Format War - HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray - *Its Over...Toshiba Swings White Flag*

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I'd be totally down with CE3K when I can get it a little cheaper. In the meantime, it's a pretty high priced dude, unlike a 5-disc (3-BD/2-DVD) set of Blade Runner.

EDIT: If the numbers say "3rd week straight of 61/39," it has to be the week ending 12/30. But that's still David Vaughn announcing those numbers, and even though he's reliable, I'll wait for HMM to update.
 
[quote name='mykevermin']EDIT: If the numbers say "3rd week straight of 61/39," it has to be the week ending 12/30. But that's still David Vaughn announcing those numbers, and even though he's reliable, I'll wait for HMM to update.[/quote]
We aparently won't find out for sure until next week, if they don't skip last week entirely. Just released:

Week ended 12/23: 61/39
YTD: 64/36
SI: 62/38

Titles/ratios to follow.
 
What exactly does 'over 6 figures' mean? 1 milion or 100,000+? Very weird wording there if you ask me.

I'm thinking the latter, but hey, it'd suprise me.
 
Titles:

Code: 
Top 10 by SKU:

1.  The Bourne Ultimatum                100
2.  The Simpsons Movie                    84.47
3.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        63.85
4.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix BD    57.28
5.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD    44.38
6.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series HD        42.31
7.  Spider-Man 3                    34.61
8.  Transformers                    32.76
9.  300 BD                        29.96
10. Planet Earth: The Complete Series BD        28.51

xx. Blade Runner: Collector's Edition HD        24.95
xx. Blade Runner: Collector's Edition BD        ???
xx. 300 HD                        13.35

Top 10 by Title:

1.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        100
2.  The Bourne Ultimatum                98.36
3.  The Simpsons Movie                    83.09
4.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            69.66
5.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        62.81
6.  Blade Runner: Collector's Edition            59.97
7.  300                            42.60
8.  Spider-Man 3                    34.04
9.  Transformers                    32.22
10. Ocean's Thirteen                    27.03

Top 5 Blu-Ray:

1.  The Simpsons Movie                    100
2.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        75.59
3.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        67.81
4.  Spider-Man 3                    40.97
5.  300                            35.47

Top 5 HD DVD:

1.  The Bourne Ultimatum                100
2.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        44.38
3.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            42.31
4.  Transformers                    32.76
5.  Blade Runner: Collector's Edition            24.95
Something is seriously wrong here. The aggregate total for Blade Runner must include the Ultimate Edition. If it did not, then the Blu-Ray version of the Collector's Edition would have been the 7th bestselling SKU for the week, with a 36.02 share. And we know the HD DVD outsold the BD both weeks, by a miniscule number (essentially 50/50), so there's no way the 1.5:1 ratio can be right either. So likely the Ultimate Edition sold half as well on both formats as the regular Collector's Edition did, which is actually better than I expected. I'm a huge fan and wasn't willing to spend an extra $40 for a plastic box and a picture.
 
[quote name='KingBroly']What exactly does 'over 6 figures' mean? 1 milion or 100,000+? Very weird wording there if you ask me.

I'm thinking the latter, but hey, it'd suprise me.[/quote]

It's definitely 100,000. No single SKU is over 300k, and no title over 500k.
 
bourne on 2nd week outsold simpsons on the first? pretty impressive, tho i think bourne was B1G1 then

but simpsons really didn't do that much better than pirates 3rd week

i thought simpsons would be a movie that would appeal to almost all of the ps3 owners who game more and occasionally pick up a movie
 
[quote name='rsigley']bourne on 2nd week outsold simpsons on the first? pretty impressive, tho i think bourne was B1G1 then[/quote]
It was part of Best Buy's B2G1, but not Amazon's BOGO. Of course, the following week, ALL titles were part of BBs BOGO, so ovbiously it was included there.
 
Awards for top 10 transfers of the year:

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=66672

Short version (all releases are US unless otherwise specified):

10. Blade Runner
9. Black Snake Moan
8. Cars
7. Spider-Man 3 (UK)
6. Silent Hill (Germany)
5. Hot Fuzz (UK)
4. Casino Royale (Finland)
3. Bourne Ultimatum
2. Inside Man
1. Ratatouille

Of those, all of the foreign releases are likely a similar or identical transfer/encode (though not necessarily the same cut) to the US version with the exception of Silent Hill, whose US MPEG-2 release was a complete mess compared to the 1-year-newer and VC-1-encoded German version.
 
