Warner waiting till Q1 2008 to end BD

[vurbano]

No Warner Announcement until Q1 2008?
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...2bb7aed90a45d6

"A Warner source said the studio is watching what happens now that Wal-Mart and other big retailers are selling entry-level Toshiba HD DVD players for less than $200, about half what the cheapest Blu-ray player costs. If there is a significant spike in HD DVD software sales, the studio may cast its lot with that format, whereas if there is no real impact, Warner may go Blu-ray only."

 

[mike123abc]

I think you misread the article. If you look at the context they are saying all their sales are in BD not HD-DVD. I read it more as if HD-DVD does not manage to catch on even with sub $200 players we will go BD only. If there is a spike in sales we will continue to support HD-DVD.

 

[JoeSp]

Gee mike, you hit the nail right on the head!

 

[SatinKzo]

Yep, that's how I read it too Mike.

 

[navychop]

You folks expected some other behavior out of Vurbano?

 

[vurbano]

I think you misread the article. If you look at the context they are saying all their sales are in BD not HD-DVD. I read it more as if HD-DVD does not manage to catch on even with sub $200 players we will go BD only. If there is a spike in sales we will continue to support HD-DVD.

I think the lack of reading comprhension is yours. If there is a spike in HD DVD sales they will "cast their lot with that format (HD DVD)", . i.e exclusivity. With the introduction of players <200 bucks, (1/2 the price of BD players), its a no brainer. By the end of Q1 BD will lose support. If and its a huge if there is no spike in HD DVD sales they may go BD.

 

[mike123abc]

I think the lack of reading comprhension is yours. If there is a spike in HD DVD sales they will "cast their lot with that format (HD DVD)", . i.e exclusivity. With the introduction of players <200 bucks, (1/2 the price of BD players), its a no brainer. By the end of Q1 BD will lose support. If and its a huge if there is no spike in HD DVD sales they may go BD.

It makes no sense to say 2/3+ of our business is in BD, but we will drop it next quarter. Do you really think they will drop 2/3 of their business in favor of 1/3? No, they will drop the 1/3 since they probably know better than anyone what the ratio really is between formats. They have put HD-DVD on notice that they need to increase sales, and do it fast (i.e. 1 quarter) or they will be dropped.

 

[Peter Parker]

The title is a hopeless misrepresentation of the article of the article it links to. The article actually states that Warner may go to BD only not that it might drop BD in favor of the HD-DVD format.

"In an interview, Dan Silverberg, vp high-definition media at Warner, admitted "one thing that may be changing is our strategy," and that a change could come as early as the end of the fourth quarter.

"When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide," he said. "But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide -- so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter."

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with "300" and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

"We can definitely talk Blu-ray," he said. "We are committed to the format."

A Warner source said the studio is watching what happens now that Wal-Mart and other big retailers are selling entry-level Toshiba HD DVD players for less than $200, about half what the cheapest Blu-ray player costs. If there is a significant spike in HD DVD software sales, the studio may cast its lot with that format, whereas if there is no real impact, Warner may go Blu-ray only."


this is nota question of reading comprehension. It is just another case of someone in this forum trying to present an article as something it is not.

 

[berck]

Vurbano's right. Its implying that they may go to HD-DVD if the sales pick up. If not, they may go with Blu-ray. The key word in the article is may. Nothing is written in stone.

Another interesting piece in the article I found was this...

The Sony-developed format received another boost during the Blu-ray Festival when the Home Theater Specialists of America, a national buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined annual revenue of more than a half-billion dollars, officially endorsed Blu-ray Disc as its next-generation format of choice.

The decision, according to director David Berman, was reached after a membership survey found 92% favoring Blu-ray over HD DVD.

Anybody heard of the Home Theater Specialists of America?

 

[navychop]

The title is a hopeless misrepresentation of the article of the article it links to. The article actually states that Warner may go to BD only not that it might drop BD in favor of the HD-DVD format.

this is nota question of reading comprehension. It is just another case of someone in this forum trying to present an article as something it is not.

But consistent with the way he titles some of his other threads.

Anyway, looking at the scheduled releases for the two formats for the rest of the year, it would be hard to see how HD DVD could match or approach Blu-ray sales. Even with an increase in player sales.

 

[navychop]

Anybody heard of the Home Theater Specialists of America?

Yes. They represent home theater installers.

 

[MW390]

The title is a hopeless misrepresentation of the article of the article it links to. The article actually states that Warner may go to BD only not that it might drop BD in favor of the HD-DVD format.

"In an interview, Dan Silverberg, vp high-definition media at Warner, admitted "one thing that may be changing is our strategy," and that a change could come as early as the end of the fourth quarter.

"When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide," he said. "But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide -- so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter."

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with "300" and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

"We can definitely talk Blu-ray," he said. "We are committed to the format."

