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Fox dreaming of a future where Blu-ray movies load faster, are judged by the content of their character(s)

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 1st 2009 at 11:23AM

At least someone is (seemingly) listening to our Blu-ray gripes. /Film hit a Fox hosted press summit and heard exactly the things we've been waiting to hear: a future where "advanced" Blu-ray players can do what DVD players have done for years: automatically resume play where we left off on all players, dramatically reduced load times and a live demo of the IMDB Live Lookup feature available on the Wolverine release. The company has nabbed a researcher from Panasonic, Joe McCrossan, who is heading up the efforts to improve viewer's experience and tossing around long promised buzzwords like iPhone connectivity and Digital Copy along with the previously mentioned features under development -- if he succeeds on making them reality we'll rename an Engadget editor Joe in his honor, and it might not even be the one already named Joe.

[Thanks, chevelleman]

Fox breaks the first rule, talks about Fight Club on Blu-ray

by Steven Kim posted Sep 2nd 2009 at 7:39AM

Fight Club
Just in time for Thanksgiving turkey, Fox will be releasing the Blu-ray version of Fight Club on November 17th. With a bit of luck, there will be something here for everyone: a high quality, 1080p, 2.40:1 transfer for videophiles, new layers of Dust Brothers sonic mayhem in the DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack for audiophiles, and the requisite extras for those who are fans of the movie itself. Making the jump to Blu-ray are the same features from the special edition of the DVD as well as some Blu-sclusives like 'Insomniac Mode' and 'A Hit in the Ear,' which will let you remix the audio in four scenes (with help from a pro so you don't break anything). The airplane crash scene in this movie is a DVD demo favorite, so let's hope this $35 release gets treated right.

Fox and Warner want 30 day kiosk rental windows, maybe Netflix too

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Aug 14th 2009 at 12:51PM

Redbox Kiosk
In this economy everyone is looking for ways to decrease costs and increase income, but evidently that might not be good news for those of us who prefer to rent movies. While Redbox has already filed suit against Universal and now Fox in response to them imposing a 30 day delay, starting in October, Warner will simply "change its terms". The interesting twist here is that the new 28 day delay from Warner also applies to "mail-order subscription services" -- but there is a new day-and-date revenue sharing option. This should be fun to watch play out, but we'd be shocked if Netflix and the studios didn't work something out, and hope that Netflix won't also have to involve the law in order to protect its first-sale doctrine rights.


Read - Redbox files suit against Fox
Read - Warner offer kiosks titles 28 day delay

Wolverine Blu-ray disc includes BD-Live access to IMDB

by Richard Lawler posted Jul 29th 2009 at 2:16PM


Looks like Sony isn't the only one ready to take a crack at improving BD-Live, Fox has revealed its "Live Lookup" feature, that will pull info from IMDB.com related to the movie being watched, slated to appear first on the Wolverine Blu-ray. Besides an internet hookup, Wolverine will bring a 5.1 DTS-HD MA soundtrack, a digital copy and several Blu-ray exclusive featurettes when it is released September 15. Ready to find out if the performance of Fox's Java applet navigated via remote can beat having a laptop sitting open next to you?

Read - Fox Shares X-Men Origins: Wolverine Blu-ray Details and Cover Art
Read - Fox launches BD Live feature with Wolverine

Michael Jackson memorial service gets HDTV broadcasts around the globe by 1 p.m.

by Richard Lawler posted Jul 7th 2009 at 11:39AM

Today's broadcasts of Michael Jackson's memorial services have become s big of a television event as there has ever been, with networks domestically planning to cover the proceedings in high definition, but Sky News HD is following up on its broadcast of the Obama Inauguration by taking of the Sky Arts 1 HD channel again, and Cinedigm flicks on its digital distribution network, though not in 3D, it will air the memorial starting at 1 p.m. EST for free at theaters around the country. If not for anything else, this should extend even beyond Presidential Address' ability to compare the audio/video delivery capabilities of different networks, with CNN, Fox, ABC, Fox News, CBS, E! and more broadcasting, plus internet streams available from most (CNN, Sky, CBS, ABC are confirmed), plus Hulu and the StaplesCenter.com website itself. So let us know, which network will you be tuning to / avoiding this afternoon, or are you already switching back and forth with one gloved hand on the remote, comparing camera angles and contrast levels in detail?

