HD storage format war is over

aMIGA_dUDE

The HD video storage format war is over. HD-DVD is the new betamax. The reason behind this is:-

1) The weekly sales of HD disk, Blu-Ray sells more then HD-DVD every week. *
2) Disney, Fox, Sony and now Warner are now exclusivity Blu-Ray.

It also rumoured that NBC Universal any day now will also become exclusively Blu-Ray.
I do fill very sorry for people who just brought an HD DVD (betamax) system. But I have good cheap Blu-Ray player my Playstation 3.

* DVD sales per week is lot more then Blu-Ray and HD-DVD combined.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/technology/05disc.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin

Elaine_Wilson

The HD video storage format war is over. HD-DVD is the new betamax.

I can't argue with your statement but I still feel sorry for betamax. Most would agree that betamax was far superior to VHS but it (and all consumers) lost out due to lack of content available in that format.

I don't think the differences between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are that marked but I hope that we, the consumers, will not be short-changed again.

LuciferTDark

HD & Blu-ray can kiss my butt, I'm sticking with standard DVD for as long as possible.

Tribulation

This is a lot more important than a lot of people are realizing, and should in my opinion be in the main news. The average consumer doesn't seem to realise there are two competing formats for the Hi Def DVD market, these are Blu-Ray (as found in the PS3) and HD-DVD

Currently you have the likes of QVC and Tesco pushing HD-DVD which is effectively a dead in the water technology as the latest and greatest.

Tesco's stores have a display of the following
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.202-0532.aspx

Note where they say

You can watch Hollywood blockbusters with 1080p High Definition images and surround sound to match

That is in fact a lie, they need to change it to "Some Hollywood blockbusters" as the only two big movie companies supporting HDTV are now

Paramount
Universal

Paramount is under financial contract to support HD-DVD until 2009
Universal isn't so could change their mind at any moment.

So this means 85 - 90% of HD movies being released wont be compatible with the HD-DVD players QVC, Tesco etc are selling.

All the other major players

Sony Pictures (MGM, Columbia, Tristar)
Disney (Pixar, Buena Vista, Miramax)
20th Century Fox
Warner Bros. (New Line Cinema)
Lion Gate Films

are exclusively backing the Blu-Ray HD format.

Personally I think anyone that's brought from QVC etc (or brought the xbox 360 HD-DVD addon) recently should return it and try and get a refund. The vast majority of people on the official Xbox 360 forum are admitting the format war is over and Blu-Ray has won, and the HD-DVD Promo group has just announced

Notice of CES Press Conference Cancellation by North American HD DVD Promotion Group
“Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD’s commitment to quality and affordability – a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format.

There's also an article today on http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6463_7-6462511-1.html where they recommend not purchasing HD-DVD players in the near future

I can see a lot of disappointed customers in the next 12 months realising they've spent £200 on something they cant get any Hi Def DVD's for

geordie_joe

Tribulation wrote: »

This is a lot more important than a lot of people are realizing,

Yes but it is only important to those people who rush out and buy the latest technology just because it's there.

aMIGA_dUDE

A big surprise here (not!) New Line has decided to become exclusively Blu-Ray now.

For those of you who are not it the know New Line is a subsidiary business of Time Warner. It only left for HBO another subsidiary Time Warner to make mind up.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/05/new-line-confirms-itll-follow-in-warners-blu-footsteps/


Will Univeral become Blu-Ray exclusive next week at CES 2008?

Idiophreak

geordie_joe wrote: »

Yes but it is only important to those people who rush out and buy the latest technology just because it's there.

Agreed...tbh a lot of people won't even know that Bluray or HDDDVD exist, much less know that both exist and that there's a format war going on...

Tribulation

Trouble is, while I agree with all the above posts, the average type of person that's going to buy the HD-DVD player off of QVC, will also fall into the category of not knowing about two formats.

Not seen the actual show on QVC but can just imagine it, presenter saying things along the lines of "You've got your nice flat screen TV at home, but your not getting the full potential, with this new DVD player, you can watch things in stunning Hi Def" etc etc etc.

I suspect QVC sold quite a few of these (especially when they were recently on their todays special value). And this is why I think it should be better publicised. People that know about the two formats are likely to do research before parting with their money. People that don't know, and have brought from QVC, have 28 days to return their goods hence if it was made known to them, they wont end up with a dead format.

aMIGA_dUDE

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7176185.stm

Sony has been talking to retailers about the possibility of helping HD DVD owners who now wanted to move to Blu-ray.

This is a good sign and shows that Sony aka Blu-Ray is willing help people with now defunct HD-DVD hardware owners out.

Riq

This is just like the console wars.

The Sega Saturn was a far superior machine to the Playstation but due to a lack of 3rd party sales it all went wrong

aMIGA_dUDE

Things are moving a pace and starting to look like Paramount is going to become Blu-Ray in about 4 months.

Looks like Paramount is going to use get out clause in its HD DVD exclusivity deal.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/07/paramount-following-warner-out-the-hd-dvd-door/
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc409afa-bd75-11dc-b7e6-0000779fd2ac.html

Look like I will be able to Transformers on Blu-Ray.