I'm new to this "game" so it was interesting to notice in this week's BB ad that new release movies that are out for both platforms cost $5 more for HD-DVD...why is this?

I'm new to this "game" so it was interesting to notice in this week's BB ad that new release movies that are out for both platforms cost $5 more for HD-DVD...why is this?
You'll find frequent claims that it is less costly to produce HD-DVD discs (compared to Blu-ray discs? So this is a mystery to me also. I'll be following this thread to see if a realistic sounding answer is posted.

The HD DVD version is a combo disc that contains both the HD version of the movie and the SD version of the movie. The HD DVD discs that cost more are usually the combo discs. For the discs that are not combos, their prices are usually the same as BDs.

You get what you pay for.

The irony is many of the blockbuster titles are released in flimsy Combo format.

Question for HD-DVD insiders:

Why are HD-DVD discs priced higher than Bluray? Is it possible to get rid of combos and drop MSRP?

Paying $30 for a title when the equivalent bluray only costs $22 or $23 is a killer.
Only combos bring higher premium. This is because of earlier study that was done, showing that consumers would pay $5 more for a backward compatible HD optical format.

I think it is proven that you all don't want to pay a penny extra :). We have communicated this information to the studios and hope that the difference erases in the future.

Also keep in mind that some BD studios like Fox have set their prices high, even without combo feature. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10971431&&#post10971431

You saw the 300 ad. It is a Combo disk, that is why it is more expensive than the Blu ray counterpart. We don't think it should be, but right now that's the way it is.

In general, HD DVDs cost about $3 to $5 less than their Blu Ray counterparts.

If they cost more, it would be due to what the previous poster mentioned - combo disks cost more because you get the HD DVD and standard definition DVD on flip sides of the same disk media - kind of a 2-for-1.

If you shop around, you can also generally find HD DVDs for about $17.99 - $19.99 on average, with some a few bucks more.

The image and audio quality on most are outstanding (unless they were made from a marginal original source copy). Actually Blu Ray has had more issues with inferior video and audio transfers to date, and even recalled a few disks for replacements.

There is not a good reason. :(

Look at some of the catalog BD titles compared to HD-DVD. At Best buy I find they average 21.99-29.99 wereas bd is anywere from 24.99 to 40 bucks.
The BD version of rocky 1 a 1 layer no frills bd25 is 34.99 at Best buy. That's insaine. But its how MGM is.


The 300 HD-DVD has a few extras above the BD and is also a combo disc so it can be played on a regular DVD player as well. Which some find nice others don't care for.

You get what you pay for.

Does that apply to players too??? :D


The difference in replication costs between BD25 and HD30 is about 40 cents (RF Films insider quoted this figure.)

The irony is many of the blockbuster titles are released in flimsy Combo format.

Why do you keep reposting this FUD crap? Are you on Sony's payroll?

The irony is many of the blockbuster titles are released in flimsy Combo format.


Actually the one combo disc I have seems stronger and thicker, not flimsier, than the other HD DVD's that I have.

the title of this thread must be a joke right

I own 3 combos

1. Iwo Jima
2. Fearless
3. The Departed

I feel that for a combo disc the build quality is a bit flimsy and the SD side easily accumulates dust despite giving ultra protection. The cost is also higher.

Just look at the number of famous titles released in Combo format

1. Superman Returns
2. 300
3. Iwo Jima
4. The Departed
5. Hot Fuzz

How much extra are you forced to spend on the above ? $4 x 5 = $20. For this price we can buy another HD title. The key factor to any consumer is pricing. If the combos were priced at par with the BD version I will obviosuly go for the HD DVD.

Ppl are paying to replace dvds or getting new movies on hd dvd.
Why would they spoil the fun and drop prices if ppl 'want' to pay top $ for a new product?

Its never about real production costs, only what they can fool end users into paying.

Ppl are paying to replace dvds or getting new movies on hd dvd.
Why would they spoil the fun and drop prices if ppl 'want' to pay top $ for a new product?

Its never about real production costs, only what they can fool end users into paying.

HD-DVD's higher prices along with a different selection of movies fooled me into taking a second look at Playstation 3 for Blu-ray and its games. Now whenver the same movie comes out in both formats, I'm fooled into buying the cheaper Blu-ray version. When more combo players come out, HD-DVD will probably fool those guys into buying the Blu-ray version too. Damn, they're tricky. :D

You saw the 300 ad. It is a Combo disk, that is why it is more expensive than the Blu ray counterpart. We don't think it should be, but right now that's the way it is.
However, it's not advertised as being a combo disc in the ad and is the very reason why the OP was confused why the HD DVD version costs more. I'm sure it causes confusion for lots of people who aren't in the know. It's just more and more half-assing or sabatoge, whatever you want to call it, by retailers with an agenda (which is apparently about making less money).

