Warner goes Blu-ray exclusive
by Darren Murph 
posted Jan 4th 2008 at 3:47PM
[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."
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 7)
Evan @ Jan 5th 2008 2:55PM
Lol
Very surprised it took this long for someone to say something. HDPurist inspired me to to make the antithesis of him.
JohnnyL @ Jan 4th 2008 5:04PM
You mean an idiotic name like HD-DVD? Can you imagine if that had become the dominant format and people started burning those? HD-DVD-RW... Freaking sounds like I'm reciting my ABC's.
Evan @ Jan 6th 2008 11:24AM
I'm sorry, but i still think 'I do Blu' is pretty stupid. As for mouthfuls, don't the BD commercials say 'own it on blu ray high definition disc today.'
DEEZNUTZ @ Jan 4th 2008 5:04PM
He's on a conference call with Truth Teller and Toshiba trying to get a PR statement together. Toshiba hits the media and those two clowns hit the forums. It's going to be a while so don't wait around.
LOVE HD @ Jan 4th 2008 8:57PM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHHAHHA
andyg8180 @ Jan 4th 2008 5:04PM
blu-ray sucks hands down... i guess all you guys love those region codes and uncertain always changing piece of shit "profiles"... Everyone already has obsolete Blu-Ray players... great news for consumers!! We PAY more and GET LESS!!!
fuck sony and blu-ray... Ever see V for Vendetta?? Guess who Blu-Ray is in that story??
**goes home to pop in Blu-ray in PS3...**
DEEZNUTZ @ Jan 4th 2008 5:06PM
Anger management? You are what's wrong with this format war.
Darth_Tubbie @ Jan 4th 2008 5:26PM
It's going to be okay, Andyg8180. There there....
JDS @ Jan 4th 2008 5:06PM
nfinity & truth teller are getting a room together for some QT until the dust settles
DrXym @ Jan 4th 2008 5:37PM
I predict Truth Teller is going to lay low for a while.
Aside from idiots like TT I seriously hope that if this spells the end for this format war that most players will defacto support HDDVD anyway for those who do own a collection in HD DVD. I don't believe it would be technically hard to do.
As for TT, he's always crowing how cheap HD DVD players are so he should be delighted by the news. They're going to be even cheaper soon especially when the firesales kick in. Maybe he can take advantage of the sales to pick up a few cheap titles and hang on for a hybrid player than handles both formats.
Neil @ Jan 4th 2008 5:07PM
This is going to be a bit of a downer for MS if they really gonna release a 360 with built in hd-dvd drive.
webdev511 @ Jan 4th 2008 5:25PM
If they were going to release it, I might have second thoughts on doing so...
andy @ Jan 4th 2008 6:11PM
I think it would be more than just including the HDDVD drive.
I think that if they have a new player, it will have a totally redesigned form factor, a 500 gig internal drive, a DVR blade, wifi, RS232 control, bluetooth, and 65nm chips.
They will then lower the prices of the existing xbox's by 50 bucks and drop the new one in at 499.
So the compelling feature won't be an HDDVD drive, but rather the wifi, expanded hard drive, better integration into home theater setups, and DVR functions.
Matt @ Jan 4th 2008 11:12PM
totally
JimC @ Jan 4th 2008 5:08PM
This is just too funny, seriously, Truth Teller & Nfinity, come make a statement of defeat, step up and take it like a man!!!!
JDS @ Jan 4th 2008 5:11PM
the bogo's will run through May 2008 for sure because WB is still releasing on both formats until then.
BDA wouldn't want WB to have any second thoughts and will want to run up the numbers weekly as high as possible.
and the more titles a consumer buys the more BD reliant they become
TrentD @ Jan 4th 2008 5:13PM
Congrats, Blu-ray supporters - your format has won the war.
I'm not happy about it, but at least we can move on to a world where there's only one HD format pushing for mainstream adoption.
