Blu-Ray lands another. Warner Bros to exclusively distribute on Blu-Ray HD.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Blu-Ray lands another. Warner Bros to exclusively distribute on Blu-Ray HD. (Page 1 of 7)

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:53:55 AM EDT

Let's end this war. Blu-Ray wins.

Warner says it is responding to "customer preferences" and not due to a corporate alliance/agreement with Sony.

(Warner exclusivity to Blu-Ray format per CNBC)

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:56:46 AM EDT

[#1]

Meh, Got both.

I will admit though, I am 51% on Blu-Ray's side: I have a PS3 for games and video playback and don't want to have to buy a new PS3 with HD-DVD should they win.

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:58:01 AM EDT

[#2]

I figured Blu-Ray would win, Juts a hunch

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:58:02 AM EDT

[#3]

I am buying Blu-Ray's now. I figure that even if HD wins, they make players that play both.

Posted: 1/4/2008 11:58:58 AM EDT

[#4]

<----not buying a damn thing till these idiots make a decision.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:02:04 PM EDT

[#5]

GODDAMNIT!!!!!

It appears I chose poorly when I shelled out the cash for the Hi Def DVD player I bought.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:02:40 PM EDT

[#6]

Why can't these fat cats just let the market decide which is the better product. Free market does not mean you get to shove your products down the consumer's throat.

Why did we even need a new standard? I can understand the leap between VHS and DVD, but seriously, Ultra-high res DVD?

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:05:02 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Why can't these fat cats just let the market decide which is the better product. Free market does not mean you get to shove your products down the consumer's throat.

Why did we even need a new standard? I can understand the leap between VHS and DVD, but seriously, Ultra-high res DVD?

View one on a high def TV and you'll understand!

Though in fairness, I think that the upscalers in any HD-DVD OR Blu-Ray player make standard DVDs look about 80% as good as High Definition. I still very much love watching movies in true 1080P.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:06:12 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
<----not buying a damn thing till these idiots make a decision.

Same here.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:11:16 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
<----not buying a damn thing till these idiots make a decision.

Bingo.

I'm not going to start renewing the collection to find out I chose the wrong technology.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:13:47 PM EDT

[#10]

I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:14:32 PM EDT

[#11]

I bought a $99.00 HD-DVD player, I can live with the loss. I didn't buy any movies yet and won't until I get official word, one way or the another.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:18:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Copied from a AVSforum thread...

Warner to go Blu-ray Exclusive
WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE ITS HIGH-DEFINITION DVD TITLES
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BLU-RAY DISC FORMAT BEGINNING LATER THIS YEAR

Decision Made in Response to Strong Consumer Preference for Format

(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA) - In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros.
Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the
Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry
Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a
strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give
consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-
definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We
believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for
mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most
importantly, consumers."

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format
and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray
releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end
of May 2008.

"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to
provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware
prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner
Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today's decision by
Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is
the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward
high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and
becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said
Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that
recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home
entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner
Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high
definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look
forward to working with them on other projects in the future.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:19:10 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
I bought a $99.00 HD-DVD player, I can live with the loss. I didn't buy any movies yet and won't until I get official word, one way or the another.

You luckout! I wanted an HD-A2 but "settled" for an HD-A3 for $199.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:26:55 PM EDT

[#14]

Blu-Ray movie titles have outsold HD-DVD movies 2:1 continuously for a year already. The HD-DVD camp, led by Toshiba, was about through several months ago when they made one last despirate move: they spent $150 million to effectively bribe Paramount and most of Dreamworks, who were one of two studios issuing movies on both platforms, to go HD-DVD exclusively.

It hasn't shown any sign of working; Blu-Ray movie sales are still outselling HD-DVD by a big margin, *despite* the cheaper HD-DVD players available.

Blu-Ray is technically superior, and people know it. HD-DVD was designed to be *initially cheaper* at the cost of long-term technological inferiority, and that was a bad move, because Blu-Ray production equipment has ALREADY made that initial advantage irrelevant (there was a shortage of Blu-Ray production capacity last year, while HD-DVDs could be made on modified DVD production equipment). There are ALREADY Blu-Ray recordable drives on the market, and blank media available.

HD-DVD was nearly dead when Toshiba spent $150 million to put it on life support, but it's only a matter of time before the plug is pulled.

-Troy

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:27:24 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I bought a $99.00 HD-DVD player, I can live with the loss. I didn't buy any movies yet and won't until I get official word, one way or the another.

