Warner just went Blu-ray exclusive

Boyd Ostroff · January 7th, 2008, 07:48 PM

From today's Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1199...ub_marketplace

Quote:

Many analysts believe that Sony's insistence on putting Blu-ray on its PlayStation 3 players gave it just enough extra consumers to help tilt next-generation DVD sales toward Blu-ray. Paul Erickson, analyst at the NPD Group's DisplaySearch research firm, calls it the "X factor" that "saved their Blu-ray fortunes." If Toshiba had underwritten the cost of putting HD DVD onto the rival Xbox 360 from Microsoft Corp., the reasoning goes, the battle might have swung another way.

Andy Wilkinson · January 8th, 2008, 06:21 AM

Rumours posted on engadget (citing UK's FT as the source) say that Paramount is also preparing to go Blue Ray only....another nail in the coffin of HD DVD?

Edit: Found the article link

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc409afa-b...nclick_check=1

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle3153038.ece

Larry Price · January 8th, 2008, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Wilkinson

Rumours posted on engadget (citing UK's FT as the source) say that Paramount is also preparing to go Blue Ray only....another nail in the coffin of HD DVD?

Paramount has officially denied those rumors. But then, I'd expect nothing less at this stage. Undoubtedly, Paramount and NBC/Universal have warehouses full of discs they'd like to unload before officially pulling the plug. I'd guess that they'd quietly end production of new discs when production contracts expire, sell off what they have, and then announce a format switch. I'd even go so far as to predict that this would all happen before the end of the year, possibly by summer, but then, that's pure speculation on my part. I have no inside information.

Jon Fairhurst · January 8th, 2008, 11:20 PM

I spoke with Toshiba's HD DVD guy today and asked him if they had an "official statement." He responded that Toshiba is 100% behind the format, and that the other players (Microsoft, the HD DVD studios, etc) were preparing to also give 100% support. No surprises there.

The HD DVD group had canceled their event this weekend simply because they didn't have enough time to coordinate a group response.

In other words, no new news from the HD DVD camp.

Heath McKnight · January 8th, 2008, 11:35 PM

Blu-Ray was packed Monday, not so with HD DVD. They had HD DVD players with movies at the NBC Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft events, here at CES.

heath

Dave Campbell · January 9th, 2008, 09:36 AM

When will these greedy folks learn. It is better to have one larger pie, and lots get a big slice, than two tiny pies.

Dave

Bill Koehler · January 13th, 2008, 12:17 AM

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=10240

Heath McKnight · January 13th, 2008, 10:25 AM

Rumors abound at Variety that Universal is backing Blu-Ray either exclusively or doing both. But they updated it and said Universal has a deal for at least a few more months.

But I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the year, or at least the summer (when WB will cease HD DVD releases), that Universal makes a decision.

heath

Larry Price · January 14th, 2008, 04:59 AM

I'm sure they'll switch eventually. Looking forward to Galactica in Blu-ray!

January 8th, 2008, 06:21 AM	#32
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Paramount also dumping HD DVD Format? Rumours posted on engadget (citing UK's FT as the source) say that Paramount is also preparing to go Blue Ray only....another nail in the coffin of HD DVD? Edit: Found the article link http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc409afa-b...nclick_check=1 http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle3153038.ece __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production Last edited by Andy Wilkinson; January 8th, 2008 at 09:11 AM. Reason: adding FT link to story

January 8th, 2008, 11:20 PM	#34
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I spoke with Toshiba's HD DVD guy today and asked him if they had an "official statement." He responded that Toshiba is 100% behind the format, and that the other players (Microsoft, the HD DVD studios, etc) were preparing to also give 100% support. No surprises there. The HD DVD group had canceled their event this weekend simply because they didn't have enough time to coordinate a group response. In other words, no new news from the HD DVD camp. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

January 8th, 2008, 11:35 PM	#35
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Blu-Ray was packed Monday, not so with HD DVD. They had HD DVD players with movies at the NBC Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft events, here at CES. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 13th, 2008, 12:17 AM	#37
Bill Koehler Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA Posts: 760	HBO, BBC also on Blu-ray Disc's side http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=10240

January 13th, 2008, 10:25 AM	#38
Heath McKnight MPS Digital Studios Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Posts: 8,531	Rumors abound at Variety that Universal is backing Blu-Ray either exclusively or doing both. But they updated it and said Universal has a deal for at least a few more months. But I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the year, or at least the summer (when WB will cease HD DVD releases), that Universal makes a decision. heath __________________ My Final Cut Pro X blog

January 9th, 2008, 09:36 AM	#36
Dave Campbell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 568	When will these greedy folks learn. It is better to have one larger pie, and lots get a big slice, than two tiny pies. Dave

January 14th, 2008, 04:59 AM	#39
Larry Price Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 72	I'm sure they'll switch eventually. Looking forward to Galactica in Blu-ray!