I don't think there is a good reason for the prices.
You can find deals on line and in the stores. But i don't think the B&M stores know what to do with the new formats. Wal-mart is charging 18.96 for most of the lower end HD and blu, and $29.99 for the higher end, the Breach is $29.96 even though they had it for 26.97 when it was first released. Forget about Wal-mart online, they are lost except for few titles.

Examples of pricing screwups, Blood Diamond at the Best Buy store was $34.99, the breach was $24.99. It dosen't seem like the store knows what they are doing , also leads me to think maybe the prices aren't reflecting the wholesale cost.
Then again Frys and Best buy can hold excellent sales. Who knows .

Its never about real production costs, only what they can fool end users into paying.

that's basically it, isn't it.
I like the format, and want it to succeed- but only if it plays straight with me. Trying to get another extra $5 out of my pocket...after selling me on the viability of the format due to it's "much lower production costs" I think is pretty low and shifty.

Like most other sensible dual format owners, I'll be avoiding combos and buying the lower cost Bd version whenever possible.

You'll find frequent claims that it is less costly to produce HD-DVD discs (compared to Blu-ray discs? So this is a mystery to me also. I'll be following this thread to see if a realistic sounding answer is posted.

Oh stop, get back to your forum.

HDDVD is indeed less costly to produce, that is a fact. Now what the studios charge is what they charge. Just because it costs less to make, does not mean the studio wont try to nab as much $ as they can. They are a BUSINESSS. They are out to get your $.

You'll find frequent claims that it is less costly to produce HD-DVD discs (compared to Blu-ray discs? So this is a mystery to me also. I'll be following this thread to see if a realistic sounding answer is posted.

Shoo fly don't bother me.....

that's basically it, isn't it.
I like the format, and want it to succeed- but only if it plays straight with me. Trying to get another extra $5 out of my pocket...after selling me on the viability of the format due to it's "much lower production costs" I think is pretty low and shifty.

Like most other sensible dual format owners, I'll be avoiding combos and buying the lower cost Bd version whenever possible.
What will you do if/when the combo's cost less then the blu release?
I'm not being critical, the combo price bothers me.
But I can see a potential stroke of genius product and marketing wise if they drop the price to standard DVD's

If combos cost less I will pick up the HD DVD version without any reservations.
In this case I am ready for scratches / dust on the SD side.

Also I want studios to put the extra 480i/p features on the SD side so that PQ on the HD DVD side doesn't remain deficient in bit rate and there is enough room for superior HD sound formats.

How about HD-30 + HD-30 / HD-15 on one disc ?

If combos cost less I will pick up the HD DVD version without any reservations.
I think case I am ready for scratches / dust on the SD side.

Also I want studios to put the extra 480i/p features on the SD side so that PQ on the HD DVD side doesn't remain deficient in bit rate and there is enough room for superior HD sound formats.

How about HD-30 + HD-30 / HD-15 on one disc ?
Odd incoherent comment. Obviously from a blu supporter and somebody not actually interested in discussion.
I love that the people who complain about the combo disk the most are Blu. I don't care much for it myself. It will pay off when combo/twin disks prices come down and replaces SD released with HD DVD/DVD.

selfedit; I may have misunderstood some of Igans316's comments.

The Doctor seems to have misunderstood the patient without reading my previous comments.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11170606&&#post11170606

My format support is 60 (HD) - 40 (BD).

I quite agree with their assessment of the additional cost. However if they drop the price I can imagine reviews touting the wonderful DVD that "you can take to your friends house who has HD-DVD to watch it in all its glory." ;)

Hot Fuzz [DVD Combo] review from dvdtown.com (http://www.dvdtown.com/reviews/hot-fuzz/4974/1)


"Universal has released "Hot Fuzz" as one of their formerly numerous HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format titles. Whereas the studio had once released many catalog titles in this format, they have taken an about-face stance and now release only their biggest and more recent titles with an HD-DVD platter on one side and a DVD platter glued to the reverse side. This drives up the price a couple dollars, but "Hot Fuzz" is a film that is worth every penny of the added cost and thankfully, the high definition transfer of the film is spot-on and masterfully delivers this comedic picture to next generation home theater systems. I continue to support the belief that the additional cost should not be forced upon adopters of the HD-DVD format, but this is one of the rare times I think it is a worthwhile purchase for the additional backwards compatibility; so you can help expand the audience by taking the film over to a friends house who has only DVD capability."

