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

[RoboDad]

This will help some of the public decide to enter the high def world, but three of the Top 10 movies of 2007 are still not available on Blu-ray, and as long as a supposedly winning format still doesn't play all the movies, many people will still wait on the sidelines. The Blu-ray camp is going to be trumpeting the end of the war, and when people show up at Best Buy to purchase the Bourne movies or Shrek or Transformers, they will be going home empty handed.

The Warner announcement hastens the end of the format war--even assures (possibly for the first time) that there will indeed be an end--but it's not really going to be over until one format is left standing with 100% studio support, and we're not there yet.

Today they would be going home empty-handed. But I don't think anyone is trying to say that HD DVD is "dead" in the sense that Blu-ray has it all right now. I think what people are excited about (and it isn't just the Blu-ray camp, since I was never part of that camp) is the fact that this is a bellwether, a significant turning point, and a definite signal that the war IS ending.

So, don't go to Best Buy today looking for Shrek on Blu-ray. But when next Christmas rolls around, I would bet with a high degree of confidence that you will be able to walk into a typical retailer and pick up Cloverfield, Iron Man, and maybe even Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on Blu-ray.

 

[The ill Jedi]

...don't go to Best Buy today looking for Shrek on Blu-ray. But when next Christmas rolls around, I would bet with a high degree of confidence that you will be able to walk into a typical retailer and pick up Cloverfield, Iron Man, and maybe even Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on Blu-ray.

I just got the chills buddy, I'm making room on my BD rack for those right now!!

 

[tomandshell]

I think that Spielberg will possibly even allow a whole Indy 4-pack on Blu-ray to make a big splash this Christmas. His films were not part of the exclusivity agreement anyway. CEOTTK was his first step into high def and it only happened because of the concurrent standard def release. Indy seems to be the next logical step for him. I will certainly be first in line to get my copy if it happens.

I have been format neutral for over a year, so I was covered no matter how the war turned out. But I think that for Blu-ray to really take off with the public, HD DVD will have to completely die out, and Universal/Paramount/Dreamworks will need to go Blu. And that will take a while--Toshiba isn't going to give up yet and that means no unified format in 2008.

But an end is now actually in sight, and it is conceivable that little more than a year from now we will be in a position where Blu-ray is the only choice, and fence-sitters will be safe to get on board. However, I still think that it will already be too late for mass adoption to ever happen. (The BR folks actually seemed to think that they were going to replace DVD and that's just wishful thinking.)

But a unified format will be the best thing long term, and that's what Warner understood. By dumping HD DVD, they just lost 25-30% of their total high def sales initially--but if the switch pushes for an end to the war that will get enough reluctant observers to buy in, then the strategy will pay off in the long run.

 

[Ultimate Weapon]

Frankly I couldn't care less which format won/wins the war, as long as one clear choice exists in the end. I haven't bought into either side, but in following developments over the past year my bet was on Blu-ray by the numbers.

So with that in mind, for those of you claiming that if only blu-ray exists there will be no incentive to lower player costs and that everyone will be at the mercy of Sony, do you really think in all seriousness that's true, or are you simply falling towards a knee-jerk conspiracy theory?

Already Blu-ray players are hitting the just under $300 mark in less than two years. Is it simply because no Blu-ray players have been fire-sold at Walmarts for $99 that you think you'll never see an inexpensive player?

All formats drop in price as they become more widely adopted. The more people buy them, the more the price drops; same as it ever was.

The format war wasn't good for anyone, even standard DVD's. In case you haven't been following sales of standard DVD's have been falling as people conceivably are waiting on high-def releases instead; I know I am. The sooner it's over the better because then we can all enjoy the films we love in the best possible presentation.

 

[darth dypshyt]

Actually, the latest buzz is that they won't be staying HD DVD exclusive (and BTW, it's Toshiba that is out the fortune ).

Oh, right...sorry, I thought that I had read an article somewhere on-line...it may have been the digitalbits site, where they stated that even microsoft was pouring $$$ into the HD-DVD camp to keep them going, which I am sure that if that was/is the case..alot of that $$$ probably would've been involved in the Paramount deal...But, Unless someone on this board is a board member at Paramount, Microsoft or Toshiba...It's all ..."I just heard.." or "I just read...". What money, whose money...where it's going....What deal was made, under what terms/conditions...

I think the bottom line is that if Paramount CAN get out now....They will.

 

[Jase]

I haven't paid any attention to either format as I've been waiting for one to become the standard before I invested a cent. So, I know very little about them. Can BR players play standard DVDs as well? I was going to buy a new DVD player but don't want to waste the $ if these new players will work.