Update: A live HD stream from Microsoft & Canada's Inmusic.com is available and apparently not subject to geographic restrictions for those tuning in via desktop (Thanks, Aaron)

Read - Jackson memorial live in high definition in movie theaters and on TV
Read - World will watch Jackson memorial
Read - Michael Jackson Memorial In High Definition
Read - Media is all about Michael Jackson
Read - Michael Jackson Memorial Coverage times / networks

Fringe: Season One has some Blu-ray exclusives in store September 8

by Richard Lawler posted May 29th 2009 at 10:31PM

Warner Home Video has finally officially slated the Fringe: Season One Blu-ray set for September 8, and included a few details about what to expect on the 5 disc set. The audio tops out with a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, but there will be a special Fringe Pattern Analysis extra bringing in "experts" to dissect 6 select scenes with notes photos and diagrams aimed to fill the hearts of those dedicated enough to spot The Watcher Observer in each episode and decode the symbols that flashed before each one. Also included to go above and beyond the DVD experience are BD-Live powered treats with Media Center, My Commentary and a somewhat vague note about exclusive commentary on the season finale with creator JJ Abrams. Feel excited enough to drop the $79.98 MSRP ($55.99 on Amazon)? Check after the break for an animated .gif of the lenticular packaging if you need just a little (really little) more incentive.

Continue reading Fringe: Season One has some Blu-ray exclusives in store September 8

Paramount licenses BD+ DRM from Macrovision

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 29th 2009 at 11:42PM


Looks like Fox won't be the only one using BD+ soon, now that Paramount has licensed it, along with a few other DRM tools like RipGuard and ACP from Macrovision. There's no indication when, or even if Paramount will use the technology on its titles and the press release from Macrovision focuses on its ability to protect video over Internet, cable and satellite. As it is, we're sure Slysoft appreciates all the effort, but it's the people who legally buy their movies that might need a firmware update just to play Transformers 2.

[Via Video Business]

Fox VP details soccer HD plans

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 17th 2009 at 1:51PM

Ever since FSN made it's 24/7 HD for 2009 proclamation futbol fans have wanted to know if that applies to them too, and the Goal soccer blog on the New York Times has the news on what to expect as the UEFA Champions League comes to Fox. Fox Sports International VP David Sternberg let it be known that Fox Soccer Channel isn't going to be high definition until the end of this year, so don't expect any FSC games in HD until February 2010. The good news? After the wait, we can expect broadcasts of proper HD feeds, rather than upconverted widescreen SD feeds seen sometimes on ESPN.They do plan 16 live games on FSN, plus the 2010 final on FX, while broadband viewers can expect streaming from Setanta, so if FSC isn't on your lineup yet, there can still be some HD of the Beautiful Game in your future.

Theaters, studios squabbling over who will pay for 3D

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 7th 2009 at 1:31PM

We're not hopping off the 3D bandwagon, but just when things couldn't be going any better a fight over money could knock things off course. Fox apparently informed theaters it wouldn't foot the $1 million bill to cover 3D glasses for Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, and already word is leaking out that the nation's largest theater chain Regal Cinemas is planning to only screen the flick in 2D, with AMC Theaters and Cinemark poised to follow suit. For its part, Fox is claiming no exhibitor has said they won't be showing Ice Age in 3D and they're only "working out the issues." Of course if they did, the plan of offering 3D as something audiences can't get at home could be turned on its head quickly.

