Now guys, keep in mind that this comes from a HIGHLY biased Blu-Ray web site called "Hollywood in Hi-Def" (founded by Sony, Disney and Fox) and Blu-Ray camp is of course spinning it now that it's Universal's fault that format war is happening and that it's all HORRIBLE for the consumer. I mean blu coolaid doesn't seem to stop flowing so some people really suck on it.

But regardles, read through the whole article because Universal's president HEAVILY reaffirms Universal's support for HD DVD and that as long as there's a last drop of HD DVD interest they will be HD DVD exclusive and the reason why they support it, and why it's good for the consumer.

So read on:

August 8, 2007

Universal's Kornblau Wants Format War to Continue

There's no longer any question as to who's keeping the hi-def format war alive, or why. It's Universal Studios and the top home entertainment exec, by his own admission.

I had been hearing over the last few days that various Blu-ray Disc manufacturers have been offering Universal plenty of incentives to join the parade but that Universal was walking away from the table every time without any reasonable objection.
Now we know why.

Universal president Craig Kornblau told me this week that the studio actually wants the format war to continue.
He also said Universal is getting financial incentives to create exclusive HD DVD features such as the Xbox Live component for the upcoming "Heroes" release.
"I’m not going to tell you that we don’t cut financial deals with people every day," he says.

But he has rationale for all of the above.
Kornblau says Universal does the same as every other studio in cutting deals to utilize another company's technologies and services.

But Kornblau says Universal's position is not driven by deals but by a long-term and consumer-focused strategy that is supported by Universal parent NBC and corporate owner GE. Universal never initially wanted a war, he says, which is why the studio made a decision years ago to back only one format.

Of course, that's the same position taken by Disney as well as Fox; the only difference being they individually chose the opposing format for a number of their own reasons, not the least of which is that each independently told me from the beginning that they believe that Blu-ray will ultimately offer the most consumer satisfaction and that the technology represents a full step forward in technology -- not a half-step -- to ensure the longest-term value for consumers. And, most importantly to Fox from the outset and now others as well, an extra layer of protection against piracy.

However, now that the market has evolved as it has, Kornblau says the hi-def format war has been "the very best thing that ever happened for consumers, retailers, and, frankly, studios" -- everyone except consumer electronics manufacturers -- because it has driven prices down further and far more quickly than would have been the case if there had been only one format in the market. (CE manufacturers are no small exception since they were among the primary groups driving the introduction of hi-def discs in order to restore the profit into their business that long ago evaporated with $49 DVD players from China. The format war has already forced some manufacturers to start subsidizing their hi-def players.)
Without the format war, Kornblau believes that even after more than a year in the market, the lowest-priced players would still be priced out of reach of most consumers at more than $1,000 and they would only drop to $800 or $900 over the next year or two.

Of course, that's impossible to know for sure and it's a bit of a faulty premise if you consider that PlayStation 3's, which play Blu-ray Discs and are by far the top-selling hi-def disc player of either format, were introduced last November at $600. As for the cause and rate of price declines in players, 10 years ago the cost of DVD players dropped about 20% in the first year and another 30% in the second year without any format war, according to "CE Historical" at the Consumer Electronics Assoc. web site www.ce.org.

With Universal the only holdout in sticking with HD DVD exclusively, Kornblau reluctantly concedes that HD DVD's position is just fragile enough that if Universal decided to release in Blu-ray now, it would have a serious, if not life-threatening impact on the future of HD DVD. So in addition to weighing how his decision will impact the studio, he now must also factor in the potential demise of the HD DVD format entirely if Universal would opt to release its movies in Blu-ray.

For now, that's not something Kornblau is willing to risk. He says Universal chose HD DVD initially because it offered the least expensive hardware and software manufacturing costs and immediate across-the-board interactivity and connectivity in all HD DVD players. "To this date, nothing's changed," he suggests.

Kornblau believes interactive and connected features are essential for the success of any hi-def disc platform, especially as more and more consumers realize that they can buy a DVD player for $129 that upconverts their DVDs to near-hi-def quality.

"DVD would not have grown to a $16 billion market if all we did was put movies on a disc," he said. Enhanced features are even more critical for the success of hi-def discs, which do not offer as many revolutionary distinctions from DVD as did DVD over VHS.

In fact, Kornblau says the lack of comparable interactivity and connectivity in Blu-ray as compared with HD DVD at this point is why Universal refuses to go the same route as Warner and Paramount in releasing in both formats but being forced to offer less interactive and connected features on the Blu-ray versions, such as Warner's new "300."

Hmmm, with the notable exception of the "U-Control" interactive feature that Universal introduced on several titles last year, the studio hasn't exactly been blazing many trails of innovation with content that couldn't be delivered on Blu-ray Discs and even DVDs in many cases. Warner has been leading that charge with web-enabled features introduced on "Blood Diamond" and continuing through last week's "300." After about a year-and-a-half in the market, Universal's first web-enabled feature will come courtesy of Microsoft on the Aug. 28 release of "Heroes."

And, not for nothing, but early results of "300," at a record 250,000 copies sold in the first week, show that at least 65% of those sales went to Blu-ray. Some expected the numbers to skew even further in favor of Blu-ray given it's appeal to the PlayStation 3 demographic.

Meanwhile Blu-ray promises even more dynamic connectivity features with its new "BD Live" component in Blu-ray players and titles coming as early as this fall, as well as further enhancements to its "BD-J" interactive technology.

Kornblau, who was kind enough to speak with me very frankly in the midst of a hectic time, also conceded that Universal could not have picked a worse time to be carrying the torch for HD DVD in terms of strong releases to help support its position and the platform.
Although Kornblau referred to his studio's weak movies over the past 9 months, Universal's release slate has been pretty dismal for the last several years. The studio had only two theatrical films in the top 30 at the domestic box-office in 2005 and it's lone top 20 title last year was 18th-ranked "The Break-Up," with $119 million, according to Boxofficemojo.com. After suffering through the first six months of this year with its biggest hits being the sleeper romantic comedy "Knocked Up" and the financial disaster "Evan Almighty," Universal is finally enjoying a solid franchise hit with last weekend's "The Bourne Ultimatum" opening with $69 million.
Kornblau sees all that as setting up a big fourth-quarter for his studio on the home entertainment and hi-def fronts, starting with "Heroes," followed by four $100 million-plus titles, "Knocked Up," "Evan Almighty," "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" ($92 million after 3 weeks), and "Bourne Ultimatum."

But that's pretty much the highlight for the rest of the year as far as programs available exclusively on HD DVD.
Almost everything else will be on Blu-ray, either exclusively or along with HD DVD, including everything from Steven Spielberg's first hi-def disc release, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," exclusively on Blu-ray, to most of the top-grossing movies of the year, such as "Spider-Man 3," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (both only on Blu-ray) "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (not announced as yet); "300," "Ratatouille," "Wild Hogs," and "Blades of Glory" (the latter three only on Blu-ray). And as soon as Fox rejoins the BD party with its MGM distribution in tow -- which everyone hopes will be soon -- that studio could release its trio of summer hits exclusively on Blu-ray, "The Simpsons Movie," "Live Free or Die Hard," and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer."

Even if, for the sake of argument, you go along with Universal's belief that the format war is driving prices down more quickly, Kornblau admits that there is only a limited window of time for which this situation can be interpreted as beneficial for consumers, retailers, and studios. He says that window will start to close when players drop to a price of $200 and consumers start making their choice, which is what will guide Universal's ultimate course.

So that’s the story. Universal did not want the format war and Kornblau believes the studio did not initiate the war, but he and the studio are now intentionally and strategically keeping the format war alive for what they believe is for the good of the consumer, retailers and studios while awaiting a clear consumer preference for Blu-ray or HD DVD once prices drop to $200. Universal chose HD DVD because costs were lower and it had about a year’s head-start on some interactive features and web connectivity.

Okay, Kornblau has always been straight with me so I have no reason to believe he doesn’t truly believe most, if not all of that.

But if consumers are already showing a 2-1 Blu-ray preference for every movie released in both formats months before Blu-ray introduces its more sophisticated web-connected and interactive features and even while HD DVD is riding a low-price advantage of about $150 - $200, it’s difficult to envision consumers becoming less interested in Blu-ray when all those features debut amid a flurry of the year’s biggest movies exclusively on Blu-ray.

When that point comes, on behalf of those of us who don’t believe that prolonging the format war is a good thing, I hope that Kornblau and Universal are quick to respond to the will of consumers and end this war.

In the meantime, I guess those customers who are already choosing Blu-ray will have to live without hi-def versions of "Knocked Up," "Evan Almighty" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" for awhile.




This guy Scott Hettrick is beyond biased and is paid to say stuff like that, which is completely unfounded as we will most likely get most of those exclusive BD titles on HD DVD, but I think it's very inspiring to see how Universal thinks. This is just another proof that HD DVD is one step closer to something big.

Craig Kornblau obviously knows something that we don't.

I say Chinese and Walmart are kicking in BIG time ha ha...

Share your views.



====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg

I don't know if Universal has "something big" in store or not, but I hope the format survives. I'm a dual format owner and have no problem with two formats. And the competition will keep both sides striving to do their very best.

Wow... what a jackass that interviewer is.

Typical Blu-spin. If HD DVD sucks so hard, how come all the Blu-boys are jonesing for Uni titles?

It's nice to know that Universal still stands firm supporting HD DVD. Maybe the Blu boys can just let it go because it doesn't look like Uni is going anywhere anytime soon.

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.

Although Kornblau referred to his studio's weak movies over the past 9 months, Universal's release slate has been pretty dismal for the last several years. The studio had only two theatrical films in the top 30 at the domestic box-office in 2005 and it's lone top 20 title last year was 18th-ranked "The Break-Up," with $119 million, according to Boxofficemojo.com.

In the meantime, I guess those customers who are already choosing Blu-ray will have to live without hi-def versions of "Knocked Up," "Evan Almighty" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" for awhile.



Did someone conveniently forget about King Kong?

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.


