Time Warner's Warner Bros. studio Friday said it would exclusively release high-definition DVDs in Sony Corp's Blu-ray format, dealing a big blow to Toshiba Corp's rival HD DVD technology. Warner Bros, Hollywood's biggest seller of DVDs, representing about 18 to 20% of sales in the United States, was one of the few studios that backed both formats. All sides of the format war had agreed it was confusing to consumers and a stumbling block for a potential multibillion-dollar industry. Total DVD unit sales fell 4.5% in 2007, the first major year-over-year decline since the disc format debuted in 1997, according to Adams Media Research. Sales fell 4.8% to $15.7 billion.
"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers," Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement. News Corp's 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, and Lionsgate are among studios backing the Blu-ray format. Viacom's Paramount studios and General Electric's NBC Universal release movies in HD DVD format.Warner said it would continue releasing in the HD DVD format until the end of May, although those releases would follow the standard DVD and Blu-ray releases.
Great, theyre backing regionlocked-ray. I suppose its only a matter of time now before HD-DVD starts dropping off :(
Quote from: Clockd 0NeGreat, theyre backing regionlocked-ray. I suppose its only a matter of time now before HD-DVD starts dropping off :(
Im glad, simply because it gives me an excuse to get a PS3
Im waiting to see what Toshiba, Universal, Paramount and Microsoft do now. What they need at this point is to sway someone like Disney to switch sides, otherwise its not looking good. However, Ill continue to buy HD-DVDs as long as they are being made and wont be buying into Blu-ray until HD-DVD is completely dead and buried and Blu-ray players are at a finalised spec and a decent price.
Whatever format the adult industry chooses will be a big xxx-factor.....
Quote from: FaT LeoNWhatever format the adult industry chooses will be a big xxx-factor.....
doubt it this time. The real porn-heads are buying computers and just streaming it down.
Quote from: FaT LeoNWhatever format the adult industry chooses will be a big xxx-factor.....
porn industry are ahead of the times & just offer films through the tinternet
This is very true technology has come along way since the vhs vs betamax war that the porn industry influenced well good luck to sony if they choose to boycott the adult industry...... but i think it wouldnt hurt? to have them on your side..... its going to happen, it will happen, even if people download there porn there is a market there.....
format war, or damp squib?
Physical media is dying a death. I dont see the point to a format war when there will be no physical media in 3-5 yrs.
My parents wont have the interent in 5 years, or 50. Therefore to buy a film they have to buy it on physical media. Not everyone has the internet, or even a computer!
15 years ago virtually no-one had a mobile. video calls were something out of star trek.
Delivery doesnt have to be via computer or the internet, therell be advances in VOD to take care of that.
in all honesty - start streaming me 1080p/60 and Ill pay a stupidly high premium and think a lot of others would too.
These discs are lovely but HDs got to be close to being a streaming format in the nxt year or two, so which kind of cd it comes on will become redundant fast.
Quote from: SteveFin all honesty - start streaming me 1080p/60 and Ill pay a stupidly high premium and think a lot of others would too.
These discs are lovely but HDs got to be close to being a streaming format in the nxt year or two, so which kind of cd it comes on will become redundant fast.
Its expensive for the kit just to stream it around your house.
It is now. It wont be very soon. Compact flash 4GB cost around £3-4000 (Yes, thousand) when it came out, how much is it now!
Quote from: MarkIt is now. It wont be very soon. Compact flash 4GB cost around £3-4000 (Yes, thousand) when it came out, how much is it now!
when did it come out? I paid £120 for a 4gb CF 4 years ago :lol:
ATM theres a huge bandwidth problem.. BBC nearly scraped their HD channel because of it... but TBH, the only things Id want in HD is my Sport & My Movies.
After talking to some cable guys I was told that bandwidth is a major problem becuase of analog signals, 80% of the cable is taken by analog so soon as they is turned off there will be alot more to play with.
As said above I believe VOD will be the future.
Turn off the analogue signals and switch to digital. Theres many transmission formats floating around the world that are more than capable of doing it. Theres countries with HD being streamed to every cab in the cities using mobile transmission standards.
Right now, MPEG2 techniques actually scales better than all the H264 codecs anyway. The problem isnt that new kit cant do it easily its all backwards compatability issues. The web can stream at whatever they like tbh. It doesnt even have to be live streaming as they can buffer it up. The UKs satellite systems need a bit of a capacity overhaul anyway.
n the wake of the recent announcement of Warner Bros new allegiance to the Blu-ray format (and, as result, sister company New Line Cinemas similarly adopted format loyalty), the HD DVD group has canceled their pre-Consumer Electronics Show press conference. Were not sure if the announcement will impact the HD DVD Promotion Groups booth at the show, though we imagine it will create an atmosphere for their visitors with a level of awkwardness similar to that of a nursing home.
