Why would Warner announce days before CES rather than on CES...?

[mov9384ie]

it seems odd that warner would announce their move days before ces.


why announcing on ces would have been better:

1) more exposure
ces is a major event and regular news outlets will be covering it. warner would have gotten more exposure by making the announcement while the world is watching. imagine local news stations all saying,
"and the biggest news from ces is that warner is blu-ray exclusive. it looks like blu-ray will win the war."

2) hurts "ultimate xbox360"
to warner it wouldn't make much of a difference but to sony it would have helped ps3. ultimate xbox360 was rumored to have built-in hd-dvd. imagine msft announcing ultimate xbox360, warner makes their announcement, now msft looks really foolish and has to deal with cancelling a product they just announced. any confusion/problems with xbox360 helps ps3.



so what was the motive behind warner's early announcement?

1) another announcement is looming but is contingent on warner making the first move. warner announcing early gives the other group time to organize their announcement for ces

2) warner was simply being gracious to the other side by showing their cards early. warner spares companies possible humiliation and thus doesn't burn any bridges for the future.

3) ???

[glenn22]

Originally Posted by mov9384ie

it seems odd that warner would announce their move days before ces.


why announcing on ces would have been better:

1) more exposure
ces is a major event and regular news outlets will be covering it. warner would have gotten more exposure by making the announcement while the world is watching. imagine local news stations all saying,
"and the biggest news from ces is that warner is blu-ray exclusive. it looks like blu-ray will win the war."

2) hurts "ultimate xbox360"
to warner it wouldn't make much of a difference but to sony it would have helped ps3. ultimate xbox360 was rumored to have built-in hd-dvd. imagine msft announcing ultimate xbox360, warner makes their announcement, now msft looks really foolish and has to deal with cancelling a product they just announced. any confusion/problems with xbox360 helps ps3.



so what was the motive behind warner's early announcement?

1) another announcement is looming but is contingent on warner making the first move. warner announcing early gives the other group time to organize their announcement for ces

2) warner was simply being gracious to the other side by showing their cards early. warner spares companies possible humiliation and thus doesn't burn any bridges for the future.

3) ???

Honestly I think it was because they wanted to prevent a lot of HD-DVD announcement from taking place. If they had waited, the announcements would be made and companies may feel commited to their decisions. This way they have time to backpedal before the show starts.... not much time, but time.

[cajmoyper]

Originally Posted by mov9384ie

1) more exposure
ces is a major event and regular news outlets will be covering it. warner would have gotten more exposure by making the announcement while the world is watching. imagine local news stations all saying,
"and the biggest news from ces is that warner is blu-ray exclusive. it looks like blu-ray will win the war."

Let's be clear here...Warner never showed during their neutral tenure any love toward BD. They gave Dud exclusive titles, rarely gave lossless audio, and I'm sure someone can think of a third one. I think they did this as a final favor to them.

[HeavyHitter]

I'd like to know if there is any truth to the rumor at AVS that Fox and Warner at the very last minute considered going HD DVD and actually agreed upon some deal in principle.

[glenn22]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

Let's be clear here...Warner never showed during their neutral tenure any love toward BD. They gave Dud exclusive titles, rarely gave lossless audio, and I'm sure someone can think of a third one. I think they did this as a final favor to them.

I don't think the supposed "bias" was intentional. They simply wanted to release the same product on both formats, which they could not do with certain films due to PiP, etc. I'm glad they waited on releasing some of the HD-DVD exclusives because now there is a chance they'll optimize for Blu-ray.

[Deciazulado]

[Petra]

Warner wants to stop HD-DVD right NOW!! They don't want to give HD-DVD any momentum by giving them press conference air time in CES. The only reason they are releasing HD-DVD is to fulfill contractual agreement

[Geech]

Originally Posted by mov9384ie

it seems odd that warner would announce their move days before ces.

so what was the motive behind warner's early announcement?

1) another announcement is looming but is contingent on warner making the first move. warner announcing early gives the other group time to organize their announcement for ces

2) warner was simply being gracious to the other side by showing their cards early. warner spares companies possible humiliation and thus doesn't burn any bridges for the future.

3) ???

Def. # 1

[oblio98]

Someday there will be a book written about this whole HD-DVD/Blu-Ray deal, with all of the back stabbing, payoffs, and behind the scenes crap. It will be an interesting read. Until then, only the suits know for sure.