What does lossless audio have to do with interactivity? His entire point in mentioning interactivity was to explain that they're NOT focusing on the HT enthusiast. He said he believes that in order for HD media to catch on like DVD did, it needs to offer something that DVD can't, and that would be in the way of special features. He believes that if they just throw a movie in hi-def on a disc and sell it, it won't appeal to anyone else BUT the HT enthusiast, and that strategy alone isn't one that will allow HD media to take over for SD DVD, especially when J6P can pick up an upconverting DVD player for $99 and be perfectly satisfied with how it looks on his HDTV.

Scott Hettrick = Bill Hunt under an internet alias (like 'Allan Smithee' or 'John Doh!') :rolleyes:

Did someone conveniently forget about King Kong?

And "Chuck & Larry." And "Bourne Ultimatum." And "Knocked-Up" (handsome profits from this cheap-to-make movie...). And "Evan Almighty" (... all wiped out by this expensive turkey! :(). And even though they haven't opened yet I have a feeling "Superbad" and "Balls of Fury" will do pretty well at the box office in the next few weeks.

Maybe someone could extract the notable quotes because I couldn't keep reading it with the writer's laughable "POV" inserted throughout it.

Although Kornblau referred to his studio's weak movies over the past 9 months, Universal's release slate has been pretty dismal for the last several years. The studio had only two theatrical films in the top 30 at the domestic box-office in 2005 and it's lone top 20 title last year was 18th-ranked "The Break-Up," with $119 million, according to Boxofficemojo.com.

But that was 2005, and yes he somehow overlooked KING KONG, lol.

This summer has been one of Uni's best -- BOURNE is huge, KNOCKED UP is huge, the Sandler movie did over $100 million in spite of bad reviews, and EVAN ALMIGHTY -- while a disappointment in relation to cost -- ended up finishing right around $100 million as well.

So they had 4 movies all do $100 million or above. How many other studios had that ratio with 4 releases?

Maybe someone could extract the notable quotes because I couldn't keep reading it with the writer's laughable "POV" inserted throughout it.
And don't forget to factor in - it's a smurf site.

About Hollywood In Hi-Def

HollywoodinHiDef.com is a new Web site developed by Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Walt Disney Studios, among other companies, to provide an open platform for the discussion of the leading high-definition format, Blu-ray Disc.

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.

It looks like Universal is finally coming around on that. All of their recently announced titles list Dolby TrueHD in their specs. Too bad they left it off of The Bourne Identity, although that might've been due to the disc being packed with extras.

As far as this article is concerned, I have to agree with the author that Universal's disaster of a film division isn't helping them in their exclusive support of HD-DVD. What are their must own new releases between now and the rest of the year? The Bourne Ultimatum and maybe Knocked Up? What do they have on the slate for 2008? Unless they can get some of the Spielberg and Hitchcock titles out there soon, they're not gonna have any A-list movies left to release.

Oh, and if Cornblow loves the format war because it drives down prices, then why keep releasing overpriced combo titles?

Maybe someone could extract the notable quotes because I couldn't keep reading it with the writer's laughable "POV" inserted throughout it.

There's actually VERY few direct quotes. I've already seen a couple of threads pop up with BD folks saying "look what Universal says" and then quoting a huge chunk of text with no actual quotes.

This is a stupid PR stunt by a blogger employed by the BDA on a BDA site. Nothing more.

I find it interesting that this is an "interview", yet very little of what Kornblau said was quoted. Makes me wonder if the sections of this interview that were paraphrased, outside of direct quotes, was what he actually said... Ahhh, good ole paranoia for you. And with the exception of "Live Free or Die Hard", I really don't care about the upcoming BD exclusive titles.

Damn... all you people beat me to the punch! lol

And with the exception of "Live Free or Die Hard", I really don't care about the upcoming BD exclusive titles.

I don't give a damn about Spiderman 3 or POTC3.

As far as this article is concerned, I have to agree with the author that Universal's disaster of a film division isn't helping them in their exclusive support of HD-DVD. What are their must own new releases between now and the rest of the year?

The Kingdom looks like it'll be a great Universal title. I've heard talks of a December release to HD on that one...

I don't give a damn about Spiderman 3 or POTC3.

No, but I DO care about Spider-Man 1 & 2 and Die Hard 1 & 2. I'm not too happy with the way Sony's making me go about getting the first two Spidey flicks, but bottom line is those are 2 major titles exclusive to Blu-ray.

What do they have on the slate for 2008?I suggest you look at their "coming to theaters" lineup between now and December 1st ;)

The Kingdom looks like it'll be a great Universal title. I've heard talks of a December release to HD on that one...And let's not forget about American Gangster.

I suggest you look at their "coming to theaters" lineup between now and December 1st ;)

Their event movie releases for 2008 include The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy 3, and Hellboy 2. Well, I can think of......uh, one of those titles I may pick up. And ironically it's the one which you have to own a Blu-ray player in order to watch the first movie.

Wow... what a jackass that interviewer is.

+1

Their event movie releases for 2008 include The Incredible Hulk, The Mummy 3, and Hellboy 2. Well, I can think of......uh, one of those titles I may pick up. And ironically it's the one which you have to own a Blu-ray player in order to watch the first movie.I said between now and December 1st 2007. That will show you what will be released in Q1 and Q2 of 2008 on HD DVD. What you posted won't be on HD DVD until Q4 2008 or Q1 2009.

i think this article is fake, or kornblau is having a bad day.

he is talking about price advantages. that hd-dvds are cheaper to make. then why dont we see that in prices then? all i see is hd-dvds being more expensive then blurays or they are equal in price.

this is intresting though

In fact, Kornblau says the lack of comparable interactivity and connectivity in Blu-ray as compared with HD DVD at this point is why Universal refuses to go the same route as Warner and Paramount in releasing in both formats but being forced to offer less interactive and connected features on the Blu-ray versions, such as Warner's new "300."

so if bluray matches specs end of october. universal will go the blu route then?

i dont think so.

anyway thanks for posting this article, but i hope for kornblau that he didnt really said some of the things that were in this article. because it could seriously backfire on him in the near future.

I don't give a damn about Spiderman 3 or POTC3.

you might not care but those will rank in millions in sales and rental.

This guy is so certain that Universal is keeping the format war alive, if you ask me Disney and Fox are keeping it going. If those 2 studios released in HD-DVD nobody would $500 for a player that has equal AV and less interactive features than a player you can get for just over $200.

This guy is so certain that Universal is keeping the format war alive, if you ask me Disney and Fox are keeping it going. If those 2 studios released in HD-DVD nobody would $500 for a player that has equal AV and less interactive features than a player you can get for just over $200.


No one's buying them anyway. Right now, the PS3 is WHY Blu-ray's winning. There's no way around it.

No one's buying them anyway. Right now, the PS3 is WHY Blu-ray's winning. There's no way around it.

My point is if those 2 studios went neutral there wouldn't be this fear of picking the wrong format, it would become a no brainer.

This guy is so certain that Universal is keeping the format war alive, if you ask me Disney and Fox are keeping it going. If those 2 studios released in HD-DVD nobody would $500 for a player that has equal AV and less interactive features than a player you can get for just over $200.

I agree. I'm tired of everyone attacking Universal blaming them for the format war. What about the exclusive BD studios? They're just as much to blame as Universal is. And if the BDA is really so sure they've "already won the format war", then why in the hell do they care so much? Conversly, if they all think that Universal's release slate has been weak and they don't have good movies currently in theaters, again, why do they care? Oh yeah, it's because they want the format war to end... but yet, they say they've already won. Hmmm....

Its like two kids fighting in a playground when the teacher comes around: "But *he* started it!!!!"

There's a ridiculous amount of editorializing in that article.

No one's buying them anyway. Right now, the PS3 is WHY Blu-ray's winning. There's no way around it.

This is true. But to equivicate PS3 sales with the number of BD players in homes is a little misleading if you ask me. Not every PS3 owner is using it for BD movies and moreover, not all PS3s are even being hooked up to high-def sets. Add this to the declining PS3 sales, makes me believe that there will be a shift in BD sales when more games become available. Sony may be winning a format war, but they're losing their gaming marketshare which will only hurt them in the long run.

so if bluray matches specs end of october. universal will go the blu route then?


LOL, you really think that by end of october THIS YEAR, Blu-Ray will match functionality of HD DVD? Don't make me laugh. If anything by end of this year, almost all Blu-Ray players (it's not even certain that PS3 will be able to) will most likely be unable to play any features developed after official Profile 1.1 implementation, meaning that movie studios will continue releasing poor and feature movie only BDs.

Blu-Ray, in current form, will never match HD DVD because not ALL player have mandatory ethernet. This is one of the first things you want to look at.

I like the way Blu Ray fanboys dismiss Universal as irrelevant because they don’t make good movies anymore, then complain bitterly when Universal reaffirms their intend to stay HD-DVD exclusive.

The best 2 movies I’ve watched this year are Children of Men and Hot Fuzz.

And if the BDA is really so sure they've "already won the format war", then why in the hell do they care so much?

Well you have understand that this is typical PR strategy. As their advantage is melting away as HD DVD slowly but surely is making that 2:1 ratio smaller and closer to 1:1 BDA is getting more nervous. When they are nervous they start point fingers at Universal and other HD DVD Group members as bad guys as this is really what's left for them to do. Fluke PR releases such as Target and others just don't hold much economic force. They have PR value, but not real life value in terms of sales and facts.

What Blu-ray people don't understand is that this 2:1 lead is EXCLUSIVELY due to PS3, meaning that future of Blu-Ray exclusively depends on what will happen when people start playing games instead of watching/buying movies.

I saw someone either on AVS or somewhere else post statistics that almost 40% of people that owned PS2 had a standalone DVD next to it. Funny and this is what Sony is scarred off and understands that if they lose that PS3 numbers they can spin it's pretty much over.


====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg

nfinity.

what did i say below that sentence??? i said i don't think so!

and i dont think people irrelevent Universal. Universal has brought some of the best movies. besides of Warner i dont think there is any studio that has delivered more classics then Universal.

but i think you will agree that Universal has done poorly the last couple of years movie blockbuster wise.

still if your a movie fan you cant go around universal. heck i just received my dvds of Psych season 1. and very funny serie. glad i picked that up.

nfinity.

what did i say below that sentence??? i said i don't think so!

and i dont think people irrelevent Universal. Universal has brought some of the best movies. besides of Warner i dont think there is any studio that has delivered more classics then Universal.

but i think you will agree that Universal has done poorly the last couple of years movie blockbuster wise.

still if your a movie fan you cant go around universal. heck i just received my dvds of Psych season 1. and very funny serie. glad i picked that up.


