ScissorPuppy

Well this would help keep the format alive, but wouldn't be a huge threat to Sony.

I have a few friends who work for the WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment for those who don't watch pro wrestling.

Anyways, Starting this week WWE programing is going HD. They are looking at the two HD formats for future HD disc releases. Toshiba is offering some great insentives for the WWE to go exclusive. Also evidently Tosh is looking into other "sports" like Nascar and NFL to go exclusive.
The WWE has not chosen a format yet, but Toshiba is tempting them.

While the sales of these items don't compare to movie sales, would it be enough to keep the format alive?

Noonan

Not to sound like I'm bashing but what could Tosh possibly be offering them that sounds temping? Unless they offer them a cash contract which is valid regardless of disc sales I can't imagine what incentive they would have.

kefrank

in a word, no.

also, professional wrestling is not a sport. they're athletes and it's entertainment, but it's definitely not a sport when the outcome of the competition is predetermined.

ScissorPuppy

I wasn't refering to only the WWE, i was refering to Sports releases in general. If WWE, Nascar and NFL all released product it might keep HD DVD afloat. Wether or not pro-wrestling is a sport is a matter opinion. It's refered to as sports entertainment.

PopcornTreeCt

No, HD-DVD could stay alive if they offered tons of porn for $10 or less. But that's about it.

Dan

OT, but I'm convinced that all sporting events have a predetermined outcome.
Just look at the NHL. Have you ever seen the final playoffs go to only 4 or 5 games? Having to get to 6 or 7 games increases revenue by millions of dollars... they're not going to throw that away just because one team sucks.

BravesMG

WWE and other professional wrestling DVDs usually make up a good percentage of the top 10 Sports DVD list from Nielsen.

Groucho

It's a good niche market, but are people going to go out and buy HD-DVD players for it? They'll probably just buy the SD DVD and go Blu-Ray for everything else.

And WWE would be nuts to take that deal at this stage in the game, regardless of what Toshiba is putting on the table.

kiett_2000

If you said that to "The Rock" or "Stone Cold Steve Austin", I think they would smack you right on the head!!! And then do this to you ->

kefrank

gotcha. i didn't mean to come off as harsh with my opinion.

Fist of Doom

Yeah. Last year.

kefrank

haha, maybe. but really, that shouldn't be an offensive statement. those guys are incredible athletes and highly-skilled entertainers. but they're not playing a sport when they get in that ring, and i actually think most of them would admit that.

Dan

Well they have to let it happen every 25 years just to make sure no one catches on.

jjt1081

My HD-A35 would become my favorite player in my house if that happened.

ThomaMon

Anyone who invests in a dying format would be a total moron at this point, I would be shocked if WWE went HD-DVD.

Qui Gon Jim

Let's say HD DVD offers them $20M. WWE would be IDIOTS for not taking it. If HD DVD fails, there is nothing saying that they can't release on BD once HD DVD folds. That $20M would be more profit than they would likely make in the first couple years of a format. If HD DVD takes off or remains in the game, then they re-negotiate. It would truly be a no-lose proposition.

This is especially true considering that the WWE is only starting HD THIS WEEK so even if they do have HD DVD or BD releases, it will be very recent stuff. It will be a long time before they put both feet onto an HDM bandwagon.

It is more than just "HD DVD is dying. We won't entertain offers." Companies are out to make a buck.

Lastyear

I thought this was about sports?Professional wrestling is not a sport.

Qui Gon Jim

This thread is not about the merits of pro-wrestling as a sport. Is pornography cinema? For the topic at hand it doesn't matter. Pro-wrestling is content with an audience. The question is what impact that audience would have on a format war, and what would their exclusivity be worth.

Please find another place to slam wrestling, please. Been there. Done that.

Dutin

That's already been covered in the thread!

Each week, the WWE broadcasts six hours of original programming, seen by nearly 16 million people in the U.S. alone. Additional, WWE programming is broadcast to 130 countries in 20 different languages worldwide!

WWE has 6 of the current top ten sports dvd sales and a huge library of titles! The low cost of the hd dvd players + WWe could = Big $$

UFC had plans to release the "best of 2007" on both formats but since pulled it.

Drexl

Right, just like baseball allowed the last four World Series winners to lose a total of one game in those series.

In any case, I don't think this would be huge. I doubt the market for any sport is large for DVD, let alone for HD DVD/BD. Most don't care to watch them once the outcome is known, and even then you're usually dealing with very specific fanbases.

Qui Gon Jim

You are correct, but they have no "catalog" of HD material ready to go. Up until, well, right now as I type this, their entire catalog is on video. Still, they do produce an amazing amount of content in a year's time.

True_Story1011

I would purchase complete seasons of my favorite teams playing for the right price!

Complete seasons, full games, interviews, etc.

Honestly, I would purchase these for just about any price.

98 - 07 Patti's season's would be a must

ScissorPuppy

I guess you didn't see that Nascar and NFL were mentioned.

danstheday

I always thought that HD-DVD'S secret weapon was going to be putting hd-dvd in the XBOX standard.

Arpeggi

I thought HD DVD's secret weapons were porn and cheap chinese players.