You luckout! I wanted an HD-A2 but "settled" for an HD-A3 for $199.

Oops

THAT'S the one I got, HD-A3 for $199.00. Still, not a major loss if HD-DVD flops.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:29:14 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I bought a $99.00 HD-DVD player, I can live with the loss. I didn't buy any movies yet and won't until I get official word, one way or the another.

You luckout! I wanted an HD-A2 but "settled" for an HD-A3 for $199.

Oops

THAT'S the one I got, HD-A3 for $199.00. Still, not a major loss if HD-DVD flops.

Yep. And it's a good player for the flicks I have for it. I am still waiting for my 5 free movies, come to think of it! I got my 5 free from buying the PS3...

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:29:16 PM EDT

[#17]

Anyone wanna buy a hardly used HD-DVD player?

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:32:20 PM EDT

[#18]

PS3 being bluray sealed the deal for it. Toshiba should of bribed MS to include HD with the 360 may of had a chance then.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:35:35 PM EDT

[#19]

Ouch. Looks like I may have backed the wrong horse

! I have 2 HD players. Oh well, format war has to end eventually. Guess I'll be adding a Blu-ray player to the lineup this year.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:38:04 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

For the millionth time, the porn industry is going to direct download...

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:40:28 PM EDT

[#21]

OK, Sony PS3 it is...

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:49:43 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
OK, Sony PS3 it is...

That's what I just bought...it will be hear tomorrow. The price of a the PS3 is the same price the Sony Blue-Ray player is at Wal-Mart. I figured even if HD-DVD won I would still have the gaming system.

Posted: 1/4/2008 12:58:21 PM EDT

[#23]

well I always figured that if Warner went exclusive it would bust the balls of the other.
I would say it is finally safe for me to make a choice.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:04:13 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

I laugh every time I read this same comment about porn and HD-DVD and the past dominance of VHS over Beta. I don't know a single person that buys porn DVDs these days. Everybody that I know gets their porn fix from the internet.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:06:50 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
OK, Sony PS3 it is...

PS3 is the best bluray bang for the buck at the moment. I don't think anyone makes a standalone player for less and the firmware in the ps3 bluray can be upgraded via download.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:08:55 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
OK, Sony PS3 it is...

PS3 is the best bluray bang for the buck at the moment. I don't think anyone makes a standalone player for less and the firmware in the ps3 bluray can be upgraded via download.

I agree. And it upscales regular DVDs like a CHAMP. Seriously. Unlike my HD-DVD player, you can fine-tune how it upscales (blocking, edges, etc.)

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:12:08 PM EDT

[#27]

My PS3 might turn out to be one of the better home electronic purchases I've ever made.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:17:36 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
PS3 is the best bluray bang for the buck at the moment. I don't think anyone makes a standalone player for less and the firmware in the ps3 bluray can be upgraded via download.

Actually, they all can. And they have an open, Java-based OS.

-Troy

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:23:05 PM EDT

[#29]

Anyone know if the Blu-ray will play the older DVDs as well, don't really want to buy things over again?

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:23:49 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Anyone know if the Blu-ray will play the older DVDs as well, don't really want to buy things over again?

Yep both HD-DVD and Blu ray will upscale. See my post above about the PS3 upscaling.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:24:43 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
Anyone know if the Blu-ray will play the older DVDs as well, don't really want to buy things over again?

Most if not all Blu-Ray players will upscale to 1080p.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:25:20 PM EDT

[#32]

I was just reading this CNET article about how Blu-ray could win the war. It's a short roadmap of things that need to happen for Blu-ray to win. The first thing on their list was getting Warner Bros. jumping on the bandwagon.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:26:04 PM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
I was just reading this CNET article about how Blu-ray could win the war. It's a short roadmap of things that need to happen for Blu-ray to win. The first thing on their list was getting Warner Bros. jumping on the bandwagon.

Well, that's done...

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:29:51 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

This was true in the days of betamax vs VHS, but with broadband internet the porn industry has almost zilch as far as clout in this race.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:34:25 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

Not is in fact not the case. Some Blu-ray manufacturing plants are not printing pornographic titles. Sony plants never print porn, never have. Also, other plants that print Disney discs usually have to sign an agreement to not print porn.

But the other Blu-ray manufacturers are free to print porn. There is no ban on porn. Several titles have already been released, if I am not mistaken.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:39:51 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:

Quoted:
OK, Sony PS3 it is...

