News
CES 2008: Manufacturers react to Warner’s Blu-Ray backing
Ben Parfitt Jan 7 2008, 11:21am
Comments (8)
Toshiba and Sony speak out at latest deal to rock the hi-def content world
In a massive blow to Toshiba’s HD-DVD hi-def disc format, content giant Warner Bros has announced that it is to release future HD movie content exclusively on Sony’s Blu-Ray format, with production of Toshiba’s HD-DVD discs to cease by May.
Warner chairman and CEO Barry Meyer said of the decision: "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."
It’s fantastic news for Sony, whose CEO Howard Stringer added: "It’s a good feeling. I'd like to thank Warner for making the decision to release in Blu-Ray their home video which is in the long-term interests of consumers."
Toshiba, unsurprisingly, is less impressed, with a statement from the firm reading: "Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros' decision to abandon HD DVD in favour of Blu-Ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD-DVD.”
The news comes as Blu-Ray continues to outpace the performance of HD-DVD across the world – in Europe Sony’s format currently outsells Toshiba’s by around three-to-one. It now remains to be seen whether studios who still exclusively back HD-DVD, such as Paramount and DreamWorks, can hold their nerve.
Comments
“Not just Sony...”
Posted: Jan 7, 11:44am
Stop calling it Sony's format. It was developed by 9 electronic giants - Matsu****a, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, LG Electronic****achi, Sharp, Samsung, and Sony.
“I prefer HD-DVD”
Posted by: Ryu Hayabusa - Jan 7, 11:59am
My friend just bought a HD-EP30 and my dads gonna get one as well, there are tons of movies on HD-DVD still, I hate blu-ray.
“Re: I prefer HD-DVD”
Posted by: Wozza - Jan 7, 12:06pm
The weaker format wins again, shame.
“Re: I prefer HD-DVD”
Posted by: Rikki - Jan 7, 3:42pm
Why is BluRay weaker? I don't know enough about either format to comment myself, so I'd like to know what makes HD-DVD better...
“Re: I prefer HD-DVD”
Posted: Jan 7, 4:09pm
It might not be "Sony's format" per se, but I don't think it's incorrect to refer to it as so. Sony has the most riding on it, Sony is the one pushing it. It's a fair descritpion.
“Re: I prefer HD-DVD”
Posted by: ChristopherM - Jan 7, 4:58pm
Why is HD-DVD better? Well, from a UK-resident movie fan's point of view, the big difference is ability to import. Unlike HD-DVD, Blu-ray publishers have the option to include Regional Protection on their discs. Furthermore, unlike DVD, the Blu-ray format owners will be able to upgrade the protection via firmware if it is ever cracked.
Most of my DVDs are imported from Region 1 or Region 3, where discs are superior and/or cheaper. Example - Sony's initial UK DVD release of Casino Royale was recut to play down the violence and it lacked DTS sound, yet it had a recommended price of £23! On the other hand, Sony's Region 3 DVD was the original cut and it had English DTS sound (not to mention English menus). I was easily able to import a legal copy of the latter for £8, including postage.
Now I don't know about the Far East Blu-Ray editions, but I have read that Sony regionally protected the USA edition of Casino Royale on Blu-ray. That alone makes HD-DVD the better format in my book.
“I DON'T refer HD-DVD”
Posted: Jan 7, 5:45pm
Sorry Christopher - that doesn't make it better at all... And the last sentence in your first paragraph will just emphasize to film studios etc. that Blu-Ray is the better choice after all. They're the ones releasing the films and they want to protect their profits as much as possible. So for me your argument is just another nail in the HD-DVD coffin.
“Re: I DON'T refer HD-DVD”
Posted by: Jonesyboy - Jan 7, 6:06pm
I can't really see this being of any great issue in the format wars. In the end the consumers will decide which will win. Paramount and Universal have already dedicated themselves to the HD-DVD format so there should (!?) always be enough content going forward. It seems then that Warner Bros, instead of signalling an end to the "format confusion" of the consumer, are perpetuating it by declaring a 'distributer war' instead.