Warner Home Video Prez: “We think this is a do-or-die time for Blu-ray”

bmore · 11-23-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2008) -- Universal Studios' Ken Graffeo says there are currently "no plans" to drop HD DVD and endorse Blu-ray.

More:

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Paramount officials said they would continue to support HD DVD, a format for displaying videos in higher quality whose backers include Toshiba Corp. and Microsoft Corp. Universal Pictures, which has been a strong supporter from the beginning, issued no public statement on the matter here.

We all know how that turned out. But let's all believe everything CEO's say (or only when it suites our agenda...)

**PFC5** · 11-23-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Wow, you BD trolls really got your panties twisted up on this mikemorel guy.

It's funny how the biggest antagonizers on this forum hate so much on this person for his posts on other forum(s), and just assume that he's a household name.

I see nothing trollish in his post history here, but on the other hand your post history here, shall I say, certainly doesn't set an example of how not to troll.

As for the 'sheep' remark, is that how you characterize someone who agrees with another? WB issued an obvious ultimatum, but of course you think studios lie only when you disagree with what they have to say, right? WB never received compensation for dropping HD DVD because they said so, right?

What is funny is that when bmore and a couple of others came here the "troll" label was put on them for their posts. I said they were not, and I am saying the same thing here. This poster, mikemorell did only post one thread, but he wasn't mucking up multiple threads here flame baiting. He posted a quote directly from a BD studio exec, so what he posted was factual.

Funny thing when I found that link back to what Sanders said about the incentives is what he is quoted as saying which was:

Quote:

"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," he said. "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.”

No that quote doesn't say they did NOT get any incentive, but rather just that any incentive wasn't the deciding factor for the decision he made. That is NOT the same as saying there were no incentives, and appears to be a well crafted non-denial denial.

Either way, people cannot pick and choose what to believe from a CEO just because they like it or not and expect others to follow this belief. As far as I am concerned, once a liar, always a liar and it is hard to earn MY trust again. If he lied about going exclusive, he very well could be lying about the incentives, and he very well could be lying about it being "Do-or-die time for BD" as just another manipulation.

I will say however, that Warner didn't just say this out of the blu (pun intended), and would not have even made this comment if BD was selling at twice what it is doing now. Does ANYONE think they would have made this comment if BD had consistently 20% of the optical disc market right now?

**PFC5** · 11-23-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmore

For perspective:

More:

We all know how that turned out. But let's all believe everything CEO's say (or only when it suites our agenda...)

And lets ignore something when ignoring it suits our agenda also.

It cuts BOTH ways here.

bmore · 11-23-2008, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

...Either way, people cannot pick and choose what to believe from a CEO just because they like it or not and expect others to follow this belief. As far as I am concerned, once a liar, always a liar and it is hard to earn MY trust again. If he lied about going exclusive, he very well could be lying about the incentives, and he very well could be lying about it being "Do-or-die time for BD" as just another manipulation.

This is the essence PFC. They are all selfish. Crying babies get the milk. WB wants something. You never hear any other studios as "vocal" about bluray.

Disney is always upbeat. Universal is "bullish". Lionsgate always seems pleased. Fox never says much. Yet WB is always bellyaching...

Why is that? In closing, never trust a CEO.

**PFC5** · 11-23-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmore

This is the essence PFC. They are all selfish. Crying babies get the milk. WB wants something. You never hear any other studios as "vocal" about bluray.

Disney is always upbeat. Universal is "bullish". Lionsgate always seems pleased. Fox never says much. Yet WB is always bellyaching...

Why is that? In closing, never trust a CEO.

Yes it very well may be manipulation, but you didn't answer the last paragraph in that quote. please do answer that question for me while you are here.

bmore · 11-23-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

Yes it very well may be manipulation, but you didn't answer the last paragraph in that quote. please do answer that question for me while you are here.

Yes I did:

"never trust a CEO."

**PFC5** · 11-23-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmore

Yes I did:

"never trust a CEO."

That is a cop out not an answer IMO.

Here is the question again and please try to just simply answer it and state why you have that answer:

Quote:

I will say however, that Warner didn't just say this out of the blu (pun intended), and would not have even made this comment if BD was selling at twice what it is doing now. Does ANYONE think they would have made this comment if BD had consistently 20% of the optical disc market right now?

I appreciate your honest reply this time.

bmore · 11-23-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

That is a cop out not an answer IMO.

Here is the question again and please try to just simply answer it and state why you have that answer:

Quote:

Does ANYONE think they would have made this comment if BD had consistently 20% of the optical disc market right now?

I appreciate your honest reply this time.

I do. Because they are greedy. Its never enough for the studios. So they are going to do and say whatever they can to get what they want. Why is 20% the "good enough" level? Why not 25? 30? 35? Who's to sat what % would satisfy them.

