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

**PFC5** · 11-22-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louigi222

Agreed. You could have stopped here.

How do you what purpose it serves? These so called "negative issues" are frequently quoted from newspaper accounts.

Why not??? You spend inordinate amounts of time defending the BDA/studios against any form of criticism.

Just to stand up and be heard should be reward in and of itself.

Silence on issues is the same as saying they're no issues.

It IS an enjoyable place.

IMO, Bravestime is one of the LAST people that the comment I highlighted in red applies to.

Louigi222 · 11-22-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

This wasn't directed to me but I wanted to comment on it.

I don't believe that the Warner studio issues with BD as stated are in the context of what is happening with SD DVD although they are interconnected. What I got out of that article is that Warner is pretty disappointed with where the BD format is right now compared to where they hoped/projected it would be. Sure the economy is effecting this, but I also think Warner is frustrated that some of the studios are not lowering prices really like Warner is doing....

That's my sense of it as well. Perhaps we saw some insight into the frustration Mr Sanders may be experiencing with the current disappointing state of affairs with both optical disc formats.
Do you suppose that Warner Bro may be just beginning to explore a possible major change in support policy re the Blu-ray format next year and maybe doing a "Toshiba?"
Than again, maybe I'm just making too much of a casual utterence.....but than again Mr Sanders did say.....

**PFC5** · 11-22-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louigi222

That's my sense of it as well. Perhaps we saw some insight into the frustration Mr Sanders may be experiencing with the current disappointing state of affairs with both optical disc formats.
Do you suppose that Warner Bro may be just beginning to explore a possible major change in support policy re the Blu-ray format next year and maybe doing a "Toshiba?"
Than again, maybe I'm just making too much of a casual utterence.....but than again Mr Sanders did say.....

That was my fear when I read it as an initial possibility, but both formats are down so where would they go for the revenue? The only reason I could think of for them to do this is IF they thought it would bring more people to buy SD DVD if Warner thinks many have stopped buying SD DVD while waiting to jump into BD and they do not want to leave that situation brewing for too long.

It might be a call out to the other studios to work their BD prices lower like Warner has started to do. Lets face it. What would happen if Warner dropped out of BD altogether? Would that be the beginning of the end, or would that just tighten the resolve of the other studios to make BD a mass market product?

I am just throwing stuff out there as I do not think Warner has anywhere else to go than BD anyway.

brianh · 11-22-2008, 06:45 PM

From what I heard, WB was never really into the deal with Sony to begin with.

So it's always been a marriage of convenience. This quote shocked me simply because it was made public.

If TDK sales aren't as impressive as WB is projecting - they might be good considering all the hardware sales- then I expect WB to seriously have 2nd and 3rd thoughts.

The deal involved WB believeing that Sony would get their act together and that blu-ray would "Take off" so to speak.
Anybody with clear eyes can see that hasn't happened.

Hell, WB was having 2nd thoughts around the time Toshiba gave up.
So it's no surprise they are thinking this. It is a surprise they're SAYING it out loud.

It out to give the blu companies significant pause. Maybe it's a dire warning to them to REALLY get their act together i.e. lower prices, lower production costs, have Sony subsidize more etc.

Steve Jobs already said dealing with blu is a pain.

It all adds up.

**bruceames** · 11-22-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikingfan

Mike's status is the same at every forum, bitter trolling fanboy.

Nobody cares what you think of Mike, n00b.

**PFC5** · 11-22-2008, 07:23 PM

I expect TDK to get the record for BD sales and I think so doesn't everyone else. I am fairly sure it will, but who knows what Warner has projected for it on BD or if it will meet that expectation, but I would be outright SHOCKED if it didn't break all records myself.

I am surprised that Warner said this publicly and I think it was a warning to other studios myself.

Personally I think BD is coming along great from a hardware perspective, and I never thought BD players would be this cheap so I tip my hat to the CE companies doing what is necessary for BD to be a success. I just wish the studios would NOW follow suit.

DonnyDC · 11-22-2008, 07:30 PM

I think people are reading to much into this.

Quote:

“We think this is a do-or-die time for Blu-ray,” said Ron Sanders, president of Warner Home Video.

Yeah sounds scary by itself.

Quote:

“We must get it established as a favorite holiday item.”

That could mean alot of things. 'Established' certainly has some room for interpretation.

crazyal · 11-22-2008, 07:38 PM

I think it means exactly what it sounds like. Come early Jan WB will drop BD like a rock if it doesn't meet expectations. I mean after all Warner has never said anything that they didn't mean. Well there was that who back HD DVD thing but that doesn't count.

WB is a hore. They probably dropped this line so a bead of sweat formed on Sony's eyebrow. Next they will go back to Sony and say "give us a break on the royalties of else". They know they have the best selling title this season. But that's just my opinion, you all can go back to your fight, lol.

DonnyDC · 11-22-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyal

I think it means exactly what it sounds like. Come early Jan WB will drop BD like a rock if it doesn't meet expectations. I mean after all Warner has never said anything that they didn't mean. Well there was that who back HD DVD thing but that doesn't count.

Well lets say BD doesnt meet expectations, whatever expectations those are. Didnt hollywood support Laserdisc or did they drop it like a rock? and BD already has about 5x the success that format had.
Kind of odd they would give LD 20 years of chances but only give Blu Ray 2...