PS3 is the best bluray bang for the buck at the moment. I don't think anyone makes a standalone player for less and the firmware in the ps3 bluray can be upgraded via download.

Sure they do.

I've got a Samsung BD-P1400 that was around $300.

Posted: 1/4/2008 1:56:25 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I thought the porn industry went with HD-DVD - kinda outweighs the rest if true.

Not is in fact not the case. Some Blu-ray manufacturing plants are not printing pornographic titles. Sony plants never print porn, never have. Also, other plants that print Disney discs usually have to sign an agreement to not print porn.

But the other Blu-ray manufacturers are free to print porn. There is no ban on porn. Several titles have already been released, if I am not mistaken.

And one of those titles was: Attack of the huge pimple ridden ass from hell!!!

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:21:26 PM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
<----not buying a damn thing till these idiots make a decision.

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:22:40 PM EDT

[#39]

Damn it! I went HD-DVD.

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:26:43 PM EDT

[#40]

I advised people to go Blu-Ray on several occasions.

You still can. Keep your HD-DVD player, but buy a Blu-Ray player, which will get more use
in the long term.

That's almost the last nail in the coffin there. The list of Blu-Ray only studios is FAR more significant and impressive than the list of HD-DVD only studios.

Blu-Ray wins. It's all over but the formal declaration as Toshiba and the HD-DVD endorsers all throw in the towel and switch to Blu-Ray.

CJ

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:28:13 PM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
I advised people to go Blu-Ray on several occasions.

You still can. Keep your HD-DVD player, but buy a Blu-Ray player, which will get more use
in the long term.

That's almost the last nail in the coffin there. The list of Blu-Ray only studios is FAR more significant and impressive than the list of HD-DVD only studios.

Blu-Ray wins. It's all over but the formal declaration as Toshiba and the HD-DVD endorsers all throw in the towel and switch to Blu-Ray.

CJ

Blu-ray needs to get a few sub $200 players and HD-DVD will be done for.

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:32:10 PM EDT

[#42]

I got both, I don't care which format wins, though having a choice is nice like when the HD-DVD of 300 has extra stuff the Bluray does not, then I pick the HD-DVD, if both have the same stuff then I just buy the cheaper one.

Posted: 1/4/2008 2:41:09 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
Blu-ray needs to get a few sub $200 players and HD-DVD will be done for.

That's only a matter of time (less than 6 months). Remember that HD-DVD had roughly a 6-month head start, as all Blu-Ray development was being centered around the PS3. Thus, HD-DVD is 6 months ahead in the manufacturing cycle. Just 9 months ago, stand-alone Blu-Ray players were $1000, today they are $300. In 6 months, you'll be able to buy them at WalMart for $169.

-Troy

Posted: 1/5/2008 3:16:52 AM EDT

[#44]

Boom. Said this was going to happen here when we are all arguing about it two months ago, and logically explained why. I was rudely rebuffed as a blind fanboy who couldn't see Warner's impending HD-DVD exclusivity.

Where is the HD-DVD crew now?

Posted: 1/5/2008 3:26:34 AM EDT

[#45]

One major thing wrong with Blu-Ray.

Sony owns it.

Does it make sense to hand Sony the keys to the kingdom of high-def video?

Open (as in non-proprietary) standards have been the lynchpin of all highly successful "consumer" techonlogies.

ETA: Have fun paying more for HD media and content once Sony gets the lock.

Posted: 1/5/2008 3:33:41 AM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
Boom. Said this was going to happen here when we are all arguing about it two months ago, and logically explained why. I was rudely rebuffed as a blind fanboy who couldn't see Warner's impending HD-DVD exclusivity.

Where is the HD-DVD crew now?

'Boom'?

It's amazing what goofy things people take 'sides' on.

Posted: 1/5/2008 3:36:30 AM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:
PS3 being bluray sealed the deal for it. Toshiba should of bribed MS to include HD with the 360 may of had a chance then.

Micheal Bay thinks Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can successfully sale digital downloads to the masses.

news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15230/Michael-Bay-Accuses-Microsoft-of-Conspiracy/

Posted: 1/5/2008 3:38:46 AM EDT

[#48]

Quoted:

Quoted:
PS3 being bluray sealed the deal for it. Toshiba should of bribed MS to include HD with the 360 may of had a chance then.

Micheal Bay thinks Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can successfully sale digital downloads to the masses.

]news.teamxbox.com/xbox/15230/Michael-Bay-Accuses-Microsoft-of-Conspiracy/[/ur;]