At Best Buy the brand new Disney title Bridge to Terabithia:

BD=$29.99
DVD=$16.99

And that's $413.98 more than the DVD for most people.

War over. :(

Don't the majority of people rent?

At Best Buy the brand new Disney title Bridge to Terabithia:

BD=$29.99
DVD=$16.99

And that's $413.98 more than the DVD for most people.

War over. :(

Riiiiight. Check and see what the relative prices were between DVD players (and media) and VHS in 1997. First the public has to get interested in a format, and that generally happens while most people can't afford it (making it a desirable status symbol). As manufacturing costs come down lower prices let more people adopt the format, and hence more media is produced. The problem right now is that prices have dropped like a rock during a format war, and people won't get involved until it is resolved. That runs the danger of people deciding it's an irrelevant product and never getting the format into the public consciousness (like SACD, DVD-A, and for most the PSP media), while corporate profits plummet to the point where there is no interest from producers or consumers. As long as the format war resolves itself soon, the people interested in HD will start to adopt the winning format, leading to greater adoption, word of mouth, and eventually people accepting it as the defacto "next" format after DVD.

At Best Buy the brand new Disney title Bridge to Terabithia:

BD=$29.99
DVD=$16.99

And that's $413.98 more than the DVD for most people.

War over. :(


You act as though the HD DVD would be any cheaper. What is the MSRP for HD DVD's again? You also act as though DVD prices weren't higher than VHS in its first year when you should be smart enough to know better.

You're getting desperate, huh? Don't be. The format war's not over. Don't let any Blu-faced fiend tell you different. The format war's got at least a few more turns before Universal's contract with MS and Toshiba ends and they kill this format war once and for all. :)

Riiiiight. Check and see what the relative prices were between DVD players (and media) and VHS in 1997. First the public has to get interested in a format, and that generally happens while most people can't afford it (making it a desirable status symbol). As manufacturing costs come down lower prices let more people adopt the format, and hence more media is produced. The problem right now is that prices have dropped like a rock during a format war, and people won't get involved until it is resolved. That runs the danger of people deciding it's an irrelevant product and never getting the format into the public consciousness (like SACD, DVD-A, and for most the PSP media), while corporate profits plummet to the point where there is no interest from producers or consumers. As long as the format war resolves itself soon, the people interested in HD will start to adopt the winning format, leading to greater adoption, word of mouth, and eventually people accepting it as the defacto "next" format after DVD.

This isn't 1997. The world is a lot different now. People in general already think they have HD movies.

you are just like me, you also buy a different player for each movie.

you are just like me, you also buy a different player for each movie.

I guess I'm behind in the times, I have 250 DVD's yet only 8 devices that can play them. But what really grinds my gears is that nobody told me my DVD player would only be compatible with one DVD at a time.

You act as though the HD DVD would be any cheaper. What is the MSRP for HD DVD's again? You also act as though DVD prices weren't higher than VHS in its first year when you should be smart enough to know better.

You're getting desperate, huh? Don't be. The format war's not over. Don't let any Blu-faced fiend tell you different. The format war's got at least a few more turns before Universal's contract with MS and Toshiba ends and they kill this format war once and for all. :)
WTF does HDDVD have to do with this? Is there a Bridge to Terabithia HDDVD? Also, the DVD introduction doesn't have any bearing on this either. And, what am I desperate about? :confused:

you are just like me, you also buy a different player for each movie.
Please tell me WTF you're talking about.

Riiiiight. Check and see what the relative prices were between DVD players (and media) and VHS in 1997.

I know I see the same thing being posted on the usegroups.

"DVD can sell one million copies in one day"

Uh yeah, which is pretty much what VHS was doing with Air Force One when the first DVD sold 100,000 copies.

Please tell me WTF you're talking about.

Pretty obvious to me what he's saying. If Bridge to Terabithia is $413 then you're saying that's THE ONLY movie they're interested in watching. They won't look and see Pirates, Casino Royale, Departed, Blood Diamond, X3, Mission Impossible, etc., etc., etc.

I know I see the same thing being posted on the usegroups.

"DVD can sell one million copies in one day"

Uh yeah, which is pretty much what VHS was doing with Air Force One when the first DVD sold 100,000 copies.

This isn't then, and the situation is entirely different.

Riiiiight. Check and see what the relative prices were between DVD players (and media) and VHS in 1997.

But the difference between DVD and HD-DVD/Blu-Ray is MUCH smaller than the difference between VHS and DVD.
Back then you got better picture quality, better sound, instant scene skip, pause that doesn't damage the media, multiple language sound, optional subtitles, not to mention the various types of bonus features, making ofs, deleted scenes, commentary.
Now the difference is better picture quality and better sound. HD-DVD has a few extra features possible, and Blu-Ray will have some extras when then finalise their spec.

