Combo Format and Total HD discs (HD DVD on one side; Blu-ray on the other)
08-12-07, 07:07 AM
#155
DVD Talk Legend
It's a disc with HD DVD on one side and BD on the other, and it's been pushed back to next year if it even comes out at all. It seems that nobody is in favor of it.
08-12-07, 09:02 AM
#156
DVD Talk Special Edition
How much do these discs cost? $50+ - with the amount you'd be paying for titles at that cost you could just buy both players and continue to just purchase the current titles on both formats.
08-12-07, 12:06 PM
#157
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Originally Posted by True_Story1011
How much do these discs cost? $50+ - with the amount you'd be paying for titles at that cost you could just buy both players and continue to just purchase the current titles on both formats.
08-12-07, 12:13 PM
#159
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Originally Posted by bunkaroo
Consumer are still smarting over VHS vs. Betamax? Really?
Total amateur article.
TotalHD will be a blight on HD just like combos are a blight on HD DVD.
Total amateur article.
TotalHD will be a blight on HD just like combos are a blight on HD DVD.
I couldn't imagine many people would even remember what BetaMax was, nor could they say who the main backer was. I think even something like DVD and Divx is too long ago for the average customer. I'm so glad I talked my dad out of buying Divx. Those CC guys just kept pushing it.
08-12-07, 01:09 PM
#161
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Originally Posted by bunkaroo
Consumer are still smarting over VHS vs. Betamax? Really?
Total amateur article.
TotalHD will be a blight on HD just like combos are a blight on HD DVD.
Total amateur article.
TotalHD will be a blight on HD just like combos are a blight on HD DVD.
08-12-07, 01:14 PM
#162
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
I don't understand why everyone is against this. Please explain it to me.
08-12-07, 02:48 PM
#163
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Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
I don't understand why everyone is against this. Please explain it to me.
08-12-07, 03:04 PM
#164
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by Patman
Some people fear disc rot on combo-sided discs.
In addition, Total HD discs are pretty much certain to be more expensive than regular HD DVDs and BDs.
I also prefer artwork on my discs, as opposed to two shiny sides, but that is just a quibble. If WB could eliminate the disc defect problem AND price Total HD the same as regular HD DVDs, I'd accept them. But I don't for a minute believe either of those things will happen.
08-12-07, 03:17 PM
#165
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
...But analysts wonder if the moves will anger consumers, just as the studios and consumer-electronics companies are hoping to boost high-def DVD sales as growth in standard DVDs stalls...
...The stakes couldn't be higher for Hollywood, which has seen sales of traditional DVDs, once a reliable profit engine, slow to a trickle...
08-12-07, 04:02 PM
#166
Originally Posted by lizard
To be more precise, some of us fear that Total HD will have a high defect rate, something that is a problem with some HD DVD/DVD combos now (and has been a problem with DVD-18s — two sided DVDs — for many years).
In addition, Total HD discs are pretty much certain to be more expensive than regular HD DVDs and BDs.
I also prefer artwork on my discs, as opposed to two shiny sides, but that is just a quibble. If WB could eliminate the disc defect problem AND price Total HD the same as regular HD DVDs, I'd accept them. But I don't for a minute believe either of those things will happen.
In addition, Total HD discs are pretty much certain to be more expensive than regular HD DVDs and BDs.
I also prefer artwork on my discs, as opposed to two shiny sides, but that is just a quibble. If WB could eliminate the disc defect problem AND price Total HD the same as regular HD DVDs, I'd accept them. But I don't for a minute believe either of those things will happen.
08-13-07, 11:54 AM
#167
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Those arguments make sense. I guess for WB it makes little sense as they are starting to release everything on both formats.
• They are already releasing almost everything on both formats (subject to BD getting the final specs for interactivity implemented).
• They can advertise "future proof" discs; if one format wins the war, a Total HD disc will still work in the players of the winning side.
• They can sell them for more money and make a higher margin on each disc (as can the retailers). If we, the customers, want the movie, we will have to pay the price.
• The retailers only need to stock one disc, as opposed to both blue and red cases now.
• If they can persuade other studios to sign on, they can collect royalties from Total HD sales.
• If Total HD gained wide acceptance, it would make the format war pretty much irrelevant. Whichever flavor of machine one has, it would work with all Total HD discs.
I think that WB may be in for a surprise at the expense, in dollars and to their reputation, if they have to replace a significant number of defective Total HD discs. And I think that they may find some market resistance to the higher prices of Total HD.
We shall see. I would prefer that Total HD just die a quiet death.
Last edited by lizard; 08-13-07 at 12:01 PM.
08-14-07, 06:13 PM
#168
DVD Talk Legend
If WB truly believes stuff like the above points, it just goes to show how out of touch their marketing teams are with their customer base. I'm willing to concede some people may want these (as they want HD/DVD combos), but I think majority of HD DVD and Blu-Ray owners would certainly be against them. They are probably asking non-HD owners leading questions to get the answers they want to backup this ridiculous proposal.
The real motivation by WB is probably the licensing fee they would presumably get from other studios.
The real motivation by WB is probably the licensing fee they would presumably get from other studios.
Last edited by bunkaroo; 08-14-07 at 06:19 PM.
08-14-07, 06:50 PM
#169
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Originally Posted by bunkaroo
If WB truly believes stuff like the above points, it just goes to show how out of touch their marketing teams are with their customer base. I'm willing to concede some people may want these (as they want HD/DVD combos), but I think majority of HD DVD and Blu-Ray owners would certainly be against them. They are probably asking non-HD owners leading questions to get the answers they want to backup this ridiculous proposal.
The real motivation by WB is probably the licensing fee they would presumably get from other studios.
The real motivation by WB is probably the licensing fee they would presumably get from other studios.
08-15-07, 11:46 AM
#171
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by QuePaso
Warner has royalties for HD-DVD itself. Every HD-DVD Disc sold, they get a piece.
That is why they are desperate for hd-dvd to chug along, and with the TotalHD Discs with HD DVD/BD on the same disc, they keep making profit per disc sold from royalties AND sales combined. If BD wins outright, they just make profits from the disc sales and not the royalties from hd-dvd. That is why they are doing everything possible to keep hd-dvd afloat, including trying to force consumers into TotalHD Discs, trying to get other studios to join in with them as neutral (except for Universal, funny how that is!), and still leaving ~20 HD titles not on BD yet but still on HD DVD...
08-15-07, 11:52 AM
#172
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Originally Posted by lizard
Really? If true, that's news to me. Do you have a source for that claim?
08-15-07, 12:13 PM
#173
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Adam Tyner
I can try to dig up a link, but the idea is that Warner holds DVD patents, and HD DVD, being an update of the DVD process, keeps that revenue stream flowing for them.
08-15-07, 06:29 PM
#174
Warner Bros. is issuing non-combo versions of select titles on 10/2. Priced at $34.99 SRP: The Ant Bully, The Departed, The Fountain, Happy Feet, Lady in the Water, The Lake House, Letters from Iwo Jima, Rumor Has It and Superman Returns. Titles priced at $28.99 SRP are: Good Night, and Good Luck and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=65599
08-16-07, 05:08 AM
#175
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Originally Posted by lizard
Oh come now. You know perfectly well that the reason for a delay of some WB titles on BD (The Matrix, Batman Begins, for example) is because BD still hasn't implemented the algorithms necessary for interactivity features. Sheesh.