An open letter to Paramount, Universal and Retailers

[tron3]

First came this letter. You best read it again before reading this letter.
An Open Letter to the HD Video Industry https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=17513

But now I am through playing games. I understand that Toshiba has a responsibility to their stock holders. It is obvious to anyone that there is ZERO chance of Toshiba winning. So why are they sticking it out? Why do they continue to take jabs and bite us in the shins when they are on their knees fighting to get up? I won't begin to speculate as it is meaningless at this point.

One thing is certain, Toshiba is doing their best to perpetuate the illusion of a war to hinder blu-ray. We are at a crucial cross over point, peace is within reaching distance but Toshiba refuses to drop the gauntlet. We must drop it for them. Unlike Sony, Toshiba has no studio division that I am aware of. The only one who benefits from the survival of HD DVD is their own ego. Rumors suggest they want to throw MORE MONEY AFTER BAD and garner more exclusive support. This is either some attempt to wear down blu-ray studios to crossing back into no man's land, or just parting shots as they make their exit.

Since Toshiba has no intention to stop, they are responsible for inhibiting a multi-billion dollar industry. We must press forward and follow in Warner's footsteps. Paramount and Universal must drop any HD DVD support by years end. PERIOD. Retailers must stop carrying HD DVD players and HD DVD movies. PERIOD. Toshiba controls the market. Not through dominance, but through sobotage.

In short, to end this war we do NOT need Toshiba. They do not matter. They do not listen which is why this letter is not addressed to them. Someone had to lose this format war. But even two neutral studios will only confuse the market. People will presume the other studios will soon join HD DVD. Perception is reality to them, even when that reality is based in ignorance. To move on we must slay this red dragon and then build upon the success of DVD by convincing people to upgrade.

Toshiba seems dedicated to supporting their format. But do they care about the one million customers who spent millions in buying hundreds, or thousands of dollars in HD DVD media? If they did, they would make a dual format combo player to support those customers. Right now they are only trying to drag more consumers into the empty promise land of HD DVD.

Unity is key. There is no more room for politics in this war. No more room for neutrality. No more room for marketing games. Toshiba can't do anything without the studios nor shelf space. They need us, we don't need them.

It is time to dump Toshiba once and for all. For the good of the consumer, for the good of the stock holders, for the good of the movie industry, for the general good of public relations. End it now.

[BaronVH]

My friend, if you want to make an impact, you need to change your signature. I am afraid you might seem a little biased. I do agree with your sentiments, and I think the corporations are lining up to have one format soon.

[Midnightsailor]

The real fight is against SD.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

My friend, if you want to make an impact, you need to change your signature. I am afraid you might seem a little biased. I do agree with your sentiments, and I think the corporations are lining up to have one format soon.

The devil himself could speak the truth and people would still recognize it as truth. My signature is not the problem.

Ok, they want to ride this out until May when Warner drops HD DVD, fine. Maybe Universal and Paramount will go neutral until years end. Hey more power to you in spending productive time and money on a format which WILL NOT SELL.

[maximiza]

Toshiba shoud die...
After reading the info in Wki which is not disputed, they also tried to extend the cold war for a certain amount of money. They like prolonging protracted wars. They are no good....no good


"In 1987, the company was accused of illegally selling CNC milling machines used to produce very quiet submarine propellers to the Soviet Union in violation of the CoCom agreement, an international embargo on Western exports to East Bloc countries. The Toshiba-Kongsberg scandal involved a subsidiary of Toshiba and the Norwegian company Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk. The incident strained relations between the United States and Japan, and resulted in the arrest and prosecution of two senior executives, as well as the imposition of sanctions on the company by both countries.[2] The US had always relied on the fact that the Soviets had noisy boats, so technology that would make the USSR's submarines harder to detect created a significant threat to America's security. Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania said "What Toshiba and Kongsberg did was ransom the security of the United States for $517 million."

[tron3]

Max I can hardly blame Toshiba's past on the present. Then again, sometimes evil seed does take root.

Toshiba must understand that a multi billion dollar opportunity is slipping through their fingers as well. They should join us. They will gain back everything lost, and thensome.

[Spankey]

I really hate reading anything that start with

"An Open Letter To..." Always makes me think that what is to follow is some self-important nonsense.

The studios don't care about letters. Just the bottom line. They are aware of it and watching..

[BluFan]

Good luck with that whole thing ya got going on there.

[jcpom]

So, Sony should have abandoned Betamax just b/c VHS "won tte battle" in 1980? Betamax machine were produced for another 20 years!

[bluskiff]

They are still trying to suck people into a dead format they are playing on people who just don't know any better. The longer they keep making a mess of things the more respect they loose. They have no class and no respect for movie fans. Paramount made a big part of the mess we are in right now and they should clean it up. I hope their stock holders tear them a new one.

[sphdle1]

I think Toshiba is perpetuating the illusion of continued war because they want to dump their remaining inventory on unknowing consumers...and Microsoft wants to make all the HDi patent revenue they can off each player.

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by sphdle1

I think Toshiba is perpetuating the illusion of continued war because they want to dump their remaining inventory on unknowing consumers.

Exactly!! This is what they are doing while uni/par are implementing blu into their lineup this year.

[alphadec]

when do paramount, universal cave in. ?

That means give up hddvd.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by jcpom

So, Sony should have abandoned Betamax just b/c VHS "won tte battle" in 1980? Betamax machine were produced for another 20 years!

Beta went on to bigger and better things in the TV industry. You see HD DVD doing that? Some technologies can be retooled to fit other needs. HD DVD is too little too soon, and not enough too late.