Paramount and Dreamworks going HD DVD exclusive

[kak]

How can you say that? How do you know how many people choose to watch features or not? Just because you may not care to doesn't mean the majority of the people out there don't want to.

Anytime I have ever watched a movie with anyone else, we have never watched anything other than the feature. Nor have I ever heard 'oh dude you gotta check these special features out!'

That part is not really worth worrying about. They will release combo players, which are already being designed and produced. So, whatever movies you have now, you will be able to watch later no matter who wins.

They are also extremely expensive. I also don't think combo players are going to be a big deal as when one format wins, the tech will die fast.

[Ayepecks]

LOL yeah, they are all coming to HD DVD. :)

When did this happen? Lionsgate is no longer exclusive?

[TruckWEB]

No, it has been speculated by some Blu-Ray guys, "supposedly" insiders, that's why I said Friday, but the real announcement should come in at CEDIA from Sept. 5-9.

We are sept 4... I hope we will know something good soon!!! :)

[TDQuiksilver]

When did this happen? Lionsgate is no longer exclusive?

Atleast you HD-DVD boys are getting a piece of the pie now... but still, sales on the other side of the sea are dominating. Check Nielsen numbers for reference.

Oh, are we still waiting on this "big news" or what?

[libertas83]

Atleast you HD-DVD boys are getting a piece of the pie now... but still, sales on the other side of the sea are dominating. Check Nielsen numbers for reference.

Oh, are we still waiting on this "big news" or what?

The sales of either format is so pitiful that it doesn't matter. Think about it this way, 300 sold 7 million DVDs in its first week. That means in one week, 1 DVD title outsold all HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs combined. DVD is the competition people and where the real format war begins.

[Boz]

We are sept 4... I hope we will know something good soon!!! :)

Well I'm hoping bigger stuff will be announced. I'm personally hoping for Warner going HD DVD or Transformers going global on HD DVD/DVD combo or twin disc replacing the SD DVD completely. So Blu-Ray owners if they wanted to have it on DVD at least, would have to still own an HD DVD copy next to their PS3 :devil:

But regrdless, even if nothing huge gets announced, Paramount and Dreamworks the type of announcement that will be remember until the end. Sony guys said that Andy Parsons (a spokesperson for BDA) was on vacation when they announced it and, well let's say his vacation was not really pleasant :p

[TruckWEB]

But regrdless, even if nothing huge gets announced, Paramount and Dreamworks the type of announcement that will be remember until the end.

If nothing else happen, it's still not clear that HD-DVD will win the battle. Something else need to happen because their is enough steam backing Blu-Ray to make it live long enough....

[Ayepecks]

Atleast you HD-DVD boys are getting a piece of the pie now... but still, sales on the other side of the sea are dominating. Check Nielsen numbers for reference.

Oh, are we still waiting on this "big news" or what?

Chill out, man. I was simply asking. I support neither format at the moment... an answer would have sufficed. :rolleyes:

[Boz]

Btw, for those who don't know the Venturer HD DVD player (A fully featured HD DVD player btw, with all the goodies) will be retailing at $199 and reaching most likely $149 pricepoint this holiday. So keep an eye out.

Vizio 37" HDTV this holiday season = $399

Venturer HD DVD player this holiday season = $149

XBox 360 HD DVD addon this holiday season = $129

FREE Transformers HD DVD included with the HD DVD player purchase = $0

A look on Blu-ray cheerleader face when they find out nobody is buying Blu-Ray anymore = PRICELESS

:laugh:

[L3thal Veteran]

Btw, for those who don't know the Venturer HD DVD player (A fully featured HD DVD player btw, with all the goodies) will be retailing at $199 and reaching most likely $149 pricepoint this holiday. So keep an eye out.

Vizio 37" HDTV this holiday season = $399

Venturer HD DVD player this holiday season = $149

XBox 360 HD DVD addon this holiday season = $129

FREE Transformers HD DVD included with the HD DVD player purchase = $0

A look on Blu-ray cheerleader face when they find out nobody is buying Blu-Ray anymore = PRICELESS

:laugh:

Thanks for enlightening us. I mean, afterall, Blu-Ray will never run a promotion for the holiday season. I mean, what company runs a promotion for the holiday season besides the HD-DVD camp?

Let me tell you, the HD-DVD camp are pure geniuses :rolleyes:

Besides, who the hell buys a Vizio TV anyway? Besides people on a tight budget, no one else does (nothing against being on a tight budget). However, like I mentioned in the other thread, after they buy that HD-DVD setup, they will not buy anymore HD-DVD movies after they realize that 4 extra movies will cost as much as the player itself, hence why HD-DVD players outsell Blu-Ray players yet Blu-Ray is outselling HD-DVD by a good amount in terms of movies sold.

