Warner goes Blu-ray exclusive

We've all been wondering what to make of those whispers that Warner (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies) was indeed going Blu-ray exclusive, and apparently, those rumblings are true. Based on a breaking release, Warner Bros. Entertainment will be releasing its high-definition titles "exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year." According to Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, the move is a "strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," and he also noted that "the window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger." Notably, Warner will continue to release on both HD DVD and Blu-ray until May 2008, but after that, it's BD for life for this studio. Oh, and while there's nothing official mentioning any sort of payoff, we're hearing that quite a sum was dished out to make this happen. Full release posted after the jump.

[Via Deadline Hollywood Daily, thanks Todd]

(January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today's decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future."

[Mark @ Feb 11th 2008 9:40AM]

Its very interesting reading the debates over formats etc. One thing most people seem to forget in their discussion is that VHS survived decades before they got replaced. Then it took DVD less then 10 years to be phased out by HD format optical disks (BluRay-most likely or HD DVD). How long do you think it will take for entire industry to eliminate the slowest optical digital medium still in use. I'm talking about devices such as CD, DVD, HD DVD etc... We already have technologies that can run circles around all optical devices without the mechanical components such as motors etc. I am sure that solid state technologies (memory sticks, flash etc...) are one of the main reasons for the studios to end the HD DVD and Bluray war as it certainly introduces confusion and slows adoptions which in turn results in lost revenue. It is also certain that the future of all HD media will want to eliminate all machanical/optical aspects of its data processing which are more prone to failures and are the slowest data transfer media . So for those who are smiling after Warner Bro's decision to go 100% BlyRay, please think again, as we will be surely saying Good Bye to BluRay in no time at all. In the end the money makers are surely to be making a good buck on all of us re-re-purchasing the same movies all over again. We should all be able to buy a movie in HD digital format agreed by industry and let us decide which digital media we would like to put it on, period.

[Ikuto @ Feb 12th 2008 12:20AM]

I like Blu Ray only cause it sounds cooler than HD-DVD. I mean, come on...HD-DVD, that's so lame. BLU RAY, thats like somethings from a science fiction novel!

[crycry @ Jan 4th 2008 3:51PM]

happy

[Davsot @ Jan 4th 2008 8:01PM]

agreed

[cduran01 @ Jan 4th 2008 3:51PM]

The future is indeed blue!

[Rick @ Jan 4th 2008 5:04PM]

Actually, it was green for WB it seems. Huge pay off? Block Buster was paid off as well. So rather than release a better product at a better price point, Sony has decided the only way to win the war, is to buy it.

[RubberBinder @ Jan 4th 2008 4:53PM]

*Blu

[ChillyWilly @ Jan 4th 2008 4:59PM]

Blu it is... Good news for us Blu-Ray adopters.

Disney, Sony, Warner... wonder who else will climb on board?

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 4th 2008 5:11PM]

@ Rick: You got links to support those accusations? And you know Sony isn't the sole company backing Blu-Ray, right?

[Jon @ Jan 4th 2008 5:21PM]

Whatever Rick. Remember the pay-off HD-DVD camp paid to Paramount?

[DrXym @ Jan 4th 2008 5:52PM]

Thank goodness. I've always thought Blu Ray was the most pragmatic choice but my confidence has been shaken by the deep pockets of Microsoft. I'm hoping that now Warner is going Blu Ray that this whole stupid, artificially prolonged war is going to end this year and consumers, studios and manufacturers can get on and make the most of it.

[DelSource @ Jan 4th 2008 7:25PM]

Rick you m0r0n, M$ paid a MASSIVE HD-DVD bribe to Paramount last year! 150 MILLION DOLLARS I believe.

[ScareyJ @ Jan 4th 2008 8:32PM]

@DelSource, not sure if the amount was confirmed, but Microsoft denied they paid any incentive; it appeared to be Toshiba.

The sad fact is, both sides are paying studios (& others) and the result is not favorable for the consumer. The more these two groups invest in briding studios, distributors, and retail stores, the more they're going to have to make up by charging the consumers. The winner of this war isn't going to slash prices for us as they'll need to recoop their investments spent on deals made to win ... instead of winning on merits. We all lose in these battles.

[Rob @ Jan 4th 2008 10:42PM]

@ ChillyWilly

quote "Disney, Sony, Warner... wonder who else will climb on board?"

Almost every CE company in the world has been on board with Blu from the get go except for hmm....oh yeah...the twosome MSFT and Toshiba. It's probably quiet and lonely tonight at those two companies' hi-def divisions.

[hemmy @ Jan 4th 2008 3:51PM]

fanboy meltdown, imminent...

[Sukhminder @ Jan 4th 2008 4:04PM]

Time to buy a PS3... i like this bandwagon, we sing songs on the bus

[Cash @ Jan 4th 2008 5:18PM]

Awesome. Xbox supports Divx now so what do I care what physical format the studios are paid off to side with?

[hemmy @ Jan 4th 2008 5:30PM]

Who doesn't love Tron? I thought this was humourous:


http://img4.imagebanana.com/img/32sz30fm/tron1.gif

[Matt @ Jan 4th 2008 6:26PM]

Like so many others, I don't care who wins. I'm a consumer fanboy.

The advent of the upconverting DVD player, and my anger toward both sides in this format war have helped me decide to boycott both formats.

When (if) ALL studios get behind one or the other, then my boycott ends.

[MegaZone @ Jan 4th 2008 6:53PM]

Heck, Toshiba seems to be having a bit of a hissy fit: http://www.tivolovers.com/2008/01/04/toshiba-comments-on-warners-blu-ray-move/

[James Cameron @ Jan 4th 2008 7:27PM]

So does this mean BR will start dropping their ridiculous high ass prices for their players? HD should be better off joining BR and become a one format. Not sure what I'm going to do with the 5 HD movies that I own.

