Graffeo to leave high-def post at Universal

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

REmind him he owes me a player smashing video and at least 5 minutes talking about what a tool he is, how right I was, and how stupid he was to ever think HD DVD could win on youtube will you? He hasn't been returning my PMs over at AVS for some reason

He is NOT going to listen to me...since he really dislikes me.

[scragham]

reading that thread over at HDF is pretty painful. it's like ALL of those dumbasses can't read between the lines.

it's like when ken kuturagi "chose" to step down as PS honcho, then "chose" to retire from sony.

[NutsAboutPS3]

To save everyone else searching for it, could someone post a link to Penton's post so we can see what he actually said rather than what someone says he said?

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

As reported by Blu-ray insider Penton-Man over a week ago, Graffeo will leave Universal. Not my favorite personality from the format war, but I don't rejoice when someone loses his/her job. Penton and Max write kindly about Graffeo, and they know him on a personal level. Heres' the article:

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 3/26/2008

Graffeo

MARCH 26 | Following the death of HD DVD, one of the format’s gurus, Ken Graffeo, will leave his high-definition marketing role at Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Although still employed at Universal, where he has served as executive VP of HD strategic marketing since early last year, Graffeo is exploring other opportunities, including ones outside of the studio. He didn’t specify a timetable for when he’ll make a final decision of whether to leave Universal.

Conceivably, Universal will need an executive to drive the marketing of its forthcoming titles in Blu-ray Disc, which the studio started backing exclusively shortly after HD DVD’s demise.

However, Graffeo said he will not take on a Blu-ray role at the studio, which could be comparable to his responsibilities for HD DVD. That sort of transition wouldn’t work because in recent months, Graffeo had become more entrenched in his additional role as head of the HD DVD Promotional Group and less involved with handling specific Universal titles. The HD DVD Promotional Group dissolved on the heels of Toshiba’s February announcement that it was ending its support for its HD DVD hardware.

“I was setting up that infrastructure [of the HD DVD Promotion Group] on a day to day basis,” said Graffeo. “And now that group is no longer in existence. … Now I’m looking at what my different options are and what my next moves will be.”

Although Blu-ray title sales outsold HD DVD titles on a two-to-one basis through much of last year, Graffeo aggressively promoted the HD DVD format. Under his charge, Universal rolled out the industry’s first title enhanced with e-commerce capabilities, the Oct. 9 HD DVD release Evan Almighty.

Universal hasn’t specified how it will operate its Blu-ray business going forward, and it has not announced its first releases in the format. It appears that the studio is still figuring out how a Blu-ray unit and/or executives will fit into its company and what their functions will be.

Prior to his high-def role at Universal, Graffeo served as executive VP of marketing.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article...?desc=topstory

This has been a long time coming. He let his HD-DVD loyalties interfere with his job at Universal. You can't say the man isn't determined though. I'm sure he'll land on his feet.

[Cartesian]

He was surely the biggest single villain in the whole war. But he fought the fight, lost, and has now fallen on his sword.

At least he had the sense to know he couldn't carry on in the same HD role, trying to push BD! As funny as that would've been to watch, it would've flushed whatever's left of his integrity down the crapper.

[Need0fMany]

Originally Posted by Cartesian

He was surely the biggest single villain in the whole war. But he fought the fight, lost, and has now fallen on his sword.

At least he had the sense to know he couldn't carry on in the same HD role, trying to push BD! As funny as that would've been to watch, it would've flushed whatever's left of his integrity down the crapper.

It's a good thing he is moving on. If he had stayed on it wouldn't have been funny since he probably would have pushed BD reluctantly and used backhand compliments all the time and snide remarks.

Better to bring in new unbiased blood to start with a clean slate.

[radagast]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Sure did.

Well you need to post more. They are having a field day ripping us.

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

The man was paid to do a job and he did it to the best of his abilities. Let's hope he can one day direct his talents in the blu direction.

I agree, he appears to be to be a talented executive with a lot of potential.

[darkpoet25]

Today, 07:39 AM #16
crazyal
?????????????????????????




Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,808

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by kamspy
BD.com is a sad sad place.



It's too bad because that site does more harm than good. I refuse to go there now because each time I do I leave wanting nothing to do with Blu-Ray.

Before I bought into either format I went there either first or second, AVS was the other. I never even got a chance to post. After 15 minutes of reading up on Blu-Ray I found out my HDTV wasn't HD since it wasn't 1080p (remember this was almost two years ago and 1080p sets were very few and far between). Every poster that didn't fit into the Blu-Ray world had the words ban next to their name.

Of course I'm the type of person who doesn't like it when someone shows me half the picture and when I came here the arguments for Blu-Ray didn't (and still don't) hold water as to why it's better than HD DVD. I'm not saying all over there are bad but the ones who are, well lets just make a hint about a few rotten apples. As usual those rotten apples seam to find their way over here, usually not for long though.

So Penton was able to guess that the head of the HD DVD promotional group would need to find a new job within Universal or leave. I'm glad to see he was able to put 1 and 1 together and came up with 2. Well actually he came up with 3 becase he said Ken was going to be let go.

Anyone who knows management knows how it works. Ken has a job for life as long as he's in favor with other execs. Mistakes are usually not a reason for termination. Another offer from a different company may have come along. After all if Penton man could figure it out that his current possition was ending so could numerous others like head hunters, a friend/ head of another company, etc. and called him. Now Ken is deciding which is his best move.
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This seems to be the general consensus about blu-ray.com over there.

