Final Death Blow for HDVD, PMNT out(Feb 16 Toshiba quits)

[2099net]

But there's been loads of Buy One - Get One offers on Blu-ray discs, and combined with other discounts it means that you could have got recent titles for about $15 each from Amazon or Best Buy and other shops. In fact, there was virtually a BOGO offer on every week at at least one store or more for the past 3 months or so.

The Buy One - Get Ones seem to be finishing now. (Gosh, I wonder why?) But Amazon (just for now I would suggest) are still selling a number of titles for $15 to $20, including new titles such as The Pirates of the Caribbean Movies and Pixar's Blu-rays.

Feed Your Blu-ray Player: Up to 50% Off Blu-ray Discs

As for prices in general, now the "War" is over, I think the opposite will happen. There won't be as many offers on discs as there were when the Blu-ray association were keen to hold onto their sales advantage. Simply put, they don't need to sell them cheap anymore because there's less competition.

You may have sat out the format "war", but nobody could deny it was responsible for bringing prices down at a faster rate than if there was no "war" in the first place.

Also, Studios are looking to replace falling DVD revenue with Hi-Def revenue. I don't think disc prices will fall to DVD levels for a good two or three years at least. Just like it took music companies years and years to charge less for "premium format" CDs over tape.

However it is still worth checking into the HighDefDigest: Blu-ray Bargains Forum to get the heads up on any current or future bargains.

[DarthPrime]

Has anyone checked the HD DVD prices lately? The HD A3 is around $130 with 2 movies in the box and 5 by mail on Amazon. Also Amazon has HD DVDs as low as $15 now, and a lot of them too.

Sam's Club has the HD D3 with 7 movies and a HDMI cable for the same price.

So did something happen with Paramount and Universal that is causing Toshiba to completely dump HD DVD? or are they trying to bounce back after the Warner Bros announcement?

At this price its almost to good to say no to, even if you just use it as an upconverting player.

Even for a "dead" format I'm still tempted, although I probably wouldn't and wait to see what happens with Blu-ray in the next few weeks/months (waiting for a $300 or less Profile 1.1 stand alone).

[2099net]

It appears Toshiba are not giving up:
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showpos ... ostcount=1

While there's a slight chance that continued sales, especially if in respectable numbers, will give some studios cause to consider HD DVD a viable platform, it is extremely unlikely this will happen.

Somehow, all I can think of is the War on Terror. It appears this format war is a war that will never stop.

[DarthPrime]

I agree, even though it looks like we have a clear winner I don't think the "war" is going to stop yet.

Really thats bad because, in my opinion, all the war is doing is prolonging HDM adoption.

Was this marketing thing planned before the Warner switch?

[MICKEYMOUSE]

OMG Toshiba is being really annoying right now. I know this is a business, but come on! This war has to end within the next month, not within the half a year. This will still have consumers confused, and at the end mad if the get an HD-DVD player, and movies. Stop this madness, and do what is best for everybody. Have one next-gen. format, we all win!!!

[slave2moonlight]

My friend just got a Playstation 3 for Christmas and we've been really enjoying seeing the Blu-Ray movies on it, but in truth, it doesn't blow me away that much since DVD quality was pretty darn good already (in my opinion). I mean, I want to get a Blu-Ray player and all, but I'm fine with waiting until it comes down in price. No way I'd pay as much as they cost now. I'll stick with regular DVDs for now, especially with there being so many great ones you can often snag for 5 bucks or even less, knowing that they'll play on the Blu-Ray player once I finally get one. DVD was a huge advancement over cassette, but the whole high definition thing, while being an improvement, is nowhere near as huge of one in my opinion. I mean, I'm all for advancements, but I'm surprised that people will pay such high prices (especially during a format war in which their format might not win, like all those poor people who went for HD) knowing they will surely go down in price in the future. Don't get me wrong, I'll be crazy excited when I finally get the player, but thankfully I'm not miserable about not having one yet as I was when I was still having to buy VHS tapes or audio cassettes.

[MICKEYMOUSE]

I was just wondering if your friend hooked the PS3 up with HDMI cable, and what kind of TV does you friend has? Because it really makes a huge difference on how you have the system set up with your TV, and more important what TV, if it supports 1080p, etc. Also the PS3 is the best Blu-Ray player out there right now. But I just think Toshiba should just put an end to this, or this war will prolong a little longer, and make more people just more ticked at the end!

[slave2moonlight]

Sorry, I don't have any idea how my friend had his PS3 hooked up. However, he usually has the best stuff possible and knows how to put it together. Not that they're rich, just that that's what they spend their money on, ha.

[DarthPrime]

You will see an improvement with 720p or 1080i on the PS3 with Blu-ray. While 1080p is the highest, it depends on your TV on just how good it will look. A lot of people can not tell the difference in 1080i or 1080p depending on the size, etc... of the TV.

Anyway I'm not sure if this Toshiba thing is a "fire sale" or not. If there was some serious announcements from Paramount or Universal about releases I could see this as a last attempt, but without them it looks like Toshiba is just trying to dump all their players.

HD DVD isn't going to just disappear in a month. There is a lot of time and money invested in the product and its supporters will continue to support it until the last minute.

Anyway the cheap HD DVD players right now are a HUGE selling point. Its too bad really that Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks are the last supporters. At this price, if more studios supported HD DVD, I could really see it taking off. Compared to a $300+ Blu-ray player...

It will be interesting to see if Universal and/or Paramount stay with HD DVD. Although all signs point to them going neutral, giving Blu-ray the win.

[2099net]

Anyway I'm not sure if this Toshiba thing is a "fire sale" or not. If there was some serious announcements from Paramount or Universal about releases I could see this as a last attempt, but without them it looks like Toshiba is just trying to dump all their players.