In a mass email to CES attendees, a representative for the group said they are "currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps." If these "next steps" dont include lining the pockets of every remaining film publisher on the market to convince them your formats still viable, HD DVD could go the way of the Betamax with a quickness.
Rumours are that Warner were going to move to HD-DVD only, but only if another unnamed studio did the same. The other studio got cold feet which forced Warner to make the only sensible decision they could, go blue. It may have been a deliberate play by the bluray group to force Warner to decide.
TBH, bluray sales in all regions other than the US dominates those of HD-DVD. In the US its much closer but Bluray still sells more.
The only thing to lose out here are the consumer.
Oh, the HD-DVD presentation hasnt been cancelled. Merely postponed. As good as cancelled though :)
Quote from: Deaths HeadTBH, bluray sales in all regions other than the US dominates those of HD-DVD. In the US its much closer but Bluray still sells more.
Thats a very bold claim lol
Lets hope this either spurs the multi format readers or kills HD DVD off. The formats make almost no difference so just standardize ffs. FYI I think they picked the weaker format for the customer for the closed format they could slow piracy on.
Blu-Ray will win outright no doubt now, in a couple of years players will become more inexpensive, but TBH this is all still the realm of the tech-savvy. The guy in the street doesnt give a monkeys about high-def and who is winning, let alone how they will get their films. It will five years before DVDs drop off, and a LOT longer before all the dreamers get their realised streaming video - thats the tech geeks wet dream :lol:
The average consumer still wants the physical article and wont see a reason to upgrade to HD for a long time. Everyone wont suddenly start to download each other films for Christmas when they can buy the [HD]DVD. Its the same reason we still have CDs making money for record companies.
While people are willing to cough up the money for a HD set they arent willing to buy the player to go with it. Many just arent interested in higher resolution while others just cant decide which is the format to go for, so they choose neither.
TBH far too many were stung, or know people who got stung, back in the VHS vs Betamax days.
Its going to take some time for DVD movies to die.
5 years is way off. Give it 2 years before most channels have a HD equivalent streaming over satellite, or cable. A couple more till set top boxes over copper dominate the market. Streaming to a PVR isnt a geeks wet dream its simply how HD content will be distributed. People are so used to digital boxes that they wont even notice the change happening to HD streams.
Most content is streamed even today and fixed media is a tiny percent of a typical viewers week
Sorry Steve, I should have been more clear I was talking in terms of big studio film releases rather than the usual TV fare. I agree with you for terrestrial HD, yes. If/when Sky drops the £10 fee for HD it will really gain momentum.
These ideas that all disc formats will die off are laughable though, it just wont happen, not for a long time.
the "problem" with Blu-Ray is that you have to remember it has the ability to be physically locked to a player if they want to. Sony havent turned it on yet, but if they can get away with it they will. If HD-DVD is killed off then you lose the unlocked format.
Quote from: Beakerthe "problem" with Blu-Ray is that you have to remember it has the ability to be physically locked to a player if they want to. Sony havent turned it on yet, but if they can get away with it they will. If HD-DVD is killed off then you lose the unlocked format.
Exactly - Bluray is a closed format and theres some nasty things in it. Dont expect any software players or plugins for winamp and the other players anytime soon unless theyre willing to drop a big chunk of change each year to rent the specs book on 12 month loans.
Quote from: Clockd 0NeIf/when Sky drops the £10 fee for HD it will really gain momentum.
I hope they will they are rich enough.....
Sony never want certain films on their formats they think are to graphic etc, porn wont be on it and there has been a lot of moans about some of the features on blu ray and there is still this strange thing of so many of the movies on the format not using hardly any of the abilities the format has while hd-dvd many seem to be packed.
For me it still seems odd what it is going on and all the decisions being made on what format to go for seems all down to businesses deals and money backing going on
While blu ray is actually better in a number of areas I still go on the fact hd-dvd has the better name and currently people putting movies on it seem to be doing a better job
Parents asked me which to get, as they were considering a 360 + HDDVD drive for the new TV. I told them to wait.