Oh certainly..they could definitely do much better. With the catalog as big as theirs, we need some really tastiness on HD DVD.

But the title I can't wait for is American Gangster, the movie is coming to theaters soon and it looks INCREDIBLE. Denzel Washington is the man and Rusell Crow is in it. Universal holds the rights of course.

There's a BUNCH of new hot movies coming out from Universal. I just hope they publish those too right away with DVD release.

that wasn't even an interview though. i hate when so called journalist's do that.

I agree. I'm tired of everyone attacking Universal blaming them for the format war. What about the exclusive BD studios? They're just as much to blame as Universal is. And if the BDA is really so sure they've "already won the format war", then why in the hell do they care so much? Conversly, if they all think that Universal's release slate has been weak and they don't have good movies currently in theaters, again, why do they care? Oh yeah, it's because they want the format war to end... but yet, they say they've already won. Hmmm....
+1
You said a mouth full

nfinity warned us it was biased, but wow from title to finish, nothing but bitter blu propaganda. A brief quote from Kornblau followed by some obvious spin and biased misrepresentations. Pathetic.

Typical Blu-spin. If HD DVD sucks so hard, how come all the Blu-boys are jonesing for Uni titles?


Cause it will completely end the format war. When and if the day comes when Universal goes neutral it will end the war. That is why BD supporters want Universal to go neutral. Don't over look the part of the interview where he says "Once players reach $200, we will then decide who to support." Once the holiday season starts, look for Toshiba to cut their prices for the 3rd time in attempt to even the war. If the holiday sales stay in favor of BD, look for Universal go to neutral.

How does everyone think this article was written in favor of blu-ray? The guy quoted exactly what was said? I think there are some supporters that are a bit nervous about their investment now and their future of the red format.

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.

My guess would be that the percentage of consumers who can use the interactive features (pretty much everyone) far outstrips the percentage of people with home theater that supports lossless audio.

That 'interview' sucks. There's only 4 small quotes from Kornblau in all of that. Nothing but an editorial.

How does everyone think this article was written in favor of blu-ray?

Ummm... The blogger is employed by blu-ray. It's posted to an official blu-ray sponsored site. And it has tons of blu-focused opinion mixed in with very few direct quotes.

How else exactly are we supposed to perceive it?

Well you have understand that this is typical PR strategy. As their advantage is melting away as HD DVD slowly but surely is making that 2:1 ratio smaller and closer to 1:1 BDA is getting more nervous. When they are nervous they start point fingers at Universal and other HD DVD Group members as bad guys as this is really what's left for them to do. Fluke PR releases such as Target and others just don't hold much economic force. They have PR value, but not real life value in terms of sales and facts.

What Blu-ray people don't understand is that this 2:1 lead is EXCLUSIVELY due to PS3, meaning that future of Blu-Ray exclusively depends on what will happen when people start playing games instead of watching/buying movies.

I saw someone either on AVS or somewhere else post statistics that almost 40% of people that owned PS2 had a standalone DVD next to it. Funny and this is what Sony is scarred off and understands that if they lose that PS3 numbers they can spin it's pretty much over.


====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg

60% of ps2 owners that did not have a DVD next to it came out to around 60 million plus.

How in the world is HD-DVD closing the gap to 1:1? On amazon it is still a solid 2:1 easy. The release of 300 on both formats missed a 2:1 ratio by only 2% points. The NPD numbers continue to show an easy 2:1 lead in sales every week. The numbers since both were released is at 61% to 39% and that is with a 8+ month lead before BD was even released. Putting that on 5% away from a 2:1 ratio since both were released.

Xbox 360 HD DVD (http://www.eproductwars.com/dvd/asinsaleshistory.cfm?asin=B000JHO4L0&db=dvd) Looks like the xbox360 hd dvd is doing well

I've touched on subjects like this found here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=883827&page=2)

I never knew Blu-ray wasn't released until 8 months after HD DVD. I must have imagined having my Samsung player in late June?

If the holiday sales stay in favor of BD, look for Universal go to neutral.

It never fails. Despite brisk HD-DVD title sales, 300 on HD-DVD being sold out at B&Ms almost everywhere, and all these interviews with Universal execs saying they aren't going neutral, we always get some BD fanboy in the HD-DVD software forum making a prediction based on pure speculation to "look for Universal to go neutral" :rolleyes:

How does everyone think this article was written in favor of blu-ray? The guy quoted exactly what was said? I think there are some supporters that are a bit nervous about their investment now and their future of the red format.

Look at the title. Ask yourself, do you really think Universal WANTS THE FORMAT WAR TO CONTINUE--that they're making a concerted effort to extend it because it's in their best interest as a business? Why would Universal WANT it to continue? The writer has already told us he's out to bash Universal and has shown his bias.

Look at the quotes he used and look at copious amount of editorializing the writer does based on that brief quote. Ask yourself, "Did the Universal guy really say ALL THAT in that quote" or did the author read a little too much into it?

If you can't see the bias then you never wanted to see it in the first place.

Holiday sales will probably be more of the same barring the arrival of Chinese HD DVD players. HD DVD will continue to outsell Blu Ray in standalones, especially if they cut prices further. Universal probably knows that people buying a standalone are buying it for movies, not all PS3 owners use it for such (or as I mentioned before even know it plays movies, as hard to believe as that is). It is a longer term gamble on their part. If HD DVD owners buy more movies they'll glady stay in the boat, what is better to them? A cheaper to make format with definitive specs. If they sell three movies to one consumer then they're happy, not one movie to a handful of owners. They probably hope the consumer, who is more often than not undereducated in respect to these devices, will see the Universal title they like, see the cheap player price and buy into it, thus buying more Universal titles when they want more content. In the four months or so I've been buying HD DVDs there has been maybe one person looking at Blu Ray movies and two looking at HD DVDs. Thats all. Yet people are at these same stores buying regular DVDs all the time.

The thing I've mentioned before is both formats have install bases of consumers actually using them for movies similar to what DVD had in late 1998, possibly less so, and in reality it is a drop in the bucket. Laserdisc probably has more installed users, let alone VHS and DVD. You're marketing to a niche crowd. I don't see either side of studios putting tremendous effort into this, save for a few titles most of what they've released was previously remastered, or prints that were in good shape to begin with and thus will look good in HD. Only exceptions that come immediately to mind are things like Robin Hood, Casablanca etc. Stuff the studios probably put an effort into remastering simply because of the historic value of the material, they'd probably have done it anyway as soon as the technology existed to make it worth their effort for sake of preserving them.

From what I've seen most of what has been released is stuff that was well preserved to begin with and lends itself well to an HD release. I doubt any studio marketing to either format is going to put tremendous effort into restoring and remastering obscure titles that are going to appeal to maybe a fraction of the small installed base of either format. It isn't in their best interest to do so. They'll take what was already went through, is newer or still looks good. Thats what you'll get. While Universal has a large catalog they'll probably release what looks best.

I don't see Universal changing that strategy or going neutral. They'll comb through their stuff for material that looks decent, and release it. If they strike up new masters for a DVD release and they're good they'll make an HD DVD of it. Since fewer studios release on HD DVD they've got an almost exclusive market, the owners will buy it if they want it. People owning Blu Ray won't be able to. Then the consumer is left with the choice, they can either buy an HD DVD player to get in on the action or not buy the movie at all. Universal probably hopes the former will happen, they release something that appeals, the consumer buys an HD DVD player for it, then begin to buy other titles they were missing out on. More money for them and they can reap the benefit of the cheaper manufacturing costs. It is a lot easier for the consumer to pony up $200 for a player (and sometimes less) then it is for them to pony up more for a more expensive player.

Some of us have the luxury of owning both formats. I could buy a Blu Ray player, however I'm exercising the option of holding out for a good deal. Figuring I could buy a Blu Ray player for $300, thats about 10 movies I could buy on HD DVD (possibly more if I buy used or on sale). I'd rather have the movies. In that time however Blu Ray is losing my money, and the studios that support both formats are seeing me buy HD DVDs instead.

I don't give a damn about Spiderman 3 or POTC3.

I agree. the author is trying mightily to spin. But consider him mentioning Fox. Here's a studio that has disappeared from the radar. And Disney? A paltry release of titles I see in the next few months. POTC3 a poor movie which grossed lots of money will likely sell well - all those teens with their PS3s (no I'm not a teen) desperate for something to play on the PS3.

This needs to be spun the opposite way. If a so-called exclusive studio like Fox had half the release schedule and aggresiveness in releasing as Universal this might be a different ball-game. Disney and Fox need to follow the lead of Warner in neutrality. Then Universal can base its decisions on that. Effectively, Sony could be the only exclusive studio and that's the way I hope it turns out.

Reading this article I see more and more that the blogger did more spin than can possibly be undertaken. Taking quotes out of context and making it appear that Universal's head is stating something when he's not. The other two threads were locked down this one should be as well. Nothing but flamebait.

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.
While the people on this forum think that lossless audio is important, the general public doesn't care. Most people are totally satisfied with the DVD quality audio that they are getting now. The majority of people are listening to the audio coming out of their TV speakers. Extras and interactivity are going to be more appealing to the general public even if the vast majority of people never use them.

that they believe that Blu-ray will ultimately offer the most consumer satisfaction and that the technology represents a full step forward in technology -- not a half-step

What is this half step bull? :rolleyes:

HD DVD offers 1080p, advanced audio codecs and interactive features. Looks to me like a full package right there.

I noticed you now have to be registered to post comments on HollyWoodInHighDef

That's a shame.... I wonder if its because of what I posted. He wrote an article called "My crumbs are bigger than yours" and basically said it doesn't matter if Toshiba is ahead in the stand alone player market. So I left a comment saying "So it doesn't matter when HD DVD players outsell Blu-Ray's 7:3, but the 2:1 software sales are touted every day?"

