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HD VMD Day is January 22, celebrate the one true red contender in the HD war
Still not sure if HD VMD is a viable or even notable contestant in the next-gen disc wars? Find out more during "Global VMD Day", January 22nd, hosted at NME's first manufacturing line in The Netherlands. For the price of one transcontinental plane ticket (or intra-continental for our European friends) attendees can enjoy a celebration of all things HD VMD, learn about new supporters of the format and experience tech demos. You're an HD enthusiast right? Be a pal and hop the next Concorde to Europe, then let us know if VMD is a contender or pretender.[Via CNN Money]
Universal HD DVD exclusivity contract has expired, sits non-renewed
More news from the format war today, and it isn't good for the red camp. Daily Variety has confirmed that Universal's agreement to stick with HD DVD has ended and has not been renewed. Additionally, Paramount has an escape clause in its contract that can be exercised following Warner's departure from the (now dwindling) HD DVD ranks. The article highlights various ongoing commitments both companies have to the format, but we've heard these kind of promises before from studios. It's feeling like a party where everyone leaves at once; nobody wants to be the first out the door, but everyone's looking in that direction. [Thanks, Mike M!]
HBO hops on bandwagon, also going Blu-ray exclusive
Merely days after hearing New Line affirm that it would indeed be following Warner Bros. to the Blu side, we're now seeing confirmation that HBO (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies) will be making the same leap. According to reports, HBO Video president Henry McGee has stated that HBO will too be "following the same policy as Warner Home Video" -- though we can't really imagine anyone being shocked about the decision. The blows just keep on comin', eh?[Thanks, Utah]
Petition to keep HD DVD alive appears online
Sure enough, an online petition has appeared that HD DVD supporters can rally around. Click on through to read (and sign, if that's your persuasion) the petition, which puts check marks in the "cheaper" and "better tech specs" columns for HD DVD. With recent talk about Universal and Paramount going blu, this feels seriously desperate. When we checked, 2,151 signatures were on the petition. That's 2,151 people who should both: a) own the format and b) feel that it's in danger of being abandoned by Warner, Universal and Paramount. Sorry guys, but it looks like the HD DVD group is busy talking behind closed doors.[Thanks, pimpdee976!][Image courtesy The National Archives]
Retail CEO's react to Warner's Blu-ray shift
We are now in day five of the post-Warner Bros. announcement era and CNet has word from several retailers on their response (or lack thereof) to the newly-shifted HD landscape. The CEO's of Best Buy, Circuit City and "not any more or less Blu-ray exclusive than they have ever been despite what some executives might think" Target agree that its a step towards the end of the format war, but seem reluctant to call things over by any shot, or commit to changes in the way they deal HDM. Until further changes do -- or don't -- happen, the electronics aisle will remain divided.
Think Blu-ray has it easy in 2008? NPD says not so fast
The Blu-ray Disc Association could be on cruise control right now. This time last year, they were already declaring victory, and while the opposition deals with key defections -- and rumors of more to come -- they're predicting 1 billion in software sales this year. Video Business reports that the NPD Group's session immediately following last night's BDA press conference confirmed many of the BDA's positive numbers from last year, but also identified possible resistance it will face in 2008 due to still high prices, confused and indifferent customers and competition from HD DVD / VOD / IPTV. Coincidentally, a suggestion for the BDA to get past this was offering a concierge service to educate customers, but we'll see what marketing initiatives they dream up to move people to Blu in '08.
HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on January 8th, 2008
Although we are running non-stop 24 hours a day with CES coverage, the new titles roll on. While some think the format war is over, the fat lady hasn't sung just yet and this week we have a slew of titles for both camps. Blu-ray has the day and date 3:10 to Yuma as well as some catalog titles like Con Air and Man on Fire. Universal is pulling the weight in the red camp -- we have a feeling this will be the trend from now on -- with four catalog titles and Paramount brings us Zodiac: Director's Cut. Overall January is a slow month for release and with so few titles released at CES this year, we are left wondering what titles are coming down the pipe to help each camp reach their 2008 goals.. HD DVD 375 vs Blu-ray 412*Blu-ray 3:10 to Yuma (2007) (Lionsgate) Con Air (Buena Vista) Dragon Wars (Sony) Killing Machine/Shogun's Ninja (BCI) Man on Fire (Fox) Night of the Werewolf/Vengeance of the Zombies (BCI) The Rock (Buena Vista) Sister Street Fighter/Sister Street Fighter 2 (BCI) Sunshine (Fox) HD DVD Mobsters (Universal) The Pianist (Universal) White Noise (Universal) White Noise 2: The Light (Universal) Zodiac: Director's Cut (Paramount) * Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously available.
