Sony Announces Blu-Ray Movie Pricing & UMD bundles

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Sony Pictures is the first movie studio to put a price tag on Blu-ray Disc movies. The company announced today that catalog Blu-ray Disc titles will sale for $17.95, about the same as DVD movies when they hit the market in 1997. New theatrical Blu-ray Disc movies will sale for $23.45, a fifteen percent over what suppliers were charging for new-release DVDs.

"The premium is for a way better format and to remind retailers that at the time we launched DVD, VHS was selling for $55 wholesale in the first window," Benjamin Feingold, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment explained. "The higher pricing structure for new releases is meant to accommodate the sell-through and rental markets."
DVD-UMD Bundles

Sony also announced today DVD-UMD bundles that will eventually transform into Blu-ray Disc-UMD bundles. Starting March 28, consumers can buy DVD-UMD combo packs of The Grudge, Resident Evil, Underworld, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Terminator. Each combo is priced at $28.95, a few dollars more than Sony typically charges for a new DVD. Sony typically charges $24.96-$26.96 for new DVD releases, while titles new to UMD generally list for $19.95.

"With the launch of Blu-ray, we're going to try to introduce the managed-copy concept, where if you buy Blu-ray you'll be able to get additional versions (of the same title) to use in your home," Feingold said.

"Ultimately, we might even get to the point where we'll offer consumers the ability to have different versions of the same movie on different devices in the home -- that's something we're working on."

"A lot of people have DVD players and also have PSPs, and this way for one price they can get one movie and play it back on both formats," Feingold said.
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http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/10201/Sony-First-to-Announce-Bluray-Disc-Movie-Prices/

It might be wholesale prices according to this:

http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/02/08/s...olesale_prices/
 
The only thing that bothers me about the bundling is that it seems entirely possible in my mind that they would stop doing the single carts and just sell the bundles, therefore making me buy the UMD where I would not normally. I could see this happening as a way to get UMD's in to peoples homes who wouldn't normally buy them, and then they'd buy the PSP to use the UMD's. It's brilliant from a marketing standpoint but fucking ridiculous from my point of view.
 
[quote name='sonderiaom']The only thing that bothers me about the bundling is that it seems entirely possible in my mind that they would stop doing the single carts and just sell the bundles, therefore making me buy the UMD where I would not normally. I could see this happening as a way to get UMD's in to peoples homes who wouldn't normally buy them, and then they'd buy the PSP to use the UMD's. It's brilliant from a marketing standpoint but fucking ridiculous from my point of view.[/QUOTE]
Wow, you are extremely paranoid.
 
I call BS on Sony actually charging less for a "new release" BLU-RAY then what they charge for a "new release" DVD now. This will last 2 weeks before Sony jacks up the price. This is all part of Sony's hype train.

Edit: OK much better I thought it was fishy that the Blu-Ray was lower then DVD retail prices. $35 retail price is poo. (Sot on new release week the sale price will be for $30?) Everyone has bitched that NextGen games cost $10 more but it is ok to charge $10 more for next gen movies? I'm going to ride the HD-DVD train if it is going to be only $1-$2 more per movie if Toshiba's claim turns out true.
 
There's just one problem with that... those are Sony prices. I'm wondering if other companies will be able to charge the same amount seeing as how they'll have to pay some liscencing fees (since the Technology is Sony's).

But if not, those are much better than the $30+ prices I was hearing. I wonder how much HD-DVDs will be...
 
[quote name='Quackzilla']Wow, you are extremely paranoid.[/QUOTE]

Well, yeah, a little bit I admit. But as well, try to look at it from a sony marketers point of view. This would also allow them to transition from the dvd to bluray through the medium of the UMD. Ok, so it is a bit farfetched that they would completely faze out the single dvd releases completely, but you can't tell me that it's not entirely impossible either.
 
[quote name='gaelan']those prices are wholesale not retail. expect older titles at $25 and new releases in the $30-$40 range.http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/02/08/sony_pictures_sets_bd_wholesale_prices/[/QUOTE]

Homer-Simpson--C10053426.jpeg
 
Anyone want to place bets how long it will take for them to make the dvd versions barebones and the Blu-ray versions packed with the special features?
 
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/02/08/s...olesale_prices/

"Our intent is to create a critical mass of movies and displays at retail that will showcase the escalating availability and abundance of both [Blu-ray Disc] software and hardware in the marketplace," Feingold said. "There's no point in putting software into outlets that don't carry the hardware in the beginning."
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So they don't plan on allowing B&M/Online Video stores to sell and rent Blu-ray Disc's? This has failure all over it. If the mass has to buy over renting this will be a bust.
 
it's going to cost less to make HD-dvds and I have a feeling John and Jane Q public are going to look at HD-DVD then Blu-Ray, and then pick HD-DVD since it has "DVD" in the title.
 