I bet that post was deleted, that site is a joke.

you might not care but those will rank in millions in sales and rental.
Yes...

....in SD.

60% of ps2 owners that did not have a DVD next to it came out to around 60 million plus.

How in the world is HD-DVD closing the gap to 1:1? On amazon it is still a solid 2:1 easy. The release of 300 on both formats missed a 2:1 ratio by only 2% points. The NPD numbers continue to show an easy 2:1 lead in sales every week. The numbers since both were released is at 61% to 39% and that is with a 8+ month lead before BD was even released. Putting that on 5% away from a 2:1 ratio since both were released.

With a 10:1 lead in overall players, BD sold only 2:1 of 300? :p

And if there's a movie made for the PS3 crowd, that has to be it! :rolleyes:

Cause it will completely end the format war. When and if the day comes when Universal goes neutral it will end the war. That is why BD supporters want Universal to go neutral. Don't over look the part of the interview where he says "Once players reach $200, we will then decide who to support." Once the holiday season starts, look for Toshiba to cut their prices for the 3rd time in attempt to even the war. If the holiday sales stay in favor of BD, look for Universal go to neutral.
I see it a bit different I guess. Even if Universal were neutral today many if not most people would still buy the cheaper player; very very few people are willing to spend $500 for a CE device. Granted over time studio, CE manufacturer, and reseller support would likely change once player prices dropped.

If every studio except Sony were neutral, BD would have been DOA. As long as the player price advantage holds for HD-DVD the format will be around for a very long time. Player sales will take off when the price point is well under $200. Until then most people do not get enough out of the HD upgrade to justify the cost, even if they were willing to shell out several hundred $ for a CE device.

Almost everything else will be on Blu-ray, either exclusively or along with HD DVD, including everything from Steven Spielberg's first hi-def disc release, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," exclusively on Blu-ray, to most of the top-grossing movies of the year, such as "Spider-Man 3," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (both only on Blu-ray) "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (not announced as yet); "300," "Ratatouille," "Wild Hogs," and "Blades of Glory" (the latter three only on Blu-ray).

Does anyone else see an error in the last line? I have Blades of Glory on pre-order for HD DVD so I am pretty sure it cannot be BR exclusive.

Since no one mentioned this yet, I'm also tired of people forgetting about Weinstein. They are pretty much exclusive to hd-dvd and they have some good titles.

I'd really like to know why in every interview Kornblau pimps "Interactivity" of HD DVD when less than 10% of Universal titles have lossless audio - which I think is more important to HD enthusiasts.

Probably because the vast majority of people aren't HD enthusiasts and are more likely to appreciate something new and different as an attractant to a new film delivery format. I'd really like to know why HD enthusiasts feel the HD disc (either format) and its future revolves around them.

With a 10:1 lead in overall players, BD sold only 2:1 of 300? :p

And if there's a movie made for the PS3 crowd, that has to be it! :rolleyes:

Sony better not make a movie titled "Microsoft hates you! Microsoft hates HD DVD! XBox 360 hates you! PS3 is the only High Def system!" that would sell like crazy! Probably 500,000 copies

I find it interesting that this is an "interview", yet very little of what Kornblau said was quoted. Makes me wonder if the sections of this interview that were paraphrased, outside of direct quotes, was what he actually said... Ahhh, good ole paranoia for you.

This is the "jackass" and "full of crap" Scott Hettrick: My understanding is that a blog is not an "article" or a verbatim Q&A; it is an editorial column, a forum to present an opinion. I did not position this as an "interview, but rather a summary of my conversation with Mr. Kornblau and my take on his comments, with only a handful of direct quotes to emphasize selected points in his own words. You don't need to wonder if anything was paraphrased -- of course much of it was; that's why those comments are not in quotes. The question is, did I mischaracterize anything he said? I just got a thank you e-mail from him this morning, so I'm comfortable that I did not present his comments inaccurately.

This guy is so certain that Universal is keeping the format war alive, if you ask me Disney and Fox are keeping it going. If those 2 studios released in HD-DVD nobody would $500 for a player that has equal AV and less interactive features than a player you can get for just over $200.

I would agree with you if it was just Disney and Fox who were exclusive Blu-ray, but it's not. It's Sony, Lionsgate, Disney, Fox, and some smaller guys. They would all have to convert to HD DVD, which only has 1 major studio backing it exclusively: Universal (and some much smaller companies, the biggest of which is Weinstein Co.)

There's a ridiculous amount of editorializing in that article.

See previous comment: my understanding is that a blog, by definition, is not an "article"; it is an editorial, and therefore should be primarily editorializing.

60% of ps2 owners that did not have a DVD next to it came out to around 60 million plus.

How in the world is HD-DVD closing the gap to 1:1? On amazon it is still a solid 2:1 easy. The release of 300 on both formats missed a 2:1 ratio by only 2% points. The NPD numbers continue to show an easy 2:1 lead in sales every week. The numbers since both were released is at 61% to 39% and that is with a 8+ month lead before BD was even released. Putting that on 5% away from a 2:1 ratio since both were released.

BR released with the Samsung BD-P1000 on June 25, 2006. HD DVD released with the Toshiba HD-A1 on April 18, 2006. That difference is about nine to ten weeks, not 8+ months. Please get your information straight!

that wasn't even an interview though. i hate when so called journalist's do that.

Do what? Write opinion pieces? Then do not read any editorials or columns or blogs. That's part of journalism.

That 'interview' sucks. There's only 4 small quotes from Kornblau in all of that. Nothing but an editorial.

Precisely, nothing but an editorial.

Look at the title. Ask yourself, do you really think Universal WANTS THE FORMAT WAR TO CONTINUE--that they're making a concerted effort to extend it because it's in their best interest as a business? Why would Universal WANT it to continue? The writer has already told us he's out to bash Universal and has shown his bias.

Look at the quotes he used and look at copious amount of editorializing the writer does based on that brief quote. Ask yourself, "Did the Universal guy really say ALL THAT in that quote" or did the author read a little too much into it?

If you can't see the bias then you never wanted to see it in the first place.

First of all, please remind me where I said I was out to bash Universal. Secondly, I believe I have a direct quote from Kornblau saying the war has been "the very best thing that ever happened for consumers, retailers, and, frankly, studios."

How does it feel to be a shill for the BDA?

That might be the biggest piece of crap I have ever seen...

How does it feel to be a shill for the BDA?
I would imagine it feels very much like any other job come payday :)

I noticed you now have to be registered to post comments on HollyWoodInHighDef

That's a shame.... I wonder if its because of what I posted. He wrote an article called "My crumbs are bigger than yours" and basically said it doesn't matter if Toshiba is ahead in the stand alone player market. So I left a comment saying "So it doesn't matter when HD DVD players outsell Blu-Ray's 7:3, but the 2:1 software sales are touted every day?"

I bet that post was deleted, that site is a joke.

Michael, you know better than to do this. You know good and well we have left every one of your comments posted on our HiHD site:

Michael @ Jul 13th, 2007 At 2:09 pm says:

"1.) It's way too early to be bragging about numbers that are this tiny."

It's too early to be bragging about numbers that small but the 2:1 software ratio is always thrown around? So which is it? Do small numbers only count when they are in Blu-Ray's favor? Do they not count when they are in HD DVD's favor? You can't have it both ways.

Does anyone else see an error in the last line? I have Blades of Glory on pre-order for HD DVD so I am pretty sure it cannot be BR exclusive.

You're correct. My bad. It was corrected a few hours ago. Thanks.

the lowest-priced players would still be priced out of reach of most consumers at more than $1,000 and they would only drop to $800 or $900 over the next year or two.

Of course, that's impossible to know for sure and it's a bit of a faulty premise if you consider that PlayStation 3's, which play Blu-ray Discs and are by far the top-selling hi-def disc player of either format, were introduced last November at $600.

Let's ask the question... would the PS3 have blu-ray capability in it if HD-DVD wasn't around as a competitor? I somehow doubt it. Also, wouldn't HD-DVD have been out at least a year earlier had it not been for Sony claiming they were willing to try to make bargain to have only one format?

How does it feel to be a shill for the BDA?

Wouldn't know.

Hmmm, with the notable exception of the "U-Control" interactive feature that Universal introduced on several titles last year, the studio hasn't exactly been blazing many trails of innovation with content that couldn't be delivered on Blu-ray Discs and even DVDs in many cases. Warner has been leading that charge with web-enabled features introduced on "Blood Diamond" and continuing through last week's "300." After about a year-and-a-half in the market, Universal's first web-enabled feature will come courtesy of Microsoft on the Aug. 28 release of "Heroes."

And, not for nothing, but early results of "300," at a record 250,000 copies sold in the first week, show that at least 65% of those sales went to Blu-ray. Some expected the numbers to skew even further in favor of Blu-ray given it's appeal to the PlayStation 3 demographic.

Meanwhile Blu-ray promises even more dynamic connectivity features with its new "BD Live" component in Blu-ray players and titles coming as early as this fall, as well as further enhancements to its "BD-J" interactive technology.


No offense but reading that sounds like an advertisement. In that article I only counted four quotes that were "verbatim."


"I’m not going to tell you that we don’t cut financial deals with people every day,"

"the very best thing that ever happened for consumers, retailers, and, frankly, studios"

"To this date, nothing's changed,"

"DVD would not have grown to a $16 billion market if all we did was put movies on a disc,"'

Without having proper context to view those quotes in their original form, there is nothing to say that he could have been talking about something else entirely.

Example: "the very best thing that ever happened for consumers, retailers, and, frankly, studios"
He could be referring to movies on a medium similar to CD's, A cheap duplication format, or a distribution system for selling things.

"I’m not going to tell you that we don’t cut financial deals with people every day,"
Example: He could be referring to dealing with Kodak, Fuji or any number of film companies, SAG, Duplication houses, the list goes on.

You could offer more than parts of sentences. What were the questions? I didn't see anything in that article that would lead me to believe that Bornblau wants the war to continue.

Wouldn't know.
Of course you would. Writing an "editorial" piece that's heavily slanted Blu on a site established by the BDA to promote all things Blu-ray. You're not doing it just for the hell of it.

ClearVision? More like BluVision.