[rigpig]

...it's the perfect time to release 'bombshell' type news. Friday afternoon, better yet after markets close for trading. The Friday afternoon prior to CES is ultimate. Maximum potential for a stock bump that traders can expolit...up or down...& cast a huge black cloud over any hd-dvd related CES goings on.......essentially snuff it out.

[waled]

Originally Posted by mov9384ie

so what was the motive behind warner's early announcement?

Because now CES 2008 is ALL about Bluray
Do not confuse the public
One voice, one tune, one message

[Patranus]

I think a couple of things.

While leaving the HD-DVD PG, they do not want to totally piss off Toshiba. It is common manners to let the other group know ahead of time.

WB could have been making deals on both sides. If that is the case, they had to let the world know before hand. Say they waited until Monday and did it during the BDA key note. That would leave the HD-DVD PG scrambling - they probably are right now but...) with what 2, 3 hours to re work the entire key note from WB going HD-DVD exclusive to OH SHIT, NEED TO SAVE FACE.

The HD-DVD PG is probably going after Disney, Fox, and the like...I know that Lions Gate is in need of serious cash flow. This move would seriously push a studio from leaving the BDA back into its arms. It may have been a pre emotive move on the BDAs part. IE "we are bouncing if WB is not coming so let us know right now."

Christmas just ended. Christmas shopping is done in December. With every passing day the return window on Toshiba players shrinks. By doing it sooner rather than later this allows consumers to return their Toshiba players.

The HD-DVD PG might be dropping a bomb at CES, we don't know. The all too late XBox w/ HD-DVD that can't be used for games? Who knows. This dampens any large bomb they are going to drop.

I had a much more thought out post in my head but then went and did something. I am missing like 3+ points I wanted to make and just rambled and for that I am sorry.

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by mov9384ie

it seems odd that warner would announce their move days before ces.


so what was the motive behind warner's early announcement?

1) another announcement is looming but is contingent on warner making the first move. warner announcing early gives the other group time to organize their announcement for ces

2) warner was simply being gracious to the other side by showing their cards early. warner spares companies possible humiliation and thus doesn't burn any bridges for the future.

3) ???

I think that Uni wanted to announce Blu support at CES as well as Warner, but Warner got wind of it and decided to preempt them and take the praise/glory for themselves for their decision to try to unify HDM. Now, if Uni announces they will start releasing films on Blu-ray at CES it just appears as though they are following Warner's lead.

If Universal announces Blu support at CES I won't look at it from an "oh, the dominos are falling in line" perspective. I think both studios made their decision independently as far as their decision to go Blu and neither decision was dependent on the other studios decision. It's all just timing and trying to get the most publicity out of their announcements. Heck, it wouldn't surprise me if Universal decides to hold off on their Blu announcement in order to get some of the limelight for themselves. Announcing at CES now, while in Warner's shadow, may not be the best time for them to go Blu. It'll happen soon. If Universal wants a lucrative HDM format, that's what they will have to do.

I don't even want to talk about Paramount. I'll bet their stuck until HDM sales on the Blu side hit a certain milestone.

[HK-48]

Originally Posted by Patranus

The HD-DVD PG might be dropping a bomb at CES, we don't know.

I doubt it. If they had something huge I don't think they would of cancelled their press conference. Wouldn't they want to say something at CES to blunt the impact of the Warner announcement?

[fonks25]

I wish warner would have hold the announcement after CES just to see the look on MS's face regarding their new 360 ultimate.

[Go Blu]

Cuz they knew full well the type of propaganda that DUD was about to spew into the market. Thereby prolonging the confusion for the rest of the year.

[CapBBeard]

Originally Posted by HK-48

I doubt it. If they had something huge I don't think they would of cancelled their press conference. Wouldn't they want to say something at CES to blunt the impact of the Warner announcement?

Warner + [perhaps] Fox probably was their bomb, imo.

[Hassoon]

Why?

Because it's called "class" .

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by Patranus

The HD-DVD PG might be dropping a bomb at CES, we don't know. The all too late XBox w/ HD-DVD that can't be used for games? Who knows. This dampens any large bomb they are going to drop.

Uh no such luck on any HD DVD "bombs" at CES. They just canceled their entire conference Sunday night, all 1:1 press meetings, and everything else CES related. The companies and studios will still have booths at CES but that is it anymore.

[kolasi]

Originally Posted by Go Blu

Cuz they knew full well the type of propaganda that DUD was about to spew into the market. Thereby prolonging the confusion for the rest of the year.

and now that wont be happening.