Warner: Total HD "On Hold For Now"

[jed]

just posted:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/965

Last we heard, Warner's "Total HD" hybrid disc was due in early 2008, but now the studio says it's on hold, with no release date currently in sight.

The studio shook things up at CES this past January when it announced that it would introduce a new HD DVD/Blu-ray hybrid disc by mid 2007. A single disc capable of being played on both Blu-ray and HD DVD players seemed to offer a compelling (if inefficient) short term solution for the format war, and appeared to be the anchor of Warner's dual-format stance throughout much of the year.

Alas, it looks like Total HD is not to be -- at least not in the foreseeable future. After previously delaying its initial mid-2007 launch date until early 2008, now the studio says that the hybrid format is "on hold for now."

In comments first published by TWICE Magazine, Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders explained, "we’re concerned that as the only one publishing on it, it would be hard to make it go." He went on to say the company was still talking to retailers about rolling out the hybrid format sometime in the future.

As for the rumors that Warner is weighing lucrative offers to go format-exclusive, Sanders acknowledged discussions with both camps, but seemed to indicate that the studio would support both high-def formats through the holiday shopping season.

"We’re talking to both sides and it’s crazy right now," said Sanders. "We remain committed to both for the time being. We’ll see how the fourth quarter plays out. The consumer is still kind of divided, and we still believe that we should offer the content in both formats. Now, we will watch the marketplace very closely, and see how it plays out, but for now we are supporting both."

[Kaos]

I really believe whoever wins Warner Bros, will win the format war. I can't see my collection being void of WB movies, they make a lot of great films. I would have to get a dual format player for sure.

[KaneRobot]

^^^While I doubt either format will "die" regardless of what may happen here, the company Warner sides with would likely be the "winner." They are doing the most work for BOTH formats right now. A loss of Warner titles on Blu-Ray would be particularly devestating right now with Fox and Disney taking their sweet time with stuff.

The odd thing is I really have no idea which way they'd go. For every reason I see for them to go to one side, I see one for the other.

[Orionzdrm]

I hate the idea of them picking a side. Stay where you are.... This way everyone wins.

[poddie]

I am glad they seem to be seeing the light with THD. That was just the silliest idea ever IMO.

It only benefitted the retailers (only carry one box per movie), forced double sided discs (I hate them), limited the Blu side to single layer, and passed on the extra cost and possibly reduced reliability to the consumer.

[pow]

If I had to hedge bets, I'd say Warner would probably end up going HD-DVD. Examples like 300 and Blood Diamond have had HDi features exclusive to this format with the Blu-Ray releases being without, and we've also seen them test the water by releasing the Matrix box sets solely on HD-DVD.... for the time being anyway.
I think this is them testing the market to see whether their exclusive titles produce the relevant sales and margins to warrant exclusive support.
I may of course be completely off the mark too - who can say!?

[canoehead]

They are, I believe, the second biggest seller in both camps, and I'd guess they sell about twice as much on the Blu side, if 300 sales are typical. It seems that they want to see how things shake out with consumers over the holidays - a $399 PS3 would probably help Blue quite a bit.

[kcmurphy88]

More studios should go format neutral. What's going on now is collusion and market division among competitors, and would be subject to anti-trust if we still had anti-trust laws.

[JAG1977]

Originally Posted by pow

If I had to hedge bets, I'd say Warner would probably end up going HD-DVD. Examples like 300 and Blood Diamond have had HDi features exclusive to this format with the Blu-Ray releases being without, and we've also seen them test the water by releasing the Matrix box sets solely on HD-DVD.... for the time being anyway.
I think this is them testing the market to see whether their exclusive titles produce the relevant sales and margins to warrant exclusive support.
I may of course be completely off the mark too - who can say!?

That was due to spec issues with Blu-ray, Batman, Matrix etc are expected on Blu-ray soon.

Duel format releases, other than Planet Earth, have sold 2-1 better on Blu-ray, including the hobled 300.

I fully expect this ratio to improve further in Q4.

[numnuts77]

Total HD would be a bandaid fix for consumers but the movies would cost way more than the current movies having both formats on them. I would not want to pay 50 bucks for a movie just because it plays on both formats.. There are only two companies right now that can produce movies in both HD DVD and Blue Ray and that is Paramount and Warner..

So the other companies would have to buy into the equipment they are missing to make both formats..(Blue Ray and HD DVD would have to release the movie with the same specs)

Plus i think they are putting it on hold cause they think the battle will be won here pretty soon within a year..

[canoehead]

If Warner goes HD-DVD, then Bu will be hobbled. It certainly won't kill them, but it will make it almost impossible for them to win either. If Warner goes Blu, it just might kill HD-DVD.

[Ivasawa_Jin]

i think this is one reason that warner is going to choose a side... HD DVD anyone ???

[aussiedropbear]

I for one will be glad when this is all over. I do favour HD DVD as I believe it is the best platform for the home movie collector.

I don't think a judgement should be taken on this coming 4th quarter in light of recent announcements regarding HD DVD disc capacity (for movie playback - 51Gb) and the China deal on CH DVD.

I believe the next year will be telling as we will start to see a reduction in player pricing (on both formats) but more likely with the HD DVD camp due to the 'China' CH DVD platform being steamrolled for the 2008 Olympics. This will have a manufacturing flow on effect for HD DVD where player pricing will become more accessable for j6p. It will become very hard for Sony to keep up with what China can output en-mass.

[aussiedropbear]

Just in case, here's another link on a discussion..
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6477849.html

[Detroit Tigers Fan]

I sure hope WB goes HD DVD exclusive because I love the extras that my HD DVD's have over my Blu-Ray's.

Fact. The special content on MOST of my Blu-Ray's sucks ass over what my HD-DVD's has to offer.