Is HD-DVD loosing their footing?

JoeSp

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Toshiba has announced a move to sell their lowest player at $399. A great price for anyone interested in HD-DVD. They also are giving away 5 HD-DVDs for free when you purchase a Toshiba HD-DVD. Now this usually means one of two things:

First, Toshiba has found a way to make their player cheaper so they are dropping the price to save the consumers money and push more players into the market. This would be a great move to counter the sales of the PS3. Even at a dismal 120,000 per month that is considerably more players then the HD-DVD players have been able to amass.

However, my second take I think is probably more realistic. It is that 5 free HD-DVD giveaway that is taking me in a differant direction. Toshiba smells blood -- and it is theirs. They see the handwriting on the wall and here it is -- Casino Royal on BD is the first High Def movie title to hit in the top ten in sales on Amazon.com. This done while the regular DVD version hits number 1 at the same time. And this is just the start.

There are the Pirate movies, the Spiderman movies, the Pixar movies all coming to BD in the next three months and only on BD. I predict that the Pirate movies and the Spiderman movies will outsell Casino Royal. Then there is the launch of BD-Java which will remove the last advantage that HD-DVD has enjoyed over BD. Then there is the launch of the PS3 world-wide.

Yep, Toshiba is smelling their own blood. They cannot afford for BD to continue to outsell movies even at 2 to 1 for the rest of the year. So, lets drop the price $100 AND giveaway 5 FREE HD-DVD movies. Maybe we can get the last of the early adopter holdouts to buy our product and turn around this awful momentum that BD has.

I see this as the last thing Toshiba can do to try and restart the energy they had leading up to the PS3 launch last year. Next I expect them to start giving away a free Toshiba HD-DVD player when you purchase a Toshiba HDTV. It did not help that the new XBOX360 ELITE is NOT going to have a built-in HD-DVD player.

You should know that when a manufacturer starts giving away their shirt they are close to losing their trousers!
 
It will be interesting to see what happens to HD-DVD if India does in fact go HD-DVD in support of Bollywood's decision. If HD-DVD loses the US, as they have lost Australia, and they lose Europe and the UK (odds on, but not definite), then they will only have parts of asia and India. Small market in Latin America. Would they continue on? Likely, since China has a variation of HD-DVD. But Blu-ray will still sell in China, unless pirates (or studios) copy BD titles to Chinese HD-DVD. And if HD-DVD does continue on, would they continue selling in the U.S.? Even at a low rate? Eventually, if Blu-ray "takes" the U.S., Universal will have to publish in Blu-ray, or cut off their nose to spite their face, leaving money on the table. Then we'll see pirated Blu-ray copies of Universal HD-DVD titles.
 
Toshiba has announced a move to sell their lowest player at $399. A great price for anyone interested in HD-DVD. They also are giving away 5 HD-DVDs for free when you purchase a Toshiba HD-DVD. Now this usually means one of two things:

First, Toshiba has found a way to make their player cheaper so they are dropping the price to save the consumers money and push more players into the market. This would be a great move to counter the sales of the PS3. Even at a dismal 120,000 per month that is considerably more players then the HD-DVD players have been able to amass.

However, my second take I think is probably more realistic. It is that 5 free HD-DVD giveaway that is taking me in a differant direction. Toshiba smells blood -- and it is theirs. They see the handwriting on the wall and here it is -- Casino Royal on BD is the first High Def movie title to hit in the top ten in sales on Amazon.com. This done while the regular DVD version hits number 1 at the same time. And this is just the start.

There are the Pirate movies, the Spiderman movies, the Pixar movies all coming to BD in the next three months and only on BD. I predict that the Pirate movies and the Spiderman movies will outsell Casino Royal. Then there is the launch of BD-Java which will remove the last advantage that HD-DVD has enjoyed over BD. Then there is the launch of the PS3 world-wide.

Yep, Toshiba is smelling their own blood. They cannot afford for BD to continue to outsell movies even at 2 to 1 for the rest of the year. So, lets drop the price $100 AND giveaway 5 FREE HD-DVD movies. Maybe we can get the last of the early adopter holdouts to buy our product and turn around this awful momentum that BD has.