[quote name='geko29']Titles:

Code: 
Top 10 by SKU:

1.  The Bourne Ultimatum                100
2.  The Simpsons Movie                    84.47
3.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        63.85
4.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix BD    57.28
5.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD    44.38
6.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series HD        42.31
7.  Spider-Man 3                    34.61
8.  Transformers                    32.76
9.  300 BD                        29.96
10. Planet Earth: The Complete Series BD        28.51

xx. Blade Runner: Collector's Edition HD        24.95
xx. Blade Runner: Collector's Edition BD        ???
xx. 300 HD                        13.35

Top 10 by Title:

1.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        100
2.  The Bourne Ultimatum                98.36
3.  The Simpsons Movie                    83.09
4.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            69.66
5.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        62.81
6.  Blade Runner: Collector's Edition            59.97
7.  300                            42.60
8.  Spider-Man 3                    34.04
9.  Transformers                    32.22
10. Ocean's Thirteen                    27.03

Top 5 Blu-Ray:

1.  The Simpsons Movie                    100
2.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        75.59
3.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        67.81
4.  Spider-Man 3                    40.97
5.  300                            35.47

Top 5 HD DVD:

1.  The Bourne Ultimatum                100
2.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        44.38
3.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            42.31
4.  Transformers                    32.76
5.  Blade Runner: Collector's Edition            24.95
Something is seriously wrong here. The aggregate total for Blade Runner must include the Ultimate Edition. If it did not, then the Blu-Ray version of the Collector's Edition would have been the 7th bestselling SKU for the week, with a 36.02 share. And we know the HD DVD outsold the BD both weeks, by a miniscule number (essentially 50/50), so there's no way the 1.5:1 ratio can be right either. So likely the Ultimate Edition sold half as well on both formats as the regular Collector's Edition did, which is actually better than I expected. I'm a huge fan and wasn't willing to spend an extra $40 for a plastic box and a picture.[/quote]
I see what your saying, Yeah, there is no way Blade runner on blu-ray had a 36% market share.


And I am shocked that none of the Pirates made it on to the best transfers list, or Crank or Apocalypto.
 
More year-ending numbers goodness:

Code: 
Top 5 SKUs in 2007:

1.  300 BD                        100
2.  Transformers                    76.06
3.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        69.64
4.  Casino Royale                    54.00
5.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series HD        51.68

6.  The Bourne Ultimatum                51.49
7.  300 HD                        49.87
8.  Spider-Man 3                    46.47
9.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series BD        41.92

xx. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix BD    31.68
xx. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD    25.20

Top 5 Titles in 2007:

1.  300                            100
2.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            62.45
3.  Transformers                    50.75
4.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        46.47
5.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        37.95

xx. The Bourne Ultimatum                34.35

Top 5 Blu-Ray in 2007:

1.  300                            100
2.  Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End        69.64
3.  Casino Royale                    54.00
4.  Spider-Man 3                    46.17
5.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            41.92

xx. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        31.68

Top 5 HD DVD in 2007:

1.  Transformers                    100
2.  Planet Earth: The Complete Series            67.94
3.  The Bourne Ultimatum                67.69
4.  300                            65.57
5.  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix        33.13
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']Wow, surprising to see Ultimatum make that much of a dent YTD wise in about a month.[/QUOTE]

I am now nuetral but honestly I have more red than Blu by twice probably. The players came just a week or two after each other so it wasnt a time thing.

I enjoy the top 5 HD over the Top 5 Blu from 2007 so maybe its just a taste thing. I was NOT a fan of 300, or spiderman 3.
 
[quote name='anomynous']HD DVD really needs to step up their promotion..............[/QUOTE]

In the HMR that i received last night...

There was mention of multiple HD drives being released in 2008 for the PC. How many of each drive are out now?
 
[quote name='Snake2715']There was mention of multiple HD drives being released in 2008 for the PC. How many of each drive are out now?[/quote]
Pretty sure desktop Blu-Ray drives are available from Samsung, Sony, Pioneer, Philips and LG. HD DVD drives are available from HP, LG, and Microsoft (360 addon).
 
