Disney and Fox definatively say no to HD-DVD

[Zenien]

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents;

Okay... now for a bit of high-def news. I said on Friday that you can expect some major title announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Well, I wasn't kidding and we've got a bit of follow-up for you.

I've just spoken today with Eric Maehara, VP of Communications for Buena Vista Home Entertainment(EDIT:aka, Disney). He informed me that the studio is planning to announce a MAJOR Blu-ray Disc release line-up for the first half of 2007 at CES. In addition, he reiterated to me in no uncertain terms that BVHE has no plans to support HD-DVD, despite persistent online rumors to the contrary.

I've also spoken this afternoon with Steve Feldstein, Senior VP of Corporate and Marketing Communications for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. He likewise confirmed that Fox has no plans to support HD-DVD, and that the studio will also be announcing additional Blu-ray Disc titles at CES.

Paramount's Senior VP for Worldwide DVD Production, Jeff Radoycis, has informed me that the studio is currently focusing on new release titles, but is also busy evaluating a number of major catalog titles for their readiness to be released on HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc in the year ahead. The studio definitely expects to continue supporting both high-def formats equally in 2007.

And on Friday afternoon I spoke with a press representative of New Line Home Entertainment regarding their future high-def releases. The latest official word is that the studio is currently still evaluating their plans as far as which format(s) they might support and what titles they might want to release. For now, don't expect anything from them on either format until probably mid-2007.

We've got follow-up inquiries in to Warner, Universal and Sony with regard to their forthcoming high-def announcement plans, in particular whether they plan any major announcements at CES or not. We'll post the details of their responses as soon as they come in.

In a brief teaser that appears at the beginning of the 'Dead Man's Chest' standard-def DVD release (which, coincidentally, sold over five million copies in its first day in stores), Disney presents an animated ad promoting its line-up of upcoming Blu-ray movies in 2007.


Among the impressive, high profile slate of catalog releases are such hits as the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' 'National Treasure,' 'Remember the Titans,' 'Father of the Bride,' 'Snow Dogs' and 'Herbie: Fully Loaded.'

Many of Disney's most famous animated classics are also included on the list, among them 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Aladdin,' 'The Lion King' and 'Finding Nemo,' which would make the latter the first Pixar title to see release on a next-gen platform.

 

[Matt]

DVD is still relatively new. Do we really need anything new right now? I have invested in over 120 DVDs, damned if I'm switching to Blu-Ray. I'm guessing there are a lot of other people too who have put money into DVD collections, seeing it as the new VHS and something like VHS that would last 20-30 years. I think the market is going to shoot down both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.

 

[Fenrir]

So far, HD-DVD has an infinitely more appealing catalog of films than Blu-Ray. And I think Galactus posted a thread earlier about how HD-DVD has had a more positive reception than Blu-Ray.

 

[L.A.]

Its a good thing I sent back my Hd-dvd player

 

[Fenrir]

Found it:

Posted: Friday December 8th 2006 12:23am
Source: Assorted Sources
Author: Garth Franklin



The battle over the next generation DVD format threw another interesting punch this week with independent market analytics firm Cymfony releasing figures from an extensive study showing that Blu-ray lagged far behind HD DVD in positive opinion.

According to Yahoo, the report distinctly cites that unlike many studies in this field, this one was not sponsored by any manufacturer or other organization affiliated with either of the formats.

It cites that 'the buzz' for HD DVD is 46 percent greater than that of Blu-ray, and that's among both high-def early adopters and the gaming community.

The biggest surprise though is that Sony's mandatory inclusion of a Blu-ray drive in the PlayStation 3 may have actually had the opposite effect of what they intended with core gamers "actually dissenting from the format" due to it its inclusion.

Posts indicate a more favourable response to the Xbox 360's HD-DVD drive due to the fact that its an add-on which is purchased separately, thus giving the consumer more options.

The cost increase resulting from the inclusion of the Blu-ray, the resulting delays of the PS3 due to it, and the inclusion of a film title ("Talladega Nights") which has been drawing frequently bad reviews for its transfer quality has not helped.

