good would that be for shooting yourself in the foot anouncing that you are withdrawing your support to a format while you have releases planned for that very same format for the next 3-4 months ?

As per the "no plans yet", it is merely PR talk. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. They just don't want people buying the format they might drop to think they do ... yet.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by aluni2230

Problem would be solved if BDA put out inexpensive players. This is a huge chicken and egg problem. Retailers are frustrated that BDA isn't moving faster on price cuts. In another 3 months we WILL have 2 formats. Once there are 500K or so HD DVD players the format war is over, we will be in a world of 2 formats.

On another note. Guys, please don't punish Fox and Disney for being loyal to BD by buying Warner titles only. But Warner titles in addition to what you would buy from Fox and Disney. These studios have stuck by the format. What has Warner really done? When I look back, we have a format war that is entering Q4 for 2 reasons - Batman and Matrix Trilogy.

To win the war, I believe you have to face reality and then deal with it. The window of an outright win is getting smaller. There is one and one thing only that needs to be done by the BDA - coordinate a price cut on all hardware. Put some money into a joint hardware promotion pot (say $1B) and each vendor who sells a player gets $200 from there per unit shipped. I bet that is how the HD Promo group works - and how MSFT never has to write a check for anyone. Write a check to the HD Promo group and they do the rest. Easy!

You are just a Troll looking for a hiding space, the sooner you disappear from here the better. Consider joining Mike Hd in eproductwars.

[davidPS3]

Sooooooooooooooooooo, how about those Neilson numbers coming out tomorrow morning.....................................

[Fozziwig]

Originally Posted by blu2

If you really want to believe they are going to go exclusive, that's fine.

You're right that one cannot trust anything that a company says these days.

I just don't think it will happen based on the latest statements. It seems clear, and Warner has always claimed they are better off neutral.

.....

I thought you said you couldn't trust what they say?

Anway, yes, being dual format (let's not misuse the word 'neutral' here) had helped Warner up to now. But, they know as well as the rest of us, that this strategy only works in the short term.

The long term goal is to take HD disc to the masses (and make a few billion in the process). To succeed will require you to NOT confuse your target markets. How do you do that? Well, for a start, you do not present them with competing formats.

To many this is common sense. To others? Well, I like to think there is still hope. Alas, for some, it is too late.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by davidPS3

Sooooooooooooooooooo, how about those Neilson numbers coming out tomorrow morning.....................................

[blitz6speed]

Warner is being forced to pick a side by the end of february. A contract with a outside company wont be renewed unless they pick a side, so they WILL be dropping one format 100% guarenteed next year. A very inside "Insider" told me this in person. Just keep buying warner BD discs.

[Maxell]

Retailers are probably really happy with Blu-Ray. Their machines make money (alot more profit than Toshiba players) and video sales are 60:40, more or less. They are not desperate to end this war anytime soon. It's owners and future owners that want that.

[jsb_hburg]

Originally Posted by aluni2230

(snip)

There is one and one thing only that needs to be done by the BDA - coordinate a price cut on all hardware.

(snip)

This would be a per se violation of 15 USC 1. And because this would be a per se horizontal violation, US DOJ would likely pursue this criminally.

This would not be a good idea.

[The Shrike]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's more that they don't want to be selling you an HD DVD player this week, and have them not be able to get Harry Potter next week

500k players is not even close to the critical mass, and retailers will not stand for 2 formats once ite gets past the first aisle (Most Best Buys now have 3/4 of an aisle devoted in varying configurations). They will pick a winner after Christmas and so will Warner, and the entire industry not actively trying to save their jobs knows that will be Blu-ray

I don't have any proof, but I believe that with Amir, there also went the bottomless bribe checkbook, as I haven't even heard about pokings around with major payoffs since he got demoted. I seriously believe even Microsoft has adopted an "it's all fun and games tilll you hit half a billion", and they also know that if they ever want to work with Hollywood in the future(which they'll have to since they don't own any movie or music content), they need to stop poking the hornet's nest with a stick

This is the first week starting tomorrow where the real split between the 2 formats is going to start majorlly hurting the HDers. I believe that Spidey's combined single/box numbers will easily push us well into the 80s for the split, something I expect to be repeated and possibly even improved upon the following week for the Pixar blitz.

Shrek and bourne numbers will be bumped by the $99 players, but aside from some major deals I don't see the few new customers they had for them to move things one way or another that much. The price differential is simply too high, and any more than $5 and the vast majority will buy the DVD

Damn, Wicky. My heart is soothed.

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by HomeMediaMagazine

On the high-definition disc charts, Spider-Man 3 was an easy victor on Blu-ray Disc. On the HD DVD chart, Transformers remained at No. 1 for the third consecutive week.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=11514

No big surprises there...

[Steverhcp02]

Originally Posted by Longshot

What's your problem with WickyWoo? This is like the third time you have called him out for no reason. You are 100% wrong on your above assertion. It was that HD DVD shill Kosty that started that rumour. Get your facts straight before spouting off and questioning mods or anyone else's intentions.

Listen, i have no problem with wickywoo. I'm only saying, just because hes saying something doesnt mean its a FACT. It doesnt matter who started the rumor, the fact that Wicky's sources, as well as Max's still led them to believe the conference was ging down isnt their fault.

Im not attacking him, and im getting very irritated with how people are reacting to NORMAL objectivity. Im seeing a dangerous circle jerk here that i never remembered seeing, and it makes me sad.

Im just saying, WickyWoo saying something doesnt mean its a fact as we have seen by the WB conference. Its probably not his fault, his sources can get wrong info as well.....im sick of people drawing this 7 year old line in the sand with your with us or against us mentaliity. We are above that here, so stop taking on posters with realistic skepticism just because they arent in on a circle jerk. I have never atacked WickyWoo and never will. Hes a great mod and informat.....but im not about to believe something JUST because hes saying it right now.

Sorry if you have a problem with that and misunderstood where i was coming from

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

It's more that they don't want to be selling you an HD DVD player this week, and have them not be able to get Harry Potter next week

500k players is not even close to the critical mass, and retailers will not stand for 2 formats once ite gets past the first aisle (Most Best Buys now have 3/4 of an aisle devoted in varying configurations). They will pick a winner after Christmas and so will Warner, and the entire industry not actively trying to save their jobs knows that will be Blu-ray

I don't have any proof, but I believe that with Amir, there also went the bottomless bribe checkbook, as I haven't even heard about pokings around with major payoffs since he got demoted. I seriously believe even Microsoft has adopted an "it's all fun and games tilll you hit half a billion", and they also know that if they ever want to work with Hollywood in the future(which they'll have to since they don't own any movie or music content), they need to stop poking the hornet's nest with a stick

This is the first week starting tomorrow where the real split between the 2 formats is going to start majorlly hurting the HDers. I believe that Spidey's combined single/box numbers will easily push us well into the 80s for the split, something I expect to be repeated and possibly even improved upon the following week for the Pixar blitz.

Shrek and bourne numbers will be bumped by the $99 players, but aside from some major deals I don't see the few new customers they had for them to move things one way or another that much. The price differential is simply too high, and any more than $5 and the vast majority will buy the DVD

Post of the day.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

Somebody knows what he is talking about! Thank you sir.

I was about to say what he just said...

I don't usually jump the gun in these types of scenarios....

but I will say "where there is smoke, there is fire"