Warner's Total HD delayed 'till 2008

[BoSoxMole]

With the second half of 2007 right around the corner, Warner has come out and confessed that its Total HD discs won't be delivered this year -- contrary to what was promised during CES 2007. While a new release date isn't given, they are shooting for early 2008. There also isn't a mention of the reason for the delay, but we suspect that sandwiching these two formats on one disc turned out to be more difficult then they bargained for; or maybe they want to wait and see if a winner emerges this holiday season. In the meantime, Warner promises to keep releasing titles on both formats, and believes that "There is no expiration date on the viability of this concept."

From EngadgetHD via HighDefDigest

[Ruined]

TotalHD seems to be desired by no one, so I don't think many are disappointed with this announcement - most prefer that Warner continue the dual releases.

On the other hand, if TotalHD is needed for a studio to become neutral, I support it.

[ganthc]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...Until_2008/726

The timing of Warner's announcement, as well as the studio's apparent lack of urgency in bringing Total HD to market, may strike some as curious. With Blu-ray continuing to outpace HD DVD in overall disc sales since the start of the year, some industry observers have speculated that if such sales trends continue, the format war could be all but over by the end of fourth quarter 2007 -- long before Total HD has a chance to gain a foothold in the marketplace.

Wow, what editorialization! I wouldn't have even drawn that conclusion, but okay...

[dkny75]

More importantly, since New Line stated that they would start releasing on Total HD does this mean they won't release anything until '08 now?

[dugpa]

New Line is the only reason I was looking forward to this really. Guess no such luck for a while now.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by dkny75

More importantly, since New Line stated that they would start releasing on Total HD does this mean they won't release anything until '08 now?

Now *that* is a good question.

[Shawn Watson]

Couldn't care less!

Shawn

[Iguana Man]

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

Couldn't care less!

Shawn

Some might though that do not know their releases. Anyone care to list a few for the plain and simple dude?

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Iguana Man

Some might though that do not know their releases. Anyone care to list a few for the plain and simple dude?

Nothing has officially been announced yet, but if you want to see any title from New Line you'd care about this, since they were waiting on releasing anything in hd until the format was available. So yes, this means they won't be releasing anything until 08 at the earliest.

[Derb]

Was thinking New Line as well when I first saw the article. Could care less about the THD tech side.

The first title they release should be a title which fits the description of the apparent company. Dumb & Dumber

[Pirate]

Warner: HD DVD/Blu-ray Hybrid Disc "On Hold For Now"

Last we heard, Warner's "Total HD" hybrid disc was due in early 2008, but now the studio says it's on hold, with no release date currently in sight.

The studio shook things up at CES this past January when it announced that it would introduce a new HD DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc by mid 2007. A single disc capable of being played on both Blu-ray and HD DVD players seemed to offer a compelling (if inefficient) short term solution for the format war, and appeared to be the anchor of Warner's dual-format stance throughout much of the year.

Alas, it looks like Total HD is not to be -- at least not in the foreseeable future. After previously delaying its initial mid-2007 launch date until early 2008, now the studio says that the hybrid format is "on hold for now."

In comments first published by TWICE Magazine, Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders explained, "we’re concerned that as the only one publishing on it, it would be hard to make it go." He went on to say the company was still talking to retailers about rolling out the hybrid format sometime in the future.

As for the rumors that Warner is weighing lucrative offers to go format-exclusive, Sanders acknowledged discussions with both camps, but seemed to indicate that the studio would support both high-def formats through the holiday shopping season.

"We’re talking to both sides and it’s crazy right now," said Sanders. "We remain committed to both for the time being. We’ll see how the fourth quarter plays out. The consumer is still kind of divided, and we still believe that we should offer the content in both formats. Now, we will watch the marketplace very closely, and see how it plays out, but for now we are supporting both."

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ld_For_Now/965

[Sehnzeleid]

I couldn't care less.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Warner: HD DVD/Blu-ray Hybrid Disc "On Hold For Now"

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ld_For_Now/965

TotalHD was good in concept, but I just don't see how it would work right in terms of the physical structure of the disc. DVD & HD DVD is symmetrical, BD is asymmetical. DVD & HD DVD have a soft coat, BD has a hard coat. The data layer of HD DVD is 0.6mm from the surface, while the data layer of BD is 0.1mm from the surface.

How in the world are disc sides that are physically so different going to work when glued together without warping or falling apart when exposed to different climates over long periods of time? I'm not going to say its impossible, but I'm guessing this is the part of the reason it was shelved. Heck, if HD DVD/BD drives ever get up to 16x like DVD drives, a TotalHD disc would probably be very unstable when spinning due to the lopsided physical structure of the disc.

The main thing that I got from this article is that WB may decide to drop one of the two formats in 2008 based on the Q4 2007 performance. If HD DVD fails to expand its marketshare and it turns out J6P simply doesn't want HDM even if player prices are affordable, then HD DVD may be at risk. If HD DVD does expand its marketshare and gets a significant mainstream advantage with cheaper standalones, then BD may be at risk.

In the end I think it will boil down to the question: do people other than hardcore HT enthusiasts/techheads care?

[esc]

Originally Posted by piratehunter

Last we heard, Warner's "Total HD" hybrid disc was due in early 2008, but now the studio says it's on hold, with no release date currently in sight .... Alas, it looks like Total HD is not to be -- at least not in the foreseeable future. After previously delaying its initial mid-2007 launch date until early 2008, now the studio says that the hybrid format is "on hold for now."

Good. As stated above, I also have no interest at all in this format. I have been quite happy for the last few months because I had actually forgotten all about this combo format. If Warner ever starts releasing discs like this I will seriously consider not buying any further Warner discs simply because I do not want any Blu Ray discs in my collection. Call me crazy, but I am just that big of a fan of HD.

