Blu-Ray Vs. HD DVD

[Geekyfanboy]

Next Generation of DVD Wars Continues

http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2007/08/11/next-generation-of-dvd-wars-continues/#more-5508

Submitted to SoSF by: Michael Hickerson (SoSF Staff Journalist)

LOS ANGELES â€" People who own an HD DVD player can forget about watching “Spider-Man 3″ in high definition when it goes on sale during the holiday season. The movie from Sony Pictures will be available only in the Bluray DVD format. Likewise, people with Blu-ray players won’t be able to enjoy the action-thriller “The Bourne Ultimatum,” which Universal Pictures will release only in HD DVD.

These exclusive arrangements, plus aggressive price cuts for high-def DVD players, are designed to persuade consumers to finally embrace one format or the other. But analysts wonder if the moves will anger consumers, just as the studios and consumer electronics companies are hoping to boost high-def DVD sales as growth in standard DVDs stalls.

“The frustration for consumers is not knowing what format is going to win,” said Chris Roden, an analyst at Parks Associates.

BETAMAX MEMORIES

“Consumers, many of whom are still smarting from the VCR format battle between VHS and Betamax, need to know their expensive equipment won’t become obsolete if the competing format wins,” said Steven J. Caldero, chief operating officer of Ken Crane’s, a specialty electronics chain in Southern California. “People are still frustrated there is a format war to begin with,” he said. “The studios are making people choose. What consumers want is something that will play everything so they don’t have to choose.”

Until recently, many consumers were able to defer the choice because players have been so expensive. But prices have been slashed by about half â€" Sony Corp.’s Blu-ray player now sells for $499, and Toshiba Corp.’s cheapest HD DVD player sells for $299, with both likely to include as many as five free movies as an incentive. (Players that read both formats remain expensive.)
Both sides are also releasing blockbuster titles such as the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie aimed squarely at the demographic most likely to upgrade to high-def.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Hollywood, which has seen sales of traditional DVDs, once a reliable profit engine, slow to a trickle. Direct digital delivery online, while promising, is still years away from profitability because current Internet capacity simply can’t handle the enormous high-definition files. Yet consumers remain profoundly confused by the two formats, both of which deliver crisp, clear pictures and sound but are completely incompatible with each other and do not play on older DVD players. Many haven’t even heard of either format.

HD DVD, developed by Toshiba and backed by powerful companies like Microsoft, has the lead in stand-alone players sold because they are cheaper and hit the market first. In the United States, stand-alone HD DVD players have 61 percent market share, while Bluray players have 36 percent share and the few dual-format players have a 3 percent share, according to market research company The NPD Group Inc.

BLU-RAY PLAYSTATIONS

But Blu-ray, backed by Sony and a majority of Hollywood studios, got a big boost when Sony introduced its PlayStation 3 game console, which comes standard with a Blu-ray drive. Counting those machines, there are more Blu-ray players out there.

Although Microsoft’s Xbox 360 can play HD DVD movies, the drive has to be bought separately. Only 160,000 drives have been sold so far, compared with 1.5 million PS3 consoles, according to NPD.

In terms of discs sold, Blu-ray has always had the lead. Time Warner Inc.’s Warner Bros. and Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures release movies in both formats, and in such cases Blu-ray has outsold HD DVD by nearly 2-to-1.

Blu-Ray is getting an even bigger boost as Blockbuster Inc. announced it would stock only Blu-ray titles when it expands its high-def DVD offerings this year. Target Inc., the nation’s second largest retailer, said it will only sell Blu-ray DVD players in its stores in the fourth quarter.

Sony Pictures, News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox, The Walt Disney Co. and Metro Goldwyn Mayer are releasing only in Bluray. Universal, owned by General Electric Co., is the only major studio to back HD DVD exclusively.

Nonetheless, Warner Bros. believes both formats can coexist and has been urging Blu-ray backers to begin supporting HD DVD as well. The studio has developed a dual-format disc and has said it would license the technology to other studios willing to back both.

“The fourth quarter is critical for the formats to show growth and momentum,” said Steve Nickerson, Warner Home Video’s senior vice president of marketing.

[Rico]

The only answer is to own both types of players or a combo player.

[Geekyfanboy]

Do you really think that's the answer Rico, buy both? One of these formats and it sounds more like Blu-Ray will win out. This is the same as the VHS and Betamax.. and after a few years VHS won. It's going to be the same thing.