Bob P. @ Jan 4th 2008 9:14PM
Thanks TrentD
You were one of the more interesting and informed HD-DVD supporters and I appreciated your insites.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Jan 4th 2008 5:23PM
I'm still rooting for the underdog, HD-DVD.. I'm no fool though, as it seems that it's all but over.. That's why I went purple. Now Netflix needs to increase their HD-Movie quantities! I'm tired of all this "Long Wait" BS.
tengen @ Jan 4th 2008 5:31PM
As an avid RED fan I hate to see Warner go Blu. However, as many of you have already mentioned, it is VERY good to see this format war (kinda, sorta, slowly) come to an end. I do not regret buying my sub-$100 HDDVD player or one movie I bought or got for free. Warner and Apple are very large players and with them going Blu I hate to say Toshi has a problem. However, Toshi's pockets are quite deep as well. A few strategic moves that they did not make last year could help level the playing field for Toshi. I say look for a big announcement from Toshi at CES or closer to Warners cut off date.
kuromiko @ Jan 5th 2008 10:24AM
You kind of have to prioritize, really. Keep band-aiding the sinking battleship, or getting into a life raft and moving on. This is where capacity really kind of helps... as a pure data storage format HD DVD will not be as successful, likely dragging the company into debt and shareholders into serious doubt.
Iridium @ Jan 4th 2008 5:34PM
HD-DVD players were heavily subsidised by Toshiba. That is why they were cheaper and why there weren't any other players on the market.
BluRay isn't going to go up in price, if anythign it is going to drop now becuase production will go up. CE manufacturers know that the majority of consumers aren't going to spend $299 on a movie player but they aren't going to sell a product for a loss. When the profit margin accepts a $199 price point the players will sell for that and its coming this spring.
As computer displays and HDTVs continue to merge the price will go down on them as well. 720p will also dissapear. 30" 1080p computer monitors and HDTVs will become th edefault size and the large production volumes will push the price of a 30" 1080p HDTV to around $599 and a monitor for $399. Discount brands may even sell a 30" 1080p HDTV for $399. Just in time for cheaper BluRay players and mass adoption of HDTV before the analog cutoff.
zargon @ Jan 4th 2008 5:37PM
You and everyone else is only speculating on HD-DVD players being "heavily subsidized." No one has proven this with hard evidence, but yet people still are pulling numbers, figures and "facts" out of their ass.
rip @ Jan 4th 2008 5:44PM
I'm ok with what you said... but 30" HDTV is ridiculously small. Try 50" as the new standard.
zargon @ Jan 4th 2008 5:35PM
It would be extremely funny if HD-DVD was able to buy a Blu-ray exclusive studio to get them to switch to counter the WB buy out.
psychotron @ Jan 4th 2008 5:52PM
As a current HD-DVD owner, I'm less than pleased with WB's decision, but it was inevitable. In this stupid format war, there had to be a winner and a loser. Do I regret buying my $99 player or the 5 free HD-DVDs I got with it? Of course not. I own infinitely more regular DVDs than I do HD-DVDs, and my HD-A2 upscales them all like a champ. At some point I'll pick up a BD player, when the price is right, just like I did with the HD-DVD player. The current movies I have on HD-DVD are not worth any less to me than they were yesterday. Last time I checked, they are still in HD.
If having an extra high def DVD player on your AV rack for your 60" Plasma is your biggest concern, then you should be thankful.
zargon @ Jan 4th 2008 6:01PM
My big problem right now, is that I don't feel there is a Blu-ray player out there that is worth the price tag. I really do not want to get a PS3 and the new Panasonic doesn't have ethernet (firmware is my only concern) and is only profile 1.1. Buying one now would be like down-grading feature wise from HD-DVD.
I have been eagerly awaiting to go neutral, but the BDA other then tossing money would with BOGO's week after week, has done nothing to make me want to spend my hard earned cash on their product yet.
I was hoping HD-DVD would win due to how Sony and the BDA conducted and have conducted themselves. But that isn't going to happen now unless HD-DVD can pull a rabbit out of the hat. I don't think HD-DVD will fade away tomorrow or May for the matter of the fact, but I am defiantly going to have a harder time buying HD-DVD movies now. Afterall... I can't keep a HD-DVD player in my HT rack forever.
Mike @ Jan 4th 2008 5:41PM
Well this is the end of the road for me. I picked up a HD DVD player for $99, have a couple of movies, and it's a great upscaler.
However, I am picking up a PS3 at the weekend, and buying Blu, as there is no way HD DVD camp can claw back from this.
indadogghouse @ Jan 4th 2008 5:42PM
This is a bit of a surprise to me. Making a decision this early.
