HD DVD Promo Group will apear at CES 2008

Super XP · 01-05-2008, 07:02 PM

HD DVD cancels CES press conference after Warner's snub
By Nate Mook, BetaNews
January 4, 2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

In a shocking response to news today that Warner Bros. would make its high-definition movie releases only available on Blu-ray, the HD DVD Promotional Group has canceled its Sunday press conference at CES, and its meetings with the press.

The HD DVD Promotional Group, alongside Toshiba and Microsoft, had planned a cocktail party and press conference to tout the success and improvements in both the HD DVD format and hardware players, which saw heavy sales during the holidays thanks to falling prices.

But the party was cut short by Warner's surprise news that it wouldn't be taking part. Apparently, the studio did not give HD DVD advance notice of its decision to go Blu-ray only, and recently reassured the public of its continued support for both formats after rumors of an exclusivity deal began to surface.

Believe it or not, Warner actually played a role in the development of HD DVD and had endorsed the format from the beginning. It's also a member of the DVD Forum, from where HD DVD was borne. While it's not clear what exactly led the studio to change its mind, there is much speculation that Sony offered Warner a large incentive.

"Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," the HD DVD Promotional Group said in an e-mail to the press Friday evening.

"We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD's commitment to quality and affordability -- a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format," the e-mail continued.

Toshiba, meanwhile, issued a press release of its own Friday night, which pulled no punches in expressing the company's disapproval of Warner's decision. Although, it's not clear whether Toshiba has any potential recourse against Warner, aside from hinting the studio may have violated contractual agreements.

"Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor," the release stated.

"We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market in 2007."

The HD DVD Promotional Group is expected to make further announcements as CES gets underway Monday. HD DVD still has exclusive backing from both Paramount and Universal, which means it's unlikely the so-called high-def "format war" will be over anytime soon, even with Warner changing allegiances.

HD DVD will continue to have a presence on the CES show floor, and BetaNews will be on top of all new announcements.

http://www.betanews.com/article/HD_D...08012#c1289220

cbcdesign · 01-05-2008, 07:10 PM

Good for them.

oblioman · 01-05-2008, 07:20 PM

They might as well have a "going away" party!

Stew4HD · 01-05-2008, 07:24 PM

I am sure they are shocked by the big back stab but they will survive, contrary to the belief of far too many.

I am glad to hear that they are still going to appear and I hope they let the public know what WB did and how it has set back HDM adotion by the masses.

Changeling · 01-05-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

I am sure they are shocked by the big back stab but they will survive, contrary to the belief of far too many.

I am glad to hear that they are still going to appear and I hope they let the public know what WB did and how it has set back HDM adotion by the masses.

They made the only logical call. At most, they took money to do it. Now, I wasn't here back then, but how many HD-ers called Paramount taking money a "stab in the back" to all the BR people.

When some of those people pre-ordered titiles like Red October and Top Gun only to get a "You're screwed." email from the vendor. WB is apparently still going to release all the titles that they've promised to thru May instead of just destroying their stock and taking their chances over any breach lawsuits.

All things, considered they're being better to their customers than Paramount was.

MikeRox · 01-05-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changeling

Now, I wasn't here back then, but how many HD-ers called Paramount taking money a "stab in the back" to all the BR people.

All things, considered their being better to their customers than Paramount was.

I was a HD DVD exclusive owner back then and still didn't approve of the manner they handled their BD custom.

However, I do think Warner Bros doing this mere weeks after a good 300,000 new HD DVD owners have entered the market is actually far worse than anything Paramount did. However I do think it is for the good of HD in general, which always has been, and always will be my top priority, regardless of personal format preference.

HD_DVD_USA · 01-05-2008, 07:54 PM

No it's not in the end DVD will be the winner, if they decide to release combos only HD DVD/DVD forum will win.
I heard there is a new version of DVD coming out as well, to have a lot of storage.

loganhunter200 · 01-05-2008, 07:54 PM

They are going to bring the white flag with them at the CES.

HD Goofnut · 01-05-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loganhunter200

They are going to bring the white flag with them at the CES.

They might need to bring you some food if that's you in your avatar.

**kamspy** · 01-05-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRox

I was a HD DVD exclusive owner back then and still didn't approve of the manner they handled their BD custom.

However, I do think Warner Bros doing this mere weeks after a good 300,000 new HD DVD owners have entered the market is actually far worse than anything Paramount did. However I do think it is for the good of HD in general, which always has been, and always will be my top priority, regardless of personal format preference.

+10

Changeling · 01-05-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRox

I was a HD DVD exclusive owner back then and still didn't approve of the manner they handled their BD custom.

However, I do think Warner Bros doing this mere weeks after a good 300,000 new HD DVD owners have entered the market is actually far worse than anything Paramount did. However I do think it is for the good of HD in general, which always has been, and always will be my top priority, regardless of personal format preference.

