Re: Michael Bay Accuses Microsoft of Conspiracy

Not really distant. Cox cable, my local provider currently have VOD using Scientific Atlanta receivers. I havent downloaded anything HD yet, but the free kids shows work great. The only problem with the downloadable is the monthly service fees, its just more reasurring that you own a physical disc than hopeing the company you pay for movies doesn't go out of business and then you are out of luck on any already purchased movies. Any way this thread is getting off track but Mr. Bay was pissed when he first found out about the choice of Transformers only on HD and went on a rant, he later kissed and made up. Is Microsoft guilty of conspiracy? , probably about as much as Sony is too.

Skyhawk, I never said that Nielsen didn't include Wal-Mart sales. I said that Nielsen ratings really don't mean much because their numbers are based only on a small sample of the population. If that sample is high for something, that doesn't necessarily mean it's high like that all over.

So please don't go putting words in other people's mouths.

I really don't think is very distant either...there was a big revolution with TiVo (heck, I don't remember ever programing my vcr to record anything, unless I was there to push the button ) and I think that codecs and technology will improve to make it happen, even if the broadband infrastructure isn't invested on. For like you said, $40/month would be a great choice to watch HD content with a 'free' set up box attached to your HDTV.

But would I actually buy digital content online? Not at all, I will always buy my discs, that I can display and show off to others ...however, the rental service would and will work out...

So on top of the crazy cable/satellite bill we get every month for all the HD channels and the movie channels we are supposed to pay an additional $40 to download movies? Ah no.

I'll buy the movies I want and have them up on my shelf to watch whenever I want.

One of the things that concern me about delivering HD VOD, is that fiber optic communications providers are under no obligation to share their cable with the competition as they now do with copper wire. And why should they... right? Unfortunately the high cost of the fiber-to-the-home infrastructure presents formidable barriers to entry after the 1st company is already established. And given the fact that these solutions aren't in place just to deliver HD VOD, broadcast video, and interactive features - but also Internet and landline phone services as well. That's a lot of trust to place in a single company who effectively becomes a monopoly without the burden of government regulations that other types of communication providers face.

Perhaps this is why Verison has had to literally buy off many municipalities as it slowly extends its FiOS services.

It's not really smart to use "HD-DVD" to further the war... HD-DVD was created by the same group that created DVD... And if HD-DVD survives, MS will make money off HDi.

It's more logical to say that MS wants HD-DVD to WIN, not stalemate it.

Just more consumer confusion handed up by Sony... I was surprised though to find out that of those 2.3 million BR players, most of them ARE not 1.1..

Michael Bay is a Sony tool... Apparently he would have rather Transformers be issued on BR, and not have all the extras it had with HD-DVD. Who's taking checks???

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[Post edited by shawnwc on Dec 7, 2007]

To update the infrastructure we need money.... mmmhhhh... let's see, we need billions, mmhhh... millions, mmmhhhh...

Just a very out of this world guess, could, maybe, just, out on the infinity and beyond, just maybe, could, kinda, Microsoft subside something like it? I mean, Google is going to buy spectrum for their wireless thing, so..... )

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[Post edited by mvckalel on Dec 7, 2007]

Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn’t much, but the reception was excellent.

Haha, nice one Kuco I didn't get it the first time but better late then never

I just wanted to say that I think this whole argument that HD DVD is a tool to destroy Blu-Ray is the dumbest thing in a long line of dumb things that I have heard during this format war, regardless of which side you support.

First of all HD DVD was around first and Sony introduced Blu-Ray after splitting from the DVD consortium. Second: this whole HD-download argument is incredibly flawed. I make DVDs for a living, as well as HD content for the internet. And let me tell you guys something, internet movie downloads are not very profitable at all. Companies that are introducing these services are trying to compete with cable and satellite pay-per-view and illegal file sharing, not disc formats. Disc based formats are still the most profitable way to sell movies.

Add to that growing speculation that increased demands for bandwidth will bring internet infrastructure to it's knees over the next few years, potentially crippling HD download services and this starts to seem like a really unprofitable venture. Until service providers can stream HD content at least equal to cable or satellite HD in faster-than-realtime to viewers, these services will not even compete with pay-per-view providers let alone disc formats. Everybody involved stands to make more from disc formats, at least for the next few years. And to talk about Microsoft specifically, the money they make off of HD DVD or Blu-Ray as far as royalties from HDi or VC-1 or whatever must dwarf what they could make providing HD content on-line.