[quote name='geko29']Pretty sure desktop Blu-Ray drives are available from Samsung, Sony, Pioneer, Philips and LG. HD DVD drives are available from HP, LG, and Microsoft (360 addon).[/QUOTE]

I will read the article/ ad again and clarify then.

So if true hold that HD player for the inevitable cheap movies or dump them now?
 
USA Today, Reuters, and CNBC.

This ain't no nobody reporting it.

Can we all shake and say we had a fun time here?

I'll even pat ol' Gizmo on the back, even though he's been off to greener pastures trolling (with far more success, clearly, as he gets a lot of the folks on the Blu-ray.com forums riled up).
 
[quote name='anomynous']Let's wait for it officially, not from two "sources"


If they were going Blu-only, why would they be at the HD DVD conference?[/QUOTE]

they updated the article with quotes direct from warner brothers, is that official enough? :(

"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 Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.
 
[quote name='rsigley']they updated the article with quotes direct from warner brothers, is that official enough? :(

"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 Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.[/QUOTE]
Not when I originally posted my post.


Anybody want to buy my HD DVD player?
 
Here's the alleged Press Release, which has apparently been leaked (Warner Bros. hasn't made the announcement officially yet):

WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE ITS HIGH-DEFINITION DVD TITLES
EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BLU-RAY DISC FORMAT BEGINNING LATER THIS YEAR

Decision Made in Response to Strong Consumer Preference for Format

(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.
Click to expand...
Copied from AVS, where no source was given. I'd say it's probably 99% likely to be true, but I'll wait for the official relase for complete confirmation. If true (and it definitely appears to be), format war over.
 
They're being classy about it (i.e., not Paramount) by continuing to release HD DVD discs announced through May. That's 5 more months of WB releases.

(for a dead format...but hey, beats $400 on eBay for a Blu "Blades of Glory")
 
[quote name='mykevermin']They're being classy about it (i.e., not Paramount) by continuing to release HD DVD discs announced through May. That's 5 more months of WB releases.

(for a dead format...but hey, beats $400 on eBay for a Blu "Blades of Glory")[/quote]

HOORAY! Yeah, I like how they are not being dick about too. This is HUGE! Formwat war OVER! Blu-ray now has the Two best studios on their side. Hands down.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']Seriously then how does Amazon handle returns? I gues those four HD Harry Potters are going back.[/QUOTE]
Seriously.......like 3/4 of my HD DVD are Warner, I can live without universal & paramount
 
i just watched RE: Extinction last name too with PiP

i hope thats not the best the format can do because it was horrible relative to what i'm used to on HD DVD
 
When does Universal announce? ;)

And I wouldn't worry rsigley, I am sure Warner got some type of gaurantee that with their switching over that Profile 1.1 would be finalized and in working order.

and geko, do you think declining dvd sales had more to do with it than anything else?

I think it's time to change the title to "Format War Over: Yankee's Victorious!"
 
So you all going to hold the player and your current collection or dump while it still holds some value... I am on the fence now as I cant complete Harry potter for example on the HD side.... It would be nice to have an upconverting player so the PS3 didnt take all the abuse... keep what I have and not have to worry about rebuying...
 
[quote name='Snake2715']So you all going to hold the player and your current collection or dump while it still holds some value... I am on the fence now as I cant complete Harry potter for example on the HD side.... It would be nice to have an upconverting player so the PS3 didnt take all the abuse... keep what I have and not have to worry about rebuying...[/QUOTE]
I don't know, I could sell it it all & get some sort of a blu ray player, but then I would have to rebuy all my movies...........

Hard decision
 
I'm still picking up "Volcano High" on HD DVD. I don't see FOX pulling their heads out of their ass and delivering me this on BR with a Korean Lossless track anytime soon. I also plan on buying "Hotel Babylon" on it. Go fuck yourselves BBC America.
 
From the release:

"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."

Looks like now through May they'll be "ushering in" a single hidef format as DVD/BD gets released on the same day, and a delay (1-2 weeks? I can't see it being much more than that, unless they don't want any to sell at all) before the HD DVD version is released.
 
i'm going to hold onto my player and movies

i figure in a year or two when the hardware becomes cheaper a cheap effective dual format player will come out
 
[quote name='anomynous']I don't know, I could sell it it all & get some sort of a blu ray player, but then I would have to rebuy all my movies...........