I see this as the last thing Toshiba can do to try and restart the energy they had leading up to the PS3 launch last year. Next I expect them to start giving away a free Toshiba HD-DVD player when you purchase a Toshiba HDTV. It did not help that the new XBOX360 ELITE is NOT going to have a built-in HD-DVD player.

You should know that when a manufacturer starts giving away their shirt they are close to losing their trousers!

I just bought one yesterday from Amazon. How do I get my free 5 HD DVDS ?
 
I would have to say that HD-DVD better make a move here soon, or it's going to be all over. Putting aside the "gloating" of the BD fanboys, the tide seems to have turned mainly due to lack of releases. People want the "good stuff", and there have been very few HD-DVD releases of note since Jan 1, 2007. Not a good sign for a new format.
 
Its put up or shut up time from HD DVD.

I have the add on for the 360 and a couple of movies. Would have loved to seen it work for HD DVD but they are getting pummeled with BDs new releases.

If Disney adopts BD and BD only and starts releasing movies I think that would make it game set match. BD wins.

And this from a guy who WANTS HD DVD to win.
 
Disney is already a Blu-ray exclusive company, as are all their subsidiaries. They insist upon regional encoding, something HD-DVD does not require.
 
Paramount and Warner support both formats.

Universal supports HD-DVD only.

And the following support Blu-ray only:
Lions Gate
MGM
Sony
20th Century Fox
Disney (including Disney Home Entertainment, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone, Miramax,
. Buena Vista, Dimension Home Video)


Read the first post in this thread. Buena Vista is owned by Disney.


And from the Blu-ray disc association site:

Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Now Available

* Dinosaur
* Eight Below
* Haunted Mansion
* Invincible
* Sky High
* The Wild



And see also this.


From 2004:
Disney announced yesterday that it will support Blu-Ray as its choice for the next generation optical format, instead of the HD-DVD.
 
Its put up or shut up time from HD DVD.

I have the add on for the 360 and a couple of movies. Would have loved to seen it work for HD DVD but they are getting pummeled with BDs new releases.

From next Tuesday through the end of June, their are 57 announced releases in HD DVD, including one of biggest sellers of all times (in DVD) - The Matrix. For the same period, there are only 53 announced releases for Blu-ray. Exactly how many releases do you feel HD DVD needs to have for you to feel HD DVD is not being "pummeled with BDs new releases"?


The upcoming release schedule through the end of June for both HD DVD & Blu-ray. Titles exclusive to HD DVD in red, exclusive to Blu-ray in blue:
(NOTE: Before someone points this out, I have indicated the May 22 release of The Matrix Trilogy as HD DVD only. No BD release is announced as of yet, but Warner is format neutral, so a BD version will probably be released at some time.)

March 27, 2007

* Children of Men (Universal)
* Happy Feet (Warner)
* March of the Penguins (Warner)
* National Geographic: Relentless Enemies (Warner)

April 03, 2007

* The Good Shepherd (Universal)

April 10, 2007

* Dog Day Afternoon (Warner)
* Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (Paramount)
* A Scanner Darkly (Warner)

April 17, 2007

* Feast (Weinstein)
* The Game (Universal)
* The Jerk (Universal)
* School for Scoundrels (Genius)
* Smokin' Aces (Universal)

April 24, 2007

* Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Universal)
* Failure to Launch (Paramount)
* The Nutty Professor (1996) (Universal)
* Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (BBC)

May 01, 2007

* Alpha Dog (Universal)
* Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
* The Hitcher (2007) (Universal)

May 08, 2007

* Battle of the Bulge (Warner)
* Black Christmas (2006) (Weinstein)
* Harsh Times (Weinstein)
* The Road Warrior (Warner)

May 15, 2007

* The Fountain (Warner)

May 22, 2007

* The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Universal)
* The Complete Matrix Trilogy (Warner)
* Flags of Our Fathers (DreamWorks)
* Freedom Writers (Paramount)
* The Hurricane (2000) (Universal)
* M:I-2 (Paramount)
* Mission: Impossible (Paramount)
* The Skeleton Key (Universal)
* Smokey and the Bandit (Universal)
* The Ultimate Matrix Collection (Warner)

May 29, 2007

* The Big Lebowski (Universal)
* Dragonheart (Universal)
* The Frighteners: Director's Cut (Universal)
* Lost in Translation (Universal)
* Midnight Run (Universal)
* The River (Universal)