If the HD films had some new revolutionary extra function, that would sell more.

VHS -> DVD = revolutionary.
DVD -> HD = evolutionary.

Revolutionary will sell to J6P for $400, evolutionary will not.

I think the OP's point was that given the current price difference that most won't be interested & that more interest would occur if the media prices were close(er). Folks might pay $5 - $7 extra for the HD version, but $13.95? Doubtful.

Which raises another point (since Disney movies are on topic) - what happens when the avg consumer sees/realizes that it would take 2 purchases to make the disc playable throughout the house?

Example -

Can't wait to get the Bridge for the kid............damn, that means it will ONLY play in one machine.............or I can buy both............or I can just buy the SD DVD & it plays everywhere.

I'm not a fan of combo discs but I can see this as being an issue for many potential customers.

people complain about the prices of a the new formats but they spend every waking moment being a fanboy hoping their format of choice crushes the other....can't have it both ways...

This isn't then, and the situation is entirely different.


Wow it's not 1997? Thanks for pointing out the obvious there Einstein.

The numbers are the same so it is not entirely different AT ALL. Blu-ray is following the path that DVD took in 1997. It's VERY relevant.

At Best Buy the brand new Disney title Bridge to Terabithia:

BD=$29.99
DVD=$16.99

And that's $413.98 more than the DVD for most people.

War over. :(

No, it's just beginning. Standard DVD vs. HD has been the true war all along. With that said, I agree that $29.99 is over priced. Even at Fry's, 'Bridge to Terabithia' was $26.99. Which is a big rip considering the majority of BD's and HD-DVD's there are $19.99.

One would think Disney is 'trying' to kill the HD formats before they even begin.

No, it's just beginning. Standard DVD vs. HD has been the true war all along. With that said, I agree that $29.99 is over priced. Even at Fry's, 'Bridge to Terabithia' was $26.99. Which is a big rip considering the majority of BD's and HD-DVD's there are $19.99.

One would think Disney is 'trying' to kill the HD formats before they even begin.

Well, it's a day and date release...look at the pricing of day and daters, it's not much different. Best Buy just has crappy pricing.

And while I agree that HD versus DVD is the final round, the big one...anyone who thinks that HD not matching up to DVD NOW is a sign of failure clearly has no understanding of what is expected from, or what is reasonable to expect, from a new format like this. That anyone would think these would blow up and even come CLOSE to DVD within a year, with a format war going on...and use THAT as a metric for failure...

I mean seriously people. This is going to take years to match up to DVD, why anyone would slag on a format failing because of such an unrealistic expectation is beyond me.

What kind of misleading nonsense is this? Oh, a thread by Slim GoodBooty? Carry on!

I don't understand where in the world you get your outrageous 400+ dollar number from, but this post seems very inconsistent with what you usually post. You usually are very upbeat over HD-DVD, and tend to slag on Blu-ray. But if what you're saying is true, then the same higher price problem accounts for HD-DVD. It's suspicious that you aren't mentioning HD-DVD, suddenly, in this post. So, can you clarify your position? Are you saying in your current position, HD-DVD and Blu-ray have no chance of competing with DVD? What brought about this sudden change in your attitude? Are you going to continue to invest in HD-DVD, or are you saying you think its a lost cause now?

Personally, I think in time, Blu-ray prices will come down, and replace DVD. For now, most people don't mind paying a ten dollar premium to get prestine high definition video and sound.

For now, most people don't mind paying a ten dollar premium to get prestine high definition video and sound.

Er... speak for yourself. Don't forget that with catalog titles, people are double, maybe even triple dipping. And for new releases, I think a $5.00 premium is acceptable, but not $10.00. At least for the time being. However, eventually, HD discs have to come down to SD-DVD prices in order to really compete, and eventually replace DVD.

Amazon.com before my 10% discount:

DVD MSRP: $29.99
Amazon.com DVD: $15.99

BD MSRP: $34.99
Amazon.com BD: $23.95

Premium I just paid for HD bliss: $7.50

Actually, bestbuy.com has the dvd listed at $29.99 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8328936&st=terabithia&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1638058) - no discounts. The BD version is also listed at $29.99 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8329025&st=terabithia&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1638060). Guess for some online shoppers, they can get the HD version at the same price as regular SD...

I don't understand where in the world you get your outrageous 400+ dollar number from
Typo? notice the $ is above the 4 = typed twice = $413.98

Wow it's not 1997? Thanks for pointing out the obvious there Einstein.

