Update from Warner!!

[E-Dogg]

Originally Posted by shug7272

Look at the releases. Has blu ray got one favorable release over HD DVD? Not that I can think of. Has HD DVD... yup. This could all come down to Mr. WB HD DVD wanted HD DVD exclusivity and didnt get it.

The entire Disney catalogue period!

[degas]

Microsoft corporate vp, consumer media technology Amir Majidimehr applied for media access to Disney home entertainment's web site the same week that Paramount/DreamWorks announced they were abandoning the Disney-backed Blu-ray format. Can't criticize the guy for trying, I guess, and at least he was completely open and candid about who he is -- listed his accurate name, title, affiliation, and contact info.
But holy cow, what kind of shenanigan or desperate act is this?
Either he thinks the people at Disney are idiots, he's up to something, or he curiously believed the studio would be happy to grant him the access.
Disney Home Entertainment's worldwide head of communications Eric Maehara told me he laughed hysterically at this request and said that once Amir can get properly accredited as a legitimate journalist then Maehara will be happy to give him access. "Who knows," Maehara said, "If he's lucky and i'm in a good mood, maybe i'll even give him a Blu-ray screener."

LOL

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by Rajbir

http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/blog_detail.php?id=117

this is an interesting read, take a look

From the article:

Universal Studios' #2 HD DVD exec Ken Graffeo is touting HD DVD's advantage over Blu-ray by trumpeting how it will still be useful if HD DVD dies.
In a story published by the Philadelphia Daily News, Graffeo said, "Even if the format were to fail, it will still be useful as a conventional DVD player, with excellent up-conversion of discs for your HDTV."

Are you kidding me? That's the selling point you want to make for a new product?

LOL - if I wanted a conventional DVD player, I would keep the one I already have!

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by RUR

"Meanwhile, Warner has announced that Dorinda Marticorena will take on Nickerson's previous role as senior VP of high-def. Currently VP of kids and sports marketing at Warner Home Video, the studio says Marticorena will contine Nickerson's efforts to promote the mainstream adoption of both high-def formats."

I'm reasonably encouraged. Time will tell (forgive the pun).

HEY blu-ray has Disney.HD DVD does not. since WB and DISNEY both sit on the BDA BOD....i wonder which format she would most likely choose...., thats if they would step down from the BDA board of directors .....

[kaliraver]

Off with his head!

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Rajbir

http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/blog_detail.php?id=117

this is an interesting read, take a look

apparently Gaffeo or whatever his name is is still running his mouth. and yeah sure if hddvd lose the war it is still beneficial. I bet 100% that even universal is unsure about HDDVD. well, what is left for us blu rayers. continue your exclusive support to BD, and we will still win the format war.

[CAB]

Originally Posted by shadblz

apparently Gaffeo or whatever his name is is still running his mouth. and yeah sure if hddvd lose the war it is still beneficial. I bet 100% that even universal is unsure about HDDVD. well, what is left for us blu rayers. continue your exclusive support to BD, and we will still win the format war.

He's out there eeking every bit of sales he can until whatever exclusivity deal they signed with HD-DVD expires. By then, he knows, the market will have turned so hard to BD that the decision will be obvious and no one will question it. He's probably pissed as hell that his pact with Satan extends through this holiday. Of course he'll probably have "decided to seek other opportunities" by that point.

-CB

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

From the article:



LOL - if I wanted a conventional DVD player, I would keep the one I already have!

It just goes to show you what a schmuck Graffeo really happens to be.

[WickyWoo]

The fact that they're specifically denying it is a very very good sign

Sounds like they refused the check, and Steve-o quit over it

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

It just goes to show you what a schmuck Graffeo really happens to be.

His comment led me to finally register on the HollywoodInHiDef site. Had to make the comment.

Anyone else notice the Pathfinder info on his previous blog post?

[ReduxInflux]

Originally Posted by shug7272

Look at the releases. Has blu ray got one favorable release over HD DVD? Not that I can think of. Has HD DVD... yup. This could all come down to Mr. WB HD DVD wanted HD DVD exclusivity and didnt get it.

nah...WB is a member of the BDA. they're well aware of B-Ray's new advances in its interactivity. WB's major releases: namely Batman and the Matrix trilogy wouldn't have been done right if they released early. With BD-J and BD-Live on the horizon, we should expect to see those releases soon. It's the only thing that has separated Blu-Ray from HD-DVD (other than price). And now BD, just emerging out of technological adolescence, is the total package...

[hyperdine]

Originally Posted by Rajbir

http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/blog_detail.php?id=117

this is an interesting read, take a look

I love the comment about Amir. He got caught red-handed. At least he didn't lie about who he was. Still pretty funny though.

[pscoop]

"Even if the format were to fail, it will still be useful as a conventional DVD player, with excellent up-conversion of discs for your HDTV."

That is a really reasurring comment. He might as well say if it failed it would make a great paperweight.

[Icemage]

Back to the topic at hand:

I just Googled for a more comprehensive look at Dorinda Marticorena:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070824/20070824005473.html?.v=1

URBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dorinda Marticorena, Vice President, Kids & Sports Marketing, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Worldwide High Definition, replacing Steve Nickerson, who announced plans to leave WHV at the end of September.