Hard decision[/QUOTE]


Yeah I scheduled mine already for ebay but no considering I have the sunk cost for only a $99 return i will spend that much waiting and rebuying, plus all the hassle of unloading my collection..

then theres the rebate movies.... will those even be honored now? Or is there some clause?

What a fucked up way to end my Friday.. I am actually kind of disappointed about this.

*edit theres 160 "Toshiba HD player" on Ebay right now while searching in any condition....
 
I wouldn't dump your HD-DVD. YOu already have all the movies, just keep the thing and watch them. And when a Blu-ray player comes along as a good deal, buy it and start buying Blu-ray's. Waste of money to rebuy all your movies. Plus, you aren't gauranteed that they will re-release all your movies on blu-ray.
 
[quote name='Snake2715']Yeah I scheduled mine already for ebay but no considering I have the sunk cost for only a $99 return i will spend that much waiting and rebuying, plus all the hassle of unloading my collection..

then theres the rebate movies.... will those even be honored now? Or is there some clause?

What a fucked up way to end my Friday.. I am actually kind of disappointed about this.[/QUOTE]
I could sell it all on ebay, but I have Blade Runner on HD DVD coming in the mail some time soon. I got my 5 free movies from the rebate though, but I already got rid of Constantine.
 
I said wow.

I had some good times here guys.
Best of luck to you Linkin and Sporadic. You too Rich.
Give my condolences to Ruined.
 
[quote name='freakjae']it makes my movie buying decision easier...just wondering what universal and paramount will do[/QUOTE]

Besides take that fat check from toshiba and then move to BLU anyway? I really thought it would last longer than this..
 
[quote name='H.Cornerstone']and geko, do you think declining dvd sales had more to do with it than anything else?[/quote] That definitely had something to do with it, but I think Warner expected to see more of a boost from the Wal-Mart players. Closing the gap on most titles to 1.5:1 (from 2:1), Harry Potter to 1.2:1 and Blade Runner being at parity (with small volume) just didn't get the job done.

Likely they wanted to see parity between the formats by the end of the year, which would have represented significant momentum towards HD DVD. I still honestly think they would have preferred a red victory due to interactivity/pip reasons as well as per-disc royalties (since they own IP in HD DVD), but they didn't see that as a possibility given the current situation. And given the alternative of a two-format stalemate or a blu victory, they went with the one that ensured more volume going forward, and probably provided a tidy consolation prize as well.

As much as I don't like it, it was a sound business decision. Well played Sony and the BDA.
 
[quote name='geko29']That definitely had something to do with it, but I think Warner expected to see more of a boost from the Wal-Mart players. Closing the gap on most titles to 1.5:1 (from 2:1), Harry Potter to 1.2:1 and Blade Runner being at parity (with small volume) just didn't get the job done.

Likely they wanted to see parity between the formats by the end of the year, which would have represented significant momentum towards HD DVD. I still honestly think they would have preferred a red victory due to interactivity/pip reasons as well as per-disc royalties (since they own IP in HD DVD), but they didn't see that as a possibility given the current situation. And given the alternative of a two-format stalemate or a blu victory, they went with the one that ensured more volume going forward.

As much as I don't like it, it was a sound business decision. Well played Sony and the BDA.[/quote]
Obviously, no one benefits from this two format war and I really respect Warner for stepping up to the plate and doing something about even it doesn't benefit them. I think the lacking DVD sales forced Warner to do something because if they didn't act quick HDM won't penetrate the market as much and then they lose sales on all fronts.

Plus, I am sure the PS3 price cuts, the blu-ray player price cuts were something Warner liked as well. PS3 sold a lot more which will hopefully mean even more Blu-ray sales in the future.
 
[quote name='anomynous']So what's the best price for a blu ray player right now?[/QUOTE]


You know what Sony is going to get some serious ass PS3 momentum out of this.

Go with at least the 40gb PS3, anything less is a waste cost/value wise.


Speaking of that has anyone got a universal remote to work with the PS3? I would prefer not to buy their PS3 remote, but I may be forced to I dont know... off to do some research.
 
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