Warner exclusivity deal dependent on undisclosed # of BD players selling - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Ruined · 01-23-2008, 01:49 AM

FACT: According to Blu-ray insiders on AVSFORUM, Warner's BD exclusivity contract will become void if the BDA is unable to move an undisclosed amount of players by an undisclosed date. Paramount's HD DVD contract also has a similar clause according to the same Blu-ray source.

RUMOR: The date March 31st, 2008 has recently popped up in the "rumor mill" as the first milestone date the undisclosed # of PS3s and standalone players must be sold by. It is speculated that Sony is dropping the price of the PS3 to $299 within the next 2 weeks to meet that number, whatever it may be.

Verrrry interesting

Monrozombi · 01-23-2008, 01:58 AM

Well if these studios are picking BD as the new standard why does it matter how many BD players are moved? If Warner was so convinced that BD is the next thing, why would they put this clause in their contract?

Ruined · 01-23-2008, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monrozombi

Well if these studios are picking BD as the new standard why does it matter how many BD players are moved? If Warner was so convinced that BD is the next thing, why would they put this clause in their contract?

The same reason Paramount did. To cover their asses if they made the wrong decision. i.e. if Warner going BD exclusive has only minimal effect in stimulating player sales, they may reconsider their position. It may effectively kill HD DVD, but if killing HD DVD does not greatly increase BD sales then it is a pointless affair.

The funny thing is that since the announcement here quite a few of us have tried to find a suitable BD player and it seems none of us have found a solution we are satisfied with.

We have a choice of:
Slow-ass Sony standalone with no PiP support or BD-Live support
Pretty slow and apparently glitchy Sharp standalone with no PiP support or BD-Live support
More expensive Panasonic with unfixable (according to Roger Dressler) HDMI PCM low LFE bug and no next-gen audio decoders or BD-Live support
Extremely glitchy/problematic Samsung players with no BD-Live support
Very expensive Pioneer with no PiP support or BD-Live support
Prohibitively expensive Denons with no next-gen decoders and no BD-Live support respectively
Videogame console that cannot bitstream nextgen codecs and whose BD video output is not quite as good as standalones.

Not exactly the most exciting menu for a home theater fan. And the sad part is they are all quite expensive options despite all being flawed in some way! The Toshiba HD-A35 or XA2 could eat most of these players for breakfast. Heck, the HD-A2 could eat most of these players for breakfast!

Shawn Watson · 01-23-2008, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

The funny thing is that since the announcement here quite a few of us have tried to find a suitable BD player and it seems none of us have found a solution we are satisfied with.

I haven't found a decent player despite my initial interest in getting one. In the end, the prices are too high for movies and my HD DVDs will do me just fine at the moment.

Shawn

RaceTripper · 01-23-2008, 02:19 AM

I hope the rumor is true. I've been just about ready to pull the trigger on a 2nd PS3. But there's no rush. I can wait and see if the $299 price pans out.

BoSoxMole · 01-23-2008, 03:13 AM

My PS3 is prettyyy damn good Ruined. And you are def nitpicking there. Just get a good one, hook it up and enjoy some good movies.

ganthc · 01-23-2008, 03:47 AM

I think blu-ray makes its target by the specified date. They could even pull a Toshiba and have a firesale if it took that for people to buy in. At any rate, the mainstream press has already trumpeted the Warner blu-ray exclusivity deal. Anyone that might be paying attention will feel blu-ray is the winner.

Ruined · 01-23-2008, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganthc

I think blu-ray makes its target by the specified date. They could even pull a Toshiba and have a firesale if it took that for people to buy in. At any rate, the mainstream press has already trumpeted the Warner blu-ray exclusivity deal. Anyone that might be paying attention will feel blu-ray is the winner.

