Very Scary Thought

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Here is a scary thought that has been a supposed rumour that was refused to be commented on by a Warner employee when asked about it...

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

[jermwhl]

I hate the thought of those stupid combo discs! Grrrr!

Anyways, no worries though, cause Universal is on the verge of declaring format neutrality anyways! Right?!

[CptGreedle]

I think Warner is more likely to release their own combo discs that will run DVD, HD-DVD AND Blu-ray (well at least HD-DVD and BD) on one disc.
If that was released, then I am sure Blu-ray would still win cause anything they release would be in all formats and since BD is still outselling HD-DVD, it would naturally go that way.

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Here is a scary thought that has been a supposed rumour that was refused to be commented on by a Warner employee when asked about it...

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

I think I could say that this would never happen. Who that is not currently supporting either format would spend $35 - $40 to buy this stuff vs $14 - $19. That would literally kill their profit margin because people just wouldn't buy their movies until the price dropped down. Don't worry yourself over stuff like this. It does not make good business sense. These companies did not make the money they currently have to squander it this way.

[nhaase]

It would suck, but they would have to lower the cost from it's present ~$35, or else people just wouldn't buy the movie.

[T-Town Oil]

i wouldnt worry too much. just keep buying movies and it will all work out. the past few days i have been noticing way too much concern from people on a ton of these posts (almost as if we are already accepting deafeat). just remember that a fight aint over until you beat your opponent into submission. so keep throwing punches (buying blu-ray) and continue to kick (tell your friends about blu-ray). later

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by doctorD

I think I could say that this would never happen. Who that is not currently supporting either format would spend $35 - $40 to buy this stuff vs $14 - $19. That would literally kill their profit margin because people just wouldn't buy their movies until the price dropped down. Don't worry yourself over stuff like this. It does not make good business sense. These companies did not make the money they currently have to squander it this way.

I agree. There's no way people would buy it at the existing HD DVD Combo prices. If they did this and priced it at regular HD DVD/Blu-ray prices then it might be successful, but would probably annoy some buyers.

[monkyman]

I though a lot of the DVD/HD-DVD movies were being re-released soon as Just HD-DVD.

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by monkyman

I though a lot of the DVD/HD-DVD movies were being re-released soon as Just HD-DVD.

Yep. Warner is steering away from the HD-DVD/DVD Combos.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

It would be if it was possible. But, it can't be done. There isn't enough HD DVD making machines, or enough DVD-18 machines, to make this possible.

One week of one DVD title production exceeds 3-4x all the HD DVD discs (let alone the combo discs) ever made.

Also, consider that combos cost 2.4x what DVD-9 does to make. You figure they are going to eat that extra cost for DVD simply to help HD DVD? Where is the help now from Universal (won't redo masters) or Paramount (money before customers)?

And what price? Are they going to throw away the HD premium entirely too?

This gets proposed and proposed, but frankly it's like asking: Wouldn't it suck for the oil companies if an engined was released that ran on water?

[Genocide316]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Here is a scary thought that has been a supposed rumour that was refused to be commented on by a Warner employee when asked about it...

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

you worry too much....

[CAB]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Here is a scary thought that has been a supposed rumour that was refused to be commented on by a Warner employee when asked about it...

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

Flood the market as in sell what they have been producing for $14.99 instead of $34.99? I've read about all the BD factories popping up but not much about new HD-DVD capacity. Do they have the capacity to produce that many combos?

[HebrewHammer00]

Dude The More You Talk Like That The More It Scares People!

[WickyWoo]

The capacity isn't there, not even beginning to come CLOSE,and the yields/defects are ludicrous

There's a reason why all future runs of titles are going non-combo

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by CAB

Flood the market as in sell what they have been producing for $14.99 instead of $34.99? I've read about all the BD factories popping up but not much about new HD-DVD capacity. Do they have the capacity to produce that many combos?

Apparently, the factory upgrade is a relatively low cost maintenance. Since the HD DVD format is built upon the current standard DVD format, it is feasible that all factories could be upgraded to turn their entire production outcrop into the combo discs quickly. Thus, these already existent factories would then maintain their productivity with little interference from the upgrade process.

Normally, I wouldn't frighten much about a rumour like this except that I have a trusted source that had dinner with a WB PR employee. When asked about the rumour the tone of his response was laden with guise in saying, "I can't really say anything about it now." And besides, this type of speculation shouldn't fuel fear. It should serve to motivate and encourage a heightened effort to show support for OUR format!

BLU-BLOODS FOREVER!!!

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Here is a scary thought that has been a supposed rumour that was refused to be commented on by a Warner employee when asked about it...

What if Warner Bros., Paramount, and Universal decide to discontinue manufacturing DVD altogether and flood the market with DVD/HD DVD combo discs while matching them to the release prices for DVDs. This would destroy the Blu-ray software ratio over HD-DVD since everyone would have to buy an HD DVD disc in order to get it on the current DVD format which could then be used as HD media when they eventually decide to upgrade.

This, effectively, could put the final blow into the format war and cause HD DVD to claim ultimate victory! This is one of the rumours that a fellow HD enthusiast shared with me and it is very feasible since the manufacturing process and cost difference between DVD and HD DVD is relatively minute.

THIS WOULD SUCK!

shhhh, don't give the HDDVD group any ideas. that is a very scary thought though. i hope they are dumb and not realize they the treasure in front of them all this time, and still lose the war.

[Mr.Neutral]

Originally Posted by shadblz

shhhh, don't give the HDDVD group any ideas. that is a very scary thought though. i hope they are dumb and not realize they the treasure in front of them all this time, and still lose the war.

I don't think it would affect the outcome. If it was done at the price of DVD's then it would be great for consumers, future proofing their purchase. But this will never happen.

The simple reason this wouldn't affect the outcome is that these same titles would have been sold on DVD. Blu-ray exclusive studios wouldn't be losing any sales since they would still be releasing on DVD. All it would do is complicate statistics the same way the PS3 has. Actually, it would be worse.

[Pilam69]

Bah I say. That's about as likely to happen as me getting Transformers on Blu-Ray for Christmas. It's not happening. Try not to overthink this thing, you're gonna hurt yourself.

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Apparently, the factory upgrade is a relatively low cost maintenance. Since the HD DVD format is built upon the current standard DVD format, it is feasible that all factories could be upgraded to turn their entire production outcrop into the combo discs quickly. Thus, these already existent factories would then maintain their productivity with little interference from the upgrade process.
...

And some people call the _PS3_ a trojan horse!

I think that the extra cost of manufacturing the combo discs would get out of control, even if it were cheap, quick & easy to upgrade the plants. _Deliberately_ increasing the production costs of DVDs? When DVDs are now almost commoditized at $8, $9 and $10 per title? No way.

[JLaSoul]

If these studios did that, couldn't our studios do that too, lol. I'm sure if they were to push like that disney, sony and the other studios can do the same. I would figure as much stuff people write someone would have said this already. I guess since the news everyone is in a panic, if anything when hd-dvd people come see our forum they are getting a kick out of this stuff. Let's keep our ground and show we aint' scared of some bad news, cause' we know this is the best format. Stay Blu Homies.