Looks like best plan would be to tell them to pick up a PS3, cheap bluray player.
ms with the xbox can always just release a blu ray box as well for £150 so safe their but I think they should just go for it and risk it and go put hd dvd as standard in the console. I think if they went for it from day one things could have been a different story But its all about money and deals at the moment.
I think since they cancelled all shows and interviews at this years show I think they are in deep talks about what to do next. I cant see hd-dvd dropping out but This recent blow has been a bit of a shock and they looking at what to do and talking to folk etc.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/07/def-war
and now Paramount has abandoned ship to join Blu-Ray
Thats me sold.. where the cheapest PS3
Quote from: Eggtasticoand now Paramount has abandoned ship to join Blu-Ray
Thats me sold.. where the cheapest PS3
Paramount have not jumped ship. They announced yesterday that they were still supporting HD-DVD and anything you have read about them going Blu is a rumour.
They have a contract to stick with HD-DVD for at least another year and the rumour is that there is some kind of getout clause in it. However as Paramount have said they are sticking with HD-DVD youll have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks.
shame - I had high hopes for HD DVD....
Patch Vista to block bluray ever working with, release cheap internal HD DVD recordables for PCs. That would swing things! :D
Quote from: SteveFQuote from: Deaths HeadTBH, bluray sales in all regions other than the US dominates those of HD-DVD. In the US its much closer but Bluray still sells more.
Thats a very bold claim lol
The claim was too bold as the BDA themselves said at their CES press conference that:
Globally, Blu-ray took 66% disc sales, and 65% of hardware (including PS3)That shows that they are not selling nearly as well in other countries as Blu-ray fans would have you believe.
65% of hardware sales is very poor as it includes the PS3 in that number.
Paramount Denies Report It Will Drop Toshibas HD DVD (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aQMGgh2LV_bU&refer=japan)
The Paramount dropping HD-DVD rumour has now been squashed.
I bet my left nut that mallrat has a hd-dvd player of somedort :mutley:
Indeed I do, but alls I am doing is trying to keep people from spreading false information.
There are some key bits to go, what apple announce they will put in their macs be it blu ray or hd dvd and when or if MS announce hddvd as standard as the drive in the 360
Time for Microsoft to befriend apple again and try and get them to go HD-DVD :)
Quote from: DoomsTime for Microsoft to befriend apple again and try and get them to go HD-DVD :)
There has been chat about it
There are no sony people booked in to appear when Big Steve does his chat but there are 2 MS guys, people say office for mac which is true but people speculating about hd dvd
Depends how has one the chats with the apple people and waved the big buks
this is a nice comment:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10485921
As I said the war over the formats is being thought out by companies and not consumers at the moment and it should be the consumer who chooses and indications to that effect would lead to hd dvd over blu ray And as the guy said HD-DVD won then blu ray a few times
Quote from: Clockd 0NeSorry Steve, I should have been more clear I was talking in terms of big studio film releases rather than the usual TV fare. I agree with you for terrestrial HD, yes. If/when Sky drops the £10 fee for HD it will really gain momentum.
These ideas that all disc formats will die off are laughable though, it just wont happen, not for a long time.
I wouldnt mind the £10 fee, I wish they would drop the stb price :(
My Predictions.
HD-DVD to still be selling in a few months time.
BR/HD-DVD combi drives for PC to be £50 by the end of the year.
VHS to be erased from all of histories records and minds erased.
TBH I think youll see HD-DVD media sales nose dive now since people dont have faith in the format.
The thing is I have a PS3 at the moment but want to get hold of films like Bourne Ultimatum which is currently only on HD-DVD. I find that rather frustrating.
Quote from: TheMallratIndeed I do, but alls I am doing is trying to keep people from spreading false information.
I have a HD-DVD player too but essentially the HD-DVD format just died.
If they hadnt theyd be all over CES right now (since theyre sponsoring it). The silence is deafening.
I think shock more then anything its been all swings and roundabouts with the formats and this decision I think was a shock and on a deal on the hush hush because they been reporting good US hd player sales compared to blu ray and MS was very much ni on certain to have hd as standard in the 360 soon
Quote from: SteveFQuote from: TheMallratIndeed I do, but alls I am doing is trying to keep people from spreading false information.
I have a HD-DVD player too but essentially the HD-DVD format just died.
If they hadnt theyd be all over CES right now (since theyre sponsoring it). The silence is deafening.
I think the reason they havent anounced anything at CES is simply because its been less than a week since Warners anouncement and the HD-DVD group have got to work out a plan that can keep them going.