See previous comment: my understanding is that a blog, by definition, is not an "article"; it is an editorial, and therefore should be primarily editorializing.

You're correct. I only read the highlighted part of the OP's text (the editorial itself), and none of the subsequent posts, before I wrote my own. I didn't realize you were simply a BDA PR person.

Its funny how one studio, who according to the article doesnt even have good releases, can piss and rain so much havoc on the smurfs and blu rays parade.

Sorry, but this "journalist" knew exactly what he was doing here. If you're going to write an editorial, write an editorial. Don't pick and choose which "quotes" you want to use and paraphrase the rest. Bad journalism. Why have an interview just to write whatever you want anyway? It really says a lot about one's credibility.

No one's buying them anyway. Right now, the PS3 is WHY Blu-ray's winning. There's no way around it.Precisely! And this whole subject has been soooooo underdiscussed. This "war" is not going to be decided by gamers. For God's sake, people that want to have a player in their bedroom or their guest room ... or even in their theater or family room are not going to go out and buy a game console. It doesn't matter how well the damn thing plays a movie disc, the general public (J6P) is going to purchase a stand-alone player. And even counting the very respectable achievements in the HD DVD camp, very few of them have sold so far.

And so what do you see? You see a "war" whose current results are being substantially skewed by all those gamers out their who don't know what else to do with their new expensive Sony game console.

These gamers are not always going to be purchasing movies at this pace. A fair amount of them don't even have HiDef TV's. And when that number of SA HD DVD players starts creeping up and up and up ... oh well, the dead format will slowly but suddenly start to look very much alive.

Plus there is another factor I believe. At some point, Hollywood is going to start to make serious motion pictures again. This fascination with CGI and movies-waiting-to-be-games will, someday, pass. And as that happens, you're going to see more of the general public start to become interested again. And the general public is not going to be buying game consoles. They'll be buying players that are relatively inexpensive.

I was in BB two days ago. They now have an HD DVD endcap ... an A20 hooked up to a Regenza (sp?) 42" LCD. It looked fabulous. What looked even more fabulous was the price tag. Half what the comparable Sony package costs. The Sony display was looking good too. But there weren't many people looking. They were all down at the HD DVD endcap with their jaws on the floor.

Much of the above is just MHO (you know ... the stuff about what J6P will want/do). In fact, it's all my opinion except the story about BB. I make this disclaimer to try and ward off all the Blu Fans who will certainly start to ask me for links and proof. This is just what I think.

I love my Panny BD player. It works great! But there's just so much in the HD DVD camp that looks really right.

What does J6P stand for?

What does J6P stand for?Joe Sixpack. The general public.

Ohhh.... thank you :cool:

Of course you would. Writing an "editorial" piece that's heavily slanted Blu on a site established by the BDA to promote all things Blu-ray. You're not doing it just for the hell of it.

ClearVision? More like BluVision.

You said BDA. BDA is an industry organization that has no affiliation with the HiHD site. The site and myself have been upfront ad nauseum on the site and in my blogs and in responses to postings that the site is indeed pro-Blu-ray and backed by Blu-ray studios and other Blu-ray companies supporting Blu-ray (not the BDA organization) and that because I have taken an editorial position that Blu-ray will win the format war, I am being paid by the Blu-ray companies backing the site to write blogs and do separate video interviews, event coverage and "Inside Track" Q&As on the site. Nothing new in any of that.
You and others are free to believe or not whether I can maintain editorial independence and a fair perspective, following in the footsteps of many journalists before me who write for magazines like Warner-owned Entertinment Weekly and review Warner movies, and report on CNBC about its owners Universal and GE, etc.

I like the way Blu Ray fanboys dismiss Universal as irrelevant because they don’t make good movies anymore, then complain bitterly when Universal reaffirms their intend to stay HD-DVD exclusive.

The best 2 movies I’ve watched this year are Children of Men and Hot Fuzz.

If Universal goes neutral, HD-DVD's dead in an instant, we all know that.

The guy from Universal has basically admitted as soon as Blu-ray matches HD-DVD's interactvity, and player prices reach the $200 level, they'll have to support Blu-ray.

If Universal goes neutral, HD-DVD's dead in an instant, we all know that.

The guy from Universal has basically admitted as soon as Blu-ray matches HD-DVD's interactvity, and player prices reach the $200 level, they'll have to support Blu-ray.

Ahh... but was that a direct quote... or the "editorial" part of that lame excuse of an article?

You're correct. I only read the highlighted part of the OP's text (the editorial itself), and none of the subsequent posts, before I wrote my own. I didn't realize you were simply a BDA PR person.

Never met anyone at BDA. And p.r. person would be fired for writing things like:

1.) My current blog about "Spider-Man":

The two-disc special edition features more than 6 hours of bonus features... all of which are also available on the two-disc DVD version for $13 less at $36.95.
So, that means there are no bonus features unique to the Blu-ray version or that utilize the technology that make Blu-ray distinctive from DVD, which is a little disappointing.
Yikes, that $13 is a pretty significant difference in pricing (it's a whopping $21 more than the single disc "Spider-Man 3" on DVD and PSP).

2.) My Crumbs Are Bigger Than Yours (updated 3:50 p.m., Friday, July 13)

It's way too early to be bragging about numbers that are this tiny. The combined Blu-ray / HD DVD stand-alone player market is only projected to reach 700,000 in the U.S. this year. For perspective on that, about 95 million homes have DVD players. ... this is a market that collectively amounts to two blades of grass in a field, with farmers arguing over whose blades are taller. Who cares at this point?

3.) Blu-ray's promotion seemed at first like yet another case of Blu-ray following the lead of Toshiba/HD DVD. In fact, it surely is. Toshiba's campaign started earlier and is valid through July 31. Blu-ray's started this month and runs through Sept. 30.

I could see someone making a case for a preference for either colletion in terms of quality; I might even lean a little more towards the HD DVD titles for my personal preference.

I could see someone making a case for a preference for either colletion in terms of quality; I might even lean a little more towards the HD DVD titles for my personal preference.

Please note: the preceding was a direct quote.

So, what exactly is your stance?

Sorry, but this "journalist" knew exactly what he was doing here. If you're going to write an editorial, write an editorial. Don't pick and choose which "quotes" you want to use and paraphrase the rest. Bad journalism. Why have an interview just to write whatever you want anyway? It really says a lot about one's credibility.

I hope I knew exactly what I was doing since it has been my career for more than 20 years. Picking and choosing what quotes I want to use is exactly what all journalists do, and even moreso columnists and bloggers who pick quotes that help bolster the position they are taking. The only time it's a problem is if the subject of the interview suggests it misreprented him/her. I alread had a thank-you this morning from Mr. Kornblau. Let me know if you hear differently.

Blog: Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log
Example: Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

Editorial: noun 1. an article in a newspaper or other periodical presenting the opinion of the publisher, editor, or editors.

If Universal goes neutral, HD-DVD's dead in an instant, we all know that.
Anyone who thinks that is basically admitting then, that HD-DVD is an inferior format and that any supporters are merely being stubborn with "their precious" instead of backing a more consumer-friendly approach to HD media. That doesn't make sense at all. If BD is so well and ahead better (I'm not making a claim here, just an argument) then it's like industry people saying they're just supporting this other format to jerk around the consumers a bit and scrape up extra cash. It's not logical.

I find the comments about extras and interactivity to be more revealing than any of the obvious paid-shill comments in the article:

Kornblau believes interactive and connected features are essential for the success of any hi-def disc platform, especially as more and more consumers realize that they can buy a DVD player for $129 that upconverts their DVDs to near-hi-def quality.

"DVD would not have grown to a $16 billion market if all we did was put movies on a disc," he said. Enhanced features are even more critical for the success of hi-def discs, which do not offer as many revolutionary distinctions from DVD as did DVD over VHS.
This has to explain the current state of affairs with HDM more than anything. If we were to take Kornblau's statement to be representative of all studios (which I think is true) then what HD media means to the studios is nothing more than more space for value-added content. They completely overlook the whole reason either HD format exists: higher quality movie presentations. (Or arguably, more DRM.) So no wonder we get shoddy transfers and no HD audio: to the studios, the enhanced capabilities of the disc to deliver a better product don't exist! All it's about is how much more room there is to jam games and trailers on the disc, and now accessing movie blogs from your HD-DVD player. Oh joy.

I bought into DVD for its ease of use and PQ reasons. I'm actually curious now to find out how much interactivity and 'extras' drive movie sales. I've been sarcastic before about saying people don't stop and snap up some random title because it has '50 HOURS OF EXTRA CONTENT!' even if it's not a movie they want to see, or someone who wants to see 'Hot Fuzz' but puts it back on the shelf because it doesn't have enough extras. But now I wonder... is that point of view actually correct? Or is Kornblau (and the other studios by extension) really that out of touch with how to market their properties? That doesn't make sense... people pay $8+ for a movie ticket ($16 to $32 for a group--or roughly the same as the disc cost), and the movie doesn't come with any enhanced interviews or making-of featurettes after the main showing.

Then again, if that's true, that explains even more about the decline of the film industry and studio profits. That's why ticket sales are down, there's not enough features! :) I think it's time for someone to write an article entitled "The Demise of The Movie" about how film making has gone from an artistic format to merely a container for commercial messages.

What a worthless BR biased troll the interviewer is. He basically filled in all the "HD DVD is hanging on Universal support" spin.

Sorry, but this "journalist" knew exactly what he was doing here. If you're going to write an editorial, write an editorial. Don't pick and choose which "quotes" you want to use and paraphrase the rest. Bad journalism. Why have an interview just to write whatever you want anyway? It really says a lot about one's credibility.
+1

I alread had a thank-you this morning from Mr. Kornblau. Let me know if you hear differently.

Blog: Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log
Example: Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

Editorial: noun 1. an article in a newspaper or other periodical presenting the opinion of the publisher, editor, or editors.

Sure... according to you. But like I said, this is where credibility comes into play. Oh, and thanks for Websters 101. I guess my college edu-ma-cation has failed me once again.

Please note: the preceding was a direct quote.

So, what exactly is your stance?

