The rumor is that Warner is coming aboard soon

[SDG]

Rumor and nothing more. I wont get excited until I hear it from Warner. You would think that all of us would have learned a lesson about believing RUMORS.

[galz]

Rumor...

[bluperch]

I highly doubt that Warner is going to make their determination based on numbers sold. Right now, that's miniscule (oooo, blu sold 16,000 more copies of Harry Potter ... big whoop. Those numbers mean nothing to these companies). They know that with the right support, either side could still win this thing. One question to ask is does Warner really want one format? If yes, then some decision will be made soon. If no, then they'll wait (and wait, and wait) to "decide." Why they would want dual formats is beyond me as pretty much everyone's in agreement that the normal consumer won't buy into high def until a winner is declared (unless Warner is in bed with Microsoft and secretly are supporting high def downloads by pretending to decide on a format to support).

Warner's final decision will be based on politics and under-the-table deals more than anything else. Whichever camp can make the better promise wins. I'm guessing that behind the scenes, the political maneuvering is every bit as intense as anything happening in "real" politics right now. That's how Warner is going to make their determination.

[Eve6insideandout]

Yes the company who hasn't released Batman Begins and V for Vendetta yet??

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by Downhere

I think that depends, for me there are a lot of movies on both formats that I wanted and want.

Understood but for those who aren't format neutral you can always look to the other side and go, "I wish they'd release that for my format". That's the key. It's one of the reasons why Disney is so crucial to the blu side. We need those titles. We need a Finding Nemo (which I saw will be out on blu sometime next year). We needed Ratatouille. We need those typs of titles in order to stay well in the game.

Bottom line is that the potential HD customer has to browse the aisles and say, "Well this format has this movie but this format has this, this, and that". All of the 100 dollar HD DVD players in the world ain't gonna play Cars, Close Encounters, and Die Hard.

[Spankey]

Politics aside, I think everything hinges on profile 1.1. Once Blu-ray can do everything HD-DVD can and then some, the choice will be clear. I don't like when these rumors get spilled, then again, I have a hard time believing a vice chairman of a studio would let things like that "slip".

[Bond007]

"But Dreamworks Animation and Paramount only signed on with the Toshiba side for 18 months. So then they could take the money and run."

I love this part of the story. I'm sure they will "take the money and Run" back to the winning side!

[Living Near Shamu]

Sub $300 players are already out there, albeit in the form of sales. The Sammy BDP-1400 has been the one advertised the most.

[The Guardian]

Yeah I know they are out there, but the "imminent arrival" part makes me think they're talking about something not currently out there, and we know of two budget CE companies with players in the works (Samsung is definitely not a budget company).

[bluperch]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

Sub $300 players are already out there, albeit in the form of sales. The Sammy BDP-1400 has been the one advertised the most.

And if its MSRP is under $300, that means sales can drop it to $199 (or less).

[The Guardian]

Of course it will probably be a bare-bones player that doesn't decode anything onboard and has mediocre video and little or no upconverting... but it will still be 1080p and profile 1.1 at least, so it can compete against the low end HD DVD players easily.

[Bullseye]

I think the sub $300 have to be at least profile 1.1

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by Spankey

Politics aside, I think everything hinges on profile 1.1. Once Blu-ray can do everything HD-DVD can and then some, the choice will be clear. I don't like when these rumors get spilled, then again, I have a hard time believing a vice chairman of a studio would let things like that "slip".

That's the curious thing too. Notice how it's announced that profile 1.1 may be hitting the PS3's later this month and this rumor slips.

Still I don't think profile 1.1 is rolling of the tongues of the public at large. They're gonna need such a high level of interactivity to make it look attractive. Nobody beyond us knows 1.1, the public just needs to see what it can do.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Warner knows that when they announce exclusive support for one format ofr the other it will be a huge boost to that format. If it's HD DVD, they have two major studios announcing exclusive support after the formats have been in existence for a while and within a year of each other - niche status guaranteed as this "boost" would be only amongst early adopters.