Quote from: Deaths HeadTBH I think youll see HD-DVD media sales nose dive now since people dont have faith in the format.
Im not so sure on that as Toshibas HD-DVD players are still selling stronger than Blu-ray players on
Amazon.com and with hardware sales, youre obviously gonna see software sales too.
When it becomes mass-market rather than enthusiast and technophile territory youll see which wins. At the moment i, and many others are sitting firmly on the fence to see which way the consumer jumps. BR is technically superior, but HD-DVD has no DRM, and its region free. I know which I prefer.
Quote from: TheMallratQuote from: Deaths HeadTBH I think youll see HD-DVD media sales nose dive now since people dont have faith in the format.
Im not so sure on that as Toshibas HD-DVD players are still selling stronger than Blu-ray players on Amazon.com and with hardware sales, youre obviously gonna see software sales too.
and that has nothing to do with the amazon 2 for 1 on hd-dvd movies then?
Figures aint out to reflect that sale yet, but Blu-Ray is still outselling hd-dvd by a ratio of 1.5:1
and a large chunk of those hd figures was for bourne.. which outsold the nearest blu disc by 2:1
instead of flogging a dead horse, sell up & get a PS 3 :-D
Why would I buy a £300 game system with only 1 or 2 good games on it?
Plus, the HD-DVD players have been in the top 10 for DVD players on Amazon since long before the 2 for 1 sale. HD-DVD ran 2 weeks of 2 for 1 and Blu-ray have been running 2 for 1 sales for the last 2 months. With the amount of players they have out there, shouldnt 2 months of 2 for 1 sales have gotten Blu-ray way above 1.5:1.
This is the thing and hopefully the hd-dvd group stick to and point out to the companies
Right now it is buisiness and money deciding things at the moment and it actually boils down to consumer level and mass consumer level
As has been said, region free, cheaper players, cheaper discs, movies on these discs seem to have been fleshed out more then blu ray(Since this has more capacity and potential etc and just not used) and I think for me region free is a big and nice thing and as has said before joe blogs will know what hd-dvd is.
But if hardware people just go and make players that can play both on mass it wont be to bad which wins
I just do not like the fact the "war" is not being decided by the consumers
Quote from: TheMallratWhy would I buy a £300 game system with only 1 or 2 good games on it?
Plus, the HD-DVD players have been in the top 10 for DVD players on Amazon since long before the 2 for 1 sale. HD-DVD ran 2 weeks of 2 for 1 and Blu-ray have been running 2 for 1 sales for the last 2 months. With the amount of players they have out there, shouldnt 2 months of 2 for 1 sales have gotten Blu-ray way above 1.5:1.
Because you get the market leader in a blu-ray player + the added bonus of a home entertainment centre.
Id rather spend £300 on a PS3 than £200 on a player.
Universal will soon shift sides & that will be that. Every Major player would be behind blu-ray & its the Region Encoding which is the key factor.
Roll on Blu-Ray & roll on my savings kitty for a PS3
Universal have just anounced their commitment to the HD-DVD format, they aint going anywhere soon.
Quote"Contrary to unsubstantiated rumors from unnamed sources, Universals current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format,"
Plans can change as soon as you find the Escape button. Some people are reading into Universal not announcing any titles at CES this year, forgetting they didnt release any details at last years CES. Ive read quite a few posts by people regretting their HD-DVD holiday purchase because they now lack faith in the format. Would you buy new films for a format that you think isnt going to get any new titles in 12 months time? Alot of people arent even if you do. It will be a good time for bargains as places dump their stock.
Spielberg is a big supporter of Bluray which means his films will only appear on that format. Here (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Steven_Spielberg/Industry_Forecasts/Exclusive:_Spielberg_Big_Supporter_of_Blu-ray,_But_Future_High-Def_Releases_Uncertain/878). Interesting to note is the bit about Paramount/Dreamworks announcing their exclusivity to HD-DVD but excludes Spielbergs films from the deal. I am aware that Band of Brothers got released on HD-DVD over in Japan.
Quote from: Deaths HeadSpielberg is a big supporter of Bluray which means his films will only appear on that format. Here. Interesting to note is the bit about Paramount/Dreamworks announcing their exclusivity to HD-DVD but excludes Spielbergs films from the deal. I am aware that Band of Brothers got released on HD-DVD over in Japan.
yet transformers of which he had a big hand in it is on hd-dvd and I swear I saw A.I on hd-dvd format when I picked up bladerunner in the airport shop flying out to NZ
Quote from: TheMallratUniversal have just anounced their commitment to the HD-DVD format, they aint going anywhere soon.
not exactly the case
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6184567.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=newstop&tag=newstop;title;2They will continue but they basically made sure they can change or go with both if need be, making sure they are covered, It is more of a downer on the hd-dvd format rather then an ok one
Sorry if this has been posted already, couldnt see anything about it, obviously no suprise seeing as Warners the parent company.
