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

[Mr. Toad]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64393

[Dottie]

That was fast. Not even a week after Warner annunced that it was dropping HDDVD, but seeing that there ws a clause in the Paramount contract it is not entirely surprising.
I think we can say now that the format war is definitely over with only one sudio left supporting HDDVD and nobody knows when that will switch too.
Let's only hope that the price for BluRay drops soon, then the format will really take off.

[UmbrellaFish]

Well, it's official. Even though I don't own a hi-def TV or a Blu-Ray player, I'll be buying Sleeping Beauty on DVD and Blu-Ray.

P.S. How much does a Blu-Ray player cost exactly. I figure $400.

[Mr. Toad]

Given HD-DVDs totally disappearence from CES in both their own presence and as part of Microsoft's big presentation not a surprise at all. It seemed like everybody but Toshiba had given up in recent days. Apparently, Dreamworks Amination will do whatever Paramount does given Dreamworks live action is with Paramount anyway. That makes it 7-1 and Universal does not have anywhere near the catalogue to go it alone.

[TM2-Megatron]

According to the Digital Bits, Universal may also be pretty quick to follow the pack:

http://digitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Not entirely surprising, all things considered. Looks like this format war isn't going to last nearly as long as many thought it would. The average consumer does tend to buy into hype far too easily, lol. The theoretical difference in quality between the two formats is negligable, and on most HDTVs, undetectable even if present.

While I am glad that Blu-Ray is sticking around so at least we get a decent burning format for the computer, in the realm of Home Video I would have greatly preferred some kind of hybrid disc that used the Blu-Ray disc technology along with a spec closer to that of HD-DVD's... no region coding, less annoying DRM, non-mandatory AACS, better audio codec selection, etc.

[DarthPrime]

I read about this last night, and I'm still taking it as a rumor. Although it is a rumor that will probably happen very soon. Universal didn't say anything, although Paramount did say they would still support HD DVD. I'm thinking they will go dual format again.

However when/if this happens its over for HD DVD.

I think once CES is over we will see the end of HD DVD. Although the end is pretty much already here.

[2099net]

Well, its probably not the end of HD DVD. They still have CH DVD (or whatever it is) a specific version of HD DVD for the chinese market. And I assume that will continue. Toshiba may still be able to make money just on that - China's market is huge - but it will no doubt take longer to recover costs.

I find it ironic that at a time when customers have rejected DRM on music downloads and all four major music content providers are now offering DRM free downloads (and even more ironically, Sony, the last to do so started offering DRM free downloads the day Warner Bros announced that they were going Blu-ray only) a format which supports more DRM than its competitor is chosen (apparently by the customers).

Still, just like music can support DRM but not have it implemented, I guess most of the extended DRM in Blu-ray can be ignored too should the customer demand it.

[Mr. Toad]

HBO goes Blu and Universal switches too

www.digitalbits.com

[DarthPrime]

Universal hasn't switched yet. Their HD DVD exclusive contract has expired, so they are "free" to move to Blu. I think some announcement will be made end of the month or in February. Same with Paramount. I actually look for Universal to go format neutral. They have been a strong supporter of HD DVD, and I think they will still release some titles until the format is gone. I'm not sure on Paramount, but they could do the same as well.

I wonder when stand alone Profile 1.1 players will be available for around $299? Hopefully sometime soon.

[Mr. Toad]

Universal hasn't switched yet. Their HD DVD exclusive contract has expired, so they are "free" to move to Blu. I think some announcement will be made end of the month or in February. Same with Paramount. I actually look for Universal to go format neutral. They have been a strong supporter of HD DVD, and I think they will still release some titles until the format is gone. I'm not sure on Paramount, but they could do the same as well.

I wonder when stand alone Profile 1.1 players will be available for around $299? Hopefully sometime soon.

It actually expires on January 31st. There is absolutely no reason to go format neutral. Multiple sources within Paramount indicate they are just plain switching. They can't announce it yet due to legal issues with their active agreement. However, multiple sources again say that they had an out for their agreement if Warner went Blu exclusive.

Why would Universal continue to do HD-DVD. Best case scenario is Dreamworks animation and their 20 movies and Universal against Paramount, Disney, Fox, Warner, New Line ect. Every hardware maker except Toshiba has thrown in the towel. We can assume that Microsoft has as well from their lack of presentation at CES.

[Mr. Toad]

And the retailers begin to switch too

Suncoasst, Warehouse, Second Spin and Hilight Video(not the biggest companies) but all going Blu exclusive.

[Mr. Toad]

and Bill gates speaks(stolen from the digital bits)

Q: Warner's announcement backing Blu-ray high-definition DVDs suggests the death of the HD DVD format, which Microsoft has supported. What's your reaction?

A: There has been a lot of back and forth. The announcement before that was Paramount putting exclusive support behind HD DVD. HD DVD did well over the holidays. The other trend we're seeing is that direct download over broadband — I think the greatest example of that is XBox Live — (is) becoming an important choice. Over time, that will be the dominant way that people get their movies."