A Warner source said the studio is watching what happens now that Wal-Mart and other big retailers are selling entry-level Toshiba HD DVD players for less than $200, about half what the cheapest Blu-ray player costs. If there is a significant spike in HD DVD software sales, the studio may cast its lot with that format, whereas if there is no real impact, Warner may go Blu-ray only."


this is nota question of reading comprehension. It is just another case of someone in this forum trying to present an article as something it is not.

Since when did $499 become affordable vs. $200 or less. Most people find any player over $29.95 (saw it in Walmart) too much

 

[CochiseGuy]

It makes no sense to say 2/3+ of our business is in BD, but we will drop it next quarter. Do you really think they will drop 2/3 of their business in favor of 1/3? No, they will drop the 1/3 since they probably know better than anyone what the ratio really is between formats. They have put HD-DVD on notice that they need to increase sales, and do it fast (i.e. 1 quarter) or they will be dropped.

Two-thirds of 1% is how much? Oh, right, I remember my 3rd grade math - it's .66%. But actually, it's not even that much. The ratio for the top selling Warner title - 300 - is 66/34, BD/HD. But, for the second biggest selling Warner title - Planet Earth - HD DVD has actually outsold BD, 51/49%.

No one in the Entertainment of CE industry is looking at current High-def movie or player sales and saying "Wow! We're just tickled to death!". Everyone is looking future potential, future growth. And while BD sales have increased only 20% from the 1st Quarter 2007 to the 3rd Quarter, HD DVD sales have increased over 68%.

Anyway, looking at the scheduled releases for the two formats for the rest of the year, it would be hard to see how HD DVD could match or approach Blu-ray sales. Even with an increase in player sales.

Speaking of reading comprehension, where in the article does it say "match" or even "approach" BD sales?
I read "If there is a significant spike in HD DVD software sales". And one has to assume Warner is looking at their own software sales - how much Disney sells of Rat-a-what's-his-name or POTC 3, or how much Fox sells of Die Hard, or how much Sony sells of Spidey doesn't help Warner one bit. They'll be looking at Ocean's 13 and Harry Potter. Actually, perhaps since HD DVD owners will be saving all that money not buying Disney, Fox & Sony High-def titles, they're be more likely to buy Ocean's & Harry Potter.

Interesting.

 

[Peter Parker]

Vurbano's right. Its implying that they may go to HD-DVD if the sales pick up. If not, they may go with Blu-ray. The key word in the article is may. Nothing is written in stone.

Another interesting piece in the article I found was this...

The Sony-developed format received another boost during the Blu-ray Festival when the Home Theater Specialists of America, a national buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined annual revenue of more than a half-billion dollars, officially endorsed Blu-ray Disc as its next-generation format of choice.

The decision, according to director David Berman, was reached after a membership survey found 92% favoring Blu-ray over HD DVD.

Anybody heard of the Home Theater Specialists of America?[/QUOTE




there is no MAY in the title of this threas. None. It claims that a particular sudio is waitin till Q1 to pick HD DVD and the article does not support that calim. If he had said this was a possible action or one that they might take it still would only tell half the story (as they might take the opposite action) but like so many other posters here they try to twist every article to "prove" some point. All they are proving is that their thread titles and analysis are misleading.

 

[vurbano]

Since when did $499 become affordable vs. $200 or less. Most people find any player over $29.95 (saw it in Walmart) too much

I think the $99.00 dollar HD-A2 at Walmart is going to be quite affordable.

 

[vurbano]

Vurbano's right. Its implying that they may go to HD-DVD if the sales pick up. If not, they may go with Blu-ray.

Bingo we have a winner. Or just someone who can read?

 

[berck]

there is no MAY in the title of this threas. None. It claims that a particular sudio is waitin till Q1 to pick HD DVD and the article does not support that calim. If he had said this was a possible action or one that they might take it still would only tell half the story (as they might take the opposite action) but like so many other posters here they try to twist every article to "prove" some point. All they are proving is that their thread titles and analysis are misleading.

I was talking about his statements. The thread title is obviously misleading. Hey, but what do you expect from Vurbano

 

[seminole2001]

Baghdad "Verbano" Bob there are no Blu-ray players in Baghdad


"We can definitely talk Blu-ray," he said. "We are committed to the format." -Warner

 

[vurbano]

Baghdad "Verbano" Bob there are no Blu-ray players in Baghdad


"We can definitely talk Blu-ray," he said. "We are committed to the format." -Warner

They are? Tell me something then. Where can I buy "Batman Begins", "V for Vandetta" or the "Matrix trilogy" on BD in the US? Some commitment

 

[vurbano]

I was talking about his statements. The thread title is obviously misleading. Hey, but what do you expect from Vurbano

The thread title merely rebutts the FUD thread titles the blue smurfs have posted on the same subject.