Warner Bros., a major movie studio in Hollywood, said that it would still release its movies on HD DVD format even after May 31st, 2008, when the company is supposed to start releasing movies on Blu-ray disc (BD) and DVD only and cease making HD DVD. But Warner Bros. will only launch HD DVD if there is demand.
“There may be isolated instances that an HD DVD title will be created, but as a general rule our titles will be out in SD and BD only after May 31,” said Ronnee Sass, vice president of publicity and promotion, in an interview with DVDTown web-site.
Time Warner-owned studios, including Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, announced in early January that starting from mid-2008 they would only release high-definition movies on Blu-ray discs, a competing format for HD DVD. It is also projected that Warner Bros. will cease not only to release new titles on HD DVD, but also cease manufacturing of already available HD DVD movies. Apparently, Warner not only plans to create new HD DVD titles, but also to continue selling existing HD DVDs too.
“If there is product available in HD DVD and there is a request from a retailer, we will provide,” said Mr. Sass.
It is interesting to note that the forthcoming release of I am Legend movie from Warner Bros. will have more exclusive high-definition media (HDM) only features on Blu-ray: the BD version will also sport gallery of documentary vignettes dubbed Creating I Am Legend as well as the featurette Cautionary Tale: The Science of I Am Legend. Therefore, it is not completely clear whether newly created HD DVD titles will have as many HDM-only features as Blu-ray. Still, with over one million of HD DVD players installed in the USA only, the amount of potential customers for HD DVD titles that is hard to ignore.
It is noteworthy that Warner Bros. talks about possibility to release HD DVDs about a month after proclaiming Blu-ray exclusivity. For example, Disney has not released a single HD DVD yet, although it voted for approval of HD DVD 51GB standard; whereas 20th Century Fox does release only Blu-ray titles in the U.S., but in Europe its partners make them available on HD DVD.
Blu-ray and HD DVD formats compete for replacing the DVD standard. HD DVD discs can store up to 15GB on a single layer and up to 30GB on two layers. Its competitor, Blu-ray, can store up to 25GB per single layer and up to 50GB on two layers, but Blu-ray discs are more expensive to produce. The HD DVD is pushed aggressively by Toshiba, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, Sanyo as well as being standardized at the DVD Forum, which represents over 230 consumer electronics, information technology, and content companies worldwide. Blu-ray is backed by Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, LG, Hitachi, Sharp, Samsung, and Sony, which are among the world’s largest makers of consumer electronics.
Comments currently: 7
Discussion started: 02/14/08 01:49:44 PM
Latest comment: 02/15/08 09:57:42 AM
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1.
They would be dumb not to, really. I think hd-dvd player figures come in around 1 million in the u.s.a. Take the rest of the world into account and that is a lot of business they would otherwise lose.
IMHO I think a lot of these companies were paid to say the things they said. I mean the timing was very suspicious with a lot of the statements and is all rather trivial considering that high def accounts for like 1% of the consumers. moot point.
3 months ago netflix said hd-dvd rentals account for a 2:1 ratio with blu-ray. Kind of suspicious that 3 months later it is suddenly wearing their pockets thin.
really, its all bollocks. The whole "war" is a propaganda sham to get people remotely interested in the technology. Doesn't seem like people are biting and all this back and forth with hd-dvd vs blu-ray is usually biased.
They seem to both be decent formats. But hd-dvd is cheaper and has zero to do with sony (which i consider one of the greedier corps.) plus the specs are finished and the menu's aren't near as annoying. But really all that counts is the PICTURE.
[Posted by: toddy | Date: 02/14/08 01:49:44 PM]
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Well obviously HD-DVD owners don't want the format war to end just yet, but the rest of the world does. I don't know where some of your facts is coming from, as its the first time I've heard that even three months ago that HD-DVD even came close to matching Blu Ray. As far as last Thanksgiving it has always been 2:1 in favor of Blu Ray in terms of software sales.
[Posted by: RW | Date: 02/14/08 11:01:50 PM]
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i feel hd dvd is getting screwed over by the media and a lot of the net writers !are pockets being lined
[Posted by: benq | Date: 02/14/08 02:18:05 PM]
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It's just the general opinion of these writers that its about time the format war ended. At least the Blu Ray group is providing a rebate option for all HD-DVD owners.
[Posted by: RW | Date: 02/14/08 11:03:04 PM]
3.
We will not be releasing any new content after May 31st, 2008 on HD DVD.
Either Mr. Sass is mistaken or someone misunderstood what he said.
From June 1st, 2008 Warner will only be releasing Blu-ray and DVD discs for the foreseeable future.
[Posted by: Dan Silverberg | Date: 02/14/08 02:54:36 PM]
4.
HEhe, I gues HD DVD fans try to hang to any hope they can find ;)
The exact wording of the interview let you just know that they will not simply destroy the stocks of unsold HD DVDs they will have after May 31st. If there is demand from a retailer for a title they still have in stock, then they'll be more than happy to send it to them.
But from official sources, Starting from March, they will stop pressing any HD DVD catalogue and only fullfil their obligations up to May 31st.
Good luck finding anything in stores aside from unsold stocks after that ;)
[Posted by: Greg | Date: 02/14/08 03:41:02 PM]
5.
“There may be isolated instances that an HD DVD title will be created, but as a general rule our titles will be out in SD and BD only after May 31,” said Ronnee Sass, vice president of publicity and promotion, in an interview with DVDTown web-site.
How can you misread this. Basically is there is demand for HD DVD title it will be created. This doesn't sound like selling already released HD DVD to me.
[Posted by: jimmysb | Date: 02/15/08 09:57:42 AM]
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