http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/ Engadget Comments for BBC still mulling Blu-ray exclusive decision http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 2:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
Warner's switch to Blu-ray exclusivity will not sway its distribution partner BBC Home Video from its dual-format stance.

That's word from from a company spokesperson, who late yesterday told TVShowsonDVD.com that the BBC will continue its format-agnostic strategy for the time being, and that they "will evaluate the marketplace before committing to one format."
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The company cited the stellar sales of its 'Planet Earth' box set (whose HD DVD version has outsold the Blu-ray) as added reasoning behind the decision, as well as an upcoming line-up of multiple (but as yet unannounced) high-def titles it has planned for both formats in 2008.]]>Jan 16th 2008 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
In any case, it would seem that the HD DVD install base has a much higher interest in nature documentaries.

I'm not saying that Blu-ray owners are just a bunch of uneducated gamer kids, and HD DVD owners are sophisticated and cultured; that is, I'm not trying to insult anyone.

But the fact is there, that there is some content which will sell better on HD DVD than Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are significantly fewer people who are in the HD DVD market, and the BBC has a lot of content that falls in this category.

I think that this effect will diminish as Blu-ray goes more mainstream. I bought Planet Earth on HD DVD, because that is the player that I have; but I bought an HD-A3 and not a PS3 (yet) because that was the market that I was in, and it was the best decision to make. In another month, I will likely be in the position to equally buy either (indeed, I am already buying certain Blu-ray discs).

]]>Jan 16th 2008 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I can not for the life of me figure out how blu-ray outsold HD DVD given the crap titles they selected to penetrate the marked. I can only say that with e in charge, the blu-ray catalog would look very much different from what it is today. But i guess the powers that be knew what they where doing -- doesn't the old saying state that no-body ever got rich over-estimating their customers?

Sales in Europe are very much slanted towards Blu-Ray, in to 70 - 85% range. On the home-market, BBC has an easy pick when it comes time to pick a side. And i don't think they will pick any differently in the US.]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
What? Why is a Blu-Ray-exclusive spin being applied when the story suggests the exact opposite?

Come on Engadget... Just because you're owned by Time Warner doesn't mean you have to "tow the company line."
]]>Jan 16th 2008 2:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 3:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 2:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
Who can tell me the difference on content between the formats on the Planet Earth series? I did not know there was a difference..]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
Moral of the story....pleases end this war so I can focus on buying HD goodnes.]]>Jan 16th 2008 10:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/i was like u initially, it's over let's call it a day, but not now!
I will fight to the bitter end as I, as a consumer, have every right to do, HD DVD has been robbed, we have been robbed.
If we the consumer had been given the choice by all sides being neutral as any modern day market place should be, we would have won all ready!
BR has won by deception and I will never support the product.
HD DVD is not dead, it is wounded, but where there is life there is hope.
Many times i have seen the better man get a flogging early in a fight, but get up off the canvas and win at the end.

I wish Toshiba would drop the A3 to $99 with 2 movies, instead of $149 with 7 or whatever, the amount of hardware they would shift could make some studios have another serious look, sooner rather then later.
GO TOSH !!
]]>Jan 16th 2008 10:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I must admit though. Format war news is the only reason I visit engadgethd. Listening to stupid comments about 500 million dollar payoffs always gives me a good laugh. I'll miss this stuff.]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I make that mistake way too much.]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
FROM THE DIGITAL BITS:

Okay, there are rumors flying around the Net - seeming to originate from columnist Don Lindich in this piece at The Pittsburgh Post Gazette on Saturday - that prior to Warner's defection, the HD-DVD camp had nearly won both Fox and Warner over to their side, but the BDA reportedly paid Fox $120 million to stay in the Blu-ray camp at the "11th hour." This story has been spread around the Net in various movie and tech blogs, particularly those that have leaned towards HD-DVD thus far. Now, I want to make one thing abundantly clear: We're certainly not going to disparage Lindich for making the choice he did and standing by it. We obviously chose a side in this format war and stood by it too, because we (like Don) believed it was the right thing to do by our readers, and so we respect him 100% for having the courage of his convictions. 100%. But there are a few details in his original piece that readers have asked us to comment on today.

First of all, this is a format war. So not surprisingly, the main rule at play thus far with these two camps has seemed to be: "All's fair in love and war." For all the talk about how Warner must surely only have bitten the blue pill due to huge payoffs from the BDA (something Warner's Ron Sanders and others have repeatedly denied, I might add), does anyone really think that the HD-DVD camp didn't offer an equally "green" red pill to Warner to go HD-DVD only? And apparently also to Fox, according to Lindich's original story?