Do you portend to know the motivations of the studios? Besides the obvious: $$, $$ and more $$?

hatt · 11-23-2008, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I think what he is saying is that IF BD did not exist, all those BD sales would have likely been SD DVD sales anyway, but 10x greater.

There is some truth to that but I doubt the 10x part myself. Actually there WOULD likely be some x multiple though since people who are considering BD are likely reducing or eliminating the buying of SD DVDs during the transition. Raise your hand if while considering whether or not to buy into BD yourself if you stopped or severely slowed down buying SD DVDs. I know I did for the period leading up to both formats launch, and I am sure i am not alone.

So you are saying that, lets use made up Ironman numbers, that if IM sold 10M on DVD and 1M on BD that had BD not been around IM would have sold at least 12M+ on DVD?

This group you are talking about are pretty smart by not investing more money in DVD but large groups of smart people don't exist so I suspect this group is small. I'm sure this little group is offset by the new life BD gives once released every popular catalog title once they decide to release it.

Louigi222 · 11-23-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatt

You didn't answer my question. I have never seen anything saying that Warner is losing money on BD. If you have seen this, point to it. You brought up blah blah 10 to 1 blah blah, explain WTF you were saying. Is a smaller profit actually a loss?

For that matter have you seen anything saying that Warner is making money on BD??? We can't say for sure can we because that information is not being made available to us...so we can just guess.
"Is a smaller profit actually a loss?" I'd say "yes." As an example, if you sold 50 SD DVDs on Ebay and made a profit of $5 to me that would be a "loss."

DonnyDC · 11-23-2008, 01:29 PM

I cant believe how many people are taking the phrase 'do or die' and taking it by the literal meaning. How would YOU use the phrase 'do or die' in everyday language?
It simply denotes what could be a missed opportunity. Which could mean anything including a missed chance to become a resounding success and instead only become an ok success.

People need to focus on what he said after since thats where he actually (partly)explains his motivation.
“We must get it established as a favorite holiday item.”

Do - be a favorite holiday item
Die - not be a favorite holiday item

crazyal · 11-23-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmore

This is the essence PFC. They are all selfish. Crying babies get the milk. WB wants something. You never hear any other studios as "vocal" about bluray.

Disney is always upbeat. Universal is "bullish". Lionsgate always seems pleased. Fox never says much. Yet WB is always bellyaching...

Why is that? In closing, never trust a CEO.

The first part of my post yesterday about dropping BD like a hot potato was just a little sarcasm but the second part about Warner looking for something from Sony or the BDA I think is true. Like you said they just figure now is a great time to get some payola to keep an upbeat face.

If they had when the other way who here doesn't believe they would be doing the same or worse to Toshiba? I guess this is just business to them.

JoeRoscoe · 11-23-2008, 06:25 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Warner already GET something...

Didn't Sony throw a small mint their way to abandon the HD-DVD format.

Guess they want more in these tough economic times.

You know what they say about sleeping with the devil...

bmore · 11-23-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRoscoe

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Warner already GET something...

Didn't Sony throw a small mint their way to abandon the HD-DVD format.

Guess they want more in these tough economic times.

You know what they say about sleeping with the devil...

Or they didn't then - but want some now.

brianh · 11-23-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRoscoe

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Warner already GET something...

Didn't Sony throw a small mint their way to abandon the HD-DVD format.

Guess they want more in these tough economic times.

You know what they say about sleeping with the devil...

Yeah WB sure did already get something.

I would be doubly shocked if WB dropped BD tho. Just can't see that happening.

What's the alternative? HD DVD is gone. downloads? Please.
No way the revenue would be that strong this early.
No, WB made their bed they gotta sleep in it now.

They'll bellyache to Sony but that's it.

God, they were SO stupid. Warner I mean.

11-23-2008, 01:29 PM	#176
DonnyDC High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,197	I cant believe how many people are taking the phrase 'do or die' and taking it by the literal meaning. How would YOU use the phrase 'do or die' in everyday language? It simply denotes what could be a missed opportunity. Which could mean anything including a missed chance to become a resounding success and instead only become an ok success. People need to focus on what he said after since thats where he actually (partly)explains his motivation. “We must get it established as a favorite holiday item.” Do - be a favorite holiday item Die - not be a favorite holiday item Last edited by DonnyDC; 11-23-2008 at 01:33 PM.

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11-23-2008, 06:25 PM	#178
JoeRoscoe Just a average Joe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 59 Posts: 154	Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Warner already GET something... Didn't Sony throw a small mint their way to abandon the HD-DVD format. Guess they want more in these tough economic times. You know what they say about sleeping with the devil...