 

[user 122]

Yes both formats are backwards compatible and do HD up-conversion through HDMI if your TV has the connection.

I haven't paid any attention to either format as I've been waiting for one to become the standard before I invested a cent. So, I know very little about them. Can BR players play standard DVDs as well? I was going to buy a new DVD player but don't want to waste the $ if these new players will work.

 

[tomandshell]

I haven't paid any attention to either format as I've been waiting for one to become the standard before I invested a cent. So, I know very little about them. Can BR players play standard DVDs as well? I was going to buy a new DVD player but don't want to waste the $ if these new players will work.

Yes, they will play regular DVDs. No worries there.

 

[Jen]

Not sure if this has been posted yet but LG has a new system out called Super Blu that plays both blu-ray and HD-DVD. Probably hella expensive...but the systems are out there for someone only wanting one player.

 

[RoboDad]

It is actually VERY expensive. Anyone considering it would do much better (both financially and in terms of player quality) to buy separate HD DVD and Blu-ray players. The only reasons to buy the LG are lack of space/connections for two players, and wanting to be one of the few who can claim to play both formats in one player. Other than that, it just doesn't make much sense.

 

[Jen]

It is actually VERY expensive. Anyone considering it would do much better (both financially and in terms of player quality) to buy separate HD DVD and Blu-ray players. The only reasons to buy the LG are lack of space/connections for two players, and wanting to be one of the few who can claim to play both formats in one player. Other than that, it just doesn't make much sense.

I haven't checked the prices...just saw an ad for one in a magazine, but figured since it was LG it would probably cost a pretty penny. My boss has their HD-TVs and I almost threw up when I saw how much she paid for them.

 

[pordey2]

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.

I know, but I don't really want to buy a PS3, or anything else Sony right now. But up here, HDVD-players were really hard to come by just three months ago, now we got several pretty cheap ones. I guess the BDVD players are just around the corner.

 

[Agent23]

New Line is exclusive to Blu-ray now as well.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=808

LotR in HD on Blu-ray....hopefully soon.

:chew

 

[darthviper107]

New Line is exclusive to Blu-ray now as well.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=808

LotR in HD on Blu-ray....hopefully soon.

:chew

I thought New Line was already Blu-Ray exclusive?

It doesn't make much difference though, LOTR was always a unique property that could have possibly gone either/both ways, but with the dominance of Blu-Ray now I would hope for a good LOTR release by the end of the year. Star Wars will probably be next year.

 

[tomandshell]

New Line technically supported both formats, but only started releasing titles this fall. Pan's Labyrinth was the first HD DVD from them, I believe. Their new releases were available immediately on Blu-ray and the HD DVD version was to follow after a set amount of time because of the lack of region coding (meaning the discs can play in other countries where the film might still be playing in theaters). However, HD DVD versions of Hairspray and Rush Hour 3 have yet to be announced, and it this point might never happen. So New Line will likely be leaving the HD DVD format after only actually releasing a very small handful of titles.

 

[IrishJedi]

New Line is a Warner Bros label.

 

[RoboDad]

New Line is a Warner Bros label.

Technically they aren't (although, for many purposes they might as well be). But they are a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc, as are Warner Bros and HBO Video, and Time Warner wants to keep all their eggs in one basket.

 

[UTtoyfan]

Just FYI: I just looked in this week's Toys R Us ad and the have Buy 1 Get 1 free on select Blu-Ray DVDs. These are:

Open Season
Bridge to Terabithia
Casino Royale
Pirates of the Caribbean: dead Man's Chest
Meet the Robinsons
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
High School Musical 2
Catrs
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Ratatouille

I guess I'll start my new Blu-Ray collection with some Pirates and a secret agent.

 

[Darth Loki]

New Line is exclusive to Blu-ray now as well.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=808

LotR in HD on Blu-ray....hopefully soon.

:chew

I could honestly not care which format in came out in, but it is by far my most anticipated HD/BR release.

I only hope they completely forgo the theatrical release and just give us the extended versions. I mean, with how much storage is on a BR disk, shouldn't both versions fit on one disk?

 

[SSC_Nerd]

I could honestly not care which format in came out in, but it is by far my most anticipated HD/BR release.

I only hope they completely forgo the theatrical release and just give us the extended versions. I mean, with how much storage is on a BR disk, shouldn't both versions fit on one disk?

WHA?!?!?! Give us the versions we want right away? As sad as it is, I doubt this. LOTR in HD is certainly something we can be milked for.