The numbers are the same so it is not entirely different AT ALL. Blu-ray is following the path that DVD took in 1997. It's VERY relevant.

It is VERY different. DVDs looked better on virtually every TV than did VHS. Blu-Ray only looks better on HDTVs which make up a small % of all TVs. Also, $70 DVD players that upscale to 1080i are being marketed as HD or near HD, and they work with all existing DVDs. Why would J6P buy Blu-Ray when it it does not work on his 6 other players (like the one in the mini-van), costs more, and does not look any better on all of his SDTV and only somewhat better on his HDTV?

I have been buying disc movies since 1997 and when DVD first started all movies were priced from $19.99 to $29.99 just like now. If my memory is correct one of the first new release movies that was cheaper at $14.99 was Heat. Also when Disney first started releasing on DVD they were priced at $24.99 and they weren't nowhere near the quality that Disney DVD is today for $16.99. When there is only one format and more people are comfortable in buying HD discs then prices will fall again. Since I started buying Blu-ray discs the most I have ever paid was $24.96 for Open Season. I have bought most of my collection from the various sales that have been happening. Just recently Deep Discount had a good sale that almost made my credit card melt.

Typo? notice the $ is above the 4 = typed twice = $413.98
You're working way to hard. Do you always take the most complicated path?

Once again someone has taken a complex issue and reduced it to a single parameter of success. Every hour someone finds a single issue and extrapolates it out to a definitive conclusion. No disrespect intended, but one can only assume that people making these arguments are very young or have no experience in business, marketing or product development. Yes, price is a factor in product success. But, so is marketing, distribution, timeliness, quality, industry support, service, studio support, suppliers, functionality/features, etc. The product that executes the above the best will win.

Once again someone has taken a complex issue and reduced it to a single parameter of success. Every hour someone finds a single issue and extrapolates it out to a definitive conclusion. No disrespect intended, but one can only assume that people making these arguments are very young or have no experience in business, marketing or product development. Yes, price is a factor in product success. But, so is marketing, distribution, timeliness, quality, industry support, service, studio support, suppliers, functionality/features, etc. The product that executes the above the best will win.
DVD it is. Thanks for clarifying that.

Once again someone has taken a complex issue and reduced it to a single parameter of success. Every hour someone finds a single issue and extrapolates it out to a definitive conclusion. No disrespect intended, but one can only assume that people making these arguments are very young or have no experience in business, marketing or product development. Yes, price is a factor in product success. But, so is marketing, distribution, timeliness, quality, industry support, service, studio support, suppliers, functionality/features, etc. The product that executes the above the best will win.

So let's see how SD DVD ranks...
marketing 1st
distribution 1st
timeliness 1st
quality 3rd
industry support 1st
service 1st
studio support 1st
suppliers 1st
functionality/features 1st (tie)

Yep, SD DVD will be around for a while.

You're working way to hard. Do you always take the most complicated path?
Ooooookay - then it's just your math skills suck.

Before anybody else posts here I'd suggest they reconsider. Just look at the OP's responses - nonsensical; baiting an argument. Everyone else tried to contribute but it's a losing battle.

This thread and pretty much every comment Slim GoodBooty makes is nothing but trolling and flamebait. You can tell just from his name that he is an anonymous troll. I, for one, am reporting him to moderators, and I suggest you all do too. It worked before (I reported some of his trolling and he disappeared from the boards for a good week). Hopefully they'll realize that posters like Slim are only contributing to the juvenile tone these boards have taken lately, and we're all better off without him around for good.

I don't think the price diff between these formats and DVD is all that big and some look for the greatest extreme (aka higher than avg next gen prices) to try and say so and will ignroe any comapros that show less difference. Hell, the Bridge DVD at futureshop here in Canada is 25 while the blu ray is 30.

Obviously there will be a premium with these formats and that is to be expected. Why would these higher quality discs sell for the same or say a buck more than DVD? I guess from a marketing point it would be worthwhile but it ain't happening since it is no doubt costing them a bit more to make these than DVDs and it is a new prodct so they will suck you for more bucks.:)

I will say I find it funny a couple people here replied with some lame bluray/hd dvd crap. Do some members here have such a "format war" fighting mood that they will just pull stuff out of thin air to try and start some format war crap? Pathetic.

Really good chance HD sales will be much greater when the studios and retailers get serious about mass market pricing in the 4th quarter.

No on eshould be surprised that HD sells much less at the price premium it is being sold at B&M outlets.

But retailers have no incentive to get serious about lowering prices until there is more player penetration and more of an installed base of either format.

Expect retail prices of HD DVD and Blu-ray titles to be much lower later this year at retail stores.