Universal confirms "no plans to support Blu-ray"

[marzetta7]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

We have no PLANS to support blu-ray. But we will eventually... when we're through sucking Pete Schwetty's Balls.

It's a secret Schwetty family recipe...

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by mmmhome

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/ne...-blu-ray.phtml

Only thing confirmed I believe is they have a contract. There is no way they would do anything this year, it's next year that is the possible time you see them go Bluray neutral or exclusive (once that contract is out)

[Swede]

Q: Do you have plans to use the 51GB HD DVD disc for sell-thru Universal
movies?

A: The DVD Forum has not approved the 51GB spec, so it’s too early to speculate on plans at this time.

There's once again confirmation that the HD DVD camp was lying when they claimed that the 51GB TL disc was approved & ready, but hey they lie about everything else, so what's new

[Kristin Simard]

This guy sounds like a cross between a politician (PM or Presidential Hopeful) and a MacDonald's salesman.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

This is typical of any interview, toe the company line, don't let out any future plans, and use the numbers in your favor. I think it was put best when Tron pointed out that this is nothing more than an internet interview, not a corporate statement. Hell, the very first line in the interview points out his position as VP of HD DVD development or something along those lines. What do you think he's going to say?

In the end, consumers like us will make the decisions. The power is ours so long as they're providing us with a choice. We must use that power responsibly; with our wallets, and word-of-mouth amongst family and friends we can make this happen in Blu's favor. But we must be diligent, and persistent, or we will be doomed to failure. We have much going for us, in the way of studio support and future development of the technology, not to mention that even though Wal-Mart may have sold tons of the A2's, J6P has nowhere to rent his movies. And when he discovers how much it costs to buy them (when he wouldn't buy a player until it came down to under $100), he'll just use it as an up-converting DVD player.

Q4 will definitely be telling, but we have to make sure that we're all doing our part as well. Here's an idea: buy your family and friends Blu-ray movies this year. When they say that they don't have a player yet, tell them it's an investment in the future, and that they probably will by year's end. You're just getting them started early with their collection. I say we go about this from the opposite of Toshiba's approach! Let's get them the software, and let the hardware follow!

[CMSBlu1]

I'm sure that's the same thing Circuit City was saying about DVD right up until they pulled the plug on Divx

[SpikesBluBlooded]

Originally Posted by CMSBlu1

I'm sure that's the same thing Circuit City was saying about DVD right up until they pulled the plug on Divx

OHHH! And the new member kicks 'em in the ding-ding!

[arroyopines]

Universal Article Quote: The PS3 is a gaming system first - even Sony will tell you this, and we believe consumers use gaming consoles to play games. Studies show that 70% of gamers don’t even know that their console has a DVD playback option.

I think I read a similar 60% figure last week on another thread and this also follows some of the other discussion regarding attach-rates. First of all, I don't believe those 60% or 70% figures, but think about it: If I were in the HD-DVD camp, I would be worried. Very worried. If there really are that many PS3 owners (note his quote: "their consoles") who don't yet know that their PS3 will play Blu-rays, that is HUGE! (This really doesn't apply to all of the XBOXs because those gamers would need to buy an add-on unit, and if they bought an add-on, then they obviously know why they bought it and it is for movies.) But for the PS3, it would be an INSTANT new base of customers that supposedly doesn't exist now. Forget cheap HD-DVD machines, if you have a PS3 and didn't know it played DVDs, that is now FREE. is there any way they would go out and buy an HD-DVD player? No way! And now think about the new 40GB PS3 bundling - it is with a movie and not a game. Again, the facts just don't help the other side. When I finally buy the Bourne movies on Blu-ray, it is going to be very sweet. In the meantime, I am fine with the regular Universal DVDs that I own (and won't be buying Bourne 3 in any format, but Blu-ray).

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by arroyopines

First of all, I don't believe those 60% or 70% figures, but think about it: If I were in the HD-DVD camp, I would be worried. Very worried. If there really are that many PS3 owners (note his quote: "their consoles") who don't yet know that their PS3 will play Blu-rays, that is HUGE!

Exactly. Why would an intelligent person (which a VP should be) think that Blu-ray getting to a point of outselling HD DVD 2:1 for software with only 40% (or a figure like that) of PS3 owners knowing about the Blu-ray movie playing capability by worse than if all the PS3 owners knew it and the software lead was the same? A lower number of PS3 owners knowing about the capability and still getting to the 2:1 software point would be a positive for Blu-ray, not a negative. Educating many of those people wouldn't be all that hard. But I'm also skeptical of claims that 60% of PS3 owners don't know about the Blu-ray movie playing part. Too bad really, as it would be good news for Blu-ray if only 40% know about it and half those who know about it use it.