The Doctor seems to have misunderstood the patient without reading my previous comments.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11170606&&#post11170606

My format support is 60 (HD) - 40 (BD).
If I misunderstood I apologize.
I did read your previous post. I may have mistaken your meaning in the post I replied to.

I still stand by my observation that Blu supporters tend to disparage the Combo/twin format.

No offense The Doctor. I like both the formats but I get too critical with combos because of the high price tag. I always wanted to buy the HD DVD version of 300 but considering the $4 higher price tag I dropped my plans of buying it.

No offense The Doctor. I like both the formats but I get too critical with combos because of the high price tag. I always wanted to buy the HD DVD version of 300 but considering the $4 higher price tag I dropped my plans of buying it.
I don't see how it is worth it to Toshiba or the studio to lose sales because of $4.
I don't think the combo will be adopted in mass if they try to force it on everybody (HD-DVD and DVD) if the price is too high.
Take the Star Trek TOS. Aside from Paramount always over charing for Trek, if the general public is forced to swallow a release like Bourne 3 on combo only release and the price is what we are paying for Combos now, there would be a revolt with the public, 99% of who won't care about HD this or Blu that.

The best and crazy marketing gimmick for the HD DVD exclusive studios would be to release blockbuster titles on combo at the price of SD DVD.

If I misunderstood I apologize.
I did read your previous post. I may have mistaken your meaning in the post I replied to.

I still stand by my observation that Blu supporters tend to disparage the Combo/twin format.

It's my observation that 90% of all HD lovers hate combos no matter what format they support. The twin format seems more evenly divided, but I hate them both personally.

rant on

DVD should die so we can get more movies in HD. F@ck DVD, that's what managed copy was supposed to be for. With managed copy we could make a crappy DVD if we wanted. Where the f@uck is it?

rant off

Oh stop, get back to your forum.

HDDVD is indeed less costly to produce, that is a fact.

http://wesleytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/replicationcosts1.PNG

Seems like BD25 and HD30 have the same price per disc, but setup fees are more expensive on the HD30.

There has been quite a few movies I have decided not to get because they are combos. $20 for a HD movie is no-brainer. But when it gets to $28+, it needs to be really good for me to buy it, because I can always get it from Netflix.

You get what you pay for.

Yeah extra crap you don't need or want on HD-DVD (IE Combos).

I think Combos hurt the HD-dvd format overall. I don't buy the logic behind it. I bought an HD-dvd player in order to watch HD discs. Joe Sixpack will not pay $10 to $15 more per disc for it to be compatible in the future. Further more joe-sixpack will think twice before getting into a new format that means $10.00 more per disc, when he can get a "perfectly great digital copy" for much less.

I stopped buying combos a long time ago. I only own one.

Combos will only work if that is the only version released. They should have released 300 as a COMBO only, meaning no regular dvd version, just so people get used to seeing HDDVD. Having a regular dvd version for $15 and a hddvd combo for $25-30, well, the only people buying the combo already have hddvd.

The best and crazy marketing gimmick for the HD DVD exclusive studios would be to release blockbuster titles on combo at the price of SD DVD.


and STOP selling the SD version. This way, the HD DVD combo disc goes into millions of homes, months/years later when they're ready to upgrade to HD, they'd already built a collection of HD DVD movies, guess which format they will go? This is the way the marketing of the combo discs supposed to work, but instead they are just ripping off their loyal early adapters and force them to pay for something they will never watch.

**** (The word I can't say) Combos man... with HD player now, I DON'T care about DVD side anymore!

PLUS we lose Beautiful Artwork!!!

I HATE COMBOS!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Can we do something about it?

HD DVD NEED to be cheaper than Blu-ray NO MATTER what, and if Combos is the cause, I DON'T need Combos. DROP IT!!!

This new-release Combo horse-dung really locks my jaw!
Why the heck would "they" think we would want a SD side, when buying HD?!
It's just studio greed & gouging.
Sucks!

