Warner Outlines HD DVD Separation Plan

[jed]

just posted:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1364

Formalizing the first step in its HD DVD separation plan, Warner has pushed back the previously-announced HD DVD releases of 'The Invasion' and 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.'

As we first reported late last week, Warner stated in their original Blu-ray exclusivity announcement that although they would continue to support HD DVD through May, their HD DVD releases would now follow their Blu-ray release by "a short window."

The studio has now confirmed the first titles to be affected by the transition, announcing a three-week-delay for the HD DVD/DVD combo versions of 'The Invasion' (now February 19, previously January 29), and 'The Assassination of Jesse James' (which will shift from February 26 to March 18).

Street dates for the previously Blu-ray and standard DVD versions of both titles remain as originally scheduled.

The studio has told us to expect a three-week delay for all of its remaining HD DVD/DVD combo titles through the May 2008 cut-off date, but that they will officially announce the new dates over the next several weeks.

All Warner HD DVD catalog titles will remain unaffected by the transition, and are expected to street as originally announced (including such highly-anticipated titles as 'Bonnie & Clyde' and 'Twister').

[Word]

No financial incentives my ass........Why else would they delay the releases?

[dachst8087]

Piss On Warners!

[GamerGuyX]

Blah... they are all combo's. I would of purchased the Blu-ray version anyway.

[HD-DVD_4_Me]

One thing I don't get is that if Warner is still in contract with Toshiba for HD-DVD support till May, how can they delay releases? To me that seems like they would be breaking something in the contract, but I dunno, maybe they had a clause or there just wasn't anything in the contract about delaying releases.

[Giantfoot08]

I think it is ridiculous that they are delaying the HD DVD releases. If I really wanted a title, I could wait a couple weeks to see it rather than dropping $400 on a Blu-ray player.

[mdale13]

thats bullshit. they are releasing them late for no other reason than to give their bluray buyers better treatment. the LEAST they could do would be to treat the format as equals until they offically dump HD DVD in may

[weaponX]

My guess is they are delaying the HD DVD's so that people will notice that their Blu-rays are day and date. The public may be aware of them going blu, thus, releasing both formats at the same time day and date with the DVD may confuse some customers.

[Vindibudd]

Originally Posted by mdale13

thats bullshit. they are releasing them late for no other reason than to give their bluray buyers better treatment. the LEAST they could do would be to treat the format as equals until they offically dump HD DVD in may

Yeah, I'm going to have go with that sentiment.

[weaponX]

were these two titles even box office mega hits? I barely remember seeing them in theaters.

[film11]

Guess they don't want to lose any BR sales to HD-DVD.

[hotburnttoast]

I have four words that come to mind on how I feel about this whole WB decison and its FUCK YOU WARNER BROS. No need to delay these titles for three weeks after the blu-ray releases. The consumer did not choose, you WB choose for the consumer

[mdale13]

Originally Posted by weaponX6282

were these two titles even box office mega hits? I barely remember seeing them in theaters.

they were good flicks, but just not alot of press. but thats not really the point. the point is Warner being a bunch of pricks

[AllSport11]

I am pro HD DVD and up to until recently I was a supporter of Warner Bros. I saw some logic in their move to exclusively support Blu-Ray as long as we got our HD DVD releases until May but this three week delay deal really irks my nerves. Don't piss on the people who supported one of your products just because you decided it wasn't the right one. I will still be buying the movies on HD DVD just to show that is what I want to own. Until May anyway.

[Cymbol]

Originally Posted by weaponX6282

My guess is they are delaying the HD DVD's so that people will notice that their Blu-rays are day and date. The public may be aware of them going blu, thus, releasing both formats at the same time day and date with the DVD may confuse some customers.

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read the story.

Consumer: "Hey, where is ______ on HD DVD?
Salesman: "It's scheduled to come out in about a month."
Consumer: "Why is that?"
Salesman: "Warner Bros. dropped HD DVD and went Blu-ray exclusive."

It's a one-two punch. Blu-ray gets a head start, and consumers (who are unaware) will become informed of Warner's dropping of HD DVD once they ask the sales clerk.

Also, they keep in line with their contract - still releasing the movies. (I doubt the contract said they had to be day and date with DVD or Blu-rays).

It's a very sneaky and underhanded way of cutting out HD DVDs feet. It is no more underhanded than not providing lossless audio on most Blu-rays early on. It wasn't until 300 on Blu-ray that they started providing lossless audio tracks on all Blu-rays.

You all may not have seen Warner's true colors before, but when they are against you, they have no problem pulling off shady techniques.

(And it's still better than Paramounts handling of the Blu-ray discs which they simply took back days before the release.)