Why is the BDA not doing this?

[AikonEnt]

I received my latest copy of Total Film magazine (number 136 if you're interested) and included in the bag with the magazine were an 8 page advertising leaflet for Toshiba laptops, some had HD-DVD roms, some had HD-DVD writers (didn't know you could get them!). As usual with Toshiba advertising you also get the standard 5 free HD-DVDs part too.

Also included with the magazine is a 16 page T3 (it's a gadget magazine for those that don't know) supplement called : HD DVD - The future of film. It gives the usual stuff and information, plus some of the films available (the bit for Transformers made me laugh because it says ' The HD-DVD format is the perfect way to view this film's stunning effects - nowhere will they ever look better.' Oh really I thought), the players available which includes the Onkyo DV-HD805 which is a new one on me (are they also going to make Blu-Ray players because if not we should be boycotting their receivers if that's the side they've chosen), plus some stuff on extra features on HD-DVD and a competition to win some stuff.

So that's 2 fairly large things with the magazine advertising the availability and benefits of HD-DVD. So what about Blu-Ray then? Absolutely bugger all that's what. How is this war supposed to end quickly in our favour if the BDA isn't going to or isn't prepared to spend the money getting the information about our favourite format out to the masses?

Just a couple of other things that were in the magazine. An advert for HMV shows the Blu-Ray disc in front of the HD-DVD which is good but says 'HD & Blu-ray £24.95 each'. So HD-DVD is now referred to as HD is it?

There's also an Advert for the latest Harry Potter film which again shows the Blu-Ray disc infront of th HD-DVD disc (I always like to see that ), and at the bottom there is some general information about hi-def which includes a bits about picture quality, sound and interactivity (which mentions PiP that refers to some small print that says 'Pip available only with HD-DVD'). That last part covers compatibility which says (and I'm quoting directly from the magazine), 'HD DVD players are fully compatible with existing standard DVDs. However, the picture and sound will not be in high-definition'. WTF So they're basically saying that Blu-Ray players aren't compatible then? This is on page 53.

Sony does have an advert for Blu-Ray and it's benefits on page 45 though which is good

And what about the Hi-Def section of the mag I hear you wonder. Well on page 163 out of 186 it takes up about a third of it!! A photo of Scarlett Johansson's butt has more space devoted to it on page 165. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but you can see what I'm getting at. A huge amount of time, effort and expense has been put into developing the Blu-ray disc and there is potential for immense profits once it's adopted by the general public, so why isn't the BDA and all it's partners getting Blu-ray everywhere now when it should be to counteract HD-HDVD marketing?

Sorry I don't have any pics but I haven't got a scanner hooked up to my computer

[reiella]

Seems kinda odd marketing to the enthusiasts, who have really already picked their side to me.

[Studio Support]

It sound like Sony is desperate.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Studio Support

It sound like Sony is desperate.

Ah yes. Sony is Blu Ray again.

[The Guardian]

Sony is desperate? I'm at a loss to figure out where you get that. Desperate would be buying 50 pages of advertising in a 186 page magazine. Not 1.

To the OP, T3 is neutral-ish, which really means they appreciate Blu-ray but they use any excuse possible to put HD DVD up on a pedestal in the sky. They have a weekly HD-o-meter which almost always leans to the HD DVD side - often based on blatant lies, like this week citing the already refuted statistics that came out last week.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by Studio Support

It sound like Sony is desperate.

Bullshit, not to put too fine a point on it. However did you arrive at this spectacular assertion?

Originally Posted by Studio Support

I am for Hi Def. I can care less about the Hi Def Format War.
Only Facts interest me, and so far I know where it’s leading!

and where, pray tell, do you think it's leading?

[AikonEnt]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Sony is desperate? I'm at a loss to figure out where you get that. Desperate would be buying 50 pages of advertising in a 186 page magazine. Not 1.

To the OP, T3 is neutral-ish, which really means they appreciate Blu-ray but they use any excuse possible to put HD DVD up on a pedestal in the sky. They have a weekly HD-o-meter which almost always leans to the HD DVD side - often based on blatant lies, like this week citing the already refuted statistics that came out last week.