My stance is that I believe Blu-ray will win the format war. That does not preclude me from being objective as the battle unfolds and does not prevent me from making observations that favor or disfavor either side along the way. If Blu-ray does something stupid or if HD DVD does something smart, I will say it. HD DVD has been in front of Blu-ray in many areas and is still out in front on hardware pricing and interactivity and connectivity. They were also out in front in many marketing efforts. I've said all that. I believe Blu-ray is rapidly catching up in all those areas and will significantly surpass HD DVD with its 50 GB capacity and its far superior support from studios and CE companies and others.
I had a frank and interesting conversation with Mr. Kornblau about his position on the format battle. I shared that conversation with you and other readers and offered my opinions about some of the points he made.
That's my stance.

Oh certainly..they could definitely do much better. With the catalog as big as theirs, we need some really tastiness on HD DVD.

But the title I can't wait for is American Gangster, the movie is coming to theaters soon and it looks INCREDIBLE. Denzel Washington is the man and Rusell Crow is in it. Universal holds the rights of course.

There's a BUNCH of new hot movies coming out from Universal. I just hope they publish those too right away with DVD release.

American Gangster and The Kingdom will probably be big hits for Uni and if released with a big splash...can make a big splash in the war.


I am thuroughly looking forward to these as well.

Sure... according to you. But like I said, this is where credibility comes into play. Oh, and thanks for Websters 101. I guess my college edu-ma-cation has failed me once again.

Sorry, was not intending to be condescending with the definitions. Based on all the criticisms from you and others about me editorialzing and injecting my opinion, I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page about my understanding of the definition of a blog and an editorial. Those words get thrown around a lot and can mean may different things to different people.

I read the blog as nothing more then hidden digs at HD-DVD and expressing personal feelings of format preference. Using snippets of a conversation to cleverly express their dislike/like for a particular format. I personally don't see this as worth while as blogs like this are worded to provoke a response be it positive or negative. As you can clearly see here, the author (or whoever he claims to be) doesn't take well to criticism yet it's ok to criticize. As the ole saying goes, he who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones. Sadly, it appears that a level of common sense is needed in order to apply this.

I never knew Blu-ray wasn't released until 8 months after HD DVD. I must have imagined having my Samsung player in late June?

The war did not start until Sony say's so. They fail to remember all there pre 2007 states when HD DVD was killing Blu-Ray. It wasn't until CES when things started to change.

the site is indeed pro-Blu-ray and backed by Blu-ray studios and other Blu-ray companies supporting Blu-ray (not the BDA organization) and that because I have taken an editorial position that Blu-ray will win the format war, I am being paid by the Blu-ray companies backing the site to write blogs and do separate video interviews, event coverage and "Inside Track" Q&As on the site. Nothing new in any of that.
You and others are free to believe or not whether I can maintain editorial independence and a fair perspective

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and trust that you sincerely believe you are trying to be objective and independent, but you surely understand that HD DVD supporters have a right to be skeptical that you can actually be objective.

For instance, if a political conservative is admittedly not only pro-GOP but also is being funded by the GOP, it is only reasonable for Democrats to be weary of the objectivity of that person's interview with Hillary Clinton.

I read the blog as nothing more then hidden digs at HD-DVD and expressing personal feelings of format preference. Using snippets of a conversation to cleverly express their dislike/like for a particular format. I personally don't see this as worth while as blogs like this are worded to provoke a response be it positive or negative. As you can clearly see here, the author (or whoever he claims to be) doesn't take well to criticism yet it's ok to criticize. As the ole saying goes, he who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones. Sadly, it appears that a level of common sense is needed in order to apply this.

I love all the feedback and comments -- that's what editorials and blogs are designed to do -- provoke a response, spark a dialogue. If not, what's the point of writing? This is an ongoing dialogue and I'm just joining in. I don't take offense to being called "full of crap" and a "jackass" and a poor journalist (love yours the best that my comments were "clevery expressed"). But I do want to make sure those who make those comments and others know what ground rules I am playing by in terms of journalism, so they can at least have an accurate understanding of the situation. It's easy to call names and criticize and draw misinformed conclusions when you don't have all the information.

I will give you the benefit of the doubt and trust that you sincerely believe you are trying to be objective and independent, but you surely understand that HD DVD supporters have a right to be skeptical that you can actually be objective.

For instance, if a political conservative is admittedly not only pro-GOP but also is being funded by the GOP, it is only reasonable for Democrats to be weary of the objectivity of that person's interview with Hillary Clinton.

Absolutely. You SHOULD be skeptical. I just hope that before people dismiss or criticize, they take a few minutes to look at my writing and record so that their criticisms are backed up by evidence. If so, please challenge me to your heart's content; that can only make me do my job better. Thanks for the benefit of the doubt.

Scott you said "Picking and choosing what quotes I want to use is exactly what all journalists do, and even moreso columnists and bloggers who pick quotes that help bolster the position they are taking."

If you could publish the full questions and answers as to what was said and thus enlighten us as to why you feel this way it should be interpreted.

History is determined from examining first person documents, finding original context.

Example in point. The civil war. 1861-1865

Popular opinion is that the war was fought to free the slaves.

The south chose to leave the United states over what they considered persecution and restrictions on their way of life. The troops were sent into the south to preserve the union.

It wasn't until 1863 that Lincoln gave the emancipation proclamation.

This freed the slaves in the confederacy during the war. Most people regard this as the point where slaves were freed when in actuality it wasn't until the thirteenth amendment on December 18, 1865 that slavery was abolished. It is all about perception.

Without context we can't be sure of the original intent of the speaker.

My stance is that I believe Blu-ray will win the format war. That does not preclude me from being objective as the battle unfolds and does not prevent me from making observations that favor or disfavor either side along the way. If Blu-ray does something stupid or if HD DVD does something smart, I will say it. HD DVD has been in front of Blu-ray in many areas and is still out in front on hardware pricing and interactivity and connectivity. They were also out in front in many marketing efforts. I've said all that. I believe Blu-ray is rapidly catching up in all those areas and will significantly surpass HD DVD with its 50 GB capacity and its far superior support from studios and CE companies and others.
I had a frank and interesting conversation with Mr. Kornblau about his position on the format battle. I shared that conversation with you and other readers and offered my opinions about some of the points he made.
That's my stance.


^^^ He certainly doesn't sound like a shill to me. It's a reasonable opinion based on current market conditions and current market trends.

It's a shame all of you are trying to shout down Scott.

What is interesting (and often lost) in all of this discussion about the 2:1 BD advantage is that this ratio is largely unchanged since January or so.

How many PS3s have sold since January? A million? Yet the ratio doesn't really change. Even this week, it apparently held steady for the 300 release.

If I'm a BD company, that's troubling to me. Because if selling that many PS3s doesn't radically alter the landscape, what happens when the $199 HD DVD players are sitting in stores for the holidays, next to BD players that cost twice as much? When Star Trek is only available on HD DVD combo -- not BD or even standard, individual DVD?


Scott -- if you've been doing this for so long and have so much experience, you know darn well that Toshiba/Universal and the like are not going to end the war until there's something to end. The Q4 holiday season is where the real battle occurs. Right now everyone's just moving chess pieces around. But HD DVD is certainly not worried about a 2:1 ratio in the middle of the summer (and I'd also suppose that BD isn't celebrating it). No one side has sold enough software to even consider throwing in the towel. 65% of a small number is still a small number.

Again, given the number of BD devices available in homes at the moment (1.5+ million), the software sales numbers (and sales ratio vs. HD DVD) are actually pretty sad. But rah, rah... go blu-ray. And we sure hopes that Fox finally decides to release something soon. Yep, we sure do.


And if you think anyone believes that you'll present unbiased, honest opinions about anything HD DVD related on a blu-ray web site... well, they don't.

I honestly don't have a problem with your article (except the innaccuracies I saw this morning -- implying that Ratatouille was announced and that Blades of Glory was BD exclusive). You're writing for a BD site, so I know that this is nothing but PR propaganda. My issue is with all of the *other* folks across this great internet that are linking to (and quoting) your blog as if it were factual. But, that's life, I suppose.

I love all the feedback and comments -- that's what editorials and blogs are designed to do -- provoke a response, spark a dialogue. If not, what's the point of writing? This is an ongoing dialogue and I'm just joining in. I don't take offense to being called "full of crap" and a "jackass" and a poor journalist (love yours the best that my comments were "clevery expressed"). But I do want to make sure those who make those comments and others know what ground rules I am playing by in terms of journalism, so they can at least have an accurate understanding of the situation. It's easy to call names and criticize and draw misinformed conclusions when you don't have all the information.
You contradict yourself with number of defensive posts written in this thread regarding the blog. No, you don't like feed back and it shows in your responses. Inwhich, in one response you had to recant your defensive posturing found here:
Sorry, was not intending to be condescending with the definitions. Based on all the criticisms from you and others about me editorialzing and injecting my opinion..
Therefore, you do not love all the feedback and comments written in this thread and it shows. The point (as you make it ever so obvious) is attack those who do not agree with your blog. All anyone has to do is review your answers in this thread.


But I do want to make sure those who make those comments and others know what ground rules I am playing by in terms of journalism, so they can at least have an accurate understanding of the situation.
This statement also contradicts how much you love feedback and comments. What you appear to enjoy is the interaction you are getting from the conflict created by the blog (again provoking a response) out of those who read your blog. Not the feedback in general. It's the drama I am seeing here.

I'd like to read the entire interview. The opinion piece is fine, because it is just that, opinion. But you can't be the source of the interview and not share with your audience exactly what was said in the interview/discussion.

You are obviously expanding on comments which he made, but we have no idea was originally said.

I'd also like to know whether or not any of the Blu-ray exclusive studios and CE companies get any sort of financial support from the BDA, either in disc replication or just by being exclusive to that format.

What is interesting (and often lost) in all of this discussion about the 2:1 BD advantage is that this ratio is largely unchanged since January or so.

How many PS3s have sold since January? A million? Yet the ratio doesn't really change. Even this week, it apparently held steady for the 300 release.

If I'm a BD company, that's troubling to me. Because if selling that many PS3s doesn't radically alter the landscape, what happens when the $199 HD DVD players are sitting in stores for the holidays, next to BD players that cost twice as much? When Star Trek is only available on HD DVD combo -- not BD or even standard, individual DVD?