Hi-def players occupy what? Probably less than 5% of US households?
I think price is more of a factor then format ambiguity, as was seen by the $99 Toshiba sale.
So "consumers speaking", i.e. Nielsen videoscan is a sample of 5% of households. Doesn't seem statistically significant to me. Maybe blu-ray player sales vs. hd-dvd player sales are that much more significant.
I guess they have more data then I do, so... let's see what happens in the next 6 months.
I own both formats. I took advantage of BOGO stuff for HD DVD, I typically bought WB's HD DVD versions because video/audio is identical but HD DVD usually had additional IME stuff which for me made the movie more "replayable" (watch more then once to tinker with the special features).
The HD DVD may become obsolete in 7 months, but why would you ebay it? It plays the HD DVDs I have and while I wait for Blu-ray to catch up in the profile, I'll continue to buy WB's HD DVD (hopefully for cheaper) and enjoy the interactivity w/o sacrificing PQ/AQ. Then there's Paramount and Universal... what a mess. Why would your current HD DVDs become obsolete, if you already have a player that plays it? Why would you buy re-releases on Blu-ray, if it adds no added advantage?
Hopefully Blu-ray players will become final profile and blu-ray movies start incorporating the IME features within the next few months, and the price comes down much more as well. Otherwise, I probably will be renting more then not. I'm not a game person, I bought the PS3 cuz it was the cheapest Blu-ray player at the time (sad statement in my opinion). I would like to get a final profile Blu-ray and unload the PS3, if feasible.
HedonismBot @ Jan 4th 2008 6:32PM
@indadogghouse: if you have a PS3, you have a 2.0 player. The "final spec" encompasses internet connectivity so that you can access downloadable content from the web. Any BD player that supports firmware upgrades and has an ethernet port will almost certainly be a 2.0 BD player, so don't stress it.
Also, I believe Nielsen's video-scan is derived from sales receipts from a number of retailers both online and B&M, and so likely covers far more than 5% of households. I think I've read on Engadget that only some discount retailers like Walmart are not participants.
Eric @ Jan 4th 2008 5:52PM
"I refuse to buy a next gen format that is region locked and will never buy anything Blu-ray."
Shades of Blazing Saddles (Blu-ray). "Everybody stay back, or the [Sheriff] gets it!"
Won't someone please help that poor nerd?
bugatti23007 @ Jan 4th 2008 5:49PM
say it ain't so Warner Bro.Why would anyone want Blu-Gay.Blue is for girls and Red is manly so buy an HD DVD enough said.
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Tell everyone HD DVD is your favourite, [url=http://www.youchoose.net/campaign/bluray_vs_hd_dvd][b]by voting here![/b][/url][/color]
hemmy @ Jan 4th 2008 6:11PM
I'm embarrassed for you.
haveacoke @ Jan 4th 2008 5:49PM
I am keeping Netflix and DVD until Blu-ray catches up with HD DVD at profile 2.0 and I don't have to wait 30 minuets for load times, and prices go below $100.
DrXym @ Jan 4th 2008 6:06PM
Erk, I'm sure you're exaggerating. My PS3 manages to play Blu Ray discs in a timely fashion with no problems at all. As for Profile 2.0, are you serious? It was bizarre enough to hear HD DVD proponents crowing about minor features such as picture in picture. Now BD has PIP with Profile 1.1, but it's still a blah feature. Are you seriously holding out for the day you can access the internet from an interactive video menu? What do you even expect to be able to do?
av8or @ Jan 4th 2008 6:37PM
a challenger DIS-appears!
lulz
HDpurist @ Jan 4th 2008 5:56PM
LOL, HD-DVD is now the new Beta-max! D'oh!
Too frigg'n hilarious...this is nonetheless great news for all home theater fans.
zargon @ Jan 4th 2008 6:02PM
Hopefully once the dust settles, worthless trolls like you will finally go away.
CokeAddict @ Jan 4th 2008 5:59PM
This made me chuckle.. I wonder how far it is from the truth..
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2696/95664155si2.png
SimbaDogg @ Jan 4th 2008 7:42PM
that picture is hilarious
Franssu @ Jan 4th 2008 6:10PM
Well, as I always preferred HD-DVD I hate to see this end this way, but at least the war is over. I already planned to go purple as the PS3 now has some interesting games and will look good next to my Xbox360 with HD-DVD add-on. I still plan to buy some HD-DVDs, as Universal and Paramount both have a rich catalog.
