Toshiba Deploys New HD DVD Marketing Initiatives ...

KEEBS1984 · 01-14-2008, 01:10 AM

Good for Toshiba! Finally it looks like they may be stepping up to the plate to actually try and win this war. However, that said, I think it may be too little too late. . .

Although I'd love to be proven wrong. Please Toshiba, prove me wrong.

**bruceames** · 01-14-2008, 01:17 AM

Quite a difference between $99 players and $199 players. Price is the main reason why HD DVD is still here. The PS3 is the main reason Blu-ray is still here. Toshiba is just turning the heat up higher. I knew they wouldn't curl up and die like the bluboys wanted them to.

Dr. Jones · 01-14-2008, 01:17 AM

MSRP of the entry-model HD-A3
will be $149.99, the HD-A30, with 1080p output, $199.99, and the high-end
HD-A35, $299.99.

Holy crap Marie (Everybody Loves Raymond Reference).

MSRP of $149.99, that means we could see street prices as low as $75.00 at some point in the near future.

That's mass market adoption pricing right there. I wonder if Sony will lower the price of it's PS3 again. hehe.

CapBBeard · 01-14-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Jones

That's mass market adoption pricing right there. I wonder if Sony will lower the price of it's PS3 again. hehe.

Just when people were reporting them getting their production costs to break even, LOL

sodrock · 01-14-2008, 01:19 AM

Too little too late. Retailers aren't going to like having to continue to deal with the confusion and now they really are going to have to take a side when speaking with consumers about what format to purchase; in regards to studio exclusivity and such.

If anything this type of an announcement will make retailers feel as though they need to promote Blu-ray to stop this insanity. IMO

MidnightWatche · 01-14-2008, 01:20 AM

This proves that HD DVD isn't going anywhere. The underdog is fighting back, and I'm glad to be on their side!

Dr. Jones · 01-14-2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sodrock

Too little too late. Retailers aren't going to like having to continue to deal with the confusion and now they really are going to have to take a side when speaking with consumers about what format to purchase; in regards to studio exclusivity and such.

If anything this type of an announcement will make retailers feel as though they need to promote Blu-ray to stop this insanity. IMO

If Toshiba markets it to the hilt. Retailers will have no choice, they'll be bombarded with customers who want HD DVD players.

One of the things I said they needed to do was to slash prices. Now we need those exclusive contracts from Universal, Paramount and Dreamworks.

Cowboy X · 01-14-2008, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapBBeard

Just when people were reporting them getting their production costs to break even, LOL

Well they are already restricting the Japanese market to the 40 Gb PS3 only, to save on costs. this may very well hurt Sony. Furthermore I think Toshiba is still going to be making a profit on the players. Can't say the same for Sony.

CapBBeard · 01-14-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy X

Well they are already restricting the Japanese market to the 40 Gb PS3 only, to save on costs. this may very well hurt Sony. Furthermore I think Toshiba is still going to be making a profit on the players. Can't say the same for Sony.

Same goes here in NZ. I'm pretty sure only the 40GB is available now, and it's still much more expensive than the other consoles.

Dr. Jones · 01-14-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapBBeard

Just when people were reporting them getting their production costs to break even, LOL

I know Sony will respond, I'm just wondering how. This is going to make them squirm a little. At street pricing the A3 will be deep into Upconverting player pricing. For the price nobody should have an issue recommending the HD-A3 to their friends and family as an upconverting player with a bonus.

Now Toshiba needs to get those contracts and supplement the studios income so they'll lower disk pricing and the tide may turn.

Cowboy X · 01-14-2008, 01:34 AM

Amazon

HD A3 : $134.98
HD A30 : $174.98
HD A35 : $279.98

HD A2 : $199.97 (1 left at tiger direct............ why buy this ?? )

**bruceames** · 01-14-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowboy X

Amazon

HD A3 : $134.98
HD A30 : $174.98
HD A35 : $279.98

HD A2 : $199.97 (1 left at tiger direct............ why buy this ?? )

Those prices will go down steadily. I'll bet the A3 will be under $100 in 3 weeks.

The_Omega_Man · 01-14-2008, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Those prices will go down steadily. I'll bet the A3 will be under $100 in 3 weeks.

