Big Move in France

[Elandyll]

We already know the BDA, the association behind the Blu-Ray.

Now a group composed of 11 manufacturers (their French/European bases) have officially created a French group dedicated to promote Blu-Ray in France and Europe.

Here is the link:
http://www.france24.com/france24Publ...50555.y81tlx5r

And here is the translation (my own )

News Brief AFP (French Agency News)

Creation of an Association to promote The Blu-Ray format in France against the rival standard HD-DVD

11 actors of consumer level electronics, publishing, and video production have anounced Thursday the creation of an association to promote the Blu-Ray format as the Standard of High Definition in France, as opposed to the rival standard HD-DVD.

Amongst the members ofthe association can be found, alongside the major industries of the sector, the Japanese Sony, Panasonic and Pioneer, the South Corean Samsung and the European Philips, and for movie studios Gaumont, Columbia, Tristar, Walt Disney, Pathe or even Warner Home Video.

"Our mission is to back Blu-Ray, that is to High Definition what the DVD is to standard definition", declared Daniel-Georges Levi, president of Blu-Ray Partners France, during a press conference.

The Blu-Ray, conceived by Sony with the support of Matsushita and Sharp, is competiting with the HD-DVD of Toshiba, also backed by Microsoft, in order to become the de-facto standard for movies and other videos for these new generation DVDs in high definition.

After failing to negotiate the release of a unique standard, the two sides finally decided last year to separately launch their own products in order to let the market sort them out.

According to the estimations of Blu-Ray Partners, 600.000 French homes should be equipped with a Blu-Ray player (Stand alone Players and PS3 consoles) at the end of the year, which would represent a 90% market share of High Definition players in France.

As for Blu-Ray discs, they "already represent more than 60% of the total of high definition sales", assured Mr Levi, who is counting on a 80% market share over Christmas.

Ta-daa

Oh, and if you count Pathe + Gaumont as strong Blu backers, Canal + just going neutral after having been HD-DVD, those three are like .. what .. 90+% of French movies distribution ?

[Manco]

Hopefully you're not a hoaxster with another bogus press release. But thank you for doing the English translation. That was cool!

I'm glad to see Warner's name specifically mentioned as well as Pathe.

[sj001]

This is very good news, it looks like Europe is heading the same way as Japan, total domination! Then hopefully the US to follow.

[Elandyll]

Nope, no hoax

The link sends you to France24.com, which is the website of the 24/7 news channel in France, and AFP is one of the most reputable News Agencies in the world...

[sj001]

It's not a hoax, just go to the link provided and copy the text into Babelfish, and it translates into what he said verbatim, unless the news agency or publication was bogus, but that's a different story.

[Manco]

Yes... link is working now. It was not taking me anywhere at first.

[Elandyll]

Now an interesting question would be .. as this association, unlike the BDA, exists solely to promote the BD format vs the HD_DVD one .. and with Warner in there...


Does it mean that all the Warner catalogue (which probably includes New-Line in France) will -only- be released in Blu there?
I can't imagine a company being part of this kind of association and playing both sides...

[HK-48]

If Warner is neutral, then why are they backing Blu-Ray in this case?

[Elandyll]

Some are going to Argue that in this case this is Warner Home Video France...

But on the other hand, I'm pretty sure that they are a subsidiary of Warner Bros Entertainement USA, as their website seem to confirm...

[richard lichtenfelt]

Thanks Elandyll. I consider this to be an informative and intriguing find.

[Tekman]

This is real and yes Warner seems to be proactive with Blu-ray in France although they are still "neutral" with releases
The battle between the two formats of next-generation optical as the Blu-ray and HD DVD is expected to intensify with the approach of Christmas and New Year. Supporters of the Blu-ray, led by Sony, announced this morning at a press conference in Paris the establishment of an association called Blu-ray Partners France, which will aim to promote this format among the general public.

Chaired by Daniel-Georges Levi, Disney, the association Blu-ray Partners France meets today ten players in the electronics industry and general public video editing. Among manufacturers, it brings together Sony, Samsung, Pioneer and Philips, while on the side of the editors, one finds Gaumont Columbia Tristar, Fox Pathe Europa, Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Home Video. Active nationally, this association with the support of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
Here are some pictures:

[darinp2]

While it probably won't come out until next year, it looks like Ratatouille will end the year with the top box office spot in France. It is over $63 million just in France and not completely done yet. And that was with just a $12 million opening, so has held well and that should be a good sign for sales of it on disc. BTW: Transformers did $16 million there.

--Darin

[bdrex28]

Is it just me or is blu-ray killing hd-dvd everywhere around the world? It seems only in the US is the jury still remotely out.

Although, of course, I side with Blu-ray.

[Blu-Style]

So, is "Warner" in France exclusively Blu now ?

[Seretur]

Lovely bit of news. I'm glad to see the Blu camp actually taking a proactive stance in one of Europe's major markets, and at such a crucial time.

It's also doubly encouraging in light of the Red camp's strong attempts to win the French distributors over to the HD DVD side late last year and earlier this year, with many of them actually signing up for it. Hey, it was too early to tell back then. Can't really blame them.

In my neck of the woods, HD DVD doesn't even exist -- so it's good to see the rest of the continent going down the more encouraging path. Plus, those statistics certainly look amazing, in light of the recent history.

BTW, I really like the bald guy with a mustache in the first photo. I bet his name is Remy.

[kaliraver]

Great news for the world wide movement of Blu-Ray! I also want to know if WB is Blu exclusive in France?

[Dalese]

Originally Posted by kaliraver69

Great news for the world wide movement of Blu-Ray! I also want to know if WB is Blu exclusive in France?

+1 for me as well!

This could explain questions raised by their being at the Blu-ray press conference and not the HD-DVD one at IFA in August...

[HK-48]

Dang it.

I emailed Jennifer Gonzalez of Warner Brothers who then sent my email to Karen Gilman (Who handles International) and Karen said that she could confirm that Warner France releases on both HD DVD and Blu-Ray.

But it makes it sound in that article that Warner is against HD DVD, weird.

[w_tanoto]

80% of planned movies in high definition will be on BD???
WOW.. unlike USA... I believe US has about 66% of BD

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by HK-48

Dang it.

I emailed Jennifer Gonzalez of Warner Brothers who then sent my email to Karen Gilman (Who handles International) and Karen said that she could confirm that Warner France releases on both HD DVD and Blu-Ray.

But it makes it sound in that article that Warner is against HD DVD, weird.

It just seems weird that Warner is at the same time part of an association that basically says "HD-DVD is doo-doo, chose Blu-Ray!" and selling their movies on HD-DVD as well as Blu at the same time.

A case of having your cake and eating it too?