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Warner, New Line, Paramount, Universal ... The Studios/Networks Thread - Part 2

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Old 01-06-08, 03:58 PM
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Warner, New Line, Paramount, Universal ... The Studios/Networks Thread - Part 2

First thread here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=521651


Mod note: If this thread degenerates into the mindless bickering we saw at the end of the last thread, it will be closed and the mods will decide whether or not suspensions are appropriate.

Edit - Here are my thoughts on the decision: http://www.dvdtalk.com/hd/warner_bros_turns_blu.html
Old 01-06-08, 04:04 PM
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I'm not sure if anyone saw it, but is there any news on the Onkyo HD-DVD play that was suppose to debut at CES (if it hadn't already?). That had some real nice specs and it would be a shame for it to become vaporware.
Old 01-06-08, 04:04 PM
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Maybe the reason some of the postings are becoming more negative is that the shock of Friday's announcement is beginning to wear off, and some people just want to vent. It's a natural reaction.
Old 01-06-08, 04:05 PM
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I saw a mention in the closed thread of HD DVDs last chance would be to get Disney to switch to even the market up again. I really, really, really hope they don't even try to do this. This is the closest we have gotten to getting 1 format. I think HD DVD is finished. I don't expect any change, other than Universal and Paramount releasing on BD.

But if Disney did switch to HD DVD, then HD media in general can kiss any chance of growth goodbye. It would cause massive doubt on those on the sidelines, which already had doubts. I don't want Toshiba to try and counter-attack. I want this damn thing over with.
Old 01-06-08, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by jackson walker
Maybe the reason some of the postings are becoming more negative is that the shock of Friday's announcement is beginning to wear off, and some people just want to vent. It's a natural reaction.
They can vent on blogs or at another forum. Venting here just leads to bitterness and disagreements and people getting suspended or worse.

Mr. Cinema, I agree. The best thing at this point is for Uni and Paramount to go at least neutral, and have everyone focus on making BD the best it can be.
Old 01-06-08, 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
I saw a mention in the closed thread of HD DVDs last chance would be to get Disney to switch to even the market up again. I really, really, really hope they don't even try to do this. This is the closest we have gotten to getting 1 format. I think HD DVD is finished. I don't expect any change, other than Universal and Paramount releasing on BD.

But if Disney did switch to HD DVD, then HD media in general can kiss any chance of growth goodbye. It would cause massive doubt on those on the sidelines, which already had doubts. I don't want Toshiba to try and counter-attack. I want this damn thing over with.
I highly doubt Disney will switch. Better chance of a Robot Enslavement.
Old 01-06-08, 04:13 PM
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I would still like to see a bigger push for standalone players this year. I don't want this to be a PS3 format, which is what is kind of is now.

It appears Panasonic's new DMP-BD50 is the first BD Live 2.0 player. Looks very close to my BD30, which I have been very happy with. I will probably not upgrade to another player unless it decodes DTS HD MA. I'm not sure if the BD50 will do that.
Old 01-06-08, 04:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Suprmallet
They can vent on blogs or at another forum. Venting here just leads to bitterness and disagreements and people getting suspended or worse.

Mr. Cinema, I agree. The best thing at this point is for Uni and Paramount to go at least neutral, and have everyone focus on making BD the best it can be.
I think what will happen is we will hear from Paramount first announcing their BD support. I think that could happen in the next couple of weeks. Universal will follow, but being the only HD DVD exclusive since day 1, they may wait a bit longer to announce their plans.
Old 01-06-08, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
I would still like to see a bigger push for standalone players this year. I don't want this to be a PS3 format, which is what is kind of is now.

