Archived: Insiders Thread

[darinp2]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I will offer one more tidbit though…. it is not common for substantive meetings to take place at CES the day before the doors open to the consumer crowd – whether that translates into immediate public action still remains to be seen.

I've been hoping that any get togethers at CES like that would be for parties (welcoming Warner and New Line exclusively), not to negotiate. Does this mean that people from Japan are required for this? I would have thought that enough of the parties were close together in the Hollywood area that these meetings could happen well before CES. Not sure where decision makers at Time Warner are though. BTW: I understand if you can't provide more details at this time.

--Darin

[darinp2]

Any insiders want to comment on the report that Richard Parsons of Time Warner will be giving up his CEO position to Jeffrey Bewkes on January 1st (with Parsons remaining Chairman of the Board), and that in 2005 Warner's move from HD DVD exclusive to neutral reportedly went down from:

Despite Time Warner's long alliance with Toshiba, CEO Richard Parsons asked Jeff Bewkes, chairman of the company's entertainment unit, to reconsider the best way to recharge DVD sales. Bewkes decided that the studio should forget appearances and back Blu-ray if it was the format most likely to win consumers' hearts.

I gave a longer take here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...147#post419147

but my shorter take is that going Blu-ray exclusive at this point would be a natural progression of the decision in 2005 based on the goal of subsidizing DVD sales with high definition on disc sales, while going back to HD DVD exclusivity at this point could make both Parsons and Bewkes look very bad to shareholders if it didn't end the war. I know I wouldn't want to explain to shareholders why I had made 2 decisions that resulted in a long term stalemate and stagnated sales when I could explain to shareholders why I had made 2 decisions which resulted in one strong winner to carry the next gen flag.

--Darin

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by darinp2

Any insiders want to comment on the report that Richard Parsons of Time Warner will be giving up his CEO position to Jeffrey Bewkes on January 1st (with Parsons remaining Chairman of the Board), and that in 2005 Warner's move from HD DVD exclusive to neutral reportedly went down from:
I gave a longer take here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...147#post419147

but my shorter take is that going Blu-ray exclusive at this point would be a natural progression of the decision in 2005 based on the goal of subsidizing DVD sales with high definition on disc sales, while going back to HD DVD exclusivity at this point could make both Parsons and Bewkes look very bad to shareholders if it didn't end the war. I know I wouldn't want to explain to shareholders why I had made 2 decisions that resulted in a long term stalemate and stagnated sales when I could explain to shareholders why I had made 2 decisions which resulted in one strong winner to carry the next gen flag.

--Darin

Absolutely! And the portent of the 2nd decision (Warner going Blu-ray exclusive in January) would be that the HD-DVD format was entering its death spiral. Events and developments following such an announcement would be forthcoming VERY quickly.

[Zinn]

To Paidgeek, could there be a special version of 'Across the Universe' that would include the deluxe version of the Soundtrack? In CD or SACD form?

Take care,
Andreas.

[Rich Peterson]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I will offer one more tidbit though…. it is not common for substantive meetings to take place at CES the day before the doors open to the consumer crowd – whether that translates into immediate public action still remains to be seen.

As I mentioned in the CES thread, the HD DVD Promotional Group's first public presentation is their press event the evening before the show opens to regular attendees. I suppose if something were to get worked out earlier that day the timing is such that it could influence the content of their press event and their overall exhibit content.

Incidentally, Toshiba's first public presentation is 10AM the day before the show (their press event).

Oh, and Hi Penton!

[shug7272]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No, it doesn't mean anything. Warner makes commercials for DVD (also available on HD and Blu), HD and Blu-ray, and runs them all.

People just haven't caught the HD DVD version yet I'm sure. So long as they're releasing on all 3, I doubt that will change

So have you seen the one for HD DVD or are you just blabbing, because you saying "im sure" means nothing really. Because I havent seen it, as a matter of fact the only person I have heard say they viewed one for HD DVD has about 12 posts here. Is it not on youtube or googvid? If not then I think you are wrong, its not just that nobody has seen it. If so then its pretty obvious I am wrong but I have yet to see it for HD DVD anywhere.

[WickyWoo]

So have you seen the one for HD DVD or are you just blabbing, because you saying "im sure" means nothing really. Because I havent seen it, as a matter of fact the only person I have heard say they viewed one for HD DVD has about 12 posts here

No, I haven't seen one. Then again, I haven't watched any broadcast TV since the campaign started. But since this has been Warner SOP for a year and a half, I think assumptions are safe.

[Mr. Spiffy-Pants]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No, I haven't seen one. Then again, I haven't watched any broadcast TV since the campaign started. But since this has been Warner SOP for a year and a half, I think assumptions are safe.

I suspect there is an HD-DVD one floating around as well. I will say this, however: I saw an ad on TV last night for the SD DVD set. At the end of the ad, it mentioned "Now available on DVD and High-Def." The picture that was shown was the most interesting part - It showed the DVD case and the Blu-Ray case, but no HD-DVD case. Just food for thought...

EDIT: Slight correction - As mentioned on the other thread discussing this ad, it said available Tuesday. Hey, it was late, I was tired, and I honestly wasn't paying attention.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by Mr. Spiffy-Pants

I suspect there is an HD-DVD one floating around as well. I will say this, however: I saw an ad on TV last night for the SD DVD set. At the end of the ad, it mentioned "Now available on DVD and High-Def." The picture that was shown was the most interesting part - It showed the DVD case and the Blu-Ray case, but no HD-DVD case. Just food for thought...

