Warner to go Blu-ray exclusive May 2008!

[Gaco]

Originally Posted by evilchris

2007 HD DVD and Blu-ray unit sales combined:

8 million

2007 DVD unit sales:

800 million


This "War" isn't as big a deal to the studios as people thing. We are a niche market.

And how long do you think it'll stay that way if Blu-ray prices are to come down to 100$ on the players and +5$ on the movies compared to DVD? How about the point where they reach 80$ for players and +2$ for movies?

I hope it's just a matter of time as it was with DVD. Though the market is not as needing for a new format as the VHS/DVD transition I could certainly see people increasingly wanting HD content for their HDTV having first seen the difference.

[evilchris]

If 100% of studios went 100% Blu-ray right now, and players were $200, I'd say 7 years for it to reach parity with DVD, and 12 years to eliminate it.

It took 7 years for DVD to match VHS sales, 10 years to kill it.

It took CD's 10-15 years to completely eliminate cassettes!

DVD to HDM is a much smaller jump, and mostly only appreciated by people with 60+ " TV's. People who "see a difference" 15' from 42" Plasma's are suffering from a placebo effect.

The difference for me is astounding, because I have a projector at 106" CIH 2.35:1, and a 70" TV in my family room. DVD isn't enough for these sizes but the average person has a 32" CRT or a 42" flat panel of some sort and no advanced audio capability.

[evilchris]

For further perspective you should note that currently the ratio between DVD and HD DVD/BD combined is 99:1. There is a LONG road ahead.

[911medic]

Originally Posted by evilchris

I go through a lot of gear and sell my used stuff very cheap. I'll keep you in mind if you're interested.

If the $$$ is there at the time, I just may be.

[Gaco]

Originally Posted by evilchris

If 100% of studios went 100% Blu-ray right now, and players were $200, I'd say 7 years for it to reach parity with DVD, and 12 years to eliminate it.

It took 7 years for DVD to match VHS sales, 10 years to kill it.

It took CD's 10-15 years to completely eliminate cassettes!

DVD to HDM is a much smaller jump, and mostly only appreciated by people with 60+ " TV's. People who "see a difference" 15' from 42" Plasma's are suffering from a placebo effect.

The difference for me is astounding, because I have a projector at 106" CIH 2.35:1, and a 70" TV in my family room. DVD isn't enough for these sizes but the average person has a 32" CRT or a 42" flat panel of some sort and no advanced audio capability.

I don't agree on you with the limits. I have seen the difference on a 50" plasma and I think it's pretty big. I can also see the difference on a 40" 1080p HDTV but below that the difference to DVD gets pretty small when you're in a normal viewing distance of 3-5 meters (yes I use metric units biatch ). From what I've heard the range that is selling best is 40-50" 1080p LCD's which is why these products are among those that have dropped most dramatically in price the recent years. I think that Blu-ray can easily be justified in the 40-50" range of 1080p HDTV's tbh, though mostly when BD hardware & software comes down in price to a point much closer to DVD.

I know the sales are very bad compared to DVD but I don't remember DVD selling much better at this stage of it's lifetime years after becoming available.

[evilchris]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/2002-10...timeline_x.htm

9 months after US launch DVD sold 2x what HD DVD/BD have sold combined in 2 years.

Within 2.5 years, 5000 titles were out on DVD. HDM, maybe 1000 in 2.5 years.

Some posters here like magus like to say "PS2 made DVD succeed". My link will show you 25 million DVD players were in homes by the time PS2 launched =D

HDM adoption is much, much slower. With the biggest POS BD player on the market, the Sony S300, having an MSRP of $399, things won't improve soon.

[ViN86]

Originally Posted by evilchris

2007 HD DVD and Blu-ray unit sales combined:

8 million

2007 DVD unit sales:

800 million


This "War" isn't as big a deal to the studios as people thing. We are a niche market.

this is the definitive post here. atm, the war is neither lost nor won for either side.

****, it hasnt even started yet.

I hope blu-ray gets a mother****ing freeze ray. Then the war will be over.

[MowTin]

I think I can still return my 360 hddvd player.

HD movies are a necessity for me. What do I buy now? The BD players are so expensive I might as well throw in another 100 bucks and buy a PS3.

[S.I.N]

Originally Posted by ViN86

this is the definitive post here. atm, the war is neither lost nor won for either side.

****, it hasnt even started yet.

Hasnt even started yet? My goodness give it up. Agree with him that HD movie sales dont come close to DVD but with this latest news its half way over. Do you realize the amount of top tier movies Warner Bros. have under them? Now there all going to Blu-ray exclusively. I bet more than half the movies you watched and liked from last year were from Warner Bros.

[AthlonXP1800]

Originally Posted by Gaco

And how long do you think Universal and Paramount will stay HD DVD exclusive?

I dont think Paramount will stay much longer, they have reserved the right to terminate 18 months HD-DVD exclusive contract anytime now if they feel the pressure after Warner and New Line gone Blu-ray exclusive. Universal HD-DVD contract ended last year and tighted their lips what their next move will be.

Here the diagram I found what the studios marketshare of HD format will be on 1 June 2008 if Paramount and Universal stay with HD-DVD.



After New Line and Warner go Blu-ray exclusive, Blu-ray will be backed 70% of Hollywood. If Paramount decide to go Blu-ray soon then HD-DVD will have about 15% of marketshare if Universal still on board.

[Peoples-Agent]

"The HD DVD camp has always stuck to a simple set of principles," said Ken
Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal
Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group.
"Give consumers who buy into HD DVD what they paid for. In fact, give them
more than they expected. Show them that quality and value go hand in hand
with HD DVD. Show them what advanced interactivity really means and how it
can enrich your favorite movies that you watch over and over."

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...08+PRN20080107

This is getting ugly, Universal don't want to back down.

When VHS and Betamax were fighting it out consumer electronics were still considered a luxury in most parts of the world, with regards to your average household.

Nowadays, it's normal for the average household to be kitted out with resonably decent spec hardware, a PC, a few games consoles, HDTV etc

Samsung have announced another dual format player, which is good for everyone.

If HD-DVD is to die an even slower death with a few studios refusing to let go, atleast us mugs... the customers, will be able to enjoy our collections if parity is kept in the hardware market atleast.

My girlfriend still has a huge VHS collection, which isn't uncommon even considering the DVD world that we now live in.

If I was given the guarantee I could atleast pick up a HD-DVD player in ten years time, I would continue to chuck money at it.

I'm just disappointed the next line of HD media (Blu-Ray) will lack the content and features that HD-DVD already offers, and that isn't likely to change too soon for affordability.