Universal Studios might decide to stay exclusive to the HD-DVD format

[HDTV1080P]

The comments that the President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment made today might mean they will continue to stay exclusive for years to HD-DVD especially if in late 2008 several name brand dual format players hit the market for under $500. The dominos have started to fall who is next to announce a combo player?

“The announcement was immediately hailed by Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and a key Hollywood supporter of the HD DVD format. The fact that Samsung, which for so long has been an exclusive Blu-ray supporter, is now going the dual-format route “is an acknowledgement of the tremendous value that HD DVD brings to the early adopter of high-definition packaged media,” he said.”

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=10525

[Banjo]

I hope Univeral wise up and realize that they're making a mistake.

[MrBogey]

The meaning of a dual-player has been so woefully misunderstood by so many people.

Let's say there are 8 blu-ray models, 3 HD DVD models, and 2 combos. Let's say blu-ray capable players are in 85% of the homes who have HD players and HD DVD is in 35%. That would be a tremendous boon to blu-ray studios but still a thorn to HD DVD studios.

Wide acceptance of a combo player hurts studio dual support and drives them to support 1 format assuming that it will reach a larger market due to wide combo player acceptance.

In the end it hurts HD DVD more than it hurts blu-ray. After all, the average consumer, the one that is fearful of obsolete players, will shell out more money to get a combo player. They'll then buy without discretion as to format type. This will help single support studios but give no benefit to dual support studios for the extra expense to create combo discs. For consumers that are weary of spending cash it won't prompt them to buy a HD DVD stand-alone as it means they still won't be able to play blu-ray and studio support for it is unlikely to expand.

As long as blu-ray stand alones outsell combo and HD DVD players and blu-ray specific discs outsell HD DVD discs then blu-ray will win. That is if any format ends up winning this war.

This is all my opinion based upon what I consider sound reasoning.

[Maximus]

The people supporting HD DVD inside UHV/NBC are very vocal, but their influence is waning, and eventually their talk will become as shrill as the rest of the HD DVD fanboys.

[dmhpro]

i will tell you what is getting annoying though, is seeing these promised dates for Blu-ray movies, getting excited to go pick them up then the date has been switched to an unknown time. DodgeBall, the Natural , etc. i could list about 10.

[jubaiweaponx]

I also fail to see how this really hurts BD in the long run ,I understand the logistics of samsung putting a combo unit out and am suprised by it ,but alas more BD discs will sell ,ugh I hope this doesn`t cause more combo discs to be made ....it`s just bad. I agree as well if we continue to outsell software totals for hddvd and combo discs we`ll be fine .And I`m suprised how the announcement of samsung putting out the dual player is stirring hd sentiment ,It will still be costly and we`ll see how many really sell ..

[WriteSimply]

Most of the pro argument on this topic argues for "the long run". I don't want that. It just means that it'll take longer time for the movies that I want to see on HD get released.


fuad

[Rob Tomlin]

I don't really see any comments there that show Universal is any more loyal to HD-DVD now than they have been.

[AlexKx]

I'm calling him bluff because like the previous poster said this is nothing different than what they have always said. Duh, was there ever any intent for anything other than this to happen? Why even put this statement out if there weren't good reason to think that they would quit HD-DVD and go Blu-Ray. I stand by that if Blu-Ray fails I sure as hell don't want anything to do with HD-DVD as there would in my opinion be no point in switching formats. The reason for me almost solely lies on Blu-Ray's ablility to hold loads of hours.

...and about dual disc players this is also pointless. I don't believe that I or the rest of the public in our society are EVER going to except rejecting a format that is only ten years old in order to have TWO formats?! What kind of logic ARE you all using?! You all honestly think that alone won't confuse everyone to death?

[MMtech]

Great. This is just like the PS3 and the 360 getting exclusives... It should not be this way for movies!

[HDAddicts]

Can I get a history refresher? How long were both vhs and beta out together? Just wanted to know the time frame. Thanks

[simpspin]

Do you realize the iron of Universal Staying HD-DVD exclusive in a dual-format world? They'll be known as the studio that uses the inferior disc technology.

EDIT: I just thougt of something--

I actually DO want the Dual-format players to take off...like a rocket. Once the public will accept the players and the functionality goes up while the prices go down, every studio--even universal-- would most likely use 50gig BR media instead of 30gig HD-DVDs. So other than the use of watching the current line-up of HD-DVDs, a dual format player could be a 'sneaky' win for BR.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by HDAddicts

Can I get a history refresher? How long were both vhs and beta out together? Just wanted to know the time frame. Thanks

Sony introduced the Beta format in 1975. JVC introduced the VHS format in 1976. Both formats were supported equally by studios with no exclusive studio issues. In 1983 BETA was very popular but by 1985 with several manufactories making VHS machines the market favored VHS. In 1988 Sony started making VHS machines.
Now with exclusive studio issues experts predict that the format war will be shorter (Of course with universal players the formats could coexist).
I wonder if the old 20th Century lawsuit between Sony Corp versus Universal Studios has any effect on the 21 Century format war?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Corp._v._Universal_City_Studios

[AlexKx]

I MUST be writing this on every post. There seems to be a compliance here to allow something like a format war to happen because somehow whoever the hell is suppose to decide which format is better are unable to do it UNLESS months and years pass when the evidence is obvious which is better NOW and furthering this war does NOTHING to help anyone. There is NO reason for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is vastly supperior because of its storage capability unless someone wants to prove to me or us otherwise! This format war is ASININE and a farce!

[JTK]

“The announcement was immediately hailed by Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and a key Hollywood supporter of the HD DVD format. The fact that Samsung, which for so long has been an exclusive Blu-ray supporter, is now going the dual-format route “is an acknowledgement of the tremendous value that HD DVD brings to the early adopter of high-definition packaged media,” he said.”

Kool aid. Samsung drunk some and Universal is downright swimming in it. The LG dual format player is a complete flop so there's your precedent.

Samsung makes an announcement about something months off and that's all the excuse needed to say stupid things like these and justify prolonging this farce of a format war, huh? Nevermind the fact that Samsung is still going forward with their plans of another dedicated BD unit near the $500 mark as well.

Doesn't take much.

This is what my concern was about all this: Now you're seeing an apparent domino effect where all of a sudden Universal seems emboldened anew to stay exclusive to HD-DVD and keep this format war going that much longer, among other things.

That's where frustration kicks in.

[Blackraven]

I've said it before but I'll say it again:

I don't care about Universal even if they stay HD-DVD exclusive till even the next decade.

For me, it's all about Paramount going Blu-ray exclusive.

That alone is enough to send HD-DVD on internal hemmorage.

[Rob Tomlin]

Originally Posted by Blackraven

I've said it before but I'll say it again:

I don't care about Universal even if they stay HD-DVD exclusive till even the next decade.

For me, it's all about Paramount going Blu-ray exclusive.

That alone is enough to send HD-DVD on internal hemmorage.

Are there rumors that Paramount may go BD exclusively?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Blackraven

I've said it before but I'll say it again:

I don't care about Universal even if they stay HD-DVD exclusive till even the next decade.

For me, it's all about Paramount going Blu-ray exclusive.

That alone is enough to send HD-DVD on internal hemmorage.

I've heard the rumors, but that's all they've been, unless you've got something special to tell us.

[dobyblue]

Craig Kornhole is about as full of it as the A man.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Craig Kornhole is about as full of it as the A man.

They're definitely drinking the same Kool Aid, that's for sure. I think A-man and his company have been passing that cup around along with a $$$ handshake.