Universal Studios under pressure to support Blu-ray?

[PeterTHX]

I'd also wager a title (especially catalog) sells only so much because the price isn't right. $30 for a title that's been out for years on DVD can be tough pill to swallow. Look how many titles were snapped up at Fry's recently when they dropped to $12.50-$14.

Add to this comments from the likes of LucasFilm saying no HD releases until one format is left standing and you have a LOT of consumers simply waiting it out.

[Deane Johnson]

Sooner or later there will have to be internal discussions at Universal on how to back out of the muck they waded into, if not already. I'm sure someone at some level is looking a little silly right now. I'd hate to be that person when Zucker at NBC figures out he's got some bad decision makers working for him at Universal.

I join those posting above who figure Universal is currently enough of a non-player in the movie world that it doesn't make much difference what they do. Riding a lame horse is to their detriment, not mine. Blu-Ray will win. The fat lady has been clearing her throat.

[smiley]

On the good side, I don't forsee Universal getting any of my money unless they start supporting blu-ray. I quit buying DVD's about 6 months ago. I don't see HD-DVD being a wise investment. So now I am only buying blu-ray.

[jcdDigix]

Originally Posted by dillycheeze

bluniversal

I like that word.....AHHHHHHHH!!!AHHHHHH!!!!!LoL

[Dadds]

Originally Posted by smiley

On the good side, I don't forsee Universal getting any of my money unless they start supporting blu-ray. I quit buying DVD's about 6 months ago. I don't see HD-DVD being a wise investment. So now I am only buying blu-ray.

Im 100% with you.

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by Deane Johnson

Sooner or later there will have to be internal discussions at Universal on how to back out of the muck they waded into, if not already. I'm sure someone at some level is looking a little silly right now. I'd hate to be that person when Zucker at NBC figures out he's got some bad decision makers working for him at Universal.

I can't imagine those talks aren't already ongoing. There's gotta be warring factions... people who still think the market is too small for a winner yet to be obvious, versus people who think Uni is losing out on millions by standing by the losing format.

Originally Posted by Deane Johnson

I join those posting above who figure Universal is currently enough of a non-player in the movie world that it doesn't make much difference what they do.

What's most irritating is that despite being one of the least successful studios, they've become absolutely critical to keeping this format war ongoing. If Universal goes neutral, the game is over. So they're extremely important despite the fact that they are completely pathetic.

[jcdDigix]

Originally Posted by smiley

On the good side, I don't forsee Universal getting any of my money unless they start supporting blu-ray. I quit buying DVD's about 6 months ago. I don't see HD-DVD being a wise investment. So now I am only buying blu-ray.

Since my first BD purchase last year (Superman Return) I stopped buying DVD and haven't ever touched a red case either. So it is gonna be Blu-Ray all the way regardless of what Universal has in store.

[Jim L]

Originally Posted by jcdDigix

Since my first BD purchase last year (Superman Return) I stopped buying DVD and haven't ever touched a red case either. So it is gonna be Blu-Ray all the way regardless of what Universal has in store.

I was looking at my DVD collection, and I think that the last DVD title I bought was King Kong (March 28, 2006). Ironically, it was a Universal title. That is the last money Uni got out of me. Since then I stopped buying because I knew that Blu-ray was coming and I held off until fall of 2006.

I will never touch HD DVD because I know that it's doomed and has absolutely no future!

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by jcdDigix

Since my first BD purchase last year (Superman Return) I stopped buying DVD and haven't ever touched a red case either. So it is gonna be Blu-Ray all the way regardless of what Universal has in store.

Problem is, those of us that are here or visit any other high def sites are not the average consumers, which is what's needed to catapult either format into dominance.

The "average" consumer could have DVD in every room, their car, summer home, portable player...etc. HD DVD and Blu-ray are both likely to be niche products for their lifetime.

I've always felt (and still do) HD DVD could make a big impact with the Combo's, but they'd need to be priced like DVD's and they'd have to produce the combo only and no DVD. This would force consumers into buying into HD DVD which in turn would force them to buy players later to make use of it. Kind of the same thinking that Sony had by including blu-ray in PS3.

In fact, the above scenario, would probably help sell TV's too for those that didn't already own an HD TV, if they had a collection of HD DVD's, they might want to make use of them.

But alas.. nothing like this has happened yet and doesn't appear to be happening anytime soon. Which is why we are left with 2 niche products. Which is also why I can enjoy both at home.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by mshulman

I've always felt (and still do) HD DVD could make a big impact with the Combo's, but they'd need to be priced like DVD's and they'd have to produce the combo only and no DVD. This would force consumers into buying into HD DVD which in turn would force them to buy players later to make use of it. Kind of the same thinking that Sony had by including blu-ray in PS3.

The problems are:

(1) There isn't enough DVD-18 capacity for a single major DVD release. And what exists isn't necessarily easily converted to HD DVD too.

Consider that a major DVD title can sell 5 million copies in a single day, and less than 1.5 million HD DVD (of all types) have sold since launch.

(2) Why would the STUDIOS want to spend about 2.4x their DVD cost for 99% of disc usage to push HD DVD?

Gary

P.S. They could now consider the new twin format (single layer of each) but then both formats get shafted.

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

The problems are:

(1) There isn't enough DVD-18 capacity for a single major DVD release. And what exists isn't necessarily easily converted to HD DVD too.

Consider that a major DVD title can sell 5 million copies in a single day, and less than 1.5 million HD DVD (of all types) have sold since launch.