QuoteAs we continue to monitor the HD DVD and Blu-ray drama, today both HBO and New Line Cinema announced that theyre leaving HD DVD behind and going exclusively Blu. The news shouldnt come as a shock to anyone though, seeing that both HBO and New Lines parent company is Warner, who made the Blu-ray jump last week. So, this means that starting now and through the foreseeable future, all HBO television shows as well as New Line releases will only come out on Blu-ray. We guess no more Sopranos HD DVDs for us.
http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/01/10/hbo-and-new-line-follow-warner-into-the-blu/
Im still hoping HD will come through some how.
Quote from: CodedSorry if this has been posted already, couldnt see anything about it, obviously no suprise seeing as Warners the parent company.
QuoteAs we continue to monitor the HD DVD and Blu-ray drama, today both HBO and New Line Cinema announced that theyre leaving HD DVD behind and going exclusively Blu. The news shouldnt come as a shock to anyone though, seeing that both HBO and New Lines parent company is Warner, who made the Blu-ray jump last week. So, this means that starting now and through the foreseeable future, all HBO television shows as well as New Line releases will only come out on Blu-ray. We guess no more Sopranos HD DVDs for us.
http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/01/10/hbo-and-new-line-follow-warner-into-the-blu/
Im still hoping HD will come through some how.
newl line was annonunced same time as Warner as they are its sister company
Quote from: neXusQuote from: Deaths HeadSpielberg is a big supporter of Bluray which means his films will only appear on that format. Here. Interesting to note is the bit about Paramount/Dreamworks announcing their exclusivity to HD-DVD but excludes Spielbergs films from the deal. I am aware that Band of Brothers got released on HD-DVD over in Japan.
yet transformers of which he had a big hand in it is on hd-dvd and I swear I saw A.I on hd-dvd format when I picked up bladerunner in the airport shop flying out to NZ
He only produced transformers. He didnt direct it. Look at the directors protests and rants when he realised it was hd-dvd only, friends of his had told him bluray was the better format. I wonder who one of those friends may be...
I think you may be mistaken about A.I. its only ever been released on dvd as far as I could see searching google.
Ive also jusrt got Bladerunner on hd-dvd, the 5 disc US version :) Supposed to look great.
roll on dual format players imo. format wars are so 80s.
Quote from: redroll on dual format players imo. format wars are so last year.
Better. ;)
Quote from: EggtasticoUniversal will soon shift sides & that will be that. Every Major player would be behind blu-ray & its the Region Encoding which is the key factor.
Credit where credits due ...
QuoteDaily Variety has confirmed that Universals commitment to backing HD DVD exclusively has ended. And Paramount has an escape clause in its HD DVD contract allowing it to release pics on Blu-ray after Warner Bros. decision to back that format exclusively.
Source
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/11/ritek-hybrid-bd-hd-dvd-disks
Quote from: neXushttp://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/11/ritek-hybrid-bd-hd-dvd-disks
a manufacturers nightmare no doubt. Can you imagine the hassle of pressing releases?
Quote from: EggtasticoQuote from: neXushttp://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/11/ritek-hybrid-bd-hd-dvd-disks
a manufacturers nightmare no doubt. Can you imagine the hassle of pressing releases?
Well it was announced in development and posted on the forums last year and in those articles the hardware companies were dead keen and the pc burners would be good with this and already in development for this and being able to burn both formats as well
Quote from: neXusQuote from: EggtasticoQuote from: neXushttp://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/11/ritek-hybrid-bd-hd-dvd-disks
a manufacturers nightmare no doubt. Can you imagine the hassle of pressing releases?
Well it was announced in development and posted on the forums last year and in those articles the hardware companies were dead keen and the pc burners would be good with this and already in development for this and being able to burn both formats as well
yea, but hardware companies dont do the printing.
As a business, your manufacturing costs double straight away.. no need for 2x formats. Blu-Ray is far superior. Its only downside is the region lock - which will what ulitmately swing everything... that and brown envelopes under the table.
How many times have sony tried to push their technology & suceeded? lost out with betamax, minidisc thing got nowhere, same as their memory card.