Warner makes commitment to BD combo packs

[bruceames]

At what point would there be only the BD/DVD combo release? The SRP is only $5 more I think, and retailers are already giving the same generous discounting to many new BD titles as they have been with the DVD for a long time. It would seem a matter of time before only the combo pack is available.

[Malanthius]

Everything HD DVD could do , Blu-ray can do better.




I like this better than flipper discs too.

This is a huge step in Blu-ray household penetration and in encouraging consumer Blu-ray purchasing.

Its a real chance for retailers to stock only SKUs that include a a Blu-ray (+DVD) in the pack, which should lead to more Blu-ray on the shelves over time as the Blu-ray+DVD combo packs will trend to replace DVD only as time goes on.

I guess that Disney experimentation with the concept with Snow White worked out OK then......

With Warner being the dominant Blu-ray selling studio, this is huge news.

I think this is a good thing for BR adoption and might help ease the transition for some. I'm confused though Kosty. What exactly is BR doing better than ? If had full studio support I think we would be in the exact same situation we are today. Not sure why that was even brought up. I think a more accurate thing to say is BR is finally doing everything HD DVD was able to do from the start.

[h0mi]

Anybody see any downside to this at all? Any losers?

People who don't want the DVD version of the movie? Although I don't think they're treating this like it's premium content (ie blu-rays they'd sell for $20 will sell for $25 now).

[Kosty]

Only downside I see is fear of more cost to consumers and studios wasting money on including a DVD. Or that this mighty extend the transition and confuse consumers.

Those seem minor to me compared to reducing any remaining hesitation on the part of consumers to switch to Blu-ray because they need a DVD version to play on their secondary and portable devices.

From AVS

It's too bad that studios insist on giving people every opportunity NOT to fully adopt Blu-ray.

Like Universal, Warner is taking steps to extend the life of DVD and drag out Blu-ray adoption.

And they are sticking it to BD adopters by forcing us to buy discs that we really don't want. I haven't bought a DVD in a very long time. Having made the switch to Blu-ray, I feel a bit betrayed that I'm now going to have to start paying for DVDs again.

I wish the studios had as much faith in Blu-ray as I used to have.

A sad day for Blu-ray.

[hdmoviefan101]

Anybody see any downside to this at all? Any losers?

People interested only in the DVD sell (or give away) the Blu Ray.

People only interested in the Blu Ray sell (or give away) the DVD.

That's a win for those so-inclined, some loss of revenue to the studios. Probably small amount of this would happen, but I've seen this on ebay, and it seems odd that studios would want to let any amount of revenue slip away.

[Kosty]

I think this is a good thing for BR adoption and might help ease the transition for some. I'm confused though Kosty. What exactly is BR doing better than ? If had full studio support I think we would be in the exact same situation we are today. Not sure why that was even brought up. I think a more accurate thing to say is BR is finally doing everything HD DVD was able to do from the start.

Well I meant that now Blu-ray is finally doing everything HD DVD did that was an potential advantage, with HD DVD combos being the part that Blu-ray had lacked.

But just including a DVD in the Blu-ray set is a superior solution that accomplishes the same thing that the concept of HD DVD DVD combos was supposed to address.

I agree that HD DVD might have been at this stage as well, if it was not killed off, but now I cannot think of a single advantage that HD DVD had that Blu-ray has not met or surpassed. Thus the wry comment.

[Kosty]

People interested only in the DVD sell (or give away) the Blu Ray.

People only interested in the Blu Ray sell (or give away) the DVD.

That's a win for those so-inclined, some loss of revenue to the studios. Probably small amount of this would happen, but I've seen this on ebay, and it seems odd that studios would want to let any amount of revenue slip away.

In the strategic macro sense, that may happen but it seems that fears that would happen enough to matter have been quieted by the Disney experiments.

Sure it will happen, but for most normal people its a hassle and the DVD probably will be only passed around the household.

[Kosty]

If its at the same price as a Blu-ray only version, the DVD is essentially free to consumers.

Whats the issue is getting a free DVD?

[Malanthius]

Well I meant that now Blu-ray is finally doing everything HD DVD did that was an potential advantage, with HD DVD combos being the part that Blu-ray had lacked.

But just including a DVD in the Blu-ray set is a superior solution that accomplishes the same thing that the concept of HD DVD DVD combos was supposed to address.

I agree that HD DVD might have been at this stage as well, if it was not killed off, but now I cannot think of a single advantage that HD DVD had that Blu-ray has not met or surpassed. Thus the wry comment.

Hahaha ok that makes much more sense! I was going to say! Oh wait... I did.

[Malanthius]

In the strategic macro sense, that may happen but it seems that fears that would happen enough to matter have been quieted by the Disney experiments.

Sure it will happen, but for most normal people its a hassle and the DVD probably will be only passed around the household.

I agree. I think the negitive effects would be minimal. I think there are more positive things to come out of this than negitive IMHO.

[Kosty]

Seriously, Warner is the huge gorilla here with Blu-ray sales. With Disney doing the same, its obviously a trend that other studios will probably match for the most part.

[nextoo]

One question.

If the inclusion of a DVD into a BD package is so special today why was it not done or promoted two years ago?

And before you respond please review your posts of the past two years.

edit - this is a general question not addressed to any particular poster.

[Kosty]

Easy answer. Before Blu-ray's household penetration was so small it was feared that any included DVD would simply cannibalize a DVD sale. It was probably seen as an unneeded expense that would not accomplish much.

I wish it would have happened sooner, but the Snow White sales success, probably made it an easier decision to make as well as Disney's decision to do that already.

[Malanthius]

One question.

If the inclusion of a DVD into a BD package is so special today why was it not done or promoted two years ago?

And before you respond please review your posts of the past two years.

edit - this is a general question not addressed to any particular poster.

Simple, whether some here will want to admit it or not. They have too! They need to try creative things in order to get JP6 to care about BR enough to adopt it. They didn't do it before because , The BDA and studios thought HDM was going to be an easy sell. They thought wrong. It's an early adopter thing thats a lot harder to sell to mainstream consumers than most here want to admit.

[Kosty]

Whether or not they have too or want too the results are the same.

This will significantly speed adoption of Blu-ray by eliminating on of the last barriers to BLu-ray adoption, using Blu-ray on secondary and portable devices.

This encourages consumers to build up their Blu-ray libraries and buy more Blu-ray software and hardware in the future.