Scott -- if you've been doing this for so long and have so much experience, you know darn well that Toshiba/Universal and the like are not going to end the war until there's something to end. The Q4 holiday season is where the real battle occurs. Right now everyone's just moving chess pieces around. But HD DVD is certainly not worried about a 2:1 ratio in the middle of the summer (and I'd also suppose that BD isn't celebrating it). No one side has sold enough software to even consider throwing in the towel. 65% of a small number is still a small number.

Again, given the number of BD devices available in homes at the moment (1.5+ million), the software sales numbers (and sales ratio vs. HD DVD) are actually pretty sad. But rah, rah... go blu-ray. And we sure hopes that Fox finally decides to release something soon. Yep, we sure do.


And if you think anyone believes that you'll present unbiased, honest opinions about anything HD DVD related on a blu-ray web site... well, they don't.

I honestly don't have a problem with your article (except the innaccuracies I saw this morning -- implying that Ratatouille was announced and that Blades of Glory was BD exclusive). You're writing for a BD site, so I know that this is nothing but PR propaganda. My issue is with all of the *other* folks across this great internet that are linking to (and quoting) your blog as if it were factual. But, that's life, I suppose.

Fab post!

Oh, and that linking and quoting? That's exactly why you post something this misleading, poorly constructed, and full of inaccuracies = so that other, more "respectable," sites will pick it up or quote it. Recently, this lazy practice has gotten even the venerable NY Times in trouble.

My issue is with all of the *other* folks across this great internet that are linking to (and quoting) your blog as if it were factual.

That hits the nail right on the head. The initial impression given by the site is that it is factual on every account. Bloggers post on what they see as fact when it is actually editorial. And repeat it. Eventually, enough people start to believe the misinterpretation. That is my problem.

Something is always lost the more people repeat something that someone said that someone else said. You always lose clarity and intent. That is my problem.

What is interesting (and often lost) in all of this discussion about the 2:1 BD advantage is that this ratio is largely unchanged since January or so.

When Star Trek is only available on HD DVD combo -- not BD or even standard, individual DVD?

No one side has sold enough software to even consider throwing in the towel. 65% of a small number is still a small number.

I honestly don't have a problem with your article (except the innaccuracies I saw this morning -- implying that Ratatouille was announced and that Blades of Glory was BD exclusive).

* Star Trek is only available exclusively on HD DVD for a short window of time because they paid a premium to CBS for that window -- Paramount execs said at Comic-Con they are already working on the Blu-ray version.

* You're right that it's such a small market at this stage that numbers and ratios mean nothing significant; I said the same thing in my blog several weeks ago:

My Crumbs Are Bigger Than Yours (updated 3:50 p.m., Friday, July 13) -- 1.) It's way too early to be bragging about numbers that are this tiny. The combined Blu-ray / HD DVD stand-alone player market is only projected to reach 700,000 in the U.S. this year. For perspective on that, about 95 million homes have DVD players... this is a market that collectively amounts to two blades of grass in a field, with farmers arguing over whose blades are taller. Who cares at this point?

* You have an inaccuracy when you made that word plural -- I had one inaccuracy to my knowledge -- "Blades of Glory" will not be Blu-ray exclusive -- which I corrected several hours before it was even pointed out on AVS Forum, but nonetheless I appreciate people pointing out even the smallest errors as long as they don't discount the entire piece for one factual error.

You contradict yourself with number of defensive posts written in this thread regarding the blog. No, you don't like feed back and it shows in your responses. Inwhich, in one response you had to recant your defensive posturing found here:

Therefore, you do not love all the feedback and comments written in this thread and it shows. The point (as you make it ever so obvious) is attack those who do not agree with your blog. All anyone has to do is review your answers in this thread.



This statement also contradicts how much you love feedback and comments. What you appear to enjoy is the interaction you are getting from the conflict created by the blog (again provoking a response) out of those who read your blog. Not the feedback in general. It's the drama I am seeing here.

I don't believe I recanted my response, only tried to reassure the commenter that I was not intending to suggest that he wasn't educated.
But that's all fine too. If responding to attacks and erroneous suggestions by trying to set the record straight and provide more detailed background on the subject so that we're all better informed about our dialogue constitutes being defensive and feeds into your beliefe that my motives are otehrwise, then I will step away from this dialogue and let you chat and speculate amongst yourselves.

If Universal goes neutral, HD-DVD's dead in an instant, we all know that.
Will that change player prices, innovation, and interactivity? The side with the cheapest prices will still remain. It's not as if Universal would stop making HD DVD.

The guy from Universal has basically admitted as soon as Blu-ray matches HD-DVD's interactvity, and player prices reach the $200 level, they'll have to support Blu-ray.
No he did not, you and the Blu-troll interviewer did. :rolleyes:

Scott you said "Picking and choosing what quotes I want to use is exactly what all journalists do, and even moreso columnists and bloggers who pick quotes that help bolster the position they are taking."

If you could publish the full questions and answers as to what was said and thus enlighten us as to why you feel this way it should be interpreted.

History is determined from examining first person documents, finding original context.

Example in point. The civil war. 1861-1865

Popular opinion is that the war was fought to free the slaves.

The south chose to leave the United states over what they considered persecution and restrictions on their way of life. The troops were sent into the south to preserve the union.

It wasn't until 1863 that Lincoln gave the emancipation proclamation.

This freed the slaves in the confederacy during the war. Most people regard this as the point where slaves were freed when in actuality it wasn't until the thirteenth amendment on December 18, 1865 that slavery was abolished. It is all about perception.

Without context we can't be sure of the original intent of the speaker.

You're absolutely right -- if I wasn't trying to provide an editorial/opinion, I would consider that. However, even if I were trying to provide a verbatim transcript, which was not my intent, that would mean that every article you read and every story you see on TV would be massively long if every interview that every journalist did were presented in its entirety. It would also mean the profession of journalism would change dramatically as there would be no "voice" in newspaper articles or blogs, just verbatim Q&A interviews.

Who knows, it may happen someday.

^^^ He certainly doesn't sound like a shill to me. It's a reasonable opinion based on current market conditions and current market trends.

It's a shame all of you are trying to shout down Scott.
The problem with it is the site he's chosen to write for. There's nothing neutral or balanced about it. It was established by members of the BDA to promote Blu-ray. He clearly admitted he's being paid for his work. He's a shill, plain and simple. If he was making editorial contributions to a neutral website his words might have a bit more weight to them. As it stands now any sane person should see right through the smoke and mirrors.
You said BDA. BDA is an industry organization that has no affiliation with the HiHD site. The site and myself have been upfront ad nauseum on the site and in my blogs and in responses to postings that the site is indeed pro-Blu-ray and backed by Blu-ray studios and other Blu-ray companies supporting Blu-ray (not the BDA organization) and that because I have taken an editorial position that Blu-ray will win the format war, I am being paid by the Blu-ray companies backing the site to write blogs and do separate video interviews, event coverage and "Inside Track" Q&As on the site. Nothing new in any of that.
You and others are free to believe or not whether I can maintain editorial independence and a fair perspective, following in the footsteps of many journalists before me who write for magazines like Warner-owned Entertinment Weekly and review Warner movies, and report on CNBC about its owners Universal and GE, etc.
The BDA or members of the BDA, the differences make no matter in this case. You're being paid by Blu-ray backers to shill the format on a site they created to do exactly that. Your "word" carries no weight. You coming here trying to save face isn't going to change anything.

If Universal goes neutral, HD-DVD's dead in an instant, we all know that.
Sorry still not buying this.

The current choice for the average consumer is not between purchasing a $465 device or a $250 device (current from Amazon). The choice is between not buying a $465 device and buying a $250 device or even more likely not buying either and buying a < $200 device. The mass market simply does not purchase products that are incrementally better for that type of price premium.

This thing isn't over until devices hit mass market prices and it becomes an impulse buy and a replacement for the old broken DVD player.

This theory that if Universal went neutral suddenly millions of people would start shelling out several hundred $ for a "new DVD" player is just nuts.

* Star Trek is only available exclusively on HD DVD for a short window of time because they paid a premium to CBS for that window -- Paramount execs said at Comic-Con they are already working on the Blu-ray version.
This is new to me.

I thought that CBS (Star Trek is licensed through CBS to Paramount) chose the HD DVD format first because they wanted to release it on both HD DVD and DVD in one package. I was unaware of any compensation.

It's CBS's decision what format to release on, not Paramount.

Isn't that the case?

* You have an inaccuracy when you made that word plural -- I had one inaccuracy to my knowledge -- "Blades of Glory" will not be Blu-ray exclusive -- which I corrected several hours before it was even pointed out on AVS Forum

Has Ratatouille been announced yet? Because if not, you've certainly at least implied that it will be out this year. That was the other inaccuracy I was referring to:

But that's pretty much the highlight for the rest of the year as far as programs available exclusively on HD DVD.
Almost everything else will be on Blu-ray, either exclusively or along with HD DVD, including everything from Steven Spielberg's first hi-def disc release, "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," exclusively on Blu-ray, to most of the top-grossing movies of the year, such as "Spider-Man 3," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" (both only on Blu-ray) "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (not announced as yet); "300," "Ratatouille," "Wild Hogs," and "Blades of Glory" (the latter three only on Blu-ray). And as soon as Fox rejoins the BD party with its MGM distribution in tow -- which everyone hopes will be soon -- that studio could release its trio of summer hits exclusively on Blu-ray, "The Simpsons Movie," "Live Free or Die Hard," and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer."

You don't have the same "not announced yet" or "could release" language surrounding that title as you do other unannounced items. Yet, to my knowledge, it is NOT announced yet. And, in my opinion, is unlikely to appear in 2007, given that Cars is hitting BD around the holidays.

my first try at journalism. :)

after reading comments by ClearVision and using his own words i would like to give journalism a try if i may.