Sure, it has definitely done wonders in killing sales of HD DVD. But even by Bill Hunt's numbers BD player sales only increased by 6,000 the week following the WB news. WB is surely expecting a big impact and people to buy into Blu-ray, but people might not be happy with the options that are there considering price... Then what? The Warner news may have been effective at killing off HD DVD but if there are no good BD options - especially considering the price - then what?

supercutz · 01-23-2008, 05:36 AM

I think Bluray is in a much better position to reach whatever sales targets they claim (just as long as those targets are reasonable of course). Seeing a boost of sales of +6k for one week is pretty damn good. The BDA just needs to keep up that momentum and be as aggressive as they have been in the past to move hardware and software.

Basically what I'm saying is this little bit of info probably won't even matter. It's just an example of the HD DVD camp grasping for whatever they can to keep their hopes up for a comeback.

We'll see I guess

jriseden · 01-23-2008, 06:18 AM

Oh yeah. Warner will go neutral again and hd dvd will be right back in the thick of things having cheap hardware prices, high combo disc software prices, and the wonderful non existent hd dvd advertising strategy that we have all come to know and love. And that's how hd dvd will win this war!

Bullshit. It's over and no amount of studio yoyoing back and forth will save hd dvd. Hell Toshiba didnt give a damn about promoting hd dvd to begin with, they just assumed that studios would be patient and let the war drag on for years and years until hd dvd would win based off of name brand recognition alone.

Warner is not going to come out and go "Sorry we shit the bed four months ago with our crazy blu announcement, but hd dud is the wave of the future!" And even if they did, the latest gangbang hd dvd has had on it's reputation would take YEARS to rebuild. So if Warner really wants to end the war, they should open up the floodgates for future blu-ray releases and forget about the way Toshiba completely bumbled the launch of hd dvd.

Shadowman82 · 01-23-2008, 07:50 AM

I rather doubt these claims . While I'm sure WB has some kind of a clause that would allow it to go format neutral I really doubt it has anything to do with how many Blu-ray players are being sold . I really do think WB saw that Blu-ray software sales were just much higher and I'm sure they know their move will only strengthen Blu-ray .

WB would not care how many Blu-ray players are being bought , they will base their decisions of how their Blu-ray titles sell .

I suspect this is just a rumor spread by some Blu-ray hater .

Derb · 01-23-2008, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

FACT: According to Blu-ray insiders on AVSFORUM, Warner's BD exclusivity contract will become void if the BDA is unable to move an undisclosed amount of players by an undisclosed date. Paramount's HD DVD contract also has a similar clause according to the same Blu-ray source.

I find it funny actually that insiders like to mess with the minds of AVS members.

Shawn Watson · 01-23-2008, 10:14 AM

The one thing that I hate about this war...

Everybody thinks that they know everything.

Visiting this forum has become tiresome and unpleasant.

Shawn

Derb · 01-23-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

The one thing that I hate about this war...

Everybody thinks that they know everything.

Investing in HD DVD has become tiresome and unpleasant.

Shawn

I agree.

EM3 · 01-23-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derb

I agree.

Same here. Everytime I get the upgrade bug I start reading these Blu Ray and HD DVD threads and all I want to do is

.

Some posts and attitudes don't help either.

biglyle · 01-23-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

FACT: According to Blu-ray insiders on AVSFORUM, Warner's BD exclusivity contract will become void if the BDA is unable to move an undisclosed amount of players by an undisclosed date. Paramount's HD DVD contract also has a similar clause according to the same Blu-ray source.

There is no way anything said on the AVS insider forum can be considered FACT. Unless you have actually seen the contract or a press release from Sony or Warner stating this as FACT, it is nothing more than another unsubstantiated rumor.

plissken99 · 01-23-2008, 05:34 PM

New report that Blu Ray players hardware sales jumped up to a 93% lead from 51% since the Warner announcement, software almost as much. HD DVD doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell, even if this is true. Oh, and the PS3 is an excellent player, nowhere have I read it's PQ is inferior to other players.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ouncement/1398

Ruined · 01-23-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plissken99

New report that Blu Ray players hardware sales jumped up to a 93% lead from 51% since the Warner announcement, software almost as much. HD DVD doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell, even if this is true. Oh, and the PS3 is an excellent player, nowhere have I read it's PQ is inferior to other players.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ouncement/1398

I agree HD DVD was decimated by the announcement. But if you look at the figures, Blu-Ray sales actually didn't increase much. The main difference in percentage is because HD DVD players dropped off a cliff in sales. BD players only increased sales by 6,000 units (About 20%).

