HD to have advanced release

[gearyt]

The Consumer Electronics Association is expressing concern over a proposal by Hollywood studios in which they would deliver theatrical movies in HD to homes much earlier than their release on DVD -- in return for greater copy-protection control. The studios want the FCC to block signals from traveling over certain plugs connected to TVs and video recorders -- until the movies are released on DVD, but CEA said such a move would give studios power over choosing which digital connections they would use, thus cutting off products without those connections. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (6/12)

[AliceT]

Hmm, good thing for BD, but the wrong way to do it. Just release movies earlier on BD, thus encouraging people to pick that version up, or upgrade to BD. Not that smart to cut out put that own DVD just because they dont have a hdmi/dvi connection, thats if they go that way of course. A one month window would be nice. Say X movie releases on June 1st for BD, and July 1st for DVD. Probably wont happen like that though, as the bulk of the revenue comes from dvd right now.

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by AliceT

Hmm, good thing for BD, but the wrong way to do it. Just release movies earlier on BD, thus encouraging people to pick that version up, or upgrade to BD. Not that smart to cut out put that own DVD just because they dont have a hdmi/dvi connection, thats if they go that way of course. A one month window would be nice. Say X movie releases on June 1st for BD, and July 1st for DVD. Probably wont happen like that though, as the bulk of the revenue comes from dvd right now.

I agree the studios can bring the BD releases out much earlier than there DVD counterparts.

[SpaceDog]

I think even a one or two week lead for blu-ray would make a profound difference in adoption speed.

[airwedge1]

Read the excerpt again. I don't think they are talking about BD, I think they are talking about HD movies through cable, or satellite service. Nothing all the talk in there about being able to select which service providers to deliver movies with.

[almy]

When a film opens in a theatre, you should be able to buy a no-frills, theatrical cut of the title on Blu right there at the box office. This would solve several problems - the theatre owners would get a piece of the money pie and would stop complaining about the shrinking window between theatrical and home video; it would give the studio plenty of time to produce the "loaded" special feature Blu for release at a later date; availability of the title would discourage any attempts at piracy and consumers would no longer have the right to complain about a studio "double dipping" since the disc sold at the theatre would clearly be marked "theatrical cut"........now, as long as they don't make you buy a ticket and go in and buy the disc at the candy stand....

[Bobby Henderson]

It's just more movie downloads baloney. The vast majority of American computer users don't have Internet connections remotely adequate for downloading HD content -especially anything with Blu-ray levels of quality. It's going to be at least several more years before that's even possible.

And with all the rumblings from telcos about charging metered rates for Internet bandwidth use, high Internet service bills would kill the movie downloads thing pretty quickly.

Even if HD downloads were feasible, movie studios still need to preserve the window between theatrical release and that of home video. I wouldn't mind seeing Blu-ray releases get moved up a week or two ahead of DVD (it might make the premium we're paying for BD sales/rentals more worthwhile). Still, if the window between theatrical release and home video is eliminated it would put nearly all movie theaters out of business and then ultimately wreck the movie industry itself. The movie industry would be in trouble if it had to survive as an entirely straight-to-video kind of medium. Movie theaters are a good showcase to elevate significant releases above the countless dozens of straight to video and made for TV crap releases. Without that unique theatrical venue it would be much harder for major productions to justify their big budgets.

When a film opens in a theatre, you should be able to buy a no-frills, theatrical cut of the title on Blu right there at the box office. This would solve several problems - the theatre owners would get a piece of the money pie and would stop complaining about the shrinking window between theatrical and home video

Incorrect.

Here's the problem. One guy goes to the theater and is able to buy a BD movie by virtue of his ticket purchase. Then he loans the disc out to all his buddies so they can save some bucks. Theater attendance levels for a certain movie will be crappy if a BD of the same show is offered in the box office.

Another problem to consider: Blu-ray releases can often be a 2nd, more polished go-around of a movie. Items like the audio track, music score and more are often assembled down to the last minute before a movie is released in theaters. The 3-6 month span between theatrical and blu-ray/DVD release gives filmmakers an opportunity to go back and fix certain problems. If the disc authoring budget allows, they'll also create a more home theater optimized mix without the X-curve nonsense built into the theatrical mix.