--Darin

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by mattym

dont forget sony had no plans to cut price on PS3 the day before they cut the price...

Exactly, which goes right back to my post:

"I wouldn't read into it. Corporate types say whatever they have to say up until the very day it changes publicly, even if they know the change is coming. They almost never hint that changes are coming if they have an arrangement in place right now. They will say they are 100% dedicated to the current arrangement until the very day the arrangement ends. This is standard behavior."

I personally am a high-ranking corporate manager... I know exactly how we operate.

[lymzy]

Originally Posted by darinp2

But I'm also skeptical of claims that 60% of PS3 owners don't know about the Blu-ray movie playing part.

I think it is more like 60% know but don't care or want HDM in general especially at a premium price.

[LynxFX]

I'm going to make a new HD format called Lynx-HD. I'll only sell one player and put out 100 random titles for it. The attachment ratio will be 100:1!! I can't wait for Universal to put out all their movies on Lynx-HD.

[sphdle1]

Originally Posted by SpikesBluBlooded

This is typical of any interview, toe the company line, don't let out any future plans, and use the numbers in your favor. I think it was put best when Tron pointed out that this is nothing more than an internet interview, not a corporate statement. Hell, the very first line in the interview points out his position as VP of HD DVD development or something along those lines. What do you think he's going to say?

In the end, consumers like us will make the decisions. The power is ours so long as they're providing us with a choice. We must use that power responsibly; with our wallets, and word-of-mouth amongst family and friends we can make this happen in Blu's favor. But we must be diligent, and persistent, or we will be doomed to failure. ...

Q4 will definitely be telling, but we have to make sure that we're all doing our part as well. Here's an idea: buy your family and friends Blu-ray movies this year. When they say that they don't have a player yet, tell them it's an investment in the future, and that they probably will by year's end. You're just getting them started early with their collection. I say we go about this from the opposite of Toshiba's approach! Let's get them the software, and let the hardware follow!

I totally agree! They'll be changing their tune very quickly and seeing blu when their high-def sales are sub-par, and they see Warner and others hitting huge numbers on Blu, which in Warner's case I think we'll see them make their decision to go exclusively Blu. It won't be practical to keep making both formats, from a profit point of view, and from a going forward into the future & not prolonging the war unnecessarily, point of view...

They are letting consumers decide, and we as a team, have to make sure Blu increase sales this quarter, especially with Warner, to prove it to them. When they see the Warner's numbers & see Warner go exclusively Blu, we'll be able to get Transformers sooner than you think, but with PCM or TrueHD of course. (Wasn't there an 'out' in the Paramount contract if sales or profit weren't above a certain level?)

[Nooff]

Of course HD DVD gives Universal the oppurtunities to let consumers migrate from DVD, thing is, Universal is mostly putting out catalog titles with mediocre to shit quality. Besides, they didn't even bring out as many titles as they promised at CES. Universal can kiss my bahoony

[stockstar1138]

can you imagine all the trouble that would happen for universal if when asked the question do you have plans for blu-ray, if they replied yes. no matter if they plan to or not, they are going to say they are not planning on supporting blu-ray until a few weeks before the first release.

[TruBlu2]

LOL, another "expert" weighs in with a TON of FUD.

This guy is out of touch, hopefully he isn't a big decision maker at Universal. If that is the case he is doing his company more harm than good.

What a sad spin artist.

[ClaytonMG]

I have a question. What is this whole thing with the DVD forum? I know someone mentioned Blu-Ray was announced in 2002 and wasn't submitted to the DVD forum, but 2 questions...

What is the DVD forum? Is it like a bunch of standards set up for DVD or something? And why didn't Blu-Ray submit it to the forum? I can't see why they'd actually need to since it's an entirely new kind of disc. But yeah, if anyone could answer these questions that'd be awesome!

[DrinkMore]

Originally Posted by ClaytonMG

I have a question. What is this whole thing with the DVD forum? I know someone mentioned Blu-Ray was announced in 2002 and wasn't submitted to the DVD forum, but 2 questions...

What is the DVD forum? Is it like a bunch of standards set up for DVD or something? And why didn't Blu-Ray submit it to the forum? I can't see why they'd actually need to since it's an entirely new kind of disc. But yeah, if anyone could answer these questions that'd be awesome!

Correct - A Consortium of sorts to set "standards" for hardware/specs/software and the like.

[C6 Z06]

Originally Posted by Amel

oh man

if this guy has a position at Universal they all should give up their jobs

so, HDDVD was created on a Forum?

lol lol lol squared

And Al Gore created the internet!!

[Maxell]

This guy sounds like the George Bush of high definition.