Second, I'll again point out that the HD-DVD camp did the exact same thing with Paramount and DreamWorks last year, to the tune of $150 million. And we're now hearing that they MAY be trying to do it again, to keep the remaining HD-DVD studios loyal in the wake of Warner's decision. So this would seem to be a case of "what goes around comes around." As we noted last week, you may recall that, at the time, Paramount simply cancelled many Blu-ray titles that had already been solicited with retailers. Warner is not only still releasing the HD-DVD titles it's announced, but it's releasing more that haven't yet been announced. The bottom line is that HD-DVD enthusiasts have until 5/31 to enjoy titles from Warner on that format, and there are still MAJOR Warner titles on HD-DVD that have yet to be released on Blu-ray.

Finally, as to these rumors about Fox... does anyone REALLY believe Fox would have flipped to the HD-DVD camp after all their talk about how important Blu-ray's added BD+ copy protection was? As some of you might recall, Fox actually delayed releasing titles on Blu-ray for a period of many months last year in order to wait for BD+ to be finalized. And all this was happening while AACS decryption keys were being extracted from HD-DVD releases and posted online. Fox has been one of the most vocal supporters of Blu-ray. The idea that they would suddenly flip to HD-DVD exclusivity, when software of their preferred format is not only more protected in their eyes but has also been outselling HD-DVD for over a year now, is completely absurd. That would be like a marathon runner with a significant lead at mile twenty-four suddenly deciding to sit down for a coffee break before finishing the race. The belief that Fox was about to go HD-DVD only may simply have been a case of wishful thinking, but wishing does not make it so.

As it happens, I've actually spoken about this today with Fox's senior VP of corporate and marketing communications, Steve Feldstein, who echoed something Warner's Ron Sanders has also said in recent days: "The kind of money they're talking about [in these stories] isn't worth jeopardizing a multi-billion dollar business." In other words, payoffs would not have impacted Fox and Warner's decisions. Feldstein also told me that when The Pittsburgh Post Gazette piece broke, he contacted Lindich immediately to let him know that he was being misled by someone. When Don posted the same piece on his own blog, it was edited to reflect this. Specifically, the references to $120 million and $500 million payoffs were gone - something that's worthy of note.]]>Jan 16th 2008 3:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
Please, never cite Bill Hunt in my presence, as he is a blatant Blu-ray fanatic and has exclaimed so on many occasions and is paid by the BDA.

Thanks.]]>Jan 16th 2008 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I predict that they will continue to climb, and you can bet toshiba is already looking at new DRM solutions to entice fox over to their side. Once the other studios see that HD DVD is selling so strong with still just 30% studio support warner will go "ooops" in the month of may and say sorry to the red camp and cancel their original decision sighting high sales numbers.

Finally then the studios will stop listening to Sony and their stupid PS3 sales figures and realize that standalone player sales are the real figures they should be looking at. Because lets face it, thats all the Blu camp had at CES was the PS3 sales figures with a slight mention of some standalone player sales. You can also bet that most consumers have already forgot about the warner announcement and thats why red sales are climbing again.

So before may, i predict three things will happen...

1) Toshiba will announce new DRM for HD DVD
2) Fox, Warner and Toshiba will start talking
3) May will hit and a big announcement will be made]]>Jan 17th 2008 1:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I have yet to hear a more unlikely scenario so far. Desperation is a sad thing, my friend.]]>Jan 17th 2008 7:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 4:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 4:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/

But it still would flame things a bit more if they did go blu.]]>Jan 16th 2008 5:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 5:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 7:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
HD-DVD = 6.9
Blu-Ray = 6.7
]]>Jan 17th 2008 3:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 6:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 16th 2008 7:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/The BBC are not going Blu-ray.
That's the fact of the matter.

All the rest of the comment abot the BBC keeping a situation under review is just a reflection of the normal business speak for what any clued in business man says (and the Blu-ray side ought to remember this) 'you can never say never'.

We heard the same thing when the Microsoft guy said similar about a Blu-ray add-on; it's unlikely in the extreme but you can't foresee the future & so you can never completely honestly say never.

Unfortunately the folks who insist this 'is already all over' have it all wrong.

Warner's switch (which isn't even scheduled to happen until 5 months time) may or may not happen; 5 months + is a long time in business and a lot can change in the meantime.
There is (if rumour is to be believed) no contract (it was done that way to try and swerve anti-trust legislation) so they have no binding reason to go Blu if Blu-ray sales stay limp & unimpressively tiny compared to SD DVD.