HD DVD isn't going to just disappear in a month. There is a lot of time and money invested in the product and its supporters will continue to support it until the last minute.

Anyway the cheap HD DVD players right now are a HUGE selling point. Its too bad really that Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks are the last supporters. At this price, if more studios supported HD DVD, I could really see it taking off. Compared to a $300+ Blu-ray player...

It will be interesting to see if Universal and/or Paramount stay with HD DVD. Although all signs point to them going neutral, giving Blu-ray the win.

Well, Toshiba is reportedly upping its Ad budget. So I don't think its a "firesale". But likewise, even though I think its a genuine attack on Blu-ray, I don't think it will succeed.

As for Universal and Paramount, I wouldn't be too quick Darth Prime. I think Toshiba may have talked them around (for now).

Still, if this is "war" you don't want a side to give up. Did Britain give up against an occupied Europe, even though the odds were against them? No.

I say "Well Done" to Toshiba for continuing to fight, even if most people (myself included) thinks that ultimately it's wasted. At least they have some faith in their product, even if it is most likely misplaced.

[DarthPrime]

As for Universal and Paramount, I wouldn't be too quick Darth Prime. I think Toshiba may have talked them around (for now).

I think Universal and Paramount have been asked, and are probably waiting to see what happens. Warner doesn't stop its support of HD DVD until June 1st, so thats still around 5 months of HD DVD the way its been since the Paramount move last year. With the cheaper players the companies are probably seeing if HD DVD picks back up.

Remember the $100 players at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Circuit City? Toshiba sold a lot of HD A2s that weekend. $150 with 2 movies in the box, in my opinion, is a similar deal on the HD A3.

While I don't think this will ultimately bring back HD DVD, it is a good attempt. Even though Warners has said they were Blu-ray exclusive I'm sure if HD DVD has massive sales over the next 5 months, and HD DVD looks like it will take off they will return.

I say "Well Done" to Toshiba for continuing to fight, even if most people (myself included) thinks that ultimately it's wasted. At least they have some faith in their product, even if it is most likely misplaced.

And they have a excellent product in my opinion. I don't blame them for continuing at all. To just stop and have a fire sale (Its sort of what the cheap players look like... I think.) would be a slap in the face to all the HD DVD supporters... and Universal/Paramount too. They are still HD DVD exclusive, and will be until an offical announcement is made by them (I see this happening after Warner's support for HD DVD ends).

[DarthPrime]

They actually mentioned HD DVD on our local news today. They had a segment about the price cuts, and mentioned that HD DVD was competing with Blu-ray which was more expensive. They said that HD DVD players now start at $149.99.

I thought it was interesting that they didn't mention anything about studio support, or any advantages of one format over the other. They just said that HD DVD and Blu-ray were competing to be the next format, and that HD DVD was now a lot cheaper than Blu-ray.

Without mentioning studio support I bet a lot of uninformed people (about Warners switch) will be buying HD DVD players the next few months. Toshiba's price cuts might actually have some impact... who knows.

[Mr. Toad]

According to the NPD group who tracks things like this in the week after the announcement, HD-DVD hardware sales fell by 88% from 11,000 to 1,200 units. So it does not look like price cuts will affect things.

Best Buy has already said they will not be buying anymore HD-DVD hardware or software. So that is the first major retailer gone.

Universal's head of HD-DVD issued a statement where they said they would still support HD-DVD but nowhere in the statement did they deny they were also going Blu.

It will all be over in less than six months.

[DarthPrime]

6 months will be quick... I still think it will be longer, but things should be pretty settled by holiday 2008. 2009 will be the year Blu-ray picks up... I think.

Was the sales data from after the Warner's annoucement or the Toshiba price cut?

If its for after the price cuts its sort of sad that they didn't really work. Under $150 is a steal for the HD A3 with 7 movies. However the Warner announcement has put a lot of people on hold right now.

I saw the HD D3 (Sam's Club/Costco model of the HD A3) at Sam's recently with a HDMI cable for $128. I was very tempted, but knew I would wait out the next few months to see if the format did die before buying anything. Before the Warner's annoucement I would have picked one up, and I'm sure many would have too.

Blu-ray will end up being the winner. Its just a matter of time right now. Also whenever prices drop and the Profile 1.1, and 2.0 players are out sales should start going up.

[2099net]

All is not as it seems regarding player "sales".
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showpos ... ostcount=1

But at the end of the day, its still 1,000s more Blu-ray owners, which is all that matters.

[DarthPrime]

Yeah those free players add up quick. A lot of TVs will be sold in the next week, etc... due to the Super Bowl.

[DarthPrime]

Have not checked my local Circuit City, but I've seen a lot of talk on other forums that the HD A3 is on clearance at Circuit City for $100.

Not sure if Circuit City is dumping HD DVD or not though. The HD A30 is on clearance as well for $150.

[Mr. Toad]

Darth - have not heard about Circuit City yet. Best Buy has made its decision to go Blu. Rumours are Wal Mart have as well, they just have yet to announce it yet. Apparently they want to let Toshiba who they have a good relationship with save some face.

I would imagine the $100 player may be an announced blowout sale or they are getting some major incentives from Toshiba.

[DarthPrime]

Went by Circuit City tonight to pickup a game for my cousin's birthday. I checked on the players and didn't see them listed as clearance.

I did notice Blu-ray at our Wal-Mart this week for the first time on a display. They had a TV and a Sony Blu-ray player setup as soon as you walked into the door. Beside it was a huge stack of HD A3s for $148.

They were still stocking HD DVD movies, but had about twice as many Blu-rays.

[Mr. Toad]

The one thing the Toshiba is that it is probably the best High Def machine on the market for upconverting standard DVDs. Based on that alone, it is worth the $100.