[Boz]

Thanks for enlightening us. I mean, afterall, Blu-Ray will never run a promotion for the holiday season. I mean, what company runs a promotion for the holiday season besides the HD-DVD camp?

Let me tell you, the HD-DVD camp are pure geniuses :rolleyes:

Besides, who the hell buys a Vizio TV anyway? Besides people on a tight budget, no one else does (nothing against being on a tight budget). However, like I mentioned in the other thread, after they buy that HD-DVD setup, they will not buy anymore HD-DVD movies after they realize that 4 extra movies will cost as much as the player itself, hence why HD-DVD players outsell Blu-Ray players yet Blu-Ray is outselling HD-DVD by a good amount in terms of movies sold.

Yep, that's right..nobody buys Vizio..

OH WAIT..

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/21/vizio...lcd-king-in-q2/

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/08/24/expec...holiday-season/

[TruckWEB]

A look on Blu-ray cheerleader face when they find out nobody is buying Blu-Ray anymore = PRICELESS

:laugh:

You're going just a little bit too far... Promotion during Holiday season are not just for HD-DVD. The Blu-Ray camp will do the same.

They are allready giving what, 8 movies with a Blu-Ray player at Amazon.com (same thing for HD-DVD, I know).

[L3thal Veteran]

Consumers that are willing to transition to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will not buy Vizio TV's, period. Hell, the cost of an HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray Player is nearly equal to the price of the TV. People buying the Vizio will not affect the battle between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

This quote states it best from your source:

bargain shoppers should be able to pick up a 42-inch "second-tier" (aka cheap, no-name house brands) LCD for around $699. The 32-inchers should go for around $299-399 which would officially make 'em less expensive than those 'ol CRTs.

In other words, you can a 32" TV for $299 but what are the odds that same person will buy a $199 HD-DVD player and pay >$20 for an HD-DVD movie? Exactly...

[TruckWEB]

Consumers that are willing to transition to Blu-Ray or HD-DVD will not buy Vizio TV's, period. Hell, the cost of an HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray Player is nearly equal to the price of the TV. People buying the Vizio will not affect the battle between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

In other words, you can a 32" TV for $299 but what are the odds that same person will buy a $199 HD-DVD player and pay >$20 for an HD-DVD movie? Exactly...

Why not? Why is it not possible for a consumer to buy a $299 32" LCD and match it with a $199 (or lower) HD-DVD player? How is that impossible in your mind? It may be not the ideal home theater, but I would not mind having a kit like that in my bedroom. And for those with less money to spare, it's a nice HD kit. Not everyone is going for the $5000-6000 full blown home theater.... :rolleyes:

Remember, you don't need to buy the movies... you can rent them.

Edited September 5, 2007 by TruckWEB

[L3thal Veteran]

Now you are changing things around. Of course it will fit your argument better if you mention the more expensive $699 TV but lets face it, the size difference between 32 and 42 does not warrant double, nearly triple the cost. Therefore, it is safe to say that the 32" TV will sell the most and for the price of $299, it will be hard for someone to pay double that for a measly 10 inches.

[TruckWEB]

Now you are changing things around. Of course it will fit your argument better if you mention the more expensive $699 TV but lets face it, the size difference between 32 and 42 does not warrant double, nearly triple the cost. Therefore, it is safe to say that the 32" TV will sell the most and for the price of $299, it will be hard for someone to pay double that for a measly 10 inches.

Sorry, I edited my post. Still, why is it not possible to buy a $299 32" TV + $199 HD-DVD player? What's wrong with that? In my mind, 720p is still better than 480p. HD movies will look better than plan old DVD even on that 32" TV.

[L3thal Veteran]

You are not getting the point here. The point is that the percentage of people that will buy that $299 TV and and HD-DVD player is negligible compared to the ones that will buy it with a DVD player or with nothing. Having TV's for cheaper will not make or break the format war, period. It all comes down to the enthusiast market to set the pace and we all know that enthusiasts will not go out and buy a Vizio 32" TV.

[Boz]

You are not getting the point here. The point is that the percentage of people that will buy that $299 TV and and HD-DVD player is negligible compared to the ones that will buy it with a DVD player or with nothing. Having TV's for cheaper will not make or break the format war, period. It all comes down to the enthusiast market to set the pace and we all know that enthusiasts will not go out and buy a Vizio 32" TV.

Okay..Lethal..so let's wait say..beginning of next year and re-examine your statements you are making now..I'll hold you to them..cool?

[L3thal Veteran]

Sure, sounds good. We'll see how it ends up going.