I just saw the comercial 5 min ago and it showed a dvd and blu case. This is unsual

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No, I haven't seen one. Then again, I haven't watched any broadcast TV since the campaign started. But since this has been Warner SOP for a year and a half, I think assumptions are safe.

hd dvd fanboys are worring over on hd-dvd.com cause they are only seeing blu-ray ads too.

http://forum.hd-dvd.com/showthread.php?t=2348

[edgebsl]

Has anyone else seen the hd fanboys posting about how well bourne is doing?

Some are posting it may be doing better than TF?

This could just be spreading BS. But I hope the BDA has organized an "appropriate response". As insiders have indicated they will do whenever hd plays a strong card.

While we all know the 190k figure was faked...if Bourne surpasses TF someone is going to be knocking over warner's door trying to convince them that they have the most impressive sales on blockbuster releases. If they can achieve a close number in neilsen ,or even a 49:51 , they'll milk that for all it's worth.

Dont get me wrong, Bourne is their last "Ace" , but I hope we havent underestimated it.

[The Don]

Originally Posted by edgebsl

Has anyone else seen the hd fanboys posting about how well bourne is doing?

Some are posting it may be doing better than TF?

This could just be spreading BS. But I hope the BDA has organized an "appropriate response". As insiders have indicated they will do whenever hd plays a strong card.

While we all know the 190k figure was faked...if Bourne surpasses TF someone is going to be knocking over warner's door trying to convince them that they have the most impressive sales on blockbuster releases. If they can achieve a close number in neilsen ,or even a 49:51 , they'll milk that for all it's worth.

Dont get me wrong, Bourne is their last "Ace" , but I hope we havent underestimated it.

Bourne isn't an ACE...it's just a nice addition..

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by edgebsl

Has anyone else seen the hd fanboys posting about how well bourne is doing?

Some are posting it may be doing better than TF?

This could just be spreading BS. But I hope the BDA has organized an "appropriate response". As insiders have indicated they will do whenever hd plays a strong card.

While we all know the 190k figure was faked...if Bourne surpasses TF someone is going to be knocking over warner's door trying to convince them that they have the most impressive sales on blockbuster releases. If they can achieve a close number in neilsen ,or even a 49:51 , they'll milk that for all it's worth.

Dont get me wrong, Bourne is their last "Ace" , but I hope we havent underestimated it.

its a real shame for them that they are getting so into their precious bourne sales and are forgetting about Harry Potter sales. Bourne isn't go doing to do as well as even POTC, so wb is going to say, hd dvds blockbuster didn't beat blu-rays blockbuster and blu-ray harry potter outsold hd dvd harry potter 2:1. itll be pretty obvious what format is doing better. and remember bourne is hd dvds last hurrah until, well, they havn't announced it yet, so as of right now bourne is hd dvds last hurrah forever. I was in BBY last night and they had 15-20 copies left of the HP movies for HD DVD and only 5 left for blu-ray. no box sets. i went to suncoast and they had 3 copies for each of the 5 on hd dvd, im guessing they havn't sold 1 copy, and they had 6 total left of blu-ray.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by The Don

Bourne isn't an ACE...it's just a nice addition..

I think you and me are usually on the same page but to underestimate the Bourne would be foolish and it could cause us to lose one week this year something that id hate to see happen.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

its a real shame for them that they are getting so into their precious bourne sales and are forgetting about Harry Potter sales. Bourne isn't go doing to do as well as even POTC, so wb is going to say, hd dvds blockbuster didn't beat blu-rays blockbuster and blu-ray harry potter outsold hd dvd harry potter 2:1. itll be pretty obvious what format is doing better. and remember bourne is hd dvds last hurrah until, well, they havn't announced it yet, so as of right now bourne is hd dvds last hurrah forever. I was in BBY last night and they had 15-20 copies left of the HP movies for HD DVD and only 5 left for blu-ray. no box sets. i went to suncoast and they had 3 copies for each of the 5 on hd dvd, im guessing they havn't sold 1 copy, and they had 6 total left of blu-ray.

Our local BB had no Potter blu cases left either but still had like 4 or 5 of the hd dvds

[blckshp]

Everyone keeps talking about seeing the Blade Runner and it has a picture of the SD case and the blu-ray case. Sorry, that's not the blu-ray case. That is the Final Cut 2 disc special edition in a sleeve. They are actually showing the four disc and the two disc SD versions.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by blckshp

Everyone keeps talking about seeing the Blade Runner and it has a picture of the SD case and the blu-ray case. Sorry, that's not the blu-ray case. That is the Final Cut 2 disc special edition in a sleeve. They are actually showing the four disc and the two disc SD versions.

ive seen that one, the one i have seen that is most striking is the one where just blu-ray is mentioned. it seems like there is not an hd dvd equivilent of it either.

[WickyWoo]

hd dvd fanboys are worring over on hd-dvd.com cause they are only seeing blu-ray ads too.

Hey I'm all for making them sweat

Wouldn't be shocked if you see the HD DVD ads on Universal HD tho

[jason_grumpy]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Hey I'm all for making them sweat

Wouldn't be shocked if you see the HD DVD ads on Universal HD tho

Wicky,

I've been watching UniHD lately and I haven't seen any either.. They've just been playing the Blu Commercial or the "Available in High Def" one. No HD-DVD specific yet..

[sj001]

Maybe there is an HD-DVD/catch-all version but they suddenly decided not to play it?