[Via Cinematical]

Fox cuts out the extras on rental discs

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 6th 2009 at 1:11PM

With DVD sales slipping, every studio is trying new strategies to eke out a buck, and now Fox is trying to coax people towards buying instead of renting, by selling stripped down versions of some movies to rental outlets and keeping premium extras for buyers. According to a letter obtained by Video Business, Slumdog Millionaire will be one of the first discs with the treatment, where extras like deleted scenes and commentaries go retail only on the DVD, while the rental Blu-ray edition loses the (probably useless on a rental) digital copy. At least so far the HD editions of these movies don't seem to be affected, but unless prices come down we wouldn't be surprised to see this kind desperation double dipping on the Blu-ray front as well. Still, with as many of our readers that have said they don't care about extras and the relative ease of piracy, studios may just have to learn to be happy people are paying to watch at all.

[Via Switched]

The Simpsons goes HD tonight, new title sequence revealed

by Richard Lawler posted Feb 15th 2009 at 6:03PM


Switching to high definition isn't the only change for The Simpsons tonight, with the first permanent new intro since its debut in 1989 making its appearance. Fox uploaded the new opener on YouTube in widescreen, but not HD (embedded after the break.) Lined up with the Daytona 500 and newly refreshed King of the Hill we're liking all the Sunday HD on Fox all of a sudden.

Continue reading The Simpsons goes HD tonight, new title sequence revealed

Universal, Fox and Summit close VOD-DVD release gap

by Darren Murph posted Feb 10th 2009 at 8:10AM


About two months after a Lionsgate executive spoke out about the phenomenon of day-and-date DVD / VOD releases, and merely days after we heard that digital distribution wasn't expected to overtake packaged media in the near term comes this. Universal, Fox and Summit have all pledged to close or eliminate entirely the gap between when a title is shipped on DVD and when it's available in on-demand form via iTunes or programming providers. At least with some titles, that is. The move is supposedly being made in order to take advantage of the growing thirst for instant gratification when it comes to films, and rather than getting left behind, these three are choosing to adapt to changing customer desires. Not surprisingly, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is still sticking to a 30 day (or so) delay before it releases a title to VOD, but considering its Q4 figures, it might want to consider hopping on the bandwagon.

South Florida's WSVN converts newscasts to high-definition

by Darren Murph posted Jan 12th 2009 at 11:51AM

South Florida's NBC 6 became the first English-language network in the area to take its newscasts to high-def, but now those who refuse to watch news in SD finally have another choice. Starting this week, WSVN -- the FOX affiliate in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market -- will be airing its local news broadcasts in greater clarity, and now that this station has hopped on board, we reckon the outcasts will be following suit in short order.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

'American Idol' is most timeshifted show of 2008

by Darren Murph posted Dec 19th 2008 at 12:02AM

Well, would you let your brain simmer on this a bit. American Idol, the famed singing competition that airs live numerous times per week when it's in full swing, was found to be the most timeshifted program in the USA in 2008. Granted, it's also the most watched show in the nation, but we digress. The significance here is that this tidbit, which was dug up by The Nielsen Company, goes to show that live competitions and so-called "topical" programming aren't as immune to DVRs as networks would love to believe. The data found that "an extra four million viewers watched Fox's American Idol in the seven days following the initial episodes." To us, the only true DVR-resistant programming is live sports -- the genuineness of the event just seems to fade when you're not watching in real time, but we can't say we've ever felt the same when watching Simon & Co. a few days after the fact.

BD+ rides again

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Dec 13th 2008 at 8:41PM

BD+
Oh the cat and mouse game of DRM, how we love it -- as long as content owners make these unsuccessful attempts to protect their business models, we'll have this great game to watch. As you'd expect if you've been following this up until now, it is Fox that is once again doing whatever it can to prevent you from having your way with its content. The latest BD+ application has already successfully locked down 16 new Fox releases (not all in the US) and according to a SlySoft developer, it'll probably be February before the latest version is defeated. Of course by then Fox will probably have a new version and it will all just start over again. Really sheds some light on why SlySoft's new subscription model was a necessity.


[Via Slashdot]




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