(2) Why would the STUDIOS want to spend about 2.4x their DVD cost for 99% of disc usage to push HD DVD?

Gary

P.S. They could now consider the new twin format (single layer of each) but then both formats get shafted.

Are you saying a combo doesn't have the capacity or there isn't enough media?

The way things are today is different from how they'll be tomorrow. Even if blu-ray was the only format, we wouldn't see much more sales than we do today - some, but not a whole lot. We'd also probably see player prices higher.

As far as #2 is concerned, I agree. But then again, Universal seems committed to HD DVD, so why not show that commitment.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by mshulman

I've always felt (and still do) HD DVD could make a big impact with the Combo's, but they'd need to be priced like DVD's and they'd have to produce the combo only and no DVD. This would force consumers into buying into HD DVD which in turn would force them to buy players later to make use of it. Kind of the same thinking that Sony had by including blu-ray in PS3.

LOL - If they stopped producing DVDs and only produced BRs, that would force the market to BR and force them to buy players...but that doesn't really make sense now just like your combo disc scenario makes little sense as HD DVD is missing too much content (not to mention the technology shortcomings).

Now if HD DVD died as it should and titles are released on BR and DVD, as people become more familiar with HD and want the most out of their HDTV, BR eventually overcomes DVD.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by mshulman

The way things are today is different from how they'll be tomorrow. Even if blu-ray was the only format, we wouldn't see much more sales than we do today - some, but not a whole lot. We'd also probably see player prices higher.

And you get this information from where? How do you know what the future holds?

Player prices are currently going down, yet you think they will go up????

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

LOL - If they stopped producing DVDs and only produced BRs, that would force the market to BR and force them to buy players...but that doesn't really make sense now just like your combo disc scenario makes little sense as HD DVD is missing too much content (not to mention the technology shortcomings).

Now if HD DVD died as it should and titles are released on BR and DVD, as people become more familiar with HD and want the most out of their HDTV, BR eventually overcomes DVD.

By content, I assume you mean studio support? If this happened, studios would eventually change their support.

As far as your last comment, BR will probably not overcome DVD within its lifetime. Look how long its taken DVD to get where it is and when it first was released, EVERY household could make use of it. Right now less than 40% of households can. Its going to be niche until its replacement arrives. We'll probably need new TV's for that too though

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by MatrixS2000

And you get this information from where? How do you know what the future holds?

Player prices are currently going down, yet you think they will go up????

no, I was saying if there was never a battle between blu-ray and HD DVD. Player prices have probably dropped as quickly simply because they are competing.

[Anthony P]

Are you saying a combo doesn't have the capacity or there isn't enough media?

he is saying that there is not enough production capacity. A combo is not a normal disk, it is the equivalent of a DVD-18 (dual layer dual sided DVD) and that needs special equipment that is not available everywhere and not available on all HD DVD production lines

asking to make 20M copies of a combo instead of 20k is a big difference on demand.

PS just for the fun of it search for how many replicators can do DVD-18

There is also the fact that a combo costs a lot more to produce and replicate. so instead of making more money (which is what studios want with HD) they would make less

The way things are today is different from how they'll be tomorrow. Even if blu-ray was the only format, we wouldn't see much more sales than we do today - some, but not a whole lot. We'd also probably see player prices higher.

disagree, a war always adds anxiety to people, IF HD DVD was gone people would feel more comfortable buying players and building their collection.

[mshulman]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

he is saying that there is not enough production capacity. A combo is not a normal disk, it is the equivalent of a DVD-18 (dual layer dual sided DVD) and that needs special equipment that is not available everywhere and not available on all HD DVD production lines

asking to make 20M copies of a combo instead of 20k is a big difference on demand.

PS just for the fun of it search for how many replicators can do DVD-18

There is also the fact that a combo costs a lot more to produce and replicate. so instead of making more money (which is what studios want with HD) they would make less

ok. but while it may not be capable or feasible today, it should be in the future.

disagree, a war always adds anxiety to people, IF HD DVD was gone people would feel more comfortable buying players and building their collection.

Yes, but with the market in the US only being 40% of homes anyway, how much of a difference do you really see it making? You do realize that nearly half of that 40% are even watching things in HD today anyway.

The majority of the consumers likely won't buy any player until its under $100.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by mshulman

no, I was saying if there was never a battle between blu-ray and HD DVD. Player prices have probably dropped as quickly simply because they are competing.

Really...so why are DVD player prices so low and it has only one format?

Competition can exist even if there is no format war because the CEs will be competing against each other for the consumer $.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by mshulman

By content, I assume you mean studio support? If this happened, studios would eventually change their support.

As far as your last comment, BR will probably not overcome DVD within its lifetime. Look how long its taken DVD to get where it is and when it first was released, EVERY household could make use of it. Right now less than 40% of households can. Its going to be niche until its replacement arrives. We'll probably need new TV's for that too though

Yup, so only Universal needs to wake up and smell the coffee, then all content is available on BR.

And I completely disagree with your second paragraph....but you are entitled to your opinion....

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by mshulman

Yes, but with the market in the US only being 40% of homes anyway, how much of a difference do you really see it making? You do realize that nearly half of that 40% are even watching things in HD today anyway.

The majority of the consumers likely won't buy any player until its under $100.

Where do you come up with this $ amount? How do you know what the majority of consumers feel is the right price for HD player entry???

Households are going to HDTV, they will figure out that they will need an HD player to watch movies in HD...if they still have a SDTV most have component in - they can still use that!