[quote name='guardian_owl']it's going to cost less to make HD-dvds and I have a feeling John and Jane Q public are going to look at HD-DVD then Blu-Ray, and then pick HD-DVD since it has "DVD" in the title.[/QUOTE]


Lets not start with HD-DVD VS Blueray again......
 
[quote name='guardian_owl']it's going to cost less to make HD-dvds and I have a feeling John and Jane Q public are going to look at HD-DVD then Blu-Ray, and then pick HD-DVD since it has "DVD" in the title.[/QUOTE]

That's a valid point. I'd have to see both running at the same time to see what's better, and pricing is going to be very important.

BTW: Bestbuy.com has the 1st Toshiba HD-DVD Player for preorder

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7652523&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03013&id=1134699969167

Only $499.99 ;)

Built-in decoders for next-generation Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD high-resolution surround, plus lossless Dolby TrueHD (2-channel)
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Plus it looks like I'll need a new stereo/receiver for DTS-HD
 
[quote name='guardian_owl']it's going to cost less to make HD-dvds and I have a feeling John and Jane Q public are going to look at HD-DVD then Blu-Ray, and then pick HD-DVD since it has "DVD" in the title.[/QUOTE]

agreed, but most people won't have a blu-ray or hd-dvd player at the end of this year. However, as time goes on, many people will have PS3s meaning when they do decide to choose between hd-dvd and blu-ray, the choice will be clear.
 
what videophile worth his/her salt is going to use a game player as a video player? i imagine i'll have a standalone hd player just like i have a stand alone dvd player.
 
[quote name='gaelan']what videophile worth his/her salt is going to use a game player as a video player? i imagine i'll have a standalone hd player just like i have a stand alone dvd player.[/QUOTE]

Having Blu-Ray capability in the PS3 by default is a HUGE boon for market penetration of a very new technology. Just because you don't agree with it or it isn't good enough for you doesn't mean you don't have to see that.
 
[quote name='gaelan']what videophile worth his/her salt is going to use a game player as a video player? i imagine i'll have a standalone hd player just like i have a stand alone dvd player.[/QUOTE]

Not many people think that way. I do have a stand alone DVD player, but my PS3 will do just fine, at least until blu-ray players hit the $100-$200 mark (which might be a while).
 
[quote name='gaelan']still curious to see what DRM restrictions there will be on BR and HDDVD[/QUOTE]

Did you read the article? About Sony's DRM that they want to use? It sounds fucking excellent.
 
[quote name='Vegan']Having Blu-Ray capability in the PS3 by default is a HUGE boon for market penetration of a very new technology. Just because you don't agree with it or it isn't good enough for you doesn't mean you don't have to see that.[/QUOTE]

We'll see soon enough, anything can happen. Remember MiniDiscs?
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']We'll see soon enough, anything can happen. Remember MiniDiscs?[/QUOTE]

Sure, I remember MiniDisc (hell, it's still considered to be one of the best methods of making live recordings). What I don't remember is a wildly popular appliance/system that included MiniDisc support. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we're both following along the same paths of logic.
 
[quote name='LinkinPrime']We'll see soon enough, anything can happen. Remember MiniDiscs?[/QUOTE]

minidisc and blu-ray are nothing alike. Blu-ray actually has a popular product (the PS3) to jump start sales, unlike the mini disc.
 
I think the whole HD-DVD and Blu-Ray thing will just come down to who has better marketing. Marketing is everything, they are gonna have to convine the public that the upgrade is worth it. Both sides will have to partake because consumers do not really 'need' a new medium just yet.
 
[quote name='dtarasev']I think the whole HD-DVD and Blu-Ray thing will just come down to who has better marketing. Marketing is everything, they are gonna have to convine the public that the upgrade is worth it. Both sides will have to partake because consumers do not really 'need' a new medium just yet.[/QUOTE]

agree. i don't think the inclusion of a player in a gaming machine is going to solidify one format over the other in the market place.
 
[quote name='spoo']So they don't plan on allowing B&M/Online Video stores to sell and rent Blu-ray Disc's? This has failure all over it. If the mass has to buy over renting this will be a bust.[/QUOTE]

Did I miss something? I don't remember seeing dvd's for rent at my Blockbuster till at least a year, and that's being generous, after places like Target were selling players. Even then, the selection of what you could rent was horrible. From what I remember it wasn't until around 2001ish that the selection was decent enough to start pushing VHS out of rental stores.
 
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