[Standingfast @ Jan 4th 2008 10:19PM]

Man, I hate this format war. However, I am glad that decisions like this are not causing me any more pain...I paid in advance, and have both a Ps3 for Blu-Ray, and the Xbox HD-DVD add on. ^_^...

bring it on

[Chase @ Jan 4th 2008 3:51PM]

You know, at first I was all for HD-DVD... But I just don't care anymore. I think Blu-Ray kinda has it in the bag.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 4th 2008 5:40PM]

No way, I totally heard that Sony is taking all it's studios to HDDVD in June.

[Taylor @ Jan 4th 2008 7:20PM]

Andir3.0:
Please die in a hole. Now.

[Andir3.0 @ Jan 4th 2008 9:49PM]

Your just mad cause you didn't think of it first. =)

[Curtis @ Jan 4th 2008 3:52PM]

YES!!! Take that M$

[Wolfticket @ Jan 4th 2008 3:59PM]

YES!!! Take that consumer /sarcasm

[JC @ Jan 4th 2008 4:28PM]

GO $ONY! or GO DUBAI!?

[ColonelSmith @ Jan 4th 2008 3:53PM]

Please tell me I'm not the only one whos pissed at this whole format war. First Dreamworks goes to HD-DVD now Warner goes Blu-ray. You can't even watch the movies you want to on one HD format. I mean come on what about Batman! HD-DVD and Blu-ray should kiss and make up then have a single format child. I'm sorry, I must be dreaming. Well, I'm going to go cry in a corner for purchasing an HD-DVD player.

[Todd @ Jan 4th 2008 4:07PM]

I has teh hate for vendor lock too, Colonel Smith - but one war at a time. Let's get rid of DRM first, then worry about HD DVD format wars.

[Cash @ Jan 4th 2008 6:09PM]

I love my $99 HD-A2 player, even though only 1 out of every 10 discs I put in it is hidef. It upconverts beautifully and it's 1080i max resolution is perfect for my second gen Mitsubishi HDTV. Even if HD DVD goes the way of DIVX (not Divx, btw) and Beta, I'm not going to regret purchasing it for a second.

[pquistgard @ Jan 4th 2008 6:29PM]

[says in Dori voice] - There there - it's alright. Have you seen that video on youtube? You can use it as a great cup holder! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvE_dONJIWU [end Dori voice]

[omer @ Jan 4th 2008 3:55PM]

oh man...looks like Sony is finally going to win one of its format wars. ARGHHH

[ShadowGod @ Jan 4th 2008 3:56PM]

Sony must be writing some big checks!

[DelSource @ Jan 4th 2008 7:28PM]

What, like MS did last year when it paid Paramount 150 MILLION DOLLARS to stay red? Some short memories here today.

[Eric @ Jan 4th 2008 5:46PM]

So much for Sony's comments about wishing to go back in time to avoid this format war...

[Jay @ Jan 4th 2008 7:57PM]

Yeah, because Warner's decision is only going to prolong the format war.....

What are you on?

[A1 @ Jan 4th 2008 4:00PM]

Come on Truth Teller tell us some f**cking Truth? HD-DVD gonna win? i think not.

[OneAboveAll @ Jan 4th 2008 3:59PM]

Yay! My PS3 is actually worth something now! Big surprise... *(sarcasm) nothing to see here move along...

[ethana2 @ Jan 4th 2008 8:37PM]

It'd be worth a heck of a lot more if sony would stop blocking 3rd party access to the graphics chip.

But then, the fact that it's worth /something/ says a lot, eh, Microsoft?

[lectoid @ Jan 4th 2008 3:57PM]

At least The Matrix trilogy made it out on HD-DVD. And does anyone know if these exclusives are like video games. For example, can WB release a given movie on HD-DVD after a set time period? Take Spiderman 3, probably the last movie to ever show up on HD-DVD, but why would Sony refuse easy money like that. Sell it on your own format until sales die, then release it on the opposite one. That sounds easy enough.

[Bryant @ Jan 4th 2008 4:39PM]

*Correction: Spider-Man 3 came out ONLY on Blu-Ray (it is a Sony Pictures feature after all).

[lectoid @ Jan 4th 2008 4:42PM]

I know, I mean to say: "Take Spiderman 3, probably BE the last movie to ever

[Laron @ Jan 4th 2008 4:00PM]

It has begun...

[Afsheen @ Jan 4th 2008 4:01PM]

Wow. That's all I got. Wow.

[Marc @ Jan 4th 2008 4:02PM]

So, lets say Blu Ray wins this whole war (which it looks like they will) does that mean that the studios that initially went HD DVD exclusive will be able to switch later? Basically, will all movies be made available on whichever format eventally 'wins?'

[hemmy @ Jan 4th 2008 4:08PM]

You can count on it. The hollywood studio imbalance is so lopsided now in Blu-ray's favor, it would be suicide not to support it.

[michaelscrip @ Jan 4th 2008 4:10PM]

Probably. I remember long ago when a friend of mine had purchased Ghostbusters on Beta. And then they put it on VHS as well.

I guess we should wait to see who will win this "war" before we buy any movies.

Or, if players fall in the $100 range, buy both players if you must have HD content now.

I won't... I don't have an HDTV!

[Bryant @ Jan 4th 2008 4:43PM]

Eff that. I already bought Transformers on HD-DVD. The only movie I got on HD-DVD. I will hold on to that and my XBox360 external HD-DVD drive either way, it can always be used as an external DVD player anyway.