Universal 'tight-lipped' today on its next move - Page 3 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

james99 · 2008-01-06, 07:12 PM

It will only be the end of January if the backers pull the plug.

Samsung announced a new dual format player today.

RigPig · 2008-01-06, 07:41 PM

....if you have a deck ready to street, you may as well announce it....a dual format puts another BR deck in the field & gives hddvders a chance for a smooth/painless exit. win/win.

oilblue · 2008-01-06, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RigPig

I expect several major retailers making likewise announcements this week...i beleive one has already today. (Target or Wally-world maybe) I think the speed of the hddvd meltdown will be surprising. End of January tops.

Like JohnnyCanuck, I'll concede you could be right (anything's possible, right?).

That said, an exit *that* quick, without something of an olive branch to recent HD DVD buyers, would constitute yet another slap in the face.

Yes, there's a bigger potential market out there then current or recent HD DVD adopters. That doesn't mean they'll all flock in within the next month (or even within the next year).

Existing/recent HD DVD adopters shouldn't be forgotten quite that quickly. From both a business sense, and a customer relations perspective.

jvillain · 2008-01-06, 08:07 PM

Quote:

The silence from HD DVD PG is deafening. But so is the silence from the BDA. If this was a simple as WB's move ending the war, the press releases from the BDA would be flying.

True it is interesting as well. It would be easier for the holdouts to go Blu if it didn't mean having to lose a lot of face in the form of a lot of BDA chest thumping. However let me beat you to it. I don't think the BDA is either that smart or classy either. But yup. Pretty silent all round.

oilblue · 2008-01-06, 08:07 PM

From the FT.com article linked in the OP of the this thread:

Quote:

A Blu-ray spokesman said: “A single format will provide the best entertainment experience for the consumer.”

Well, from the BDA perspective for sure. From a more agnostic perspective, a cheap dual format player would be even better.

RigPig · 2008-01-06, 08:08 PM

...what i meant by January tops is, another large scale announcement or two & even the most ardent diehard will say uncle. Not Jan. tops as in retracting any plans to burn discs. I suppose WB going till May or whatnot is a bit of a carrot on a stick.

If there's several 'universal players' available though...where's the problem?...ebay your current deck...get a BD/hddvd combo & move on. Current library still viable & yer ready for blu-ray. perfect.

shabbs · 2008-01-06, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darrylr

Sony has a press conference at CES in 30 minutes (7:15pm EST) - maybe there will be some gloating then?

Warner was not even mentioned.

http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/commen...nference-sony/

This Mylo device looks neat...

darrylr · 2008-01-06, 08:31 PM

well actually it was but not much. I guess it will be tomorrow at the BDA press conference...

Quote:

4:49PM - "You probably all saw the Warner announcement." Yeah, you could say that. Talking about Warner -- not a lot to say about it though!

Quote:

5:04PM - Stringer is on stage for a "significant annoucnement." "Thank you Stan. As you can guess, all of us at Sony are feeling BLU today." Yuk yuk. "I'd like to thank Warner for making the decision to release in Blu-ray." Thanking Iger and Murdoch for being "True Blu...", "I'm sure you want me to say more. But I won't."

from engadget.com

james99 · 2008-01-06, 08:44 PM

Over the last few months Sony has been mature about the "war". At times I think Fox and Disney are being run by a 5th grader.

polaris · 2008-01-06, 10:21 PM

For sure there are performance clauses in the Paramount HD DVD contract, and I bet they can invoke them even now, or in the next few months. eg. market share for HD DVD and what not sort of clauses.

U · 2008-01-07, 03:34 PM

I wish you are right... Transformers is still new enough for them to release in BD and sell 250k copies in one week...

hoodlum · 2008-01-09, 04:32 PM

Sometimes these rumors have some validity behind them.