If they choose Blu-ray, where their titles already sell well, with movies like The Dark Knight, Harry potter 6, 10,000 B.C. and the totally awesome looking Speed Racer, it would spell L-I-G-H-T-S-O-U-T for HD DVD quicker than you can say "Matrix Trilogy coming to Blu-ray by June 2008" as the studio support would be undeniably in Blu-ray's corner wayyyy more than it already is (Warner/New Line 1-2 punch - LOTR, etc.) and you know Universal would get the **** out of there real quick.

Warner don't want to just make money, they want to make LOTS of money and supporting both formats is not doing it for them. They don't need lots of royalties waved in front of their faces, they already have patents in Blu-ray Disc technology.

The only logical conclusion one can draw who isn't a total HD DVD fanatic is that Warner will be going Blu-ray exclusive in 2008.

Time Warner will overrule Ron Sanders who is the only reason Warner is still releasing HD DVD throughout Q4/07. it's good to see Stringer talking right to the Time Warner heads. They are the one ring to rule them all, so to speak.

once again Doby "the fud killer" blue spot on i think that right now the format war being the way it is when a certain well known movie director called Microsoft out on wanting to "keep HDM from takeing off" that's like he took a stick and struck the bee hive so to speak. because i think what stringer was pointing out is right now Warner. Bros. was the only studio that is holding out good or bad "make a choice" this is only dragging out this format war. payola aside just on the merits of the format's in sales its clear that Blu-Ray is the leader in market share.

that is just MY OPINION but i think that is why we are seeing more statements out of the studio heads ,directors, some are starting to take sides

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by HDJK

AFAIK New Line operates independantly from Warner.

However they have stated they will go with whatever Warner decides to do.

NL is independent technically however they are all under the same umbrella....much like Paramount/Dreamworks or Fox/MGM. Warner decides for both of them in this situation, trust me.

[sj001]

Good to hear another exec speaking about Warner coming aboard... but it still just remains a rumor. Obviously if they do, there is no question that it is over. Time will tell, but the only logical step Warner can take is to go Blu, they have to know going the other way would spell disaster for the HDM market.

[CptGreedle]

Hey, it's a good kind of rumor, but don't take it seriously until its official.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

Hey, it's a good kind of rumor, but don't take it seriously until its official.

yea you do not have to take it as truth because just like anything in the media,
with misquotes, and the OPINION of the writer its all subjective. but with what the article is saying I for ONE can see that ,Dragging this format war out is helping no one in the MOVIE studios that is for sure except for short term gains, Most Studios think for long terms for disc sales. and I think in my Opinion Blu-Ray has the best chance to give that extra needed boost to DVD's slowing
sales.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

...it would spell L-I-G-H-T-S-O-U-T for HD DVD quicker than you can say "Matrix Trilogy coming to Blu-ray by June 2008"

Hahahahaha.

[tron3]

Being a Business Week article, I say this one holds more water.

But look at this stupid snipit:
On the other hand, if Toshiba were to win Warner's hand, the two forces would divide the market between them. That could create mass consumer confusion and potentially strangle a new technology that the studios hope will give a lift to flagging DVD sales. That's exactly why Warner has long pushed for a single format.

Here is what is wrong when big corporate ego's come into play. Some ******** is basing a business model on this assumption that a confused market will simply stay with DVD, thus boost sales.

There is another thread with poll on some web site about the format war. About 23% are waiting this war out. That 23% is your sales slump! If I knew blu-ray was coming I might never have bought DVD. At least, not as many as I did.

A portion of the market does simply stick with what they have. These people are not your "bread and butter" spenders. In short, they don't make your company a lot of cash. Probably buy most of their movies from the $5 bargain bin. The early adopters, and people wanting the new stuff, they are your cash flow. For Toshiba to continue with that misinformed mentality is simply not helping anyone! Open your eyes Warner, before you miss the blu-boat!

EX, this snipit:
The Blu-ray side has another advantage. Disney caters to families, who buy lots of older films for their kids. That could help the format build critical mass. "The Blu-ray customer is more likely to build a new library," says market researcher Richard Doherty. "Studios live for [that].