While I don't think HD DVD has any chance now, the escape clause is still interesting. Basically it outlines that the BDA must continue to increase their base and not stagnate.

biglyle · 01-23-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

the escape clause is still interesting. Basically it outlines that the BDA must continue to increase their base and not stagnate.

And I will state once again. Only if this RUMOR is true. Lets not use the word FACT unless we know for sure it is.

Mr. Furious · 01-23-2008, 07:48 PM

Perhaps I'm only looked at as "sour grapes", but I still have no intention of jumping on the BD bandwagon. It just doesn't meet my needs right now and I'm not terribly enthusiastic about getting "burned again". I've actually slowed down my DVD buying purchases, stopped HD DVD purchasing, and started renting (which is unusual for me).

Strange that the Warner announcement more or less killed my buying and started me renting.

DavidCantu · 01-23-2008, 07:57 PM

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by jriseden

Oh yeah. Warner will go neutral again and hd dvd will be right back in the thick of things having cheap hardware prices, high combo disc software prices, and the wonderful non existent hd dvd advertising strategy that we have all come to know and love. And that's how hd dvd will win this war!

Bullshit. It's over and no amount of studio yoyoing back and forth will save hd dvd. Hell Toshiba didnt give a damn about promoting hd dvd to begin with, they just assumed that studios would be patient and let the war drag on for years and years until hd dvd would win based off of name brand recognition alone.

Warner is not going to come out and go "Sorry we shit the bed four months ago with our crazy blu announcement, but hd dud is the wave of the future!" And even if they did, the latest gangbang hd dvd has had on it's reputation would take YEARS to rebuild. So if Warner really wants to end the war, they should open up the floodgates for future blu-ray releases and forget about the way Toshiba completely bumbled the launch of hd dvd.

Frankie · 01-23-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Furious

Perhaps I'm only looked at as "sour grapes", but I still have no intention of jumping on the BD bandwagon. It just doesn't meet my needs right now and I'm not terribly enthusiastic about getting "burned again". I've actually slowed down my DVD buying purchases, stopped HD DVD purchasing, and started renting (which is unusual for me).

Strange that the Warner announcement more or less killed my buying and started me renting.

Mr F I have to say that I was in the same boat more or less.

But after a while I had to pull the trigger. And I'm glad I did. Watching Planet Earth and and slew of other titles makes me go WOW! what a great picture.

It's a shame the two camps couldn't get it together and agree on a common format but that didn't stop me from enjoying what they have to offer.

F

Scottish Punk · 01-23-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biglyle

And I will state once again. Only if this RUMOR is true. Lets not use the word FACT unless we know for sure it is.

I was thinking the same thing. I had to chuckle. FACT: I heard somebody say something somewhere.

I also second or third the sentiment of Hi-def boards. Both sides spewing the same arguments, and trumping every little bit of mis-information/rumour has fact.

It's like everybody has such a personal investment on wanting their side to win, they forget why they were excited about hi-def in the first place. It's the damn movie people!! Special features/specs/speed will all work iteself out from either side. DRM won't prevent you from playing the movie. If it doesn't and you haven't done anything illegal, it will be fixed quickly.

Jast3r Rogu3 · 01-23-2008, 11:46 PM

Warner should be happy to hear this.

