For what it was worth, I e-mailed Warner Bros customer support to express my dissatisfaction with their HD-DVD decision and the specifics of why I was disappointed and why I won't be supporting Blu-ray. It probably won't make a difference but IMO, it's better to speak out than to just take it silently. Silence=consent in my book.

Anyone else do likewise? Any online petitions out there?

I'm sure there are some petitions out there, but as I understand it the deal is already done.
All the petitions in the world aren't going to make WB keep producing HD-DVDs.
From the beginning, until the end, it's all about money.

I do consent to the end of the format war.

On June 1, 2008 Warner Brothers will be releasing on BD only. Done. The End.

Well...

It wouldn't hurt to express dissatisfaction. At the very least, it'll make one feel better. At the most, they'll hopefully see there is deep disappointment among their buying public.

So here's a bit of contact info.

http://www2.warnerbros.com/web/main/...er_service.jsp

Send your letters to:
Warner Home Video
4000 Warner Blvd
Burbank, CA 91522

Main telephone for Warner Bros. Studios: (818) 954-6000

Edward Adler
Executive Vice President
Corporate Communications
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016

Keith Cocozza
Vice President
Corporate Communications
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY 10019-8016

It's certainly true that in regards to HD-DVD, it's a lot easier to resume production on them than it would be for Blu-ray.

I'm not saying that would be the case, but it's certainly not an impossibility.

I sent them a couple of messages. Not really expecting it to make any difference, but I felt pretty betrayed over the whole thing, what with their supposed "commitment to releasing on both formats" and all. I carbon-copied everybody in my address book, too, so they could all see what a nut I am (as if any of them had any doubt).

And what if one isn't deeply dissatisfied, but actually very grateful that they had the courage (alleged incentives notwithstanding) to try to end the pointless format war, giving HDM at least a shot of gaining more acceptance with the general public?

Shouldn't those people (meaning me) be writing to Warner to express those sentiments as well?

In my message I basically let them know that I was purple (for one short unfortunate moment) but felt completely underwhelmed by Blu-Ray that I returned my player and have no desire to ever buy Blu-ray. And also let them know that I'm completely happy with my HD-DVD and it's FULL functionality (as opposed to all the Profile nonsense on Blu-ray). Plus I also made them aware of my wariness with FOX's problems with their newer blu ray discs.

Like I said, I'm not expecting the sky to open up and Warner to reverse course just on my disappointment. I was just surprised that there was no petitions or the like considering people do petitions for the most minor things like their favorite 70's era TV show not being on DVD!

I suppose I could listen to the "get over it" crowd. But

1) It's not in my nature.
2) Something tells me most of them are biased towards Blu to begin with.

So I'll continue to contact away. And hopefully someone more articulate than I can start a petition soon.

Thanks for doing the same apples.

I contacted them and told them I support their decision.

And, I just did the opposite.

If we're to be writing letters of support as well, it wouldn't hurt to write to Paramount and Dreamworks in regards to their continued support of HD-DVD.


General Phone Number: 323.956.5575

[email protected]'

PARAMOUNT STUDIOS 5555 Melrose Avenue Hollywood, CA 90038 www.paramountstudios.com

Contact:Brad Grey Chairman & CEO Paramount Studios 5555 Melrose Avenue Hollywood, California 90038 323-956-5000 323-862-1204 (fax)
[email protected] - e-mail may bounce

I called, and they apologized. I persuaded them to continue to support HD DVD.

You're welcome.

I did as your subject line asked. I contacted them and thanked them for essentially ending the format war.

Lets be generous and say you get 50000 people to sign some online petition for Warner Brothers expressing your dissatisfaction with their decision. All you'd need to do is get each of them to fork over $1000 to match what they were rumored to have been promised (in incentives, cash, whatever) by the BDA. Of course, that only matches their price. You'll also need to convince the corporate folks (who are already filthy rich, mind you) to announce that they reverse their corporate position made only a week ago making them look like wishy washy fools to any company they would inevitably have to jump ship to for screwing up such a monumental deal, and ruining any chance any of them would have to make any sort of "important" corporate decision again.

Yes, I think this can work. Large corporations always listen to a very small vocal comsumer base concerning recent large and lucrative corporate decsions! Viva la revolución!

Of course, if you're just doing this to make yourself feel better, knock yourself out, but I truly hope you don't think any of what you have suggested will matter at all in the end.

Why anyone would want the format war to continue to drag on and slow down adoption by those standing on the sidelines is beyond me.

How about those people who've only bought into HD-DVD, and a spent good bit of their hard-earned money?
People who'd like to be able to continue to purchase HD-DVD titles from a company who has been producing them up until now.
You seriously can't understand why they'd be upset?

And around and around it goes...

I thanked them and told that I wished that they had made their decision earlier.

I would only contact them to bitch about their online store. Besides, the war didn't end. It may not be over for another 9-12 months.

I am sorry.

If nothing else, a large volume of complaints could compel them to indulge us with some sort of exchange program.

That's the price one pays for being an early adopter. You take a gamble. Sometimes you win, sometimes (actually, most times) you lose. I spent a good bit of my hard-earned money on HD DVD. More, I would bet, than many of the most vocal proponents of continuing the format war. But I want it to end. Now. Warner has made that a very real possibility.

The alternative is not a very desirable one, where both formats fail to gain any real traction at all, and eventually all of the studios completely lose interest. Then what would you be able to buy for your HD DVD player? Nothing. Oh, and you wouldn't be able to make the switch to Blu-ray then either, because it would be dead too.

It may take that long for the final "letter of surrender" to be delivered, or it may happen much more quickly. Or it may not happen at all. No one expects Toshiba to go gentle into that good night. But that won't stop the night from coming.

A petition was publicized several days ago, not that I encourage anyone to sign it.

It was up to 4008 names the last time I checked.

http://www.petitiononline.com/SAVEHDD/petition.html

Actually I can't Jon (I think that's your name, sorry if it isn't). We bought into a media with two competing formats with little dual format support. It was obvious that only one would remain or neither. Frankly, there was just as much of a chance of a NEW format coming out before there was format peace as there was one winning.

Anyone who bought into this expecting the status quo remained made a bad investment choice.