Warner Brothers backs Blu-ray exclusively

[Sedako]

Looks like the end is finally in sight for this generation of the format wars. Blu-ray now has 75% of the HD market. Article can be found here.

(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA): In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.


"Warner Bros. move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."

 

[hool10]

That's stupid. HD-DVD players can play both DVD's and HD-DVD's. Idk why more people are going with Blu-ray. :| There isn't extra content included on Blu-ray discs neither.

 

[Icarusintel]

That's stupid. HD-DVD players can play both DVD's and HD-DVD's. Idk why more people are going with Blu-ray. :| There isn't extra content included on Blu-ray discs neither.

Blu-Ray players can play both Blu-Ray discs and DVD. So, what's the problem here?

 

[Sedako]

That's stupid. HD-DVD players can play both DVD's and HD-DVD's. Idk why more people are going with Blu-ray. :| There isn't extra content included on Blu-ray discs neither.

As Icarusintel said, Blu-ray players can play DVDs. Also, there IS extra content on Blu-ray disks, just usually less of it because HD-DVD handles it better.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Phew!

*Hugs PS3*

*Looks accusingly at the ad for the $129.99 HD-DVD add-on for the 360 and sheds tear.*

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Oh well the format wars are drawing to a close, didn't take long did it?

Besides if HDDVD won i'd be annoyed, it's just too annoying to say.

 

[hool10]

I thought it was like betamax tapes or something, my bad.

 

[Warbie]

A shame. I personally feel HDDVD has a considerably better selection of quality movies, but they couldn't compete with Blu-ray's family blockbusters.

 

[JFry]

The whole thing's retarded I haven't even converted to dvd yet lol.

 

[Operational]

Good news, I'm tired of the format war. I used to support Blu-Ray just because of it's double capacity compared to HD-DVD, but now I just don't care - I want it settled so I can get a player and some movies without finding out my money was wasted later on.

 

[Stigmata]

I still hope HD-DVD wins; If not because really, really hate Sony, then because Blu-Ray sounds like a crappy marine animal.

But that's just my two cents.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Oh well. I was silently rooting for HDDVD, if only because it's region-free (right?). Would make it so much easier to import things in the future. But then again current DVD players play most any region anyway, so maybe it won't be an issue.

 

[Crushenator 500]

I dunno what company makes hd-dvds, but sony has lots of money and influence so I'm not surprised they managed to get blu ray in the lead

 

[Qhartb]

Thank goodness. I'm mostly glad it's drawing to a close. To a much lesser extent, I'm also happy to see the more technically advanced format win, as it always feels somewhat tragic to me when initial cost of adoption and especially marketing cause a technically weaker format win over a stronger one.

 

[Operational]

Wikipedia has a nice pie chart by box office market share showing the effect of this decision.

 

[JFry]

Hypnotoad has access to pie graph from future.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

Well, I guess consumers have spoken...???? Or, should I say, PS3 owners....

I think if I was Warner I would have given this more time. Cheaper HDDVD players are on the horizon AND BR sales are obviously getting skewed by the PS3...b/c they get absolutly OWNED in the stand-alone player market. But whatever...I'm sure the BDA through a shit load of cash at them...as has been the norm in this format war.

But, whatever...I own neither.

 

[Kadayi]

I think Bill Gates is absolutely correct about the format war being a battle that is ultimately pointless, because digital distribution is where things are eventually going. Personally the sooner the better in my view, I'd prefer all my music, TV shows & films to be run through an account driven distribution system like Steam, where in I can access them anywhere I want to, as much as I want to.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I think Bill Gates is absolutely correct about the format war being a battle that is ultimately pointless, because digital distribution is where things are eventually going. Personally the sooner the better in my view, I'd prefer all my music, TV shows & films to be run through an account driven distribution system like Steam, where in I can access them anywhere I want to, as much as I want to.

Yes, please.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

I think Bill Gates is absolutely correct about the format war being a battle that is ultimately pointless, because digital distribution is where things are eventually going.

Couldn't agree more. But it does pose a potential issue for those that don't necessarily have the bandwidth...HD content can be HUGE.

Further, look at the slice of pie these two formats have been fighting over. Sure BR is outselling HDDVD, but the sales of both are still abysmal. When compared to standard DVD sales, it's even worse. Even when DVD was first being rolled out, sales of VHS were slowing...DVD sales now are still on pace and increasing. This is an utter joke.

 

[Sedako]

New Line confirmed today that it will also be going Blu-ray exclusive:

http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/NewLine/

 

[Sulkdodds]

Hypnotoad has access to pie graph from future.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

Holy Hell....Robocop got laser vision.

 

[VictimOfScience]

I think Bill Gates is absolutely correct about the format war being a battle that is ultimately pointless, because digital distribution is where things are eventually going. Personally the sooner the better in my view, I'd prefer all my music, TV shows & films to be run through an account driven distribution system like Steam, where in I can access them anywhere I want to, as much as I want to.

Have fun downloading HD content with current storage solutions. HDDs are going to have to be MUCH BIGGER and MUCH CHEAPER and compared to what is currently available if this digital distribution of HD content is to be at all reasonable. 1TB will not get you all that much anymore and in the future even less.

 

[Warbie]

Agreed. Current storage isn't capable and and bandwidth isn't close. In the future, sure, but not for a while.

 

[Direwolf]

Storage seems to get reliably cheaper, so I'd be willing to imagine a close future where storing HD content wouldn't be a very big deal. I'm more concerned with the bandwidth requirements, because in order for digital distribution to replace a disc we'll need to see a massive increase in available bandwidth for most parts of the country. Maybe even a jump of an order of magnitude. (I'd imagine you'd have to get the kind of instant use and reliability that you get with a disc.)

And as pointed out there not a lot compelling growth for the next set of formats except for us geeks who are aware that our HDTVs are capable of better than DVD images. In my immediate family no one else could really care less.

 

[Sedako]

looks like Paramount is going to follow suit before too long:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/07/paramount-following-warner-out-the-hd-dvd-door/

As far as downloadable movies go in replacing physical formats, don't underestimate streaming technologies. The ability to steam HD content at reasonable speeds has already been achieved. I feel it's just a matter of time before we're able to buy and stream movies onto our HDTVs. Of course, there will have to be some sort of system in place to keep track of what movies you own, but it seems possible enough.

 

[Operational]

And as pointed out there not a lot compelling growth for the next set of formats except for us geeks who are aware that our HDTVs are capable of better than DVD images. In my immediate family no one else could really care less.

Good point, to Joe Average even if they had never seen a DVD in action the benefits were clear whereas for the jump to HD disc's the benefit's aren't as clear. Once the war is over I suspect that there will be a lot of marketing towards Joe Average in an attempt to make HD disc's more mainstream.