In essence, they already have with 21 titles that are still not on Blu-ray. Hopefully this means new releases (like Harry Potter for example). Catalog titles won't matter.

AMEN....I loathe Wal-Mart and the low class people who shop there.

I had MANY bad experiences that forced me to this conclusion. Plus, I worked there in college so I know the crowd first hand.

I shop at Target and have not had issues.

There's no way Warner keeps Harry Potter a timed exclusive. Here's another PS3 demographic title that would sell very well on Bluray. I have no interest in purchasing it but I'm sure I'm in the minority when it comes to this.

the matrix

"Target Corp., the nation's second-largest retailer, announced in July that it would sell only Blu-ray players. Its decision followed a bidding war in which Sony and three studio partners reportedly paid Target what one rival described as a "jaw-dropping" sum for prominent display of its hardware at the end of sales aisles."

How dare they try to sway this format war with money!!!

Seriously though, if I recall, this happened BEFORE the Paramount decision. Did Bill cry foul then?? I dont think so.

;)

batman begins
terminator 3
v for vendetta
troy

those had to do with IME, but if it still isnt ready by december, it might happen. Who knows.

Its his opinion, but I think its somewhat valid....Basically, J6P is the target at Wal-Mart.....most of them do not have as critical of an eye as we do.

Ive always thought that these formats would be hampered by the limited number of hdtvs in homes AND the fact that many people will not see a huge increase in quality to justify the price difference.

Face it....some people just dont see it.

My brother-in-law has an hdtv and doesnt even get hd service. They are happy with standard cable and upconverted DVD.

ya think.... ?

Seriously, the BDA should have been forthright about "promotional considerations" given to Target and I do agree about the double standard as well.

I've edited the language, but the point still stands.

And the point is?

That Warner didn't attend a dog and pony show? Ok. Fact Accepted.

Means nothing, unless you are inviting people to base their conjecture on this earth shattering fact, which is what you were criticizing other people for.

From Bill Blue Hunt:

So its OK for Sony to purchase exclusivity up front? If Sony is going to play "dirty" and pay off Fox and Disney and keep its own (Sony) catalogue Blu Ray, then all-bets are off. Its like that scene in Dreamgirls where Jamie Foxx decides the way to get Eddie Murphy noticed is do payola too. Its a joke.

I actually enjoy the Digitial Bits, its like the best of Blu Ray Fandom.

Actually the point does not stand at all but seeing what language you used and where we could derail this discussion from this point on I would like to simply skip commenting. I believe it is the better option at this time.

Pro-B

I don't like this, and I own both formats!

Maybe it's just the people who own just HD-DVD I don't like. :)

I have to wonder though, if this format war will turn out to be like Ebay bidding, where someone who grossly overpay for an item because someone else is putting in competing bids, meaning the war will ultimately take both sides down.

Is there a definitive point to be had?

You speculate that because Warner was at the Blu-ray press conference at IMA and that they weren't at the HD DVD meeting, that must indicate something about their preferences.

Josh speculates that Warner was at the Blu-ray press conference at IMA because they were asked to do so as a show of solidarity.

Either way, it's all speculation. Yes, it's a fact that Warner was at one press conference and not another, but whatever meaning you extrapolate from that is not a fact.

I hate the Bits, they are the most bitter of everyone. It is so entertaining to go back and read there "BLU RAY WILL WIN WE HAVE BEEN IN THE HOME VIDEO BUSINESS BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH YEARS BLAH BLAH BLAH WE ARE THE BEST BLAH BLAH BLAH" articles, only have to have new ones which exude bitterness and nervousness as a result of all these recent news

And this is coming from a person who would like to see BR win...

I think it is more likely that J6P just doesn't care, not that he/she can't tell the difference.

Except that the number of HDTVs is increasing, and (IMO) will increase even faster when the U.S. has completely switched over to digital TV transmission. The last figures I read about HDTV adoption indicated that about 25% of U.S. households now had an HDTV, and this was a few months ago. I expect that figure to reach at least 50% in the next 24 months.

Again...I think most people just don't care.

Just curious, do any of their local TV stations broadcast OTA HD? If they have a UHF antenna they can get some free HD, if they want. Why not watch in HD, if it's available. That's what I do. Of course, if they aren't interested in any of the broadcast networks shows, then it's a moot point.

Haha...I always picture Bill Hunt typing up his opinion articles while gritting his teeth and occasionally crying. He whines and whines.

He is a hypocrite and lost all credibility with me. I used to frequent his site. No more.

I agree....I was just saying it will hurt adoption in the short term versus when DVD was released it could be used on most tvs.

He has directv AND he is in the DFW area (lots of OTA hd channels). He likes HD, but like you say, it just isn't important. Also, his HDTV doesnt have a built in tuner for hd.

He told me that he will eventually get hd, just not now.

I wonder if Warners would use this plan to see how many BD-only supporters go out and buy a HD DVD player to have access to some of their new exclusives, possibly Harry Potter.

BTW, just read on AVS from one of the biggest BD supporters (no, not the tool that is BB77), that apparently Warners will not release Batman Begins on BD until The Dark Knight hits theaters next Summer.

I don't have a problem with what either side did up front to get some exclusivity for their side. It would have been better if there hadn't been exclusive studios, but there are so we have to deal with that. When we all made our choices we knew what the up front deals were and based our choices on those. I don't care that Paramount was paid to go exclusive, it's just that it seemed like the rules had been changed in the middle of the game. So 'up front' vs. 'middle of the game' is different to me. I basically just want one format. It felt like we were getting closer to that possibility, but now after the Paramount deal it seems farther away which I don't think is a good thing for most of us. I would rather Disney, Fox, and Warner go HD-DVD exclusive than have this format war drag on for several more years.

Absolutely!

Which is that we use a language I, or anyone else for that matter, could respond to in an intelligent manner (just as you did). What Josh could or couldn't extrapolate from a fact as opposed to a piece of unconfirmed news is hardly a speculation. If it was then I certainly don't agree with its vulgar tone!

Pro-B

I don't understand why HD-DVD people always seem willing to drop $500 or more on a Blu-Ray player while the Blu-Ray people are always extremely vocal and unwilling to drop $200 on a HD-DVD player.

Makes sense to me....I wonder if they will come out with a new version on all formats (like Troy) for a double-dip.

Studios don't make choices and stick with them. They follow the cash - which right now in the HD disc market, is exclusive deals with the warring camps, not with actual purchases.

Its a stretch to rely on studio decisions because they change, especially in a format that has such little critical mass. In fact, I would argue that the "neutral companies" Paramount and Warner - hadn't made any deals yet (and hence the neutrality) and therefore even under your argument, they hadn't made their initial choice. I know Paramount had issued a press release touting both format option, but well, unless the ink is there for a distribution agreement, they could do whatever they pleased.