Paramount: "Current plan is to support the HD DVD format." Currently.
Paramount has officially issued its denial of the rumor -- originally printed in the Financial Times -- that it is very close to ending its exclusive support of HD DVD. The quick end to what had been reported as an 18-month agreement could be the result of a "get out" clause triggered by Warner Bros.' sudden departure from HD DVD releases. Whether this will follow last year's "Universal may switch" rumor, that didn't happen, or last month's "Warner may switch" rumor, that did, remains to be seen. Until we hear otherwise, Paramount, Transformers and Shrek are still HD DVD only, whether they like it or not.[Thanks, numlok]
Paramount following Warner out the HD DVD door?
The Financial Times is reporting that Paramount is preparing to use a get out clause in its HD DVD exclusivity deal, and go back to Blu-ray, about 4 months after ending its dual-format release schedule. The move would be a result of Warner's switch to Blu-ray, using a "get out" clause in Paramount's promotional agreement with the HD DVD camp. No details on what it might take to rip up the contract and make Michael Bay very, very happy, but if the rumor proves true this could make the slow death he predicted for HD DVD a very, very fast one.
U.S. DVD sales slip 3.6% in 2007
Even as Blu-ray celebrates the future, our present format leader, DVD, had a noticeable sales slippage in 2007. Following a slide in the amount of DVD player sales this should surprise no one, but may give insight to Warner Bros. reasoning in abandoning its dual-format release schedule. A drop in U.S. spending on DVD purchases by 3.6% according to DEG wasn't as bad as expected but studios are definitely looking for the next big thing to make up for DVD's lack of growth.
Blu-ray press conference coverage LIVE
We're on the ground at the Blu-ray Disc Associations CES press conference. We're not sure, but they might be in a pretty good and boastful mood. We don't know if the hyperbole could match last year's, but check out the liveblog to find out how it went down in 2007, and what to expect from blue in 2008.
Toshiba's CES press release reveals HD DVD Concierge
Sure some people think the format war is over after Warner's big move, but we can still take a peek at Toshiba's planned next move for the format. Recognizing the confusion even the most informed consumers experience with HDM and HDTVs, Toshiba's CES HD DVD press release revealed "HD DVD Concierge", an 888 number customers can call for assistance with HD DVD, or to be indoctrinated in the glories of red "receive assistance with various marketing initiatives". Similar to Panasonic's Plasma Concierge and Sharp's new Aquos Net support/marketing services, its good to know we can get help with any HD questions we're having, like "What do you plan on doing next so that my HD DVD player doesn't end up gathering dust in the basement next to my Betamax?" Call 1-888-MY HDDVD for answers.
HD DVD looks back on 2007
In a press release, the HD DVD Group is rallying the demoralized troops around the accomplishments made in 2007. Citing almost one million players in North America and a good (by HDM standards) library of titles, 2007 was a good year for the red camp. There's the requisite cherry picking of factoids, but the release does play to HD DVD's strengths of affordability and interactive features. We're glad to see HD DVD put on a brave face; and as we've said, HD DVD has been declared "dead" before. Maybe this is sign that team red has shaken off the cobwebs from this week's blows. The real test will be if HD DVD will be able to generate some more forward-looking optimism.
Is Target going Blu-ray exclusive?
Some rumors that just won't die eventually end up being true, and the latest to reappear is the Target is going Blu-ray exclusive one. Today at Philips' press event during CES, while Stewart Muller was introducing its new Blu-ray player he also mentioned that Target was going Blu-ray exclusive. Of course what his definition of exclusive means might be his alone, but unless Target pulls all the HD DVD movies off their shelves entirely, we're not sure we agree.