In her new role, Marticorena will report directly to Mark Horak, EVP & GM, Worldwide Operations & New Packaged Media, and will lead the company's efforts to promote mainstream adoption of the high definition DVD formats.

"I look forward to immediately collaborating with my domestic and international colleagues in this new role and doing all that is necessary to ensure success of the high definition format in their markets as quickly as possible," said Marticorena.

Marticorena and Nickerson will work closely over the next month to ensure a smooth transition.

"Dorinda has played a key role in our evolving business," said Horak. "She understands marketing and technology, she is a strategic thinker, she effectively manages relationships with key business partners, and she has the proven ability to execute, making her an ideal choice for this position."

Marticorena joined WHV in 2001 as Director of Marketing, Kids Entertainment responsible for girls' franchises. In 2003 she was promoted to Executive Director of Kids Marketing and to Vice President of Kids & Sports Marketing in 2005. Previously, Marticorena held brand management positions at Nestle USA and General Mills. Immediately prior to joining WHV, she was employed by Stanford University Undergraduate Admissions.

This is encouraging news I think, since her background as VP of Kids & Sports Marketing must have given her a faceful of exposure to the power of game consoles (read: PlayStation 3). I find that a telling point in comparison to Nickerson's Toshiba-filled background.

One final interesting note that my Google search turned up:

Dorinda Marticorena shows up in the Special Thanks credits of the PlayStation 1 game Cool Boarders 2 from 1997, prior to her arrival at Warner Home Video.

Make of that what you will.

[KingDeezie]

I don't know what's going on with this WB buisness, but like other people have said, something funny is going on over there...

It just seems awfully well coordinated for all of this to be happening at the same time.

I think Warner going neutral would probably actually not be as beneficial as it was for Paramount...

Paramount has little to no blockbuster titles that it can depend to sell hundreds of thousands of HD copies of like Warner...

I mean, Transformers and Shrek 3 might have sold huge, but the buck really stopped there. With the release of the Harry Potter series, Blade Runner, The Dark Knight, etc, etc, Warner has the chance to continously rack in those hundreds of thousands of Bluray sales, and as the market continues to grow to really look foward to those sales rising even higher...

I think it makes more sense for Warner to remain neutral.

Honestly, Paramount probably wasn't making enough money off of Bluray if you think about it. What was really selling out for them? Dreamgirls? Mission Impossible? Pearl Harbor? Shooter? None of the above in my opinion.

Getting 150 million dollars, or even just focusing on releasing on one format probably cut their costs to a large degree.

Either way though, they can eat shit.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by BadAss

When we get Batman Begins i'll relax, not until then.

pretty much..

[KenThompson]

Pearl was a Disney film. Those buggers come out with Old School right away.

[joeorc]

Holiday shoppers could deliver knockout blow in high-def DVD fight
Published: August 23, 2007 12:00 am

Nonetheless, Warner Bros. believes both formats can coexist and has been urging Blu-ray backers to begin supporting HD DVD as well. The studio has developed a dual-format disc and has said it would license the technology to other studios willing to back both.

"The fourth quarter is critical for the formats to show growth and momentum," said Steve Nickerson, Warner Home Video's senior vice president of marketing. "It's more than about winning or losing. If you can continue to show growth (in both formats), that's a positive in a situation where standard DVD sales aren't growing."


http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pubiz...yword=topstory

and :
"its more than about winning or losing"

[guybrush22]

How old is this quote? The only way these two formats can co-exist (which with todays culture is very unlikely) is if people have enough money to buy either player. Or save up for a dual format player. Because if that happens people will treat it just as a regular dvd, and won't even look at the BLU-RAY packaging or the HD-DVD packaging and just take the titles they want. I can see this working... but very unlikely. Blu-ray is definitely the way to go. The technology is just too good to waste.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by guybrush22

How old is this quote? The only way these two formats can co-exist (which with todays culture is very unlikely) is if people have enough money to buy either player. Or save up for a dual format player. Because if that happens people will treat it just as a regular dvd, and won't even look at the BLU-RAY packaging or the HD-DVD packaging and just take the titles they want. I can see this working... but very unlikely. Blu-ray is definitely the way to go. The technology is just too good to waste.

notice the date..and a certain VP stepped down...
note he was a proponent for HD DVD...and the 300 movie just so happend to sell
more on blu-ray than HD DVD.

Supporting Companies
January 04, 2006
2006-01-04T00:00:00.0000000+01:00

The Blu-ray Disc Association has member companies from the consumer electronics (CE), information technology (IT), media and software industries. The lists below include current members as well as applicants.



For more information about the various membership levels and how to become a member, please refer to the the About Us section at the top of the screen.

Last updated: March 1, 2007



Board of Directors
Apple, Inc.
Dell
HP
Hitachi
LG
Mitsubishi Electric
Panasonic
Pioneer
Philips
Samsung
Sharp
Sony
Sun Microsystems
TDK
Thomson
Twentieth Century Fox
Walt Disney
Warner Bros.