It appears Panasonic's new DMP-BD50 is the first BD Live 2.0 player. Looks very close to my BD30, which I have been very happy with. I will probably not upgrade to another player unless it decodes DTS HD MA. I'm not sure if the BD50 will do that.
I'm annoyed at Panasonic. The BD50 looks to be identical to the BD30, only with the additional specs necessary to make it 2.0. They could have easily included that stuff on the BD30 and charged the same price. Bad form.
Old 01-06-08, 04:32 PM
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Is there a reasonable Blu-ray player (pricewise) that I should be thinking about besides a PS3? I just bought a HD-DVD player from Amazon that I will return and want to go Blu-ray given recent events.
Old 01-06-08, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by neiname
Is there a reasonable Blu-ray player (pricewise) that I should be thinking about besides a PS3? I just bought a HD-DVD player from Amazon that I will return and want to go Blu-ray given recent events.
I would wait a bit. There's bound to be either an announcement of a lower cost BD player or new models which will push the price of existing models down.
Old 01-06-08, 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
I think what will happen is we will hear from Paramount first announcing their BD support. I think that could happen in the next couple of weeks. Universal will follow, but being the only HD DVD exclusive since day 1, they may wait a bit longer to announce their plans.
Paramount's stuck with HD DVD for another year
Old 01-06-08, 04:58 PM
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Not even considering how enthusiastic & dedicated Disney seems to be towards Blu, I just can't see them making a move to MS/HD DVD seeing as Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple) is the #1 share-holder in Disney, and especially not at this stage of the game.

As for Paramount & Universal going neutral, I'd just as soon they wait to go 100% Blu in order to get Blu encodes, not ported HD DVD encodes.
Old 01-06-08, 04:59 PM
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GorillaX ,

How is that. Due to the changing climate, they could easily buy out the contract, if any. And there are probably safeguards in the contract as well, eluding to a situation where it would not be financially prudent to produce a product which will have a declining consumer base.
Old 01-06-08, 05:05 PM
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Between Paramount and Universal is there a guess to what % of the movie titles those 2 studios account for? Not just what has been released so far on any HD format, but for overall movies.
Old 01-06-08, 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted by GorillaX
Paramount's stuck with HD DVD for another year
There are reports that Paramount's deal with HD DVD has an "out" clause, giving them the ability to go back to BD without any sort of legal action.
Old 01-06-08, 05:09 PM
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Technically, Universal has the largest catalog of any studio by a fairly large amount, but this is only because they essentially own the entire silent film era.
Old 01-06-08, 05:12 PM
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The word coming from CES, started by Phillip's Stewart Muller, is that Target is going to go Blu-Ray exclusive now.
Old 01-06-08, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by wewantflair
Technically, Universal has the largest catalog of any studio by a fairly large amount, but this is only because they essentially own the entire silent film era.
Then let us take those movies out and focus on from 1940 till today.
Old 01-06-08, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Big Dave
Then let us take those movies out and focus on from 1940 till today.
They would still be easily top 3.
Old 01-06-08, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by DthRdrX
The word coming from CES, started by Phillip's Stewart Muller, is that Target is going to go Blu-Ray exclusive now.
Wrong

Target will continue to carry the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive as well as HD DVD titles so we don't see much of a change in their plans to carry both formats. In fact, they continue to sell Toshiba HD DVD players on their website. Sony appears to have bought an end cap, just as HD DVD has in retail stores such as BestBuy and Circuit City.
Old 01-06-08, 05:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
I saw a mention in the closed thread of HD DVDs last chance would be to get Disney to switch to even the market up again. I really, really, really hope they don't even try to do this. This is the closest we have gotten to getting 1 format. I think HD DVD is finished. I don't expect any change, other than Universal and Paramount releasing on BD.

But if Disney did switch to HD DVD, then HD media in general can kiss any chance of growth goodbye. It would cause massive doubt on those on the sidelines, which already had doubts. I don't want Toshiba to try and counter-attack. I want this damn thing over with.
I was the one that mentioned this, but it is not something I hope happens. I agree with your comment above. It is now time for one format to take over.
Old 01-06-08, 05:17 PM
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Samsung just announced the UP5500 Dual Player.
$599 MSRP. Second Quarter.



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Old 01-06-08, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

Target will continue to carry the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive as well as HD DVD titles so we don't see much of a change in their plans to carry both formats. In fact, they continue to sell Toshiba HD DVD players on their website. Sony appears to have bought an end cap, just as HD DVD has in retail stores such as BestBuy and Circuit City.
where's that quote from? thanks
Old 01-06-08, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Wrong
You're wrong. Target is dropping all HD DVD software in the coming weeks. A memorandum has already been sent to certain Target employees. This is new information.


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