The report comes as another blow to the Blu-ray camp who's been fighting an uphill battle in the PR stakes since its somewhat awkward launch earlier this year.

The format often cites its bigger capacity over HD-DVD as its winning point, but HD-DVD's adoption of dual-layer discs from the start for all titles and the more advanced VC-1 compression codec has that format often winning the capacity stakes (30Gb on all HD-DVDs vs. 25Gb on most Blu-ray titles released so far).

Most damning though is that many independent review comparisons of the same title in both formats have clearly awarded victory to HD-DVD version for better picture quality, sound options and more interactive features.

As a result the more recent Blu-ray discs have begun utilising the same codec (or the similar H.264 AVC MPEG4 codec) with reviews for those few titles now stating the quality is about on equal terms for both formats.

The debate is expected to continue well into next year with some thinking one will come out on top, others thinking both will flop.

Personally I think the war will probably end up more like the +/-R for software - the big winner will be the first companies to come up with a under $300 player capable of playing both formats. In any case regular DVD will remain the standard for quite some time

 

[Sam Fisher]

I think HD-DVD and Blue-Ray are a waste of money. Why do I need to buy something I already have?

 

[L.A.]

High defintion movies are 10 times better than regular dvd!!! I loved it sooo much that I returned my Hd-Dvd player!!!

 

[Matt]

I think HD-DVD and Blue-Ray are a waste of money. Why do I need to buy something I already have?

Exactly, I think we're reached the point where the pictures are clear enough. Is it really worth an extra 500 dollars plus the money you have to spend to buy the movies for slightly, tiny little differences? I don't think so. Until the difference is heavily significant or there is a revolutionary feature introduced (special features on DVD set it apart from VHS) I will stick to just regular DVD.

 

[kytrigger]

Exactly, I think we're reached the point where the pictures are clear enough. Is it really worth an extra 500 dollars plus the money you have to spend to buy the movies for slightly, tiny little differences? I don't think so. Until the difference is heavily significant or there is a revolutionary feature introduced (special features on DVD set it apart from VHS) I will stick to just regular DVD.

Except that there is quite a noticeable difference in picture quality, especially in 1080p. As for everyone who is against blu-ray/hd-dvd because they already have a bunch of dvds, that doesn't make that much sense. Every player I have heard of plays original DVDs (and quite a few upconvert them). So getting a new player doesn't mean you have to rebuy all your old DVDs, you can still watch them, and all new movies you get can look better in blu-ray/hd-dvd.

 

[Matt]

Except that there is quite a noticeable difference in picture quality, especially in 1080p. As for everyone who is against blu-ray/hd-dvd because they already have a bunch of dvds, that doesn't make that much sense. Every player I have heard of plays original DVDs (and quite a few upconvert them). So getting a new player doesn't mean you have to rebuy all your old DVDs, you can still watch them, and all new movies you get can look better in blu-ray/hd-dvd.

I've seen the comparrison and side to side and frankly, its not worth the more expensive format. The colors are sharper and the picture a bit clearer. It isn't any kind of revolutionary breakthrough like the transfer from VHS to DVD was.

 

[Sam Fisher]

I honestly don't care about the picture. As long as the movie is good and there is a good amount of extras I'm happy.

 

[Crooklyn]

I've seen the comparrison and side to side and frankly, its not worth the more expensive format. The colors are sharper and the picture a bit clearer. It isn't any kind of revolutionary breakthrough like the transfer from VHS to DVD was.

Were the comparison shots between 480p and 1080p? I wasn't much of a hd fan myself, until I actually saw both sources in person, from a friend who's a huge videophile. It's also important that the set you're watching is properly calibrated, or else you probably will be seeing a crap pq.

 

[Matt]

Were the comparison shots between 480p and 1080p? I wasn't much of a hd fan myself, until I actually saw both sources in person, from a friend who's a huge videophile. It's also important that the set you're watching is properly calibrated, or else you probably will be seeing a crap pq.

