Thread: HD Format War "News"

My talk of vertical monopoly is not just blowing smoke.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118341745768555943.html

The European Commission, the European Union's executive body, appears to be particularly interested in the activities of the Blu-ray group because of its dominance in Hollywood, according to people familiar with the situation. The commission is investigating whether improper tactics were used to suppress competition and persuade the studios to back their format.

Originally Posted by Mr. Irreverent

Just saw Casino Royale in Blu-Ray and it was the Shiz. Looking forward to getting a chance to watch HD-DVD so I make a good comparison.

BTW, any of you guys think there is a chance that BOTH formats will be around and most people will just opt to buy a hybrid player?

I doubt it. I don't think the format goes anywhere until there is a winner. This holiday season should kill HD-DVD, because they are going to be selling cheap players to people who are going to be shocked and pissed that they can't get the majority of movies they want to see.

Originally Posted by go

My talk of vertical monopoly is not just blowing smoke.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118341745768555943.html

So far, smoke is still all it is.

The HD DVD camp has been lobbying the commission to draw attention to Blu-ray's tactics in the movie capital in a bid to force more studios to put their product on HD DVD, according to people familiar with the situation.

So all of this was done at the bequest of the HD-DVD camp. Sounds an awful lot like sour grapes.

I think it's pretty clear that it isn't backroom deals that has certain studios backing Blu-ray. Disney has stated time and time again that they want the format with the most space. Fox has stated they want the format with the most protection of their property - something that they proved by pulling ALL Blu-ray releases after HD-DVD was hacked and are still waiting for BD+ to be available.

Sorry, dude, but the real stink in backroom relationships HAS to be Universal and HD-DVD. Think about it, they have chosen a format that is losing the war by a 30 to 70 margin, and are pumping out lame catalog titles without any effort to make them genuinely impressive. Warner and Paramount prove that studios have the right to make discs on both formats.

The monopoly in this war still exists with Toshiba, IMO.

Thanks for posting that article, though. It does give me the idea that HD-DVD is starting to really see the writing on the wall and is getting desparate in order to save their investment.

BTW . . . HD-DVD is taking an absolute POUNDING in Europe. It's really not much of a war at all at this point.

In yet another blow to HD DVD, Target has announced that they will only sell Blu-ray players during the holiday season.

http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...43741920070726

1) DVD libraries are for idiots
2) BluRay or HD-DVD libraries are for bigger idiots
3) digital downloaders will laugh at *******s who load discs.

-_Sf

Not that I think it is going to help them, but Microsoft announced that they are lowering the price for the XBox HD-DVD add on (by a paltry $20), and you get 5 free HD-DVDs (out of a choice of 15)

I was on the fence for a few months about venturing into the "format neutral" segment and buying an HD-DVD player, but I won't even do that now. I'll wait for Universal - so be it. HD-DVD has completely bungled there campaign, and it's been an onslaught of crappy news after crappy news for them in the last three or four weeks.

Retailers are going to have an EXTREMELY large say in all of this, as their shelf space is valuable, and they're not going to dedicate double the necessary space required for what should have been decided years ago.

Assuming Fox gets back on board (and all indications seem to point that way), Blu-ray can drive a big nail with some highly marketable High-Def exclusives this Christmas. What good is a $200 (or hell, a FREE player) if people can't get the movies they want? They'll see Pixar, and Disney, and Pirates, and Spiderman all only available on one format.

Lack of studio support from the get-go is the reason HD-DVD is going to die in 2008.

Originally Posted by seraphim

1) DVD libraries are for idiots
2) BluRay or HD-DVD libraries are for bigger idiots
3) digital downloaders will laugh at *******s who load discs.

Keep dreaming, skippy. 720p transfers that are nothing but rentals? That's like bragging about nailing the third or forth ugliest chick in a room full of them.

Digital downloading WILL be the future when streams can handle lossless audio codecs at HDMI-rated bitrates, as well as true 1080p transfers. Right now, they can't even come close.

Originally Posted by dgrycan

Keep dreaming, skippy. 720p transfers that are nothing but rentals? That's like bragging about nailing the third or forth ugliest chick in a room full of them.

Digital downloading WILL be the future when streams can handle lossless audio codecs at HDMI-rated bitrates, as well as true 1080p transfers. Right now, they can't even come close.

This would be true if the world populace was dominated by techno-geeks, but it's not so who's dreaming now?

This argument of who will win the war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is as relevant as who's prettier Ruth Buzzy or Phylis Diller. Don't get me wrong supporters of Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, the quality of both is superior to any other type of physical or downloadable media. You give society too much credit. Just look at what passes for entertainment and I'll leave it at that.