Now that Warner has made its choice, can we have LOTR on BR please ? kthxbai.
Post On Fire @ Jan 4th 2008 6:14PM
Warner Bros. in blue ray that is a great news. Looking forward to see it in blue-ray disc format.
http://www.postonfire.com
Steve @ Jan 4th 2008 6:20PM
I just want to add that it's great that this thread has remained pretty civil. Had things gone the other way, I'd like to think that Blu-ray fans would have been gracious too.
Now come on Universal and Paramount, push the dagger in the rest of the way and go Blu!
Sammyfan @ Jan 4th 2008 6:30PM
Posters trying to give us economics lessons need to be giving them to Sony. They will ignore the obvious logic of these statements as they have done over and over in the past. Most recently they kept up inflated licensing fees right to the bloody suicide of SACD (taking DVD-A with it). Why should we think they will change when they've shown this "thinking" over and over and got lucky enough to win this time?
Bummer for us.
Anthony @ Jan 4th 2008 6:24PM
Today Warner Bros. moves to Blu Ray excluse. Next week Disney will announce that they are moving to HD DVD because of thier preference to Xbox Live or something silly like that. Either way money changes everything and if HD DVD wants to remain alive in this game of high def tennis, they will lure one of the expiring contracts away from Blu Ray. And then the war will unfortunately drag on until 2012 when the Super Mega HD DVD and Ultra Blu Ray Disc formats are released.
Consumers are unfortunately the victims in all of this, being forced to purchase movies for unsure formats. Like someone mentioned earlier in this thread, we as consumers should all just watch our movies online from Netflix and avoid the next gen format all together... Don't we already do that with our music??? Isn't that why there hasn't been a format to succeed the Compact Disc yet???
Anthony
(Just Tired of the High Def War)
Greg @ Jan 4th 2008 6:36PM
I guess people saying thqt Disney might switch to neutral or HD DVD havn't been following that company very closely ;)Disney is even more gung-ho about Blu ray than Sony, and I advise you take a look at the Goofy short before National Treasure, it'll give you an idea at how much they want to go HD DVD ;) (hint: Goofy is installing a Home Theater in it)
Oh! I know. The rumor started thanks to RDJam (you'd think people would know he is full of it by now), because Disney voted for the TL-51 spec in the DVD forum right?
Lmao.
A Studio is indeed about to go Neutral, if our insiders are right (they were about Warner), but wait for it, that's not what you think ;)
Let's just say that HD DVD might just end the CES with only one exclusive studio :)
Mike @ Jan 4th 2008 6:44PM
Well as I said and not changing...I will not buy blue ray player till less then $99. So all Warner does is make it longer for most families to afford buying HD movies.
MrGuru @ Jan 4th 2008 6:46PM
okay your point is? if alot of families are investing in HDTV's they would have at least one child that may want a ps3, and alot of families arent really scoffing at the 299 price point of alot of the Blu Ray players. if this holiday season was any indication, alot of people are considering the formats. and this just hastens one formats exit.
HedonismBot @ Jan 4th 2008 6:48PM
Did you wait until DVD players were under $99 before you bought that format too?
My father-in-law did, and he still has his "Oritron" DVD player sitting in his rack. It still "works", so long as you don't mind having to unplug it whenever it freezes up :)
disappointed @ Jan 4th 2008 7:01PM
I'm with you Mike. The only reason I even have an HD-DVD player is because my very generous parents bought one for my brother's family and my family for Christmas. It was such a great gift and now I wonder how that gift being rendered obsolete makes them feel. I doubt if I can return it since I've been using it for a week and a half and have opened 300 and the Bourne Identity.
I can assure you, I will not be able to buy a Blu-ray player. Even at $300, they are way to expensive. I'll stick with my upconverted DVDs either through my HD-A30 (if I decide not to return it) or my Oppo.
Another point. Relying on the Nielsen ratings to determine which format is more popular is short sighted. The people who are buying movies are more than likely enthusiasts who are more inclined to spend money on the more expensive format (and more expensive players). The people who are buying $100 - $200 players are probably renting movies rather than buying movies.