Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[Papi4baby]

Fox Exec: Why do you guys price your disc so high??? Also if possible why did you guys stopped releasing movies in BD half way thruh the year?

Kjack: Can you help with the issues with the PS3 audio decoder if it really is unable to handle DTS HD MA???? Also what are the two video decoders on the PS3. Thanks.

P.S. Where's the SCEA insider, awaiting his arrival, it would be great to have one here .

P.S.S. Thanks to all the insiders for their support.

[Azumi]

A question to Maxpower or Penton:

A strategy of the HD DVD PRG regarding the PS3, has been to claim that film buffs and gamers don't mix. They said that the strength of a format can only be measured by standalone players, because gamers are unreliable when it comes to movies. And this view was shared by Warner for quite some time.

If we look at the past year of availability of the PS3, we can see that this view was plain wrong. The console has landed in many hands that could be considered as casual or non gamers, and yet 100% movie fans, and for quite some time it has been the cheapest way to have Blu-ray at home.

The question I'd like to know is if the Studios -- particularly Warner -- have changed their views on the PS3.

Are the PS3 owners still considered like some sort of strange animals that defy profiles and categorizations? Or do they think that the PS3 is really a multipurpose player, particularly in regard of the strong sales in the past few weeks?

Thank you,

[Chris Beveridge]

Originally Posted by Crackbone

I'd like to ask a question as well:

This is an awfully bold thread name, is there something about to happen that we don't know about?

I am really curious. Or.... is this just wishful thinking?

It was chosen because "Electric Boogaloo" was already used. Honestly, there's no real intent or message behind it. I use varying names on the weekly polls in the movies section. It's also something we do with a few other regular threads we reboot once in awhile to keep clean.

[BillCable]

Question to Fox Executive: Will we see the unrated version of Die Hard 4 on Blu-ray? I want that so, so badly. It's been reported that the unrated version wasn't finished in time to be released day-and-date on Blu-ray. I hope it'll still be released sometime, so we can see the director's original vision in High Def.

[irfoton]

drmpeg,
This may have been covered in times past but since I wasn't around, I thought I'd ask again. As HD takes hold and begins to eclipse DVD, how will compressionists be trained? There appears to be more choices than ever for HD. Which codec is the most forgiving? Which provides the best results in the least amount of effort? Which provides the best results when you have all the money and time in the world?

Thanks

[LynxFX]

To any insiders with connections to media pricing...

I've asked this before but it usually falls on deaf ears, so trying one more time. All of the focus on pricing between the two formats continues to remain on the price of the players. That's only half the battle and usually a one time purchase for someone in the first couple years of owning a new format. The majority of their money is spent on the actual movie discs. The first 3 years of DVD, retailers were practically giving them away. I probably built up a library of 250 titles in those years and I doubt I spent over $14 on any one title. Most were under $10 even. It wasn't until DVD caught on and people were addicted that prices actually went up and now hover on $16 for new releases on release week and then back up to $20-25. Surely the studios are watching the sales numbers and seeing how the BOGO's are increasing sales numbers on poor performing discs.

While Toshiba has virtually cannibalized their player market with firesales, they have taken a small step that the BDA doesn't seem to be willing to take. They reduced the MSRP on discs by $2. That's not much but it seems like they are starting to test the waters and could perhaps take it even further.

So the question is, what is the BDA, or blu-ray studios doing to reduce the MSRP of blu-ray discs? Or is it even on the table right now? Personally I think Fox's prices are appauling, especially for barebones catalogue titles. Then Sony even went the opposite way of their past pricing with Superbad at $44!

I will add though, that if the sudden influx of BOGO's and half off sales at various retailers is the result of the BDA and the Studios taking action on this matter, then I do want to say thank you and encourage it. So whomever is in charge of that, please keep it up! I've increased my library quite a bit because of them and I didn't own a single Fox title, until this weekend, now I own 8. But on the flipside, I now know better than to buy any discs at retail price even at the $23-$35 discounted price.

thanks for reading...
-Jason

[DaViD Boulet]

While Toshiba has virtually cannibalized their player market with firesales, they have taken a small step that the BDA doesn't seem to be willing to take. They reduced the MSRP on discs by $2. That's not much but it seems like they are starting to test the waters and could perhaps take it even further.

Toshiba doesn't manufacture software... so it's not Toshiba who's reducing the price (not to my knowledge). Agreed that near $40 retail for a BD title is *REDICULOUS* and looks *** BAD *** to any consumer casually browsing the shelves who finds themselves in the Blu-ray section of the aisle.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by merrick97

I hope Penton and paidgeek can find this thread!

Hey, I just followed the bread crumbs that Iceman left.
I’m sure paidgeek will find his way.

Here’s a heads-up. Don’t be surprised if I don’t even pop my head in here to say hello this week, as it will be a race to get everything done what with Christmas upcoming.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Chris Beveridge

It was chosen because "Electric Boogaloo" was already used. Honestly, there's no real intent or message behind it. I use varying names on the weekly polls in the movies section. It's also something we do with a few other regular threads we reboot once in awhile to keep clean.