[HeavyHitter]

Lee Stewart is a one dimensional thinker with NO common sense.

[Ferris]

I'm sure Graffeo will go somewhere and be successful. I certainly wish him the best of luck. He fought as hard as he could for HD DVD. While I do think Blu-ray is a better format, he did what he was paid to do, and supported HD DVD. Had he not done that, he would've "stepped down" a long time ago. His allegiance was with his company, and in the corporate world, that's how it should be.

As for "crazyal", I think his argument little merit, if any at all.

Before I bought into either format I went there either first or second, AVS was the other. I never even got a chance to post. After 15 minutes of reading up on Blu-Ray I found out my HDTV wasn't HD since it wasn't 1080p

I could see this happening here. I know I've, at times, felt inferior because some people had said things like "a 40in sounds kind of small" or "everyone knows lossless audio is better than..." no, not everyone knows that...

However, crazyal follows up that comment with:

Every poster that didn't fit into the Blu-Ray world had the words ban next to their name.

I cannot see that happening here. What I can see happening is that people who were insulting or beligerant ended up with "Banned" next to their name. It's a public forum, and respect to the opinions of others should be paid. Period.

As I said, I'm a firm Blu-ray supporter. I love these forums because I learn a ridiclous amout of information related to High Definition, as well as other things. But, knowing this is a public forum, I am certainly laid-back enough to know that people are expressing their opinions when they say things like "40in sounds kind of small," therefore, I don't allow it to steer me from Blu-ray.

In any case, best of luck to you, Ken.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by pokerface

Good night and Good luck Mr. Graffeo.

Somehow I doubt he will have to eat hot dogs every night.

Damn it, now I want to eat hotdogs.

But good riddance. I will never forgive him for those stupid "attach rate" comparisons. Oh and he will NEVER live down the whole "gamers dont buy movies" argument. I own 53 blurays and Im as hardcore a gamer as there can be, you jack ass!

[Spankey]

I wonder if Graffeo's departure means that title announcements may be forthcoming from Universal. Graffeo was the face of HD-DVD. I wouldn't expect him to lead the Blu-ray launch. Hopefully we hear about titles sooner than later.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

I agree, he appears to be to be a talented executive with a lot of potential.

+1 on that note. he kept the competition alive. although sometimes he did piss me off, but it was nothing but a job for him.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by JasonR

http://www.highdefforum.com/showthread.php?t=68882

I told Lee, don't care if I get banned.

What a primitive looking site. Like it's 1996 or something.

And on top of that, it's full of bitter red kool-aid drinkers.

[Memnoch71]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

The man was paid to do a job and he did it to the best of his abilities. Let's hope he can one day direct his talents in the blu direction.

Originally Posted by PaulGo

I agree, he appears to be to be a talented executive with a lot of potential.

Originally Posted by shadblz

+1 on that note. he kept the competition alive. although sometimes he did piss me off, but it was nothing but a job for him.

Though I doubt he will ever be directly involved in pushing Blu-Ray, I do wish him the best of luck in the future. I will give K.G. one thing, when he is given a job promoting something he gives it his all.

[maximiza]

I can't feel sorry for Graffeo at all, a big 6 or 7 digit earner with a golden parachute and now he has to leave his job. O boo hoo, I hope he has an endless cycle of bad luck for the remainder of his days on Earth. The BS he shoveled reflected how bad a job he really did. No shareholder should give him a job anywhere, not even flipping burgers!!!

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

The man was paid to do a job and he did it to the best of his abilities. Let's hope he can one day direct his talents in the blu direction.

I have to disagree here.

Ken was paid to promote HD-DVD yes, but he went after it with such a fervor that I wouldn't want him touching anything to do with Blu-Ray.

Everything he touches turns to ash and tastes bitter in his mouth making him quite angry and resentful {not to mention stupid}

He can sit out in the cold for all I care.

Logan

[tron3]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

It's a sad sad day around here for me.

Now what HD-DVD shilling retard am I going to poke fun at endlessly?

Logan

There, there, Logan. You can still go on to lead a productive life.
There are plenty of people left at AVS who are still in denial. There, there, now. There, there.

[Sylin]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

I have to disagree here.

Ken was paid to promote HD-DVD yes, but he went after it with such a fervor that I wouldn't want him touching anything to do with Blu-Ray.

Everything he touches turns to ash and tastes bitter in his mouth making him quite angry and resentful {not to mention stupid}

He can sit out in the cold for all I care.

Logan

I'm with you on this one. Well said. Everyone talks about what a talented executive he is, but in reality, and no offense to anyone, and with all humility, very few people know exactly what it means to be a great exec. (I've been on the board of a large corporation. Many of my friends and colleagues are C-levels. I speak from experience.) If he was SO talented and SO competent, he would have left the HDDVDPG on his own months ago and defected to Blu, recognizing, like the rest of the industry did, that it was going nowhere. But he'd never do that, because he honestly believed the propaganda he spread. He went above and beyond "doing the job" in the spin department--it was all a lot of talk. But in the productivity department--where REAL executives thrive--he was lackluster and incompetent.

One could argue that he stayed for the money, but I am telling you: in the executive world, you live or die by reputation. Money is a non-issue for most execs. And nothing kills a career worse than blindly attaching yourself to a product or company, with no smart exit strategy should things turn south. Graffeo made himself the poster boy for HD DVD, and he'll be "paying" for that for years to come.