June 05, 2007

* Coming to America (Paramount)
* Trading Places (Paramount)

June 12, 2007

* Born on the Fourth of July (Universal)
* Bruce Almighty (Universal)
* Daylight (Universal)
* Liar Liar (Universal)
* Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Universal)
* Sneakers (Universal)

June 26, 2007

* American Me (Universal)
* Being John Malkovich (Universal)
* Bulletproof (Universal)
* Freedom: Vol. 1 (Bandai Visual)
* Mallrats (Universal)
* Meet Joe Black (Universal)
* Mystery Men (Universal)
* The Watcher (Universal)

For Blu-ray:
March 27, 2007

* Happy Feet (Warner)
* Incubus: Alive at Red Rocks (Sony Music)
* March of the Penguins (Warner)
* National Geographic: Relentless Enemies (Warner)
* The Pursuit of Happyness (Sony)

April 03, 2007

* G.I. Jane (Buena Vista)
* Identity (Sony)
* King Arthur Director's Cut (Buena Vista)
* Me, Myself & Irene (Fox)
* Volver (Sony)
* Warriors of Heaven and Earth (Sony)

April 10, 2007

* Dog Day Afternoon (Warner)
* Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (Paramount)
* A Scanner Darkly (Warner)

April 17, 2007

* The Dirty Dozen (Warner)
* Enter the Dragon (Warner)

April 24, 2007

* Deja Vu (Buena Vista)
* Failure to Launch (Paramount)
* Night at the Museum (Fox)
* Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (BBC)
* The Queen (Buena Vista)
* Secret Window (Sony)
* Ultimate Avengers Collection (Lionsgate)

May 01, 2007

* Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
* Happily N'Ever After (Lionsgate Entetainment)

May 08, 2007

* Battle of the Bulge (Warner)
* Catch and Release (Sony)
* Dirty Dancing (Lionsgate)
* Donnie Brasco (Sony)
* Revenge (Sony)
* The Road Warrior (Warner)

May 15, 2007

* The Fountain (Warner)
* Stomp the Yard (Sony)

May 22, 2007

* Apocalypto (Buena Vista)
* Closer (Sony)
* Flags of Our Fathers (DreamWorks)
* Freedom Writers (Paramount)
* M:I-2 (Paramount)
* Mission: Impossible (Paramount)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Buena Vista)
* Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Buena Vista)
* Primeval (Buena Vista)

May 29, 2007

* Basic Instinct (Lionsgate)
* Blood & Chocolate (Sony)
* Curse of the Golden Flower (Sony)
* Weeds: Season One (Lionsgate)

June 05, 2007

* Cars (Buena Vista)
* Coming to America (Paramount)
* Con Air (Buena Vista)
* Crimson Tide (Buena Vista)
* The Rock (Buena Vista)
* Trading Places (Paramount)

June 19, 2007

* Bridge to Terebithia (Buena Vista)

I know I've been a persistent supporter of HD DVD, if not downright annoyingly so at times. :rolleyes:

But, believe it or not my primary objective is to enjoy high def content on my home theater system. If I honestly thought I was missing something significant by not having a BD player, I would get one and be format neutral. Everyone's tastes in movies is different, but in looking over the release schedule through mid-summer, I see only a couple of BD titles I would like to see in high def. POTC 1&2 I would buy; I'd rent The Queen & Volver, as one viewing would be enough. But, I would be very unhappy at not having The Matrix in a high def format not playable on my high def player. :mad:
 
I could have sworn when I was at walmart today I saw chicken little on blu ray
edit:
as a matter of fact here it is as well as some others you left off the list
http://disneyshopping.go.com/webapp...ng&D=blu+ray&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Dr=&Dn=0

Yep. It looks like the references I quoted are outdated.


- - - - - - - -

I must say, I am less inclined to buy a Blu-ray player now than a week ago. I don't want to take a chance on a player that might not support all the features that are required on 10/31/07. And frankly, I don't really care about PIP.

Get me a full featured, internet capable player that does CDs and just about all DVD formats, supports BD-J - and I'll bend a little on the price.

But I gather by the time that happens, they'll announce BD+ and current players won't be upgradeable to it. Just a suspicion.

