Amazon begins to advise customers of Warner's Blu-exclu move

[dobyblue]

Batman Begins HD DVD - http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Begins-...1288471&sr=1-2

Warner Bros. has announced plans to discontinue its support of the HD DVD format after May 31, 2008.

Most excellent of Amazon to start to get the big picture.

[glenn22]

That's very good of them. All honest retailers should be doing that.

[DJeffries]

They even point out what is going to be lost.

Warner HD DVD Titles

[bhampton]

That's good. Everyone should be warned.

I actually think if you approach HD DUD hardware or software you should get a electrical shock but if that can't be arranged this is at least a step in the right direction.

-Brian

[seto]

I don't think you're going to see Best Buy doing that anytime soon. They were selling digital photo frames that were infected with a trojan horse and did not make any announcement for recall or issue a statement that there was something wrong with the units until they were outed. They're still not recalling the units.

[owa]

Wow, that's impressive. Didn't think they would actually do that so that's a thumbs-up for Amazon.

[Blu Titan]

The Amazon warning is just a foretelling of things to come. Just can't wait for all studios to be releasing on blu-ray. Let Toshiba melt under the Blu heat. I am sure that the week's High Def movie sales result will generate more negative press for HD DVD.

[Jimbo976]

Has WB said more on whether they will continue making red discs?

[Ispoke]

About time retailers showed some honesty to consumers. Credit to Amazon.

[w_tanoto]

Amazon UK needs to do the same thing. I just checked Amazon UK. No announcement. It makes me wonder if the BD exclusivity is already effective in UK...... (as it is in Australia)

[TheRealBob]

I posted this in the Nielsen thread, but it fits better here:

I'm not sure what Amazon's motivation for putting that up. I'd assume the usual motivation, to increase sales ("buy 'em while you can!"), but...

I think this could have a devastating impact on HD DVD sales on Amazon. If an HD DVD supporter clicks the link to see if there are any bargains, they are going to be struck at the tons of big-name titles being removed from the format (Matrix, Harry Potter, 300, Blade Runner, Batman Begins, Planet Earth, etc., etc., etc.). If news hasn't reached them yet that HD DVD is a dead format, they'll know it now for sure.

Which is why I keep saying the numbers are going to move fast in a Blu direction (with a small amount of up-and-down movement as is always the case with stats like these). Every day there are more and more people finding out what's going on and vowing to never buy HD DVD again. Those people are moving out of the red stats permanently, so the shifts are going to be permanent.

[ezcobar411]

I'm happy to see Amazon is doing this. I wish that CC and BB would have the decency to do the same.

[TheRealBob]

While this is good news, it's interesting to note that the problem people have been complaining about for months is still there. For Blu-ray titles, Amazon serves up this notice:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This disc is a high-definition disc and is compatible only with Blu-ray players. It will not play on a standard DVD player. Click here to see our selection of Blu-ray players.

For HD DVD players...nothing. Apparently it's just not that important to advise people that HD DVD discs won't play in their DVD player.

On the other hand...

For Blu-ray titles Amazon throws in this note as well:

Check out the Blu-ray Store to find everything you need to go Blu.

No mention of the HD DVD store for HD DVD titles. If you go to both areas, the Blu-ray store seems to have more thought put into, with a prominent section on how to get started with Blu-ray. The HD DVD store is mostly just "here's the HD DVD junk we're selling".

[sssick]

Thats very good news.

Planet Earth is a Warner title?

[Petra]

LOL

[TheRealBob]

Originally Posted by sssick

Thats very good news.

Planet Earth is a Warner title?

It's a BBC title distributed by Warner. The BBC has announced that their "current plans" (the universal code for "we're not really going to tell you anything about our future plans") are to support both formats. I imagine they'll have to find another distributor for HD DVD. I suspect that it will end up being a theoretical question only.

[haushausman]

Wow. That's awesome.. and to think I thought Amazon was trying to mislead consumers when they didn't not advertise Blu-ray in their Home Theater Forum 101 section.

[bkbluray]

Originally Posted by TheRealBob

It's a BBC title distributed by Warner. The BBC has announced that their "current plans" (the universal code for "we're not really going to tell you anything about our future plans") are to support both formats. I imagine they'll have to find another distributor for HD DVD. I suspect that it will end up being a theoretical question only.

Yeah, probably BBC will drop HD-DVD or at least announce it shortly after Warner discontinues support. They have to notice numbers like 85:15 and 83:17. Those can't be ignored so easily.

[little_boy_blu]

Cool.. glad to see them being a responsible retailer.

I just realized that warner has 156 titles for HD-DVD.. I now fully see the scope of Warner leaving the red camp after browsing thru all of them. There are some really great titles. Great for Bluray!

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by bhampton

That's good. Everyone should be warned.

I actually think if you approach HD DUD hardware or software you should get a electrical shock but if that can't be arranged this is at least a step in the right direction.

-Brian

That will work or even something more mild such as a deep voice stating, "DUD," as they are approached.