I don't want any of my money going to Sony ... well except for what I spent on my projector... and my PS2 ... and my microwave. But thats where I draw the line !

[BoSoxMole]

In the end I think it will boil down to the question: do people other than hardcore HT enthusiasts/techheads care?

That is THE question to the whole format war.

I work at RadioShack and I pimp the shit out of BR whenever people ask questions about it. We don't carry it in store, but you can order it.

I do my part.

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by esc

I don't want any of my money going to Sony ... well except for what I spent on my projector... and my PS2 ... and my microwave. But thats where I draw the line !

LOL

j

[chlngr1970]

Originally Posted by BoSoxMole

That is THE question to the whole format war.

I work at RadioShack and I pimp the shit out of BR whenever people ask questions about it. We don't carry it in store, but you can order it.

I do my part.

What, no love for HD DVD?

I have to say, when I am in a store, and a customer askes a question, I try to give the best information I can, HD DVD , or Blu Ray...

j

[MooglePorn]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

What, no love for HD DVD?

I have to say, when I am in a store, and a customer askes a question, I try to give the best information I can, HD DVD , or Blu Ray...

No offense, but I don't see you suggesting anything BD to anyone...

[chlngr1970]

That is because you have never seen me in the store...

If a customer asks me questions about either format, I give them the facts. I have had more than one of my customers ( I don't spend THAT much time with retail customers ) pick up a Blu Ray Player ( Ususlly a PS3 ) as well as an HD DVD player. Covers both bases.

j

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

No offense, but I don't see you suggesting anything BD to anyone...

Word. I can see the "facts" that j would give customers about Blu-ray, essentially all of its weaknesses and none of its strengths. Only later to say, "Oh, but look at this hd-dvd player over here!"

I'm glad TotalHD is not happening. For me, it would be the price of the movies themselves. It would be like buying HBO stuff. And we are now seeing that NewLine is peeking out of the SD shadows to try out HD. I think that's a good sign.

As far as niche and how lots of companies want to find the next growth market, you have to assume that studios see HD as the next growth market. Back in 1994-1995, a company called AOL was slowly growing. I'm sure there were some that wondered, is there enough market for this "internet thing?" At that time, most Americans really didn't have computers, or those computers didn't have modems. How was some company that offered dialup service supposed to make any money if they were serving such a niche market. But as the market share grew (more people getting computers with modems), the demand for the service grew as well (especially when college kids would come home after being on the internet at school all the time).

Companies want to find the next growth market. DVD is not a growth market anymore. It still brings in revenue, but it's not growing at all. HDM can provide that additional growth market that companies want. And as with all things, advertising can make consumers want something they don't have. As more consumers buy hdtv's (because they go to a bar and see how better it is, or they go to a friend's or at the store), the advertising for HDM grows more appealing. I think HDM is a viable progression for movie content.

[Shawn Watson]

I would consider looking into the possibility that this means that Warner does not want to confirm their neutrality is such a way.

But why?

Shawn

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

I would consider looking into the possibility that this means that Warner does not want to confirm their neutrality is such a way.

But why?

Shawn

Well, I think Ruined's statement right here is spot on:

The main thing that I got from this article is that WB may decide to drop one of the two formats in 2008 based on the Q4 2007 performance. If HD DVD fails to expand its marketshare and it turns out J6P simply doesn't want HDM even if player prices are affordable, then HD DVD may be at risk. If HD DVD does expand its marketshare and gets a significant mainstream advantage with cheaper standalones, then BD may be at risk.

Q4 sales will determine which way Warner swings. It benefits from getting some of the big sales from its year end release, and it can cash in on a huge buyout from the "winning" format of Q4 to offset 2008 sales gaps. The $150 million buyout of Paramount was a total win-win situation. Remaining neutral has been lucrative, but a short 18 month deal that nets you $150 million is a tough deal to turn down.

[Pirate]

Warner Shelves "Total HD" Hybrid Disc Plans

Speaking exclusively with High-Def Digest, Warner Home Entertainment says its previously announced HD DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc won't be hitting stores anytime soon.

As we've previously reported, the studio made a splash when it unveiled Total HD earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, proposing it to the industry and consumers alike as a solution to the ongoing format war. Containing a Blu-ray layer on one side of the disc and an HD DVD layer on the other, the studio said the hybrid disc would retail for little more than a single-format title, and that it planned to have its first releases in stores by the second half of the year.

Roughly six months later, Warner announced it was pushing back its launch plans for Total HD until early 2008, but said it remained committed to the concept, promising ten to twenty launch titles upon the format's eventual release.

Though the studio had since remained mum on the status of its plans for the hybrid format, a Warner exec has now confirmed to High-Def Digest that all current plans for Total HD have been shelved in response to a perceived shift in retailer needs following Paramount's move to HD DVD exclusivity.

"The short answer is, for the moment, it [Total HD] is on hold," explained Jim Noonan, SVP of Strategic Promotion and Communication for Warner Home Entertainment Group. "We're the only studio producing content in both formats. If we were to put out Total HD with just our titles, it wouldn't really provide the solution to our retail partners that it was intended to provide. If anything, at this point, it would further complicate their life, because there would be another product looking for shelf space. Our job is not to further complicate the lives of our retailers."

As for the possibility that Total HD might still see the light of day should other studios go format-neutral, Noonan certainly didn't rule it out.

"Total HD was something that we offered up to the industry as a solution that would address buyer hesitancy, and the concern a consumer might have about the possible obsolesce of the hardware they were buying. We have no proprietary interest in Total HD. There is no patent we're involved in, and there is no monetary reward for us if another studio decides to put out titles on Total HD. It was offered purely as an industry solution -- and it is still a good and viable solution that has no expiration date."

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...isc_Plans/1147