See, I don't know what half the crap you just said means. Most people don't. The minority who does know what it means will be the audience Blu-Ray and HD-DVD sells too. Everyone else will just stick with what they've got. People generally don't like change unless there is a damn good reason for changing.

 

[L.A.]

Exactly, I think we're reached the point where the pictures are clear enough. Is it really worth an extra 500 dollars plus the money you have to spend to buy the movies for slightly, tiny little differences? I don't think so. Until the difference is heavily significant or there is a revolutionary feature introduced (special features on DVD set it apart from VHS) I will stick to just regular DVD.

It didnt stop people getting HD Cable, and Im sure of all those people that have it they want HD movies as well.

 

[vampireslayer97]

There's no way I'm gonna buy the 500 DVDs I already have a second time. The only ones I'll buy again are my all time favs, but I still think it's too early for another format.

 

[Crooklyn]

If you go with HD DVD...you don't have to. The players not only play standard dvd's, but also upconvert them to your high resolution display.

Blu-Ray however, doesn't allow this.

 

[kytrigger]

If you go with HD DVD...you don't have to. The players not only play standard dvd's, but also upconvert them to your high resolution display.

Blu-Ray however, doesn't allow this.

Yes they do...In fact, one of the cheapest components of the blu-ray player is the red laser that allows it to play DVDs. Once more hit the market, almost every single hd-dvd and blu-ray player will play dvds and upconvert them.

 

[Crooklyn]

What BD player out now allows SDDVD playback? That's the first I've heard of it.

 

[kytrigger]

What BD player out now allows SDDVD playback? That's the first I've heard of it.

I know both the standard Samsung and Sony blu-rays have DVD upconversion. Also, the PS3 plays DVDs (although I don't think it upconverts.)

It's one of those things where the absolute very first models didn't have it, but every company pretty much realized how stupid it is not to include standard DVD playback so they all (or at elast the ones I have seen) include it now.

 

[Downhere]

There's no way I'm gonna buy the 500 DVDs I already have a second time. The only ones I'll buy again are my all time favs, but I still think it's too early for another format.

DVD has been around for nearly 10 years already. Even though there are new formats it doesn't mean they will become the norm in the near future. While I can't wait to get some High Def content I think HD media is going to have a hard fight as many are happy with plain ol' DVD. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray could even just stay at laserdisc status if they don't lower prices to a level where average people will consider buying into the new formats.

 

[Rez]

They aren't going to go away, but they aren't going to become the end-all be all for a while. As long as players have DVD compatibility it will be something that is gradually updated for a while, until they just play everything. Either way DVDs as a whole are a dying format, and will only survive with the collecter market. In 20 years were going to have On-Demand everything, so the only way these things are going to stay afloat is with people that like having pretty boxes.

 

[Nivek]

Personally, from a FX fan point of view, I'm not all that impressed with HD and it's impact on films. Newer films look great, but the older films that I love? Doesn't do much for it.

I agree with Matt on this, this isn't all that new a technology and is not a huge visual and product improvement. And outside of the wanna-be Tech savey people, the side by side difference people seen with VHS and DVD is not there enough to make people notice a huge difference to reinvest into.

 

[L.A.]

DVD has been around for nearly 10 years already. Even though there are new formats it doesn't mean they will become the norm in the near future. While I can't wait to get some High Def content I think HD media is going to have a hard fight as many are happy with plain ol' DVD. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray could even just stay at laserdisc status if they don't lower prices to a level where average people will consider buying into the new formats.

The HD-dvd is not too expensive like a blue ray player. The HD-dvd add on is only 200 bucks and those are selling like hotcakes sooo far!!! Now I know the HD stand alone player is 500 bucks but by this time next year it will be around 300-400, maybe even lower. I think in two years from now almost everyone will be getting an HD or BR player.

 

[Cinemaman]

I just hope HD-DVD can play regular DVD-discs

 

[L.A.]

I just hope HD-DVD can play regular DVD-discs

Of course it can. It upconverts regular dvd to HD as well