Re: HD DVD gain in market share after huge drop

"Well, at least I know we BOTH will buying Profile 2.0 machines, since anything you already have won't be 2.0 (without serious emulation or work-arounds). "

Actually I wont. I have a ps3 that is 2.0 capable. Either way, early adopters know things evolve, so for bluray owners at least they wont have to rebuy movies in the future because their format is dead and its too hard to find a non marked up player on ebay. PLUS all bluray players WILL STILL PLAY 2.0 movies, just not the PIP, BDi functionality in the special features. So while some will upgrade right away it isnt necessary, and most of the time I am interested in the movie itself. Id hate to be in the HDDVD camp though-ouch

"michial you said that paramount and universal will drop their exclusives when their contract is over, but both have agreements in their contract that they can lose their exclusives if warner goes blu exclusive. so if they wanted to drop their exclusives they could have already. this information has already been presented and both studios said they are not changing.

movie studio exclusives are a big help in terms of sales, but the simple fact is the average consumer is uninformed as to what studios are exclusive to what format and a good portion of the ones that do know have no ideo what studio is producing what movie. you are overestimating the average consumers desire to look up information on a product before they buy it. most people go into a store and buy something they can afford because its cooler then the one they have... plain and simple. they don't know or care about studio support. "

I think you are underestimating the deceptiveness of the studio talking heads on the one hand and the intelligence of the consumer on the other hand. The studio heads of course will say they are still hddvd. Remember when Warner said the same thing in Dec of 07 a few weeks before it bailed. They have to. But dont think that Uni and Para have warm fuzzies and personal affinities for hddvd-no they though it would win and make MONEY, but its not-so until they can implement their impending exit strategy(which they wont announce until the right time) they will continue to say they are behind it. But believe me all businesses have boards and shareholders who care only about sound FUTURE investments and making money. They will leave Toshibas fantasy attempts at trying to comeback sometime in the future for the bluray camp which has the majority of studio, manufacturer, and consumer support-even with drastic fire sale prices on hddvd hardware.
Point two-you dont think the average consumer walking into Bestbuy, Target, Blockbuster, etc and seeing only blu or at least two to three times the amount of movies and players will know soemthing is up. Hddvd has some good movies but the major blockbusters(with the exception of a few) are only out or only coming to blu PLUS blue has the majority of FAMILY movies-DISNEY is huge. Dont think think these factors wont imply to the consumer which format has won. It doesnt matter how cheap the hardware is-you need to play something on it to make it worth while. Its only a matter of time-THE FUTURE IS BLU.

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[Post edited by michial on Jan 30, 2008 - CST 11:00 AM]

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The studio heads of course will say they are still hddvd. Remember when Warner said the same thing in Dec of 07 a few weeks before it bailed. They have to.

It has been confirmed already that Warner Bros was going to go HD DVD exclusive and actually turned down Sony twice before accepting the final $500 million offer.

Falcon...

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"it has now been confirmed"

- ?

Uh, no it hasn't. There's no hard proof yet of a "$500 million payout", and the other claim above is based on John Pucio revealing some 'hearsay' comments from an insider's friend - possible/probable, but NOT definite, and especially NOT "confirmed".

Be careful with these claims.

-LH (The Loverboy)

"It has been confirmed already that Warner Bros was going to go HD DVD exclusive and actually turned down Sony twice before accepting the final $500 million offer. "

No proof of this, but granting you the assumption it did-who cares-its a moot point to how business works. Profit and being candid go hand in hand. Uni and Para mount wont announce their exit the same day they decide. No they have stages and will not cut their nose off to spite their face. They will try to empty their warehouses first. If they thought it was the winning format and popular choice they wouldnt slash prices-supply and demand 101. They are not naive to think a commercial on Sunday and obvious desparate clearance pricing will cause the other studios to go back to bluray. Its smart business. Once they have made as much as they can on this last gasp-attempt, while blu continues to trounce in 2 to 1 or more sales in hardware and software, and as the majority of new releases are mainly blu-they will go where the MONEY is. In the end they must profit-not be loyal to Toshiba becuase they believe in a format or are stubborn. Business 101 plain and simple.

Couldn't have said it better michial! - Excellent post.

-LH (The Loverboy)
~ HI-DEF DUAL SUPPORT SUPPORTER ~

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According to a trusted source that was close to the negotiations, Warner and FOX were working on a deal to go Exclusive to HD DVD as recent as last week. Our source tells us that Warner was only willing to go to HD DVD if FOX would go with them. Their thinking was if they just went to HD DVD by themselves, it would not end the format war. Early this week FOX was paid an undisclosed amount to remain exclusive to Blu-ray. With the FOX deal falling through, Warner had no choice but to accept the BDA’s $500 Million offer to go Blu-ray exclusive.

http://formatwarcentral.com/index.php/2008/01/04/warner-swayed-by-500-million-from-the-bda/

Hendrix, you're right but when you have multiple sources saying the same thing...well as the saying goes...Where there's smoke there's fire.

Granted Disney denied ever taking money or incentives as did Fox and I believe Paramount never really admitted to accepting anything either. They try to be as diplomatic as possible I guess.

Michial, do you honestly believe the HD DVD camp would spend 2.7 million on a 30 second commercial to clear inventory? Who's kidding who.

Also considering the CEO of Universal pictures is one of the top guys in the HD DVD camp he would know first hand if HD DVD was throwing in the towel. Why would he bother to say he is staying HD DVD exclusive and announce upcoming HD DVD releases if HD DVD was actually folding? Wouldn't they be working something out with the bluray camp? Guys stay focused!

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[Post edited by Falcon01 on Jan 30, 2008 - CST 11:26 AM]

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According to a trusted source that was close to the negotiations, Warner and FOX were working on a deal to go Exclusive to HD DVD as recent as last week. Our source tells us that Warner was only willing to go to HD DVD if FOX would go with them. Their thinking was if they just went to HD DVD by themselves, it would not end the format war. Early this week FOX was paid an undisclosed amount to remain exclusive to Blu-ray. With the FOX deal falling through, Warner had no choice but to accept the BDA’s $500 Million offer to go Blu-ray exclusive.

All of that doesnt really matter anymore. We are here now. Its better for the whole HD community and movement to just move on. Just think how great it will be when Toshiba finally gives in to reality. There will be a massive influx of monies from manufacturers, studios, retailers etc. We will have more movies and players, lower prices, Speilberg and Jackson will put out their hot titles. It will be great. But now we get to watch the inevitable drag on and on as hardline red party activists bring up the past injustices and claim such and such is better. It reminds me of what happens when you cut of a lizards tail-even after its tail is severed and dead it still wiggles around. Thats whats gong on here. Let them wiggle-their nerve will eventually wear off as reality sets in. I would say the same thing to the bluray camp if they were in the same position as hddvd is now.

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I would say the same thing to the bluray camp if they were in the same position as hddvd is now.

Ya. I'm sure you would.

I would feel the same towards the blu camp if they were in the shoes of hddvd now . I have no motivation to lie. Having a different opinion on the hd situation than me is fine but implying Iam lying is not. Lets move on.