Blu-ray hardware sales up following Warner announcement

http://www.psu.com/Blu-ray-hardware-...0002498-p0.php

Ruined · 01-24-2008, 12:10 AM

Those charts don't tell the whole story. Blu-Ray sales only increased by 6000 units... What really happened is that HD DVD sales went down the crapper, like down 90%. So while Warner's announcement did a great job of killing HD DVD sales, in terms of increasing Blu-ray sales its had a comparitively lesser effect.

supercutz · 01-24-2008, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

The one thing that I hate about this war...

Everybody thinks that they know everything.

Visiting this forum has become tiresome and unpleasant.

Shawn

I'll confess I like being an arm-chair analyst. What drags this forum down are the insults (no matter how well hidden).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruined

I agree HD DVD was decimated by the announcement. But if you look at the figures, Blu-Ray sales actually didn't increase much. The main difference in percentage is because HD DVD players dropped off a cliff in sales. BD players only increased sales by 6,000 units (About 20%).

While I don't think HD DVD has any chance now, the escape clause is still interesting. Basically it outlines that the BDA must continue to increase their base and not stagnate.

The important thing to note is that both hardware and software did see an increase by WB announcement. Obviously one should be realistic and look at the long term growth of the format. I think it'll be more interesting to see the next few week's numbers to get a much better gauge if WB decision was a wise one. I would imagine they're happy at this point though

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Furious

Perhaps I'm only looked at as "sour grapes", but I still have no intention of jumping on the BD bandwagon. It just doesn't meet my needs right now and I'm not terribly enthusiastic about getting "burned again". I've actually slowed down my DVD buying purchases, stopped

01-23-2008, 01:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ruined It's Good to Play Together Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NJ, USA	Warner exclusivity deal dependent on undisclosed # of BD players selling FACT: According to Blu-ray insiders on AVSFORUM, Warner's BD exclusivity contract will become void if the BDA is unable to move an undisclosed amount of players by an undisclosed date. Paramount's HD DVD contract also has a similar clause according to the same Blu-ray source. RUMOR: The date March 31st, 2008 has recently popped up in the "rumor mill" as the first milestone date the undisclosed # of PS3s and standalone players must be sold by. It is speculated that Sony is dropping the price of the PS3 to $299 within the next 2 weeks to meet that number, whatever it may be. Verrrry interesting __________________ For every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light.

01-23-2008, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Monrozombi Only wearing 15 pieces of Flair Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wishing it was Pittsburgh	Well if these studios are picking BD as the new standard why does it matter how many BD players are moved? If Warner was so convinced that BD is the next thing, why would they put this clause in their contract? __________________ Jack Bauer once got Helen Keller to talk, she said "Please stop breaking my fingers, I am deaf." "Zombies man, they creep me out" ~ Dennis Hopper Land of the Dead

01-23-2008, 02:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
RaceTripper Actor Join Date: May 2003	I hope the rumor is true. I've been just about ready to pull the trigger on a 2nd PS3. But there's no rush. I can wait and see if the $299 price pans out. __________________ RaceTripper Racing is life! Anything that happens before or after, is just waiting! -- Steve McQueen

01-23-2008, 03:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
BoSoxMole Actor Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lindenhurst, NY	My PS3 is prettyyy damn good Ruined. And you are def nitpicking there. Just get a good one, hook it up and enjoy some good movies. __________________ The SmartMarks.com

01-23-2008, 03:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
ganthc Actor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: "Vyenna", VA	I think blu-ray makes its target by the specified date. They could even pull a Toshiba and have a firesale if it took that for people to buy in. At any rate, the mainstream press has already trumpeted the Warner blu-ray exclusivity deal. Anyone that might be paying attention will feel blu-ray is the winner. __________________ HOOK'EM!!! UT LONGHORNS - National Champs 2005-2006!!! http://ganthc.youaremighty.com