MSRP of $149 (~$129 retail) should be right for a little while. The A3 is now directly competing with the higher end up-scaling DVD players. It should be sold that way in retail stores as well. "Why buy that up-converting DVD player for $179 when you could have a Toshiba one for $149! Oh yea, it can play those HD DVD thingies too!"

Come to think of it. Toshiba should kill it's DVD player line all together... there really is no point in them manufacturing SD Up-converting DVD players anymore! Right?

I do wonder though, where does this leave the Venturer player?

Cowboy X · 01-14-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Omega_Man

MSRP of $149 (~$129 retail) should be right for a little while. The A3 is now directly competing with the higher end up-scaling DVD players. It should be sold that way in retail stores as well. "Why buy that up-converting DVD player for $179 when you could have a Toshiba one for $149! Oh yea, it can play those HD DVD thingies too!"

Come to think of it. Toshiba should kill it's DVD player line all together... there really is no point in them manufacturing SD Up-converting DVD players anymore! Right?

I do wonder though, where does this leave the Venturer player?

I fully agree.

niennumb1 · 01-14-2008, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

It takes time to come up with a new plan after having the rug pulled out. I've always felt that HD DVD's best chance is to ally themselves as much as possible with DVD, and marketing them as both great upconverters and HD DVD players is good strategy in my opinion.

Now we need to get the twin discs out and hopefully a few combo only releases, which would really make the format a serious threat.

EXACTLY. So Bruce, do you think this is in their plans and how quickly do you think they could roll this out?

I also wonder if there's a clause within Warner if things seem to be looking good for HDDVD by this Summer? Probably not, but maybe they have the option to neutralize again.

It is very nice to see that Toshiba made announcements with these good price drops and also stressing what this will do for added benefits to their current DVD collection. This is a good addition to the HDDVD part of the movie experience by not making what people have in shame in that they can enjoy near HD quality picture with the players, something BD doesn't have in their units.

It's nice to see they wrote this up with the consumers in mind who own the mass market in DVD while promoting HDDVD. I hope it works.

Though this still doesn't change I am still getting a BD player cuz this won't shift Disney or Fox anytime this year. But most my movies will be bought HDDVD when they can be available in that format.

01-14-2008, 01:17 AM	#18
Dr. Jones High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 668	MSRP of the entry-model HD-A3 will be $149.99, the HD-A30, with 1080p output, $199.99, and the high-end HD-A35, $299.99. Holy crap Marie (Everybody Loves Raymond Reference). MSRP of $149.99, that means we could see street prices as low as $75.00 at some point in the near future. That's mass market adoption pricing right there. I wonder if Sony will lower the price of it's PS3 again. hehe. __________________ Movie Quote: "If you have poo, fling it now!" Donate to the March of Dimes, The babies need you! -- I would like to thank everyone who has inquired about the March of Dimes here at High-Def Forums, we appreciate all your support, be it emotional or monetary. Thank you.

01-14-2008, 01:20 AM	#21
MidnightWatche High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 944	This proves that HD DVD isn't going anywhere. The underdog is fighting back, and I'm glad to be on their side! __________________ "Without struggle there can be no progress."

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01-14-2008, 01:10 AM	#16
KEEBS1984 Loves me some Blu-rays :) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fullerton, CA Posts: 2,261	Good for Toshiba! Finally it looks like they may be stepping up to the plate to actually try and win this war. However, that said, I think it may be too little too late. . . Although I'd love to be proven wrong. Please Toshiba, prove me wrong.

01-14-2008, 01:17 AM	#17
bruceames Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 10,170	Quite a difference between $99 players and $199 players. Price is the main reason why HD DVD is still here. The PS3 is the main reason Blu-ray is still here. Toshiba is just turning the heat up higher. I knew they wouldn't curl up and die like the bluboys wanted them to.

01-14-2008, 01:19 AM	#20
sodrock I can't afford Blu-ray ;) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 172	Too little too late. Retailers aren't going to like having to continue to deal with the confusion and now they really are going to have to take a side when speaking with consumers about what format to purchase; in regards to studio exclusivity and such. If anything this type of an announcement will make retailers feel as though they need to promote Blu-ray to stop this insanity. IMO

01-14-2008, 01:34 AM	#26
Cowboy X High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 912	Amazon HD A3 : $134.98 HD A30 : $174.98 HD A35 : $279.98 HD A2 : $199.97 (1 left at tiger direct............ why buy this ?? )