Universal confirms "no plans to support Blu-ray"

[Copywriter]

Well gee, there are millions of Universal titles that I want.

Not.

Of course they have no plans. Do you expect them to say otherwise? LOL

[Ispoke]

Seems the HD DVD group are upping the rhetoric in their last push. This is where the BDA need to be more pro-active and re-active to counter this type of statement point by point so as not to let them get away with this pure marketing spin.

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by blckshp

What I find most interesting about the HD-DVD camp is their touting of online interactivity, and "Web Exclusives".

I keep having horrific flashbacks to DIVX. Being that the port is mandatory on all players, when the studios get tired of being ripped off and shafted by the pirates and the stores, what's to stop them from modifying the firmware of a player to have to connect to the internet to exchange keys to authenticate a disc? Sure it's not in the specs now, but all the pieces are there and would be a snap to enable.

Not only that, how many DVD's do you have that had ROM features? Find one that was released about five years ago and see if any of those links work. When they get tired of maintaining the site, they shut it down with no warning. So all those features that they are touting on the web that you thought you paid for, they got tired of doing it for you so you don't get to enjoy them anymore. Reeks of DRM type stuff to me. If it doesn't exist on the disc, I don't count it as an extra. I count it as a pain in the butt.

What do you guys think?

I agree. As far as a title-by-title basis I don't see them supporting additional web-enabled content indefinitely. The cost would be compounded month-over-month. It doesn't make a lot of financial sense to support web-enabled content forever on an older title if only a handful of people are interested anymore.

The only thing that interests me on this web-enabled stuff would be movie previews. Each studio could "swap out" the previews, or even offer exclusive trailers, as new movies start arriving in the theaters. They could also offer exclusive "sneak peeks" of other upcoming HD-DVDs that could be swapped out as well. This could be a good advertising tool and something I would appreciate if I had an HD-DVD player. I really enjoy watching (upcoming) movie trailers.

[The Shrike]

The Shrike confirms Universal's plans to kiss his ass.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by Ispoke

Seems the HD DVD group are upping the rhetoric in their last push. This is where the BDA need to be more pro-active and re-active to counter this type of statement point by point so as not to let them get away with this pure marketing spin.

amazon hd dvd sales havn't gone up at all since their firesale and i don't think their were hundreds of thousands of discs sold at B&M either otherwise we'd be hearing quotes like, hd dvd up 250% since recent sale. i think the hd dvd camp realizes that this is not going to increase software and thats the heart of either format. they know they are screwed now they are just saying words to make it look like they are alive. Q4 is going to be very, very rough on them.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by Copywriter

Well gee, there are millions of Universal titles that I want.

Not.

Of course they have no plans. Do you expect them to say otherwise? LOL

I don't expect anything out of them and by no means am i taking this as a sign that they won't go neutral in early 2008. most likely their contract is up on Dec. 31, 2007 (that oct. 18 sh1t was stupid, why would tosh not sign them through the holidays) and they legally cannot say they will be supporting blu-ray until then. all graffeo said was there was no plans, he never said at all that they won't someday, and remember plans can change fast, remember paramounted*****.

[stewiems]

That article is gross..Universal your all dried up anyways!!

[ussrelativity]

I was wondering when Graffeo would make another statement supporting the dragging format.

[Ispoke]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

.......i think the hd dvd camp realizes that this is not going to increase software and thats the heart of either format. they know they are screwed now they are just saying words to make it look like they are alive.......

Agreed, now the BDA need to turn the knife.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

I don't expect anything out of them and by no means am i taking this as a sign that they won't go neutral in early 2008. most likely their contract is up on Dec. 31, 2007 (that oct. 18 sh1t was stupid, why would tosh not sign them through the holidays) and they legally cannot say they will be supporting blu-ray until then. all graffeo said was there was no plans, he never said at all that they won't someday, and remember plans can change fast, remember paramounted*****.

I'm as Blu as the next guy, but Universal is not going Blu early next year.

Ask yourself whether you think that Universal was not approached, when Uni was the sole remaining HD DVD exclusive studio, to support Blu-Ray with a similar type payoff that Paramount received. They obviously did not accept the offer, which means it will be a bit longer before we see Universal on BD. Certainly not early next year.

If you ask me, we should forget about Universal and focus more on WB. WB is the key. If they go BD exclusive, then Universal is sure to follow releasing on BD (probably not BD exclusive, but rather format neutral) by late 08. If WB goes HD DVD exclusive, then we have a full fledged stalemate in this stupid format fiasco. I would worry about the longevity of both formats if WB goes HD DVD exclusive.

However, for the record, I believe WB is going BD exclusive as long as this Toshiba firesale doesn't make a huge dent in BDs lead...

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

This guy is such a lying bastard it makes me sick. Very nice twist on what really happened though.

yea for the simple fact that Blu-Ray was already on the market and selling in asia and japan in 2003...its HD DVD toshiba decided to give it a go when did the first deck HD DVD deck hit the consumer market..yea 2006..what a FUD SPEWING @SS....

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by DJeffries

This is the "New Math" here kept hearing about in the U.S. school systems. 1 + 1 is no longer = 2 .

Yes, the new math with the new spin.

Graffeo: "Uh, the PS3 is a gaming console not an HD media player.... oh, but make sure you use it to lower the attach rate for BDs."

Rational Person: "But you just said it wasn't a real HD media player so should I exclude it?"

Graffeo: "Just include it, kid."

[CptGreedle]

You know he says on this now.. but this time next year he WILL be singing a different tune.

[Bolaar]

Does anyone know if the numbers include HD-DVD addons to X-Box 360s?

[sj001]

I can't wait until this all over and Graffeo "steps down" as VP over at Universal, and Alan Bell over at Paramount get his ass canned.

[Longshot]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

well, looks like universal has a little longer than i thought before we get to see spielberg on high def media, cause we all know he has told universal numerous times that they cannont put out his movies on hd dvd. so really, what does universal have left? They got The Kingdom and American Gangster and thats it as far as im concerned. there is nothing left in the catalog that isn't spielbergs that is of any worth IMO. They are going to have a very rough time til they support blu-ray. I wonder how much Toshi is paying them. Toshiba is having to lose billions on this HD DVD thing.

American Gangster will be Universal's biggest HD seller when it comes out next spring. The Kingdom with all the hype from the zealots has not even broke $47 million. A huge dissapointment.

I'll say it again about Graffeo and Kornblau. These two clowns are among the most inept executives ever in Hollywood. Uni will not go blu unless both of these clowns leave.

[aristotles]

How do these jokers measure this so-called "attach rate" anyway?

If they are ignoring PS3 sales, shouldn't the average "attach rate" be higher than HD DVD?

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Longshot

American Gangster will be Universal's biggest hit when it comes out nexr spring on red. The Kingdom with all the hype from the zealots has not even broke $47 million. A huge dissapointment.

I'll say it again about Graffeo and Kornblau. These two clowns are among the most inept executives ever in Hollywood. Uni will not go blu unless both of these clowns leave.

Ahhh, forgot about Kornblau, he's the joker who said that he WANTS this format war to go on and on, that it's "good" for everyone. Another toolshed.

[The Shrike]

Originally Posted by sj001

Another toolshed.

Nice one. I'm adding that to my vocabulary, right next to the recently acquired "space bomb".

[DrinkMore]

I have a funny feeling that Universal is going to remain defiant until the end.