I don’t think you’re being completely honest Chris.

I suspect it is also a subliminal message to the folks at Uni. For when a certain decision-maker there reads the title of this thread, he probably feels like this……………..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFAe5tsTz60

[Penton-Man]

In the interest of the holiday spirit of giving rather than receiving, I suggest you all become members of the team, either vocally by declaring or just quietly by doing.

Here’s the skinny on what I’m talking about for those who are unaware.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=382

Here’s the first page of the team thread…………
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=6975

Later folks.

[jdc115]

This question relates more to hardware but maybe Paid would have an idea.

Do Sony or any of the other hardware manufactures have plans that they would stop manufacturing stand alone DVD players and only sell Blu-ray players that also support DVDs? If they get to a point where the cost difference is not a lot, then can stand alone DVD players be dropped to help gain mass acceptance of the Blu-ray format?

I currently live in a country that still has a sizable VCD market which sell for about half the price of a DVD. I work with a few people that only have a player that can play VCD's as they were cheaper then DVD players when they bought them but now the price is to the point that any DVD player here will most likely play VCD's as well. So some will still buy VCD's (usually for Chinese or Korean dramas) but those wanting better quality and not having to change disks will go for the DVD.

If stand alone DVD players can start phasing out at some point (except maybe the very bottom market) then mass adoption can take place. If it the long term strategy to phase out the stand alone DVD players when the price gets close?

[MerrickG]

Where is Paidgeek?

Lets hope he is sitting at the end of a Warner/bluray exclusive deal!

Or at the very least, creating diversions to keep Toshiba execs out of the studio...
hehe.

[WickyWoo]

Between the holidays and CES, none of our insiders will probably be around that much till mid-Jan

[sj001]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Where is Paidgeek?

Lets hope he is sitting at the end of a Warner/bluray exclusive deal!

Or at the very least, creating diversions to keep Toshiba execs out of the studio...
hehe.

Yeah, hopefully, though I think he mentioned he was extremely busy with CES coming up and all. Not to mention X-Mas.

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by Azumi

A question to Maxpower or Penton:

A strategy of the HD DVD PRG regarding the PS3, has been to claim that film buffs and gamers don't mix. They said that the strength of a format can only be measured by standalone players, because gamers are unreliable when it comes to movies. And this view was shared by Warner for quite some time.

If we look at the past year of availability of the PS3, we can see that this view was plain wrong. The console has landed in many hands that could be considered as casual or non gamers, and yet 100% movie fans, and for quite some time it has been the cheapest way to have Blu-ray at home.

The question I'd like to know is if the Studios -- particularly Warner -- have changed their views on the PS3.

Are the PS3 owners still considered like some sort of strange animals that defy profiles and categorizations? Or do they think that the PS3 is really a multipurpose player, particularly in regard of the strong sales in the past few weeks?

Thank you,

+1. I'd be curious to know this too. On one hand we hear quotes where Warner credits PS3 owners for making 300 such a top seller because it was marketed to them. And on the other hand we hear Warner quotes saying it's dangerous to rely on a gaming system. Would love to know how a lot of the studios feel about it being the Blu-ray trojan horse.

[LynxFX]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Toshiba doesn't manufacture software... so it's not Toshiba who's reducing the price (not to my knowledge).

That actually confused me too on the subject. Every news post and article on the subject clearly states "Toshiba plans to reduce MSRP on all HD DVD titles" with no mention of Univeral, WB or Paramount. Infact one of them actually says it is in an attempt to woo WB to the HD DVD side. More subsidies maybe?

[dialog_gvf]

Folks, a reminder: This thread is for questions to insiders

One of the reasons we started a new version of this thread is because insiders were having trouble reading through too many conversation posts.

Please, let's keep this thread clean, or it will force the moderators to begin moving or deleting posts.

Gary

[LynxFX]

Originally Posted by fronn

Can this nonsense please stop being repeated?

My mistake, and apparently many others. I never saw anything debunking the other stories. Guess that is how fast fud travels.

Anyway, my question still stands. What are the BDA and Studios doing to reduce the MSRP of blu-ray films?

[SDG]

To anyone. With CE's starting to make HDTVs with Internet connections, Would it be possible to stream true HD audio and video from a Blu-Ray player like the PS3 using WIFI. Is there enough bandwidth. I understand that the decoding is done and expected to be sent out of the HDMI port. Is it possible to send it WIFI. Would like it if I could play the movie in my living room but watch it in my bed room. The Bluetooth remote will work through the wall.

[mystiksuicide]

By the way where is Penton Man? Has he gone to the "Dark Side" aka Red? Well if your not going to be on here you best be sealing the deal on Warner I am tired of not been able to buy some movies just because they're owned by studios not looking at for the majority