01-23-2008, 05:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
supercutz Actor Join Date: Sep 2004	I think Bluray is in a much better position to reach whatever sales targets they claim (just as long as those targets are reasonable of course). Seeing a boost of sales of +6k for one week is pretty damn good. The BDA just needs to keep up that momentum and be as aggressive as they have been in the past to move hardware and software. Basically what I'm saying is this little bit of info probably won't even matter. It's just an example of the HD DVD camp grasping for whatever they can to keep their hopes up for a comeback. We'll see I guess

01-23-2008, 06:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
jriseden Actor Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: los angeles	Oh yeah. Warner will go neutral again and hd dvd will be right back in the thick of things having cheap hardware prices, high combo disc software prices, and the wonderful non existent hd dvd advertising strategy that we have all come to know and love. And that's how hd dvd will win this war! Bullshit. It's over and no amount of studio yoyoing back and forth will save hd dvd. Hell Toshiba didnt give a damn about promoting hd dvd to begin with, they just assumed that studios would be patient and let the war drag on for years and years until hd dvd would win based off of name brand recognition alone. Warner is not going to come out and go "Sorry we shit the bed four months ago with our crazy blu announcement, but hd dud is the wave of the future!" And even if they did, the latest gangbang hd dvd has had on it's reputation would take YEARS to rebuild. So if Warner really wants to end the war, they should open up the floodgates for future blu-ray releases and forget about the way Toshiba completely bumbled the launch of hd dvd.

01-23-2008, 07:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
Shadowman82 Actor Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada	I rather doubt these claims . While I'm sure WB has some kind of a clause that would allow it to go format neutral I really doubt it has anything to do with how many Blu-ray players are being sold . I really do think WB saw that Blu-ray software sales were just much higher and I'm sure they know their move will only strengthen Blu-ray . WB would not care how many Blu-ray players are being bought , they will base their decisions of how their Blu-ray titles sell . I suspect this is just a rumor spread by some Blu-ray hater .

01-23-2008, 10:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
Shawn Watson Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Underverse	The one thing that I hate about this war... Everybody thinks that they know everything. Visiting this forum has become tiresome and unpleasant. Shawn __________________ A PTA meeting with cucumbers instead of parents.

01-23-2008, 05:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
plissken99 Actor Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dallas, Ft Worth	New report that Blu Ray players hardware sales jumped up to a 93% lead from 51% since the Warner announcement, software almost as much. HD DVD doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell, even if this is true. Oh, and the PS3 is an excellent player, nowhere have I read it's PQ is inferior to other players. http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...ouncement/1398 __________________ “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Snake Plissken Plissken's DVD, HD-DVD and Blu Ray collection And Plissken's home theater

01-23-2008, 07:48 PM	#20 (permalink)
Mr. Furious Ticking Time Bomb of Fury -- Now with Boundless Rage! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Eden Prairie, MN USA	Perhaps I'm only looked at as "sour grapes", but I still have no intention of jumping on the BD bandwagon. It just doesn't meet my needs right now and I'm not terribly enthusiastic about getting "burned again". I've actually slowed down my DVD buying purchases, stopped HD DVD purchasing, and started renting (which is unusual for me). Strange that the Warner announcement more or less killed my buying and started me renting. __________________ Mr. Furious!!! "Don't mess with the Volcano my man... cause I will go Pompeii on your butt!" "Right now, I'm kinda like a powder keg, and you're the match..."

01-23-2008, 11:46 PM	#24 (permalink)
Jast3r Rogu3 Banned Join Date: Sep 2007	Warner should be happy to hear this. Blu-ray hardware sales up following Warner announcement http://www.psu.com/Blu-ray-hardware-...0002498-p0.php

01-24-2008, 12:10 AM	#25 (permalink)
Ruined It's Good to Play Together Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: NJ, USA	Those charts don't tell the whole story. Blu-Ray sales only increased by 6000 units... What really happened is that HD DVD sales went down the crapper, like down 90%. So while Warner's announcement did a great job of killing HD DVD sales, in terms of increasing Blu-ray sales its had a comparitively lesser effect. __________________ For every shadow, no matter how deep, is threatened by morning light.