Agree, if they were desperate there would be a lot more advertising. I just wish they'd do a bit more than they do. The HD-DVD camp have shown that they will go to any lengths and spend ridiculous amounts of money just to big-up their format. And if the non-informed public are continuously bombarded with HD-DVD crap, sooner or later they just might accept it. This cannot be allowed to happen. Blu-ray is the superior format and this is all that should matter in the end.

I've never looked at T3 magazine but I was a bit shocked that the supplement was only about HD-DVD, I could have understood if they'd done something that was basically neutral about both formats but to be so blatantly one sided just isn't helpful to the uninformed when the read it.

[gandley]

the T3 promo piece, or should we say sponsored advertising was not a bad little book for HD DVD. It could be found in most mags from the same publication company as T3, so was actually in quite a few different mags from different subjects.

the booklet title was HD DVD the future of film.
Of course it doesnt once mention lack of studio support or the fact that most CE'S support blu ray etc.

I did have a chuckle at the small line about better sound than the cinema due to the use of Hi Res audio...someone should let paramount know.

Now it wont take a genius to notice only toshiba players were available now, with 1 onkyo player due and ventura player coming somtime from a make not alot of UKers will have a clue about.

the AD made more of interactive features than the movies themselves, which i think might actually turn people away, it just seemed to make movie watching sound like a complicated ordeal.

the sad thing is, i think toshiba players are beginning to shift units in the UK (by how much im not sure) so the BDA do need to up the game to maintain there advantage.

clearly this was a paid advertisement by toshiba via T3

[Gio]

Originally Posted by AikonEnt

Onkyo DV-HD805 which is a new one on me (are they also going to make Blu-Ray players because if not we should be boycotting their receivers if that's the side they've chosen),

onkyo is toshiba its theyre high end line

[Firestreak]

I thought HD DVD was essentially dead in the U.K.?

[jorg]

Originally Posted by Firestreak

I thought HD DVD was essentially dead in the U.K.?

blu-ray is besting hd dvd by 4:1 in all of Europe hd dvd is almost doen everywere but the usa

[Firestreak]

Then I'd just assume use the advertising budget in the U.S. and instead of throwing money in Europe on advertising, use it to fund printing movies specifically for the European audience?

I mean it's pretty ridiculous that I can't think of one Blu-ray movie that isn't made by Hollywood or Asia(and only a few of those), while the biggest potential to tap is in Europe at the moment.

Not saying don't do ads in Europe... just that HD DVD there isn't a threat. Hell all they're doing is building awareness for HDM, those ads could actually inspire blu-ray buyers.

[Rike255]

Originally Posted by Gio

onkyo is toshiba its theyre high end line

Really? I don't think that's right. Does anyone have a source to confirm this?

[AikonEnt]

Originally Posted by Gio

onkyo is toshiba its theyre high end line

Well you learn something new everyday, I had no idea about that.

[WickyWoo]

Laptops are HUGE in Europe, well outdoing desktops. Toshiba is one of the most prolific brands of laptop. They're advertising their laptops and sneaking in HD DVD

This is not an HD blitz, this is a laptop blitz

[Bullseye]

People are not going to buy laptops to watch movies though. Which is more important for this format war, movies or media storage?

[Firestreak]

Wish I knew why, Toshiba laptops are junk. This satellite I'm posting off right now(my school had a deal with Toshiba so we all had to buy this same model) is the worst computer I've ever owned.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Rike255

Really? I don't think that's right. Does anyone have a source to confirm this?

I dunno about the veracity of that, but I *do* know that the Onkyo player so highly touted by the red side is simply a rebadged Toshiba unit.

[Bullseye]

Dell are pretty big in Europe and they are BD supporters. They need to push this element of the market along with Apple.

[Firestreak]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

People are not going to buy laptops to watch movies though. Which is more important for this format war, movies or media storage?

Seriously who is gonna start a collection of high def movies to watch on their 19 inch screens with their low quality mono speakers coming out the bottom? lol

Can only see this as a gateway. You buy a movie to test it out, and once you have the movie, and the high def tv, you want the player so you can watch it on your TV. But that won't happen too often.