If HD DVD does continue to sell large amounts of hardware then that clearly will be a large market well worth tapping back into and it may well alter people's views.

Particularly as it is now pretty clear that the Warner day-dream of a unified single optical disc format is not going to happen.

There's plenty of time and scope yet for things to work out very differently to the usual hectoring view of the Blu-ray fans that 'Blu-ray already won', again.
But the truth of this now is that it is the Blu-ray side that have set themselves up to have their bluff called, if things really aren't much different by the end of 2008 then they are the ones in deep trouble.

The Blu-ray claims of Universal being out of HD DVD contract (something they have raised for the last 2 years now as they clearly desperately wish for it to happen and be something to help them) have brought them nothing.
Ditto claims that Paramount have an escape clause if WB left.

In fact worse than that for the Blu-ray fans, Universal & Paramount have engaged properly with Toshiba and have put their shoulders to the wheel and are helping the fightback with cuts in movie prices.

Meanwhile Toshiba HD DVD players are selling spectacularly well (again) on Amazon USA and (given the low movie sales volumes each side - still - achieve) getting players out there is the name of the game.

Blu-ray just pi$$ed away all the good publicity they had after CES with the whole profile debacle going very public
(no, there's no need to try and spin the tale here again, it didn't work here and it sure as hell didn't work on the news networks either).

If Toshiba continue to sell players @ 90,000+ per week as they did before on Black Friday you can be certain that as some of us keep saying
this is far from over.

Why do you think the Blu-ray gang are so pi$$ed off about HD DVD right now?]]>Jan 16th 2008 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
Why should we believe ANYTHING you say after you so boldly predicted that Warner was going HD-DVD exclusive by CES?

Its your money to waste to support a dead format.

Btw, we still have Warner no matter what you say.]]>Jan 17th 2008 2:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/Jan 17th 2008 7:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
you guys even managed to get the bill oreily blu spin zone going on this article. instead of naming it what it is "BBC staying neutral despite Warner Brothers move" you instead say they are considering going blu later. thats not what it said.

]]>Jan 16th 2008 9:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
I want nothing at all to do with Blu-Ray. I don't want Sony having all that control. I don't think they should be rewarded in winning by rushing out to the marketplace a completely unfinished format and on top of that highly DRM infested. Not only on Movie Disc's, but on the Recordable Disc's. As someone who owns over 300 DVD movies, and around 20 HD DVD's currently, I will never BUY or RENT any Blu-Ray movies. I just ordered another 3 HD DVD's that should have gotten hear today 2nd day, but like always, every single freeken time, DHL can't find my address. It's on every single map I've ever seen. Next to many other places, and it's the same old excuse for the last 14 years!!! I'll continue to buy HD DVD's until I can't. If it's not on HD DVD, I'll buy the DVD version. If HD DVD disappears, I guess I'll stick with Unconverted DVD's and HD downloads of one format or another. Ether from Comcast or Xbox LIVE. Right now that hardly happens. I will NEVER go BLU.

Warner going Blu only just means I won't EVER be buying any of their HD movies!!! To bad I guess. I can only hope, Toshiba does their best to keep HD DVD around for as long as possible!!! I would rather both formats DIE then for Blu-Ray to win.
]]>Jan 16th 2008 11:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/The consumers have been robbed, and as the great man Winston Churchill said...
"we shall fight on the seas and oceans,
we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
we shall fight on the beaches,
we shall fight on the landing grounds,
we shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
we shall fight in the hills;
we shall never surrender"

NEVER GIVE IN, NEVER SAY DIE, justice has not been served, no matter what happens, no matter what the result, go team red!
FANBOY AND PROUD OF IT !!]]>Jan 17th 2008 1:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/bbc-still-mulling-blu-ray-exclusive-decision/
This article at Hollywood Reporter seems to have good news for both camps.

It starts with a list of new HD DVD title announcements including Into the Wild, Things We Lost in the Fire and Bee Movie from Paramount/DreamWorks, and later The Kite Runner and The Jack Ryan Collection.

Universal announced American Gangster.

The good news for Blu-ray enthusiasts is last week’s Videoscan First Alert data which reportedly states that all of the Top 10 HD Discs were Blu-ray titles and that Blu-ray held an 85% market share, which I believe sets a new high for market share in any given week for Blu-ray Disc.

The article notes that the top HD DVD seller, The Kingdom, sold just 10% as many copies as the top Blu-ray Disc release, 3:10 to Yuma.

]]>Jan 17th 2008 3:10AM