**bruceames** · 11-22-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonnyDC

Well lets say BD doesnt meet expectations, whatever expectations those are. Didnt hollywood support Laserdisc or did they drop it like a rock? and BD already has about 5x the success that format had.
Kind of odd they would give LD 20 years of chances but only give Blu Ray 2...

WB obviously won't drop BD, but they are concerned about the effect BD will have on DVD sales. BD must do well enough to at least offset the negative DVD sales due to BD's existence. Consumer's will increasingly stop buying DVDs because they know BD renders them obsolete. It's possible more people will stop buying DVDs because of Blu-ray then those who do buy Blu-ray, and that's what they don't want. The problem is, Blu-ray is being introduced less than 10 years after DVD, and consumers will be wary of investing so heavily in a format with such a short life span (ie, before another format that's better comes along). When I first starting buying DVDs, I had no idea that they would be coming out with improved transfers of the same movie in a few years, much less have a new format come along so soon. It really makes one think twice about buying rather than renting. If burned consumers revert to a renting mentality they once had with VHS, then that will not bode well for the format. And renting has never been easier and will only get more convenient as time goes on...

DonnyDC · 11-22-2008, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

WB obviously won't drop BD, but they are concerned about the effect BD will have on DVD sales. BD must do well enough to at least offset the negative DVD sales due to BD's existence. Consumer's will increasingly stop buying DVDs because they know BD renders them obsolete. It's possible more people will stop buying DVDs because of Blu-ray then those who do buy Blu-ray, and that's what they don't want. The problem is, Blu-ray is being introduced less than 10 years after DVD, and consumers will be wary of investing so heavily in a format with such a short life span (ie, before another format that's better comes along). When I first starting buying DVDs, I had no idea that they would be coming out with improved transfers of the same movie in a few years, much less have a new format come along so soon. It really makes one think twice about buying rather than renting. If burned consumers revert to a renting mentality they once had with VHS, then that will not bode well for the format. And renting has never been easier and will only get more convenient as time goes on...

I think there will be a delay because of high movie prices, but catalog sales should make up for it. If they dont then I dont think the 'anticipation delay' may make that much of a difference anyways.
The drop in overall dvd sales are most likely from the usual suspects. Increasing trend to rent a movie, the economy, piracy, maybe even the dreaded digital download alternative.

vikingfan · 11-22-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

Nobody cares what you think of Mike, n00b.

What a suprise, one of the red ants defending his queen.

vikingfan · 11-22-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruceames

BD must do well enough to at least offset the negative DVD sales due to BD's existence. Consumer's will increasingly stop buying DVDs because they know BD renders them obsolete.

Wow, so now BD just being around is causing DVD's sales to drop, I thought it just did that to HDDED. Without question that post was the most farfetched stretch of "logic" ever. Reminiscent of the gems of "rjdam" and "midnightwatcher".

**bruceames** · 11-22-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikingfan

What a suprise, one of the red ants defending his queen.

haha, I didn't know Mike was so famous elsewhere, but glad to know that he's made an impression on you.

**PFC5** · 11-22-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikingfan

Wow, so now BD just being around is causing DVD's sales to drop, I thought it just did that to HDDED. Without question that post was the most farfetched stretch of "logic" ever. Reminiscent of the gems of "rjdam" and "midnightwatcher".

Yeah, I guess Warner has made far fetched conclusions also huh?

Apparently you do not remember that Warner said this as part of the reason they made a choice on 1/4/08.

11-22-2008, 07:23 PM	#126
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,327	I expect TDK to get the record for BD sales and I think so doesn't everyone else. I am fairly sure it will, but who knows what Warner has projected for it on BD or if it will meet that expectation, but I would be outright SHOCKED if it didn't break all records myself. I am surprised that Warner said this publicly and I think it was a warning to other studios myself. Personally I think BD is coming along great from a hardware perspective, and I never thought BD players would be this cheap so I tip my hat to the CE companies doing what is necessary for BD to be a success. I just wish the studios would NOW follow suit. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

11-22-2008, 07:38 PM	#128
crazyal Smarter than the ave bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,312	I think it means exactly what it sounds like. Come early Jan WB will drop BD like a rock if it doesn't meet expectations. I mean after all Warner has never said anything that they didn't mean. Well there was that who back HD DVD thing but that doesn't count. WB is a hore. They probably dropped this line so a bead of sweat formed on Sony's eyebrow. Next they will go back to Sony and say "give us a break on the royalties of else". They know they have the best selling title this season. But that's just my opinion, you all can go back to your fight, lol. __________________ Please don't feed the Unicorns

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11-22-2008, 06:45 PM	#124
brianh High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,023	From what I heard, WB was never really into the deal with Sony to begin with. So it's always been a marriage of convenience. This quote shocked me simply because it was made public. If TDK sales aren't as impressive as WB is projecting - they might be good considering all the hardware sales- then I expect WB to seriously have 2nd and 3rd thoughts. The deal involved WB believeing that Sony would get their act together and that blu-ray would "Take off" so to speak. Anybody with clear eyes can see that hasn't happened. Hell, WB was having 2nd thoughts around the time Toshiba gave up. So it's no surprise they are thinking this. It is a surprise they're SAYING it out loud. It out to give the blu companies significant pause. Maybe it's a dire warning to them to REALLY get their act together i.e. lower prices, lower production costs, have Sony subsidize more etc. Steve Jobs already said dealing with blu is a pain. It all adds up.