Hot Fuzz is yet another "woulda'-bought" that I'll be passing on.
I refuse to play their game. :mad:
I've decided to say "No-Sale" to combos.
I'd rather spend the xtra $ importing HD-DVD BD exclus?ves. :D

I still like Combos and wish they weren't more expensive but can understand a portion of why they are. It almost is the same thought as UMDs but on a much less costly scale - I always wished they included UMD versions with the SD DVD back when the PSP came out for a premium of maybe 5$. Those that didn't want or need UMD could get the non package deal - of course this never happened and I only had 4 UMDs as a result (most expensive being 5$). That would be a good solution for HD combos if production volumes weren't so low at the moment - make both! That may not a financial viability right now.

I'd even buy a BRD combo if they were available, especially Disney titles. I have only 1 TV set that has HD equipment hooked up to it (so far...) and 4 others that don't. Add a car or portable DVD player to the mix for on-the-go people or parents and it becomes more viable (although families aren't quite the HD target just yet).

Happy Feet is a good reason for a combo if the formats were more well adopted. The parents can watch it in HD and it can go into the car as a regular DVD to watch on long trips to abate the kids. I get the benefit of being able to take it with me to watch on the road while doing an installation or training session for a cleint. For a non-combo, you'd pay for the HD disc and SD disc - normally more than the 5$ combo premium. Happy Feet BRD + Happy Feed SD > Happy Feet HD-Combo in price. That's a bonus for people like me who have USABILITY for both. However, it seems most early adopters could care less about having the SD version and are being forced to buy something they don't want. I definitely think there should be choice in the matter, or, as others have said, offer it at zero premium since no other option is available (or make it the only release available in SD and probably make even MORE people mad).

I'll duck as combo haters throw eggs at me :-)

You pay extra because you get no grain with HD-DVD and more of a 3D image. BD comes with fully implemeted grain and no 3D so you get that version at a discount..LOL :p

**** (The word I can't say) Combos man... with HD player now, I DON'T care about DVD side anymore!

PLUS we lose Beautiful Artwork!!!

I HATE COMBOS!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

Can we do something about it?

HD DVD NEED to be cheaper than Blu-ray NO MATTER what, and if Combos is the cause, I DON'T need Combos. DROP IT!!!


You know, no one will take you seriously until you bump the font up to 80pt. and use ten exclamation points after each demand... And don't just use mad faces, you have to use the emoticons that are giving the full browneye salute.

Two new articles about the Combos, One defends them answering the criticism from the one that attacks them.

Why HD Hybrids (http://www.e-gear.com/story/story.bsp?sid=71258&var=story)
His argument is that the dual disc version of 300 costs more ($34.99 at Circuit City) than the Blu-ray version ($29.99), essentially telling people that HD DVD is more expensive. He’s pretty hard on them, saying “Warner Home Video, whether on purpose or by sheer bad taste, is sticking it to HD DVD.”

His point is that consumer’s won’t recognize the value of the hybrid disc and will only see the higher price. While I hate the format war as much as the next earlier adopter, I differ on this issue. First, remember that the cheapest HD DVD player is $200 less than the cheapest Blu-ray player. Second, I believe the hybrid disc is vital to the adoption of either format, and it drives me nuts that Blu-ray has yet to release one hybrid format disc (even though it is supported by the format’s specs). When I purchase a movie I want to be able to play it on every player I own, which in my case includes three DVD players in the house, a portable I use for traveling and the one installed in the roof of my minivan. If I buy a Blu-ray disc than I’m stuck watching that only on my PS3.

Is HD DVD Trying to Lose? (http://www.audioholics.com/news/editorials/is-hd-dvd-trying-to-lose)

Here is an advertisement in a local Circuit City flyer I received this week:

Warner overcharges for hybrid discs

So, we see from this flyer that "HD DVD discs cost more than Blu-ray". THIS is what the consumer sees when they go to the store. This is what the consumer sees when they look at the flyer. The consumer doesn't realize that this is a hybrid DVD and HD DVD format disc.

And the consumer doesn't care.

Because NO consumers are going to WANT hybrid HD DVD/DVD discs.

Why won't consumers want these hybrid discs? Because no one likes to spend 3x the cost of a regular DVD just to have a disc available in the eventuality they decide to buy a high definition DVD player whose format may or may not exceed niche status let alone "win" the current format war.

People with HD DVD players already are simply being forced to pay for the additional cost of manufacturing and mastering that goes into including the DVD side. They get no real benefit and in fact would do better if they could just buy a straight HD DVD disc.