[Ayepecks]

You are not getting the point here. The point is that the percentage of people that will buy that $299 TV and and HD-DVD player is negligible compared to the ones that will buy it with a DVD player or with nothing. Having TV's for cheaper will not make or break the format war, period. It all comes down to the enthusiast market to set the pace and we all know that enthusiasts will not go out and buy a Vizio 32" TV.

While I normally agree with you, I can't understand your logic here at all.

When you but a TV, you're buying it for what it can do. You're buying it for the potential to play DVDs, buy satellite and cable, etc. If you buy a high-def TV, you're going to buy it for the high-def capabilities. The cheaper it is, the more likely you're going to buy it.

I've seen numerous TVs bought for around $200 when they were all non-HD and people buy $100 DVD players... the same difference as what you're mentioning! If they buy a high-def TV, they're going to buy the cheapest high-def format player available, as long as it's not unreasonable. $200 isn't unreasonable right now.

Enthusiasts wouldn't be the ones buying the cheapest format player available, either, just like they wouldn't be buying the cheapest LCD HD TV.

[goji]

Enthusiasts wouldn't be the ones buying the cheapest format player available, either, just like they wouldn't be buying the cheapest LCD HD TV.

Which happens to correlate with the exact same question I have been raising since day one about this HD format war; whats the point? Is HD, which stands for "High Definition" meant to represent a higher quality or standard than what is available on DVD for mass consumption or not? If it is, why are companies and certain board members praising the seemingly devaluation of the format for mass consumption especially for the majority who are not even equipped to enjoy this new format.

HD remains a niche market which Nielsen and other media watchdogs can quickly attest to. Unfortunately many have missed this point and have yet to answer or provide a reasonable enough argument for the mass adoption of this newer medium which was created primarily for copy right protection, not HD. However as end users, luckily, we were able to receive it the other way around.

It will be those "enthusiasts" you speak of who purchase higher quality HT components to properly enjoy the new formats, and those are in the far minority.

[Ayepecks]

You are not comprehending what I'm saying.

If someone buys an HDTV, and they know they have an HDTV, they're going to want an HD format player. There's nothing "enthusiast" about that. If they see HD players available, and one's a reasonable price, why would they not get it? Enthusiasts are the people who are going to be buying the highest-level HDTVs and the highest-level HD DVD and Blu-Ray players. They're not going to want these dinky, cheap players.

As these HDTVs become more standard (as they are, as mandated by law), you'll see more people wanting HD format players. It may be the minority now, but every majority has to start out as a minority at the beginning ;) The point is to provide better quality. People respond to better quality. Look at how CDs and DVDs started. They were new formats and people bought them because they were well advertised and gradually pushed on them. The same will happen here.

It doesn't matter why the formats were created. It matters what they offer.

[goji]

I understand perfectly what your saying. As has been argued HD-DVD does have the upper hand in marketing with the exact same example you provided; if you purchase the HDTV why not get HD-DVD? Pure stroke of genius by the powers at be however it still doesn't guarantee mass adoption of the new format. It might with time. Though sales are up its still nothing to call home about.

As far as the mandate by law, you will not be required to purchase a new tv to accept OTA signal. That is the biggest piece of FUD that was spread by every major TV manufacturer and big box reseller over the last several years. All one needs is to purchase OTA HD box top tuner that will accept the new signal and this can be purchased independent of these HD sets. The new standard which has been pushed back for the last decade or so now was a great excuse to sell these HDTV's and to kill off the tube sets, which will still work for years to come.

So back to my original question then, what is the purpose?

Edited September 6, 2007 by GOJI_GKing2000

[libertas83]

If someone buys an HDTV, and they know they have an HDTV, they're going to want an HD format player. There's nothing "enthusiast" about that. If they see HD players available, and one's a reasonable price, why would they not get it?

But, I thought I purchased an HDTV so everything it plays is HD right? Why do I need to buy this HD or Blue disc thingy and buy new DVDs? What, you are telling me I have to buy this to enjoy HD on my HDTV? That is crap! I just spent $XXXX dollars on this and its not even HD! What a rip off! Forget this...greedy corporations.....

****This was brought to you by an uneducated movie lover at Best Buy************

[L3thal Veteran]

^ Good point. Hell, people think that their current cable package will give them HD. Little do they know they need to add it on for $xx per month for what, 15-20 channels? Before they figure that one out, you see them return to the retail store and complain that the quality of the TV sucks when they're the ones that don't have an HD package. So now this $xxx purchase has suddenly become more expensive when they have to pay a monthly fee for HD channels and the HD receiver.

Lets face it, most people are clueless nowadays when it comes to technology.