New Line confirms it'll follow in Warner's Blu footsteps
As if anyone expected anything different, New Line confirmed with Variety Magazine that it'll follow Warner to the Blu-ray promise land. While this is a no brainer considering the relationship between Warner and New Line, (also owned by Time Warner, just like Engadget) other studios remain up in the air. When, and if, Universal makes the switch as well is any ones guess, but at this point we doubt many would expect otherwise. But, as we've learned in the last few days, anything's possible, but the idea of having one HD format to adopt is something even most members of the red camp can get behind.
Is New Line going Blu-ray exclusive, too?
While everyone's eyes have been (understandably) fixated on Warner's sudden -- but not completely unexpected -- leap to the Blu-ray wagon, we've been wondering what would happen to New Line (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies). As you know, the aforementioned studio is currently format neutral, simultaneously releasing such titles as Pan's Labyrinth on both HD DVD and Blu-ray, but new reports are suggesting that tables could be turning. According to a writeup over at Variety, it outright proclaims that "Warner sister company New Line confirmed it will shift allegiance to Blu-ray only as well." However, a conference call with Warner Home Entertainment President Kevin Tsujihara -- sat in on by High-Def Digest -- reportedly had the fearless leader stating that "[New Line and HBO would] make whatever decision they're going to make," and he concluded by noting that while those decisions should be handed down "very quickly," they "are not covered by the initial announcement." Quite honestly, we wouldn't be shocked in the slightest to see New Line declare its unending love for Blu and turn a cold shoulder to HD DVD, but it seems it hasn't got up the courage to actually do so quite yet.[Thanks, Ben]Read - New Line going Blu-ray exclusiveRead - New Line, HBO not covered in Warner announcement
The real reason Warner went Blu?
If you want to know why Warner (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies) choose Blu-ray and why now is the time, you should head over to Engadget HD. We had the chance to have a few words with the president of Warner Home Video and he was more than happy to clear up a few questions for us.
The real reason why Warner went Blu?
We knew this wouldn't take long -- just like when Paramount made the switch to HD DVD, rumors are swirling that a sum of $500 Million was involved in the decision to make the switch. The rumor goes on to say that Fox's allegiance to Blu-ray was a factor as well, but when it refused to defect from the Blu camp and accepted an undisclosed amount, Warner (owned by Time Warner, which also owns Engadget's parent companies) had no choice; because at this point, without another studio going red it would've only put the war into more of a stalemate than it already was. Of course, Warner tells the story a little differently, and on a recent conference call when asked about any "compensation" Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group said that it "was not a bidding war" and that it really came down to Q4 sales, specifically in the International markets -- then he wanted to know if we had any idea where they could collect the $500 Million. Ultimately, Warner wanted to try and give consumers a reason to get off the fence. As for the remaining five months, although there will be a delay in the release of Warner HD DVD titles in comparison to the Blu-ray releases, the specifics haven't been worked out just yet, and the decision has also not been made to stop production of current HD DVD titles -- but the retailers will have a say in that one. We closed the call with the most pertinent question of all, "Where's the Matrix on Blu-ray?" to which the answer was, as soon as they work out the details of BD Java and PIP.
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]
Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending December 23rd, 2007
Not sure if we're ever going to catch up, but this weeks edition of Home Media Magazine includes the Nielsen VideoScan results from the week ending December 23rd. And just like the week before -- and the week after -- Blu-ray has the majority with a 61:39 (1.56:1) share. For the second week in the row, the latest Bourne movie was able to hold off Blu-ray's best; The Simpson Movie. Blu's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was once again able to out pace red's, but not by much. For the first time since we can remember HD DVD has four titles in the top ten -- up from three -- with Transformers holding on to a top ten spot after two months of being released. While we hope that HMM skips a week in it's next issue, either way we'd expect much of the same -- yeah, real obvious when we already know the overall numbers -- with the lackluster titles released on both sides. We are interested to see how Blu-ray's first profile 1.1 titles sell, but unless the BDA tells us at CES, who knows when we will see those numbers.