No smartass in this at all, but props to you for that attitude. Judging from some of the forums I saw about then you were a rarity. Too many people were rubbing noses into it, payback for which is at least some of the reason for attitudes now.

Not that that makes any of it any LESS petty. In the grand scheme of things, how you watch your Hi-Def isn't that important.

But where are these 300,000 people? Judging by sales figures re: software they weren't bying discs. Hardware sales according to comments made by the Pres of the WB that were just posted say standalone BR sales led 2-1.

I honestly expected some kind of upward tick for HD software wise after the Turkey-day fire sale, but it just didn't materialize. In hindsight I suspect a lot of those were sales to current HD-ers looking for another player. Or average Joes looking for a cheap and really good upconvert.

I completely agree. It's more important that Hi-Def gets out of the videophile nische that the particulars of how.

Dr. Jones · 01-05-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changeling

No smartass in this at all, but props to you for that attitude. Judging from some of the forums I saw about then you were a rarity. Too many people were rubbing noses into it, payback for which is at least some of the reason for attitudes now.

Not that that makes any of it any LESS petty. In the grand scheme of things, how you watch your Hi-Def isn't that important.

But where are these 300,000 people? Judging by sales figures re: software they weren't bying discs. Hardware sales according to comments made by the Pres of the WB that were just posted say standalone BR sales led 2-1.

I honestly expected some kind of upward tick for HD software wise after the Turkey-day fire sale, but it just didn't materialize. In hindsight I suspect a lot of those were sales to current HD-ers looking for another player. Or average Joes looking for a cheap and really good upconvert.

I completely agree. It's more important that Hi-Def gets out of the videophile nische that the particulars of how.

To be fair many of the people who bought HD DVD players in the last month and a half had barely an opportunity to open them up on Christmas day before Warner dropped the bomb.

HiramAbiff · 01-05-2008, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changeling

Hardware sales according to comments made by the Pres of the WB that were just posted say standalone BR sales led 2-1.

Cite, please.

Changeling · 01-05-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Jones

To be fair many of the people who bought HD DVD players in the last month and a half had barely an opportunity to open them up on Christmas day before Warner dropped the bomb.

Granted, but not ALL of them could be sitting under trees waiting for Christmas. Even if only 1/3 of them were out there in the open, that's 100,000 users buying discs and with the market so small that'd turn sales to, say 55/45 BR consistently, don't you think?

But sales stayed 2-1. So I'm still left wondering where those buyers went.

Changeling · 01-05-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiramAbiff

Cite, please.

Meanwhile, industry observer "Media Wonk" (aka Paul Sweeting) has also posted an interesting feature over at Content Agenda, in which a couple of points that we've been making lately here at The Bits are confirmed by Warner's Sanders. First, Blu-ray stand alone players outsold HD-DVD in December. Here's the quote:

"One of the things you see in the NPD data for this fourth quarter was that even with a $100 [price] premium, Blu-ray set tops outsold HD set tops in December. Even with Toshiba having the lowest-cost player in the market, software sales remained 2 to 1 in favor of Blu-ray."

Second, many avid movie buyers have stopped purchasing DVDs while they've been waiting for the format war to end...

"We're seeing research now that shows that consumers are starting to delay purchases because of the format war, not just on high-def but standard-def purchases as well. That's very alarming."

As to the talk of being motivated by financial inducements, Sanders says this:

"There is absolutely no incentive from either side that would have changed the decision we made based on what we were seeing in the consumer data. The worldwide DVD business is about $40 billion. Any incentives we might have been offered would have paled next to the lost profits from that business if we get this one wrong."

http://www.digitalbits.com/#newblu

01-05-2008, 07:24 PM	#4
Stew4HD High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9,068	I am sure they are shocked by the big back stab but they will survive, contrary to the belief of far too many. I am glad to hear that they are still going to appear and I hope they let the public know what WB did and how it has set back HDM adotion by the masses. __________________ ___________________________________

01-05-2008, 07:54 PM	#7
HD_DVD_USA HD-XA2 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 47	No it's not in the end DVD will be the winner, if they decide to release combos only HD DVD/DVD forum will win. I heard there is a new version of DVD coming out as well, to have a lot of storage. __________________ Pioneer 42 Elite PRO-950HD XA2 HD DVD

01-05-2008, 07:54 PM	#8
loganhunter200 99 is the magic number Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 472	They are going to bring the white flag with them at the CES. __________________ F Uuuuuuuuu Toshiba!!!

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01-05-2008, 07:10 PM	#2
cbcdesign High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Somerset, UK Posts: 1,310	Good for them.

01-05-2008, 07:20 PM	#3
oblioman OTIS,,me hero Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Someville TN Posts: 4,554	They might as well have a "going away" party!