It really looks like the HD-DVD camp has really had it all in one sock- far better than the Blu-ray camp. Maybe it's now only 60-40 that Blu-ray will win in the U.S. (SWAG). They really do seem to be a day late and a dollar short- and can be their own worst enemy.
 
I must say, I am less inclined to buy a Blu-ray player now than a week ago. I don't want to take a chance on a player that might not support all the features that are required on 10/31/07. And frankly, I don't really care about PIP.

I'll bite. Why is 10/31/07 an important date? Besides being Halloween? :confused:

EDIT: Oops! Just caught up with the news of the BD-J PIP standard finalization as of Oct. 31, to enable it to provide the same functions as HD DVD has had since day 1. Unclear if the just launched PS3 or other players will be able support it with a software upgrade.

All early adapters should understand going in that it's new technology and subject to improvement. But standards should be finalized before launching a new product. I don't remembering my VHS or DVD player becoming obsolete because it couldn't support "improvements" to the original design. :rolleyes:
 
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CochiseGuy, How many of those titles from Universal and Weinstein were box office hits in the last 5 years? Only 36 of those titles from Universal and Weinstein are only on HD-DVD. You listed the Matrix as a HD-DVD only title but Warner has already anounced that the BD versions will be out later this year.

While that is a nice list from Universal and Weinstein there are only about 5 or 6 that I would buy if they were available on BD. However there are 14 titles from the BD list only on BD that you listed that I will be buying. And it is nice that you left off the Spiderman BD movies. I just see more movies that are more current hits coming from the BD side. I am really not interested in buying B-rate movies in HD -- it is a waste of my money.

As for the BD-Java functions, I will agree with you that BD should of had that out of the gate. I guess it is good for you and other HD-DVD supporters that it did not or else you would really be looking at the end right now. Oh and btw, how many of those HD-DVD titles really use the iHD as it was intended?
 
The thing with movies are.... titles is subjective. What one person may like, another may not. There was a whole thread over at AVS about Box office numbers and their target. Why some movies do better and others flop. Why a title may be a hit at the box ofice and a flop on DVD and vfice versa.

Being format neutral, my list is the opposite. There are more titles coming out on HDDVD that I prefer than the BD list. A few I'll see about renting though.

S~
 
I have both players (360 HD add-on and the SAMMY BD-P1000), I am a supporter of HD DVD but at this point I think the BD has and edge over the HD format. Hopefully this stupid war will end soon and for the sake of the consumer, there will be only one format.
 
CochiseGuy, You listed the Matrix as a HD-DVD only title but Warner has already anounced that the BD versions will be out later this year.

:sleeo I said in my post: "NOTE: Before someone points this out, I have indicated the May 22 release of The Matrix Trilogy as HD DVD only. No BD release is announced as of yet, but Warner is format neutral, so a BD version will probably be released at some time."
From the Matrix HD DVD release announcement on HighDefDigest.com: "No Blu-ray version of either 'Matrix' set has been announced. However, Warner says it plans to release a comparable version later this year, once Blu-ray's much-touted BD-Java environment is finally ready for prime time."

And it is nice that you left off the Spiderman BD movies.

I used on titles with official release date announcements from the studios, from HighDefDigest.com. Can you quote any source with a confirmed release date from Sony for Spiderman? But, with the theatrical release of the third & final Spiderman a little more than a month away (May 4), you would think Sony would get their act together & time a BD release of Spiderman 1 and/or 2 to coincide with the free publicity? :confused:

I read speculation on some forums about how a release on HD DVD of the current box office hit "300" would be the top selling high def release of the year. But, until a studio makes an official release announcement with a release date, it is only speculation. :)
 
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Cochise. There are a lot of releases.

However, I have two nephews that LOVE CARS! I have a daughter coming any second now and Im pretty sure Im going to be watching a lot of Disney in the upcoming years. So for me even though I OWN an HD DVD player and have purchased a few movies....my inclination is to wait.

It would be easier for me if HD DVD would win this thing.

However, it seams that BD has a greater all around backing from the studios and from the manufacturers of video players.

Correct me if I am wrong but right now only Toshiba makes HD DVD players while a couple of companies make BD players?

Universal is the only studio backing HD DVD (exclusively) while many more studios are exclusive to BD.

If Im wrong please let me know. but thats my take.
 

Format war a good thing & Chinese HD-DVD version

Hey! That thing got a HEMI in it?

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