[Ktrek]

If Blu Ray doesn't win I'll be surprised. I do not see both formats being able to co-exist. One or the other will have to come to the forefront and all indications are is that Blu Ray is winning studio and consumer support. Our local BestBuy is selling about five Blu Ray units for every HD right now according to their electronics manager. I would think that is a pretty good indicator. Our local Blockbuster is starting to acquire a pretty decent selection of Blu Ray also. I hope I'm not wrong because I just bought a Blu Ray and I do not want to buy an HD player as well and until one format wins out I am only renting Blu Ray discs as I don't want to invest in a format that may not exist a few years down the road.

Kevin

[Rico]

Ktrek and I have been discussing this on another thread off and on and yes, I think for movie and TV buffs the only answer - at least for now will be to own both.  When Betamax and VHS fought it out there wasn't a division of content like is happening now.  With some studios going for one format and some going for another.  Until everything I want to watch comes in both formats the only answer will be to own both types of players or a dual format player.

Many people own multiple gaming systems because the games/software do not work on different hardware.  This is no different.  People do the same thing with PC's and Macs too.  These two HD formats can coexist.

Currently I own neither, but that will probably be changing soon.  I can easily see owning a HDDVD player and a PS3 eventually (which plays Blu-Ray discs) too.  So then I can watch anything.

[Rico]

Hey - how much does it cost to rent Blu-Ray discs from Blockbuster?  You can do it via Netflix for either HDDVD or Blu-Ray at the same cost per month as it always has been.  Actually they just dropped their monthly costs a little.

[Ktrek]

Hey - how much does it cost to rent Blu-Ray discs from Blockbuster?  You can do it via Netflix for either HDDVD or Blu-Ray at the same cost per month as it always has been.  Actually they just dropped their monthly costs a little.

The cost is like $5.00 for a week rental. Cheaper than buying the movies and at least this way I can see if I really want to own a film before spending the money. But I am thinking of joining Netflix.

Kevin

[Darth Gaos]

I thought I had read that the only Motion picture company putting any backing to HD-DVD was Universal and it's partners.  Blue_ray seems to be the one with more movies and more backers.  Is this true?

[Rico]

Here's a list for you.  I think there will be some overlap too.

The following studios are releasing content in the HD DVD format:

    * Universal
    * New Line Cinema
    * Warner
    * Paramount
    * Image
    * Rhino
    * The Weinstein Company
    * Bandhi
    * Canal Studios

The following studios are *not* releasing content in the HD DVD format:

    * Disney (including Touchstone, Miramax)
    * Sony Picture (including MGM/Columbia Tristar
    * 20th Century Fox


This is the exact reason I need to eventually have both formats.  Unless the studios change their tune and start releasing things on both formats.

[Ktrek]

Rico,

Your post above is a little deceptive, unintentionally I'm sure, but the fact of the matter is that the ONLY major studio (of the big eight) holding  on to HD exclusively is Universal. All the other studios are backing Blu-Ray although they may release in both formats.

Kevin

[Rico]

???????    That information is from the net on what studios are releasing in which format.  Period.  But frankly, I'm kind of spent discussing this.  People are free to buy what they want.

[Ktrek]

Well, of the studios you list only four are major, and of the four major studios the only hold out on Blu Ray is Universal. Here are the major studios releasing on Blu-Ray

Buena Vista
MGM
Sony
Warner
Paramount
Fox
Lions Gate
Disney

Universal does not really have enough good movies to hold out forever as the only HD supporter.

Kevin

[The IC]

[The IC]

Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG announced Monday that they will offer next-generation DVDs in the HD DVD format rather than Blu-ray, a move that further complicates the race between the competing technologies.


The move by the two studios will include the upcoming blockbuster "Shrek the Third" and all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment.

"Part of our vision is to aggressively extend our movies beyond the theater, and deliver the quality and features that appeal to our audience," said Brad Grey, chairman and chief executive of Paramount Pictures. "I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount."

The competition between Blu-ray and HD DVD has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Studios and retailers have been choosing sides.

"Spider-Man 3" will only be available in the Blu-ray DVD format when it is released by Sony Pictures.

Likewise, people with Blu-ray players won't be able to enjoy the action-thriller "The Bourne Ultimatum," which Universal Pictures will release only in HD DVD.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070820/ap_on_hi_te/dueling_dvd_formats;_ylt=Avyiq1znBvA61M311YWV25ms0NUE

[The IC]

I am format neutral, but this is a big kick in the crotch to Sony, especially when Paramount starts to release catalog titles like Apocalypse Now, Godfathers 1, 2, and 3, Top Gun, Star Trek, etc....