Warner Bros to back Blu-ray exclusively!!!!!!

[Bullseye]

Competition is what forced the price drops in the first place. I don't see Blu Ray players getting a whole lot cheaper than they are now for a long time. It is also what forced the good deals on movies even though it may not have been "good" for the consumers to have different formats it is what helped drive prices down faster.

There will be a cheap Chinese BD player announced at CES. Player prices will be down significantly by the summer of 08. You can bet on that. They are already hovering around the $300 and just below.

 

[The Chaver]

Here's what Michael Bay had to say on his website yesterday: "What you don't understand is corporate politics. Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."

 

[RoboDad]

And let's not forget, even though this announcement IS a deathblow for HD DVD, that format isn't going to disappear from store shelves tomorrow, or even anytime within the next 8-12 months. For a few months at least, Universal and Paramount will continue to support the format, and players will continue to be available. The Blu-ray player manufacturers (which is more than just Sony, BTW) will want to squash that presence.

 

[Bullseye]

Unfortunately, they can't. They signed an 18 month deal with the HD DVD group to release exclusively on that format. In order to release now on Blu-ray, they'll have to find a loophole in the contract that lets them out of it.

You can be sure there will be one. Its called Toshiba releasing a BD player.

 

[Bullseye]

Here's what Michael Bay had to say on his website yesterday: "What you don't understand is corporate politics. Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."

He has been saying that for some time now, actually since Paramount went HD-DVD exclusive. I guess we will be seeing Transformers on BD very soon now.

 

[The Chaver]

He has been saying that for some time now, actually since Paramount went HD-DVD exclusive. I guess we will be seeing Transformers on BD very soon now.

Yes he has,that was just a quote I got off his website

 

[WetaWork]

Glad to see the war will be over...

 

[darthviper107]

Nevermind, it's confirmed, the CEO of Warner announced it. They will be continuing their HD-DVD releases until May and then after that it will be Blu-Ray exclusive.

Although I have to say it's kind of lame, they were obviously paid off for it, but they act like they chose Blu-Ray because it's superior or the consumers like it more, which isn't completely true (advantages on both sides of the formats).

After they stop making the HD-DVD releases then I'll get a PS3, damn you Sony, I still hate you.

 

[darthviper107]

This could mean some good things though. I don't think Universal has any exclusivity agreement so maybe they will start to release their early HD-DVD releases on Blu-Ray with added features. I'd love to see a super-special edition of Serenity.

 

[RoboDad]

Although I have to say it's kind of lame, they were obviously paid off for it, but they act like they chose Blu-Ray because it's superior or the consumers like it more, which isn't completely true (advantages on both sides of the formats).

After they stop making the HD-DVD releases then I'll get a PS3, damn you Sony, I still hate you.

Both formats do have technological advantages and disadvantages, so in that regard they are (mostly) equal, but it is clear that consumers have been favoring Blu-ray. Sales of Blu-ray discs have outdistanced HD DVD by almost 2-to-1 over the past year.

And you really need to separate your hatred of Sony from the format war. Sony is not synonymous with Blu-ray. They aren't the sole owner of the format. In many key areas, Panasonic/Matsu****a is as big (if not bigger) than Sony in the Blu-ray world. If you hate Sony, don't buy a Sony player. Buy a Panasonic or a Samsung, or one of the other brands available.

[Edit] Hmmm.... I guess I can't mention the name of Panasonic's parent company...

 

[Ultimate Weapon]

Here's some other info from CES supporting the fact that Blu-ray outsells HDDVD as reported by thedigitalbits.com:

In other news today, our industry sources are telling us that for the 52nd week in a row, Blu-ray Disc software has outsold HD-DVD software. For the last week of 2007, the margin was reportedly 61 to 39 according to Neilsen/VideoScan. This means Blu-ray software sales have outpaced those of HD-DVD for the entire calendar year of 2007, with no signs of slowing down.

We're also hearing today that stand-alone Blu-ray Disc hardware is now outselling stand-alone HD-DVD players, on the strength of the recent price drops by Sony and Samsung, as well as the introduction of Panasonic's new BD-30 profile 1.1 player. You can expect to hear more on all this, as well as word of strong sales of Sony's PS3 in November and December, at CES on Sunday and Monday.

---

Between the sales numbers and Warner's announcement this format war should finally be coming to a close.

 

[Darklord Dave]

It's because there are more and better movies out on BR that the sales are higher.

I prefer HD because the PS3 is so difficult to use as a BR player so when there's a choice I've been getting HD. Guess I'll be re-buying the Harry Potter set after the 7th film.

 

[RoboDad]

Difficult to use? I've never had a single problem. If anything, it is no different than using a standalone player from my experience.

 

[scubasteve]

This is wonderful news. Saves me having to purchase an HD player to watch TDK. :chew

Hope to see Begins on blu-ray eventually, too, along with all the other great WB movies.

 

[bagelsncheesey]

It's because there are more and better movies out on BR that the sales are higher.

I prefer HD because the PS3 is so difficult to use as a BR player so when there's a choice I've been getting HD. Guess I'll be re-buying the Harry Potter set after the 7th film.

Get a remote... it's easy.

 

[Bullseye]

It's because there are more and better movies out on BR that the sales are higher.

I prefer HD because the PS3 is so difficult to use as a BR player so when there's a choice I've been getting HD. Guess I'll be re-buying the Harry Potter set after the 7th film.

How in Gods name is the PS3 difficult to use as a BD player?? There is a dedicated remote control. As soon as you pop the BD in it automatically plays.

 

[Bullseye]

I don't have any clue to what to get. I was so close to buy a HD-DVD standalone player today. There isn't really any Blu-ray players around, except the PS3

In Europe players are hard to come by but the PS3 is excellent and relatively cheap.

I'm importing the Panasonic BD-30 for region A movies.

 

[Agent23]

Blu-ray.

 

[King Darkness]

My tummy feels all warm inside

BD

What great news!!!!!!!

 

[IrishJedi]

Indeed, this has to be a killing blow to HD DVD.

I wonder if Toshiba will relent and come out with a cost-effective dual format player. That would be the perfect bow for HD DVD.

In the meantime, I remain glad I have both.