[MICKEYMOUSE]

In my mind Paramount and Universal are being very stubborn right now. It is clear that Blu-Ray is winning this format war (with sales, and studio exclusives), and it really just has to end within the next few weeks, no later than mid-Feb should we know what HD-DVD is finally extinct! This format war can not drag on any longer, and will just make customers more hesitant to go next-gen a little longer. These two companies have to just make the announcements themselves, that they are in fact going for a switch in Blu-Ray. Even if these two go neutral, HD-DVD is over!!

I myself own a Blu-Ray player (PS3), and have not yet to purchased a Blu-Ray movie until I know that there is only one next gen-format. Until then I will still buy DVDs.

Once there is a clear winner, everyone that owns a HDTV will in my mind jump ship form DVD to Blu-Ray, I will for sure. DVD and Blu-Ray will just compete with all studios behind both formats.

I know it sucks for the people that invested in the HD-DVD player and movies, and I am sure there will be trade ins for players, and movies, once everything gets squared away.

I am just tried of reading all these articles that this happened, but there is a but this, however that. This format has to end, and it needs to end now. I think customers, like me are getting tired, and want 1 next-gen format.

[2099net]

I myself own a Blu-Ray player (PS3), and have not yet to purchased a Blu-Ray movie until I know that there is only one next gen-format. Until then I will still buy DVDs.

No offence MickeyMouse, but why exactly are you not buying Blu-ray movies? You have a PS3 and presumably you intend to keep it for at least the next 5 years, if not more. It's not like Blu-ray, even if it lost, would disappear. Has everyone's UMD discs stopped working? Is it impossible to still buy UMD disc players (PSPs) even though the format has not been widely accepted by the public or the retailers? No. In fact, it's CHEAPER to buy PSPs now, and it will be CHEAPER to buy PS3s in the future. And although not certain, Sony's past actions indicate that a PS4, even if it didn't use Blu-ray, will still be compatible with Blu-ray discs (and DVDs, and CDs).

So why do you expect others to encourage the growth and maturation of the next generation of movie discs with their purchases, while you stand on the sidelines and contribute nothing? If you believe in something, why not make a commitment?

[Sotiris]

The rumor of Paramount dropping HD DVD appears to be false

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64691/ ... yn12yIMJA5

[Mr. Toad]

The rumor of Paramount dropping HD DVD appears to be false

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/64691/ ... yn12yIMJA5

Keep in mind

1) Warner Brothers sent out a press release saying they were going to still support it two weeks before going Blu only.
2) Nowhere in that press release does it say they are not going to Blu Ray

[Mr. Toad]

And Steven Spielberg may have let Paramount's real plans out of the bag....Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull(a Paramount movie) is being prepped for Blu Ray not HD-DVD.

So a May movie, contract expires in about Septemer, November or December DVD, makes sense.

[MICKEYMOUSE]

I myself own a Blu-Ray player (PS3), and have not yet to purchased a Blu-Ray movie until I know that there is only one next gen-format. Until then I will still buy DVDs.

No offence MickeyMouse, but why exactly are you not buying Blu-ray movies? You have a PS3 and presumably you intend to keep it for at least the next 5 years, if not more. It's not like Blu-ray, even if it lost, would disappear. Has everyone's UMD discs stopped working? Is it impossible to still buy UMD disc players (PSPs) even though the format has not been widely accepted by the public or the retailers? No. In fact, it's CHEAPER to buy PSPs now, and it will be CHEAPER to buy PS3s in the future. And although not certain, Sony's past actions indicate that a PS4, even if it didn't use Blu-ray, will still be compatible with Blu-ray discs (and DVDs, and CDs).

So why do you expect others to encourage the growth and maturation of the next generation of movie discs with their purchases, while you stand on the sidelines and contribute nothing? If you believe in something, why not make a commitment?

When I bought my PS3 I bought it to play video games. What is wrong with waiting until one flops, which looks like it will be HD-DVD....Once there is one format, I will buy an individual Blu-Ray player. By then the prices for both players, and movies will drop. I am playing the waiting game like almost 80-90% of consumers.

[Ktrek]

Hey... I own a Blu-Ray Samsung player and I have yet to buy one Blu-Ray DVD. Not because I don't believe in the format because if I didn't I would never have bought the player to begin with. I was confident that Blu-Ray would be the winner in the format war and I am ready to buy Blu when there are titles I MUST have in my library. In the interim I am satisfied to rent Blu-Ray discs from my local Blockbuster. I think owning a PS3 or a standalone Blu-Ray machine IS supporting Blu-Ray. Many people may not be willing to commit to $30.00 a movie right now and I'm sure that if Blu-Ray wins we will see movies quickly drop to the current DVD prices or at the highest around $20.00 for a new release. So far on the horizon it looks like my first Blu-Ray purchase is going to be Enchanted and after that who knows. I may start buying everything in Blu if this war comes to an absolute end.

Kevin

[MICKEYMOUSE]

Enchanted is more, and more likely to be my 1st Blu-Ray movie purchase too (that is if by then Universal and Paramount announced a switch, or a neutral position). Then from there I still have to buy Cars, and Ratatouille....then the classics like Sleeping Beauty.