"We remain convinced that both Paramount and Universal are moving towards announcing Blu-ray Disc support soon, and we have real reason for that belief, not the least of which is that our sources in this situation are second to none - a fact which should be readily obvious by now. Announcements could happen tomorrow, they could happen next week, they could happen next month. We'd be surprised if it took longer than a month or two. We'd be surprised if it took longer than a month or two. We're hearing that Universal may not announce until February at the earliest, as we're given to understand that their contract period with the HD-DVD camp expires at the end of January."

This is the first time I've heard of a contract expiry date for Universal.

PrimeBane · 2008-01-09, 04:36 PM

I don't think anyone will be surprised that either studio starts releasing on BD... but what I'd like to know is will they be dual, or just Blu.

darrylr · 2008-01-09, 04:43 PM

Yeah I think that is a bigger question at this point - will they both go forward releasing on both or will one (or both of them) switch to the Blu side.

99semaj · 2008-01-09, 05:07 PM

The only feasible out for them is to go dual-format, and let the red sales die off naturally. There's no advantage to them doing a total about-face.

2008-01-06, 07:41 PM	#32
RigPig Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Edmonton Posts: 222	....if you have a deck ready to street, you may as well announce it....a dual format puts another BR deck in the field & gives hddvders a chance for a smooth/painless exit. win/win. __________________ Integra Research RDC-7.1, Bryston 9B-SST, NHT vt2, vs2 & sw2, Sony 65XBR10w, Moto 6416iii, PS3-250, Sony BDP-s550

2008-01-06, 08:08 PM	#36
RigPig Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Edmonton Posts: 222	...what i meant by January tops is, another large scale announcement or two & even the most ardent diehard will say uncle. Not Jan. tops as in retracting any plans to burn discs. I suppose WB going till May or whatnot is a bit of a carrot on a stick. If there's several 'universal players' available though...where's the problem?...ebay your current deck...get a BD/hddvd combo & move on. Current library still viable & yer ready for blu-ray. perfect. __________________ Integra Research RDC-7.1, Bryston 9B-SST, NHT vt2, vs2 & sw2, Sony 65XBR10w, Moto 6416iii, PS3-250, Sony BDP-s550

2008-01-09, 04:32 PM	#42
hoodlum Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Markham, ON Posts: 1,006	Rumour: Paramount and Universal going to Blu-Ray (Digitalbits) Sometimes these rumors have some validity behind them. "We remain convinced that both Paramount and Universal are moving towards announcing Blu-ray Disc support soon, and we have real reason for that belief, not the least of which is that our sources in this situation are second to none - a fact which should be readily obvious by now. Announcements could happen tomorrow, they could happen next week, they could happen next month. We'd be surprised if it took longer than a month or two. We'd be surprised if it took longer than a month or two. We're hearing that Universal may not announce until February at the earliest, as we're given to understand that their contract period with the HD-DVD camp expires at the end of January." This is the first time I've heard of a contract expiry date for Universal.

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2008-01-06, 07:12 PM	#31
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	It will only be the end of January if the backers pull the plug. Samsung announced a new dual format player today.

2008-01-06, 08:44 PM	#39
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Over the last few months Sony has been mature about the "war". At times I think Fox and Disney are being run by a 5th grader.

2008-01-06, 10:21 PM	#40
polaris Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,314	For sure there are performance clauses in the Paramount HD DVD contract, and I bet they can invoke them even now, or in the next few months. eg. market share for HD DVD and what not sort of clauses.

2008-01-07, 03:34 PM	#41
U Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 1,488	I wish you are right... Transformers is still new enough for them to release in BD and sell 250k copies in one week...

2008-01-09, 04:36 PM	#43
PrimeBane Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,766	I don't think anyone will be surprised that either studio starts releasing on BD... but what I'd like to know is will they be dual, or just Blu.

2008-01-09, 04:43 PM	#44
darrylr Veteran Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nepean, Ontario Posts: 2,980	Yeah I think that is a bigger question at this point - will they both go forward releasing on both or will one (or both of them) switch to the Blu side.

2008-01-09, 05:07 PM	#45
99semaj Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: /dev/null Posts: 2,667	The only feasible out for them is to go dual-format, and let the red sales die off naturally. There's no advantage to them doing a total about-face.