Warner Goes Blu-Ray

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silverscreenselect · #1 Post by **silverscreenselect** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:50 am

Yesterday, Warner Brothers and New Line announced that, beginning this spring, all their high def DVD releases would be exclusively in Sony's higher cost Blu-Ray format rather than Toshiba's competing HD-DVD format. As a result, Blu Ray will have exclusivity on 70% of new studio releases and HD-DVD the remaining 30% (Warner and New Line had been the only major studios still supporting both formats). Warner felt that the uncertainty over format was hurting overall sales (which is true), although it had led to price slashing on both HD players and discs.

Toshiba had scheduled a major presentation at this week's Consumer Electronic Show and has now cancelled. Most observers feel that Warner's move will end the format war within the next few months with HD-DVD going the way of the BetaMax.

What still remains to be seen is whether Blu-Ray will ever grab a substantial share of the DVD market or whether it will remain a niche product like laserdiscs once were. The downward pressure on pricing will probably go away soon and players will still be running in the $200-300 range (compared to under $50 for DVD players). In addition, $100 DVD recorders are becoming very popular. They will play DVD's but will not record or play in any HD format. Also, there are only about 1000 titles available, total, in any HD format, as opposed to about 50,000 on DVD. Many low selling titles will never be released in Hi Def (why lose money twice on the same movie). HD players will play standard DVD's (a big advantage over the old laserdiscs), but the improved picture quality of high Def DVD's is much less noticeable on sets under 40".

reeg2223 · #2 Post by **reeg2223** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:37 am

Dang! I just got a HD DVD player for Christmas!
I will say it works great and is strong at upconverting old DVDs, so I'll live I guess. But I hate making the wrong guess at technology!

MarkBarrett · #3 Post by **MarkBarrett** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:05 am

Spiderpig looked great on Blu Ray through my PS3. When buying DVDs recently I've had to take into account if I'm buying a movie family, friends, neighbors and co-workers might want to borrow. One thing about paying a little more for Blu Ray is the potential loan list is significantly smaller.

"Yes, I have that movie. Oh, I'm sorry I only have it in Blu Ray."

Bob Juch · #4 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:33 pm

I've got both formats so don't really care. I do like the Blu-Ray menus better.