My understanding is that a blog is not an "article" or a verbatim Q&A; it is an editorial column, a forum to present an opinion. I did not position this as an "interview, but rather a summary of my conversation with Mr. Kornblau and my take on his comments, with only a handful of direct quotes to emphasize selected points in his own words.

evidently reading in between the lines Mr. Clear believes HD DVD will be the winner in the end as i quote:
"HD DVD has been in front of Blu-ray in many areas and is still out in front on hardware pricing and interactivity and connectivity." He also mentioned something to the effect of HD DVD being out in front in many marketing efforts.
He goes on to slam Sony and the release of spiderman as not being worth the cost of the Blu-ray discs. " there are no bonus features unique to the Blu-ray version or that utilize the technology that make Blu-ray distinctive from DVD" It seems its priced at 13 dollars more then the dvd equivalent. And i believe he used the word YIKES. hehehe... so much for Blu-ray being worth more then a Standard DVD.

Picking and choosing what quotes I want to use is exactly what all journalists do
-- that's what editorials and blogs are designed to do -- provoke a response

So i picked and chose my quotes to back up my story if this provokes a response then i guess i did a good job. But it does seem to me that Mr. Clear is on the side of HD DVD and believes that HD DVD will win this war according to the quotes that i provided. :)

Did I do good Mr. Clear? :)

Has Ratatouille been announced yet? Because if not, you've certainly at least implied that it will be out this year. That was the other inaccuracy I was referring to:



You don't have the same "not announced yet" or "could release" language surrounding that title as you do other unannounced items. Yet, to my knowledge, it is NOT announced yet. And, in my opinion, is unlikely to appear in 2007, given that Cars is hitting BD around the holidays.

It's not inaccurate unless it's proven to be inaccurate. You're very observant, and obviously smart enough to recognize a subtle leak that has to be read beween the lines. It's one of the advantages of having the ear and support of studio execs -- I can offer early tips and info about unannounced titles and projects, just as I was able to break the "Cars" story on my blog based on a conversation with a Disney exec.

my first try at journalism. :)

after reading comments by ClearVision and using his own words i would like to give journalism a try if i may.



evidently reading in between the lines Mr. Clear believes HD DVD will be the winner in the end as i quote:
"HD DVD has been in front of Blu-ray in many areas and is still out in front on hardware pricing and interactivity and connectivity." He also mentioned something to the effect of HD DVD being out in front in many marketing efforts.
He goes on to slam Sony and the release of spiderman as not being worth the cost of the Blu-ray discs. " there are no bonus features unique to the Blu-ray version or that utilize the technology that make Blu-ray distinctive from DVD" It seems its priced at 13 dollars more then the dvd equivalent. And i believe he used the word YIKES. hehehe... so much for Blu-ray being worth more then a Standard DVD.



So i picked and chose my quotes to back up my story if this provokes a response then i guess i did a good job. But it does seem to me that Mr. Clear is on the side of HD DVD and believes that HD DVD will win this war according to the quotes that i provided. :)

Did I do good Mr. Clear? :)

Not at all; you apparently overlooked my comment that the only problem with this picking and choosing comes if and when you misrepresent someone's actual comments and perspective. That then moves beyond picking and choosing and into "twisting." As I say, Mr. Kornblau has already thanked me for the blog so I will sleep peacefully tonight knowing I did not mischaracterize anything he intended to convey.

my first try at journalism. :)

after reading comments by ClearVision and using his own words i would like to give journalism a try if i may.



evidently reading in between the lines Mr. Clear believes HD DVD will be the winner in the end as i quote:
"HD DVD has been in front of Blu-ray in many areas and is still out in front on hardware pricing and interactivity and connectivity." He also mentioned something to the effect of HD DVD being out in front in many marketing efforts.
He goes on to slam Sony and the release of spiderman as not being worth the cost of the Blu-ray discs. " there are no bonus features unique to the Blu-ray version or that utilize the technology that make Blu-ray distinctive from DVD" It seems its priced at 13 dollars more then the dvd equivalent. And i believe he used the word YIKES. hehehe... so much for Blu-ray being worth more then a Standard DVD.



So i picked and chose my quotes to back up my story if this provokes a response then i guess i did a good job. But it does seem to me that Mr. Clear is on the side of HD DVD and believes that HD DVD will win this war according to the quotes that i provided. :)

Did I do good Mr. Clear? :)

But thank you for helping me emphasize the point that I am not a shill since a shill would be fired immediately for saying those things.

Not at all; you apparently overlooked my comment that the only problem with this picking and choosing comes if and when you misrepresent someone's actual comments and perspective. That then moves beyond picking and choosing and into "twisting." As I say, Mr. Kornblau has already thanked me for the blog so I will sleep peacefully tonight knowing I did not mischaracterize anything he intended to convey.
"Anything that he intended to convey?" :D

You should be a psychic palm reader not a reviewer or blogger. :D

Wanna bet that this is your last interview with him? ;)

But thank you for helping me emphasize the point that I am not a shill since a shill would be fired immediately for saying those things.
Not if they are working for the BDA propaganda machine. :D

That then moves beyond picking and choosing and into "twisting."

Thanks... never been a journalist before. thanks for the constructive critisisms. :)

"Anything that he intended to convey?" :D

You should be a psychic palm reader not a reviewer or blogger. :D

Wanna bet that this is your last interview with him? ;)

Yes, since he was not quoted verbatim, and since I paraphrased much of what he said, many of my words are not his and therefore could potentially miss his intended points, just as an English language interpreter could misinterpret what was said and in using different words might inadvertantly not convey what was intended.

Sure, I'll take that bet right now. Name it, and give me your contact info so I can hold you to it. Anyone else want in on this bet?

"300," "Ratatouille," "Wild Hogs," and "Blades of Glory" (the latter three only on Blu-ray)

Correction: "Blades of Glory" is not BD exclusive.

There are plenty of movies I want to buy that are available on HD DVD. The BD-exclusivity argument has not been a strong one so far, at least for me.

ClearVision, I think your article was written very well. People just do not want to hear the truth on this side of the forum. Any time an article is written or a story is broken in BD's favor you will get the "it is not important" or "this is BD propaganda." No one wants to be wrong and everyone hates a winner. So you get people that will do whatever they can to protect their $200, $300, $400, etc. investment. The sad thing is, it has actually become a hatred for some people. That they actually hate a certain format or a company. That is the most pathetic part of it. I have said this before, it is just a format. Win, lose, or draw there are more important things in life. It is going to be a cold day in this forum the day Toshiba makes their first BD player.

Well i guess my first foray into journalism was a good one as it provoked a response. HORAY for me! :)

People just do not want to hear the truth on this side of the forum.
im glad you know what the truth is. I find it very difficult to wade through most of the BS to actually get to the truth. It would seem that each individual has his/her own idea of truth.

No one wants to be wrong and everyone hates a winner.


does this also include you?

Well i guess my first foray into journalism was a good one as it provoked a response. HORAY for me! :)

Yep, you get a gold star, and extra points for verbalizing how pleased you are with yourself, another hallmark of ego-driven journalists! :)

Scott you said "Picking and choosing what quotes I want to use is exactly what all journalists do, and even moreso columnists and bloggers who pick quotes that help bolster the position they are taking."

If you could publish the full questions and answers as to what was said and thus enlighten us as to why you feel this way it should be interpreted.

History is determined from examining first person documents, finding original context.

Example in point. The civil war. 1861-1865

Popular opinion is that the war was fought to free the slaves.

The south chose to leave the United states over what they considered persecution and restrictions on their way of life. The troops were sent into the south to preserve the union.

It wasn't until 1863 that Lincoln gave the emancipation proclamation.

This freed the slaves in the confederacy during the war. Most people regard this as the point where slaves were freed when in actuality it wasn't until the thirteenth amendment on December 18, 1865 that slavery was abolished. It is all about perception.

Without context we can't be sure of the original intent of the speaker.

Thank goodness critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentarian Ken Burns didn't include every word of every one of his thousands of interviews and letters and books he sourced in his "Civil War" series or that thing would still be running every night on PBS! :)

But you're right, would be great to have all transcripts of every interview available for archiving and researching somewhere.

And even though they haven't opened yet I have a feeling "Superbad" will do pretty well at the box office in the next few weeks.

Whoopsie is somebody excited for a Blu-Ray release.

The article is not slanted towards Blu ray, reality is. Make all the excuses you want, it's over if Universal goes neutral. Which is inevitable.

Yep, you get a gold star, and extra points for verbalizing how pleased you are with yourself, another hallmark of ego-driven journalists! :)

you are probably the only one here who knows the power of the written word. the subtle squews that may lead a person to interpret something one way or another. Its the one reason why we have freedom of the press. Is the pen mightier then the sword? hands down yes. People are really only sheep that may be led by words alone.

That is not me. I dont believe in things where i only know half the story. Did the earthquake cause the mine to collapse or did the collapse of the mine cause the earthquake? All i know is the fact that the mine collapsed and also learned to stay the hell out of mines for this reason.

edit--------
one more thing to mention... I find it entertaining when i think about it.
the original post was at 9:06 a.m. any You Mr. ClearVision arrive at about 3:15 P.M. only 6 hours to find a post in which your "interview" was posted. Is this really your work sir? You do see where i am going with this dont you?

Have a nice day :)

If Universal's offerings are so "dismal" then why should anyone care if Universal goes neutral? Noone wants its movies anyway so why is there even a format war - why does BD even want Universal on side? The BD and its supporters are blowing and sucking at the same time. This whole "Universal" thing has become totally irrational.

Cheers,

Grant

If Universal's offerings are so "dismal" then why should anyone care if Universal goes neutral? Noone wants its movies anyway so why is there even a format war - why does BD even want Universal on side? The BD and its supporters are blowing and sucking at the same time. This whole "Universal" thing has become totally irrational.

Cheers,

Grant

I agree. This article is obviously very pro-Blu. The author is trying to belittle Universal as much as possible, but at the same time saying if they join BD, the war is over. Very funny.

I always have hard time looking at anyone recommending Blu-Ray seriously, especially when I see paid authors like (Clear Vision) who continuosly write how Blu-Ray won and how HD DVD is doing consumers a disservice.

I always have a problem when someone tries to tell me that:


sub $200 players
No regional coding
Plethora of titles from Universal, Warner, Paramount and other 15+ studios
Revolutionary interactive features
Web connectivity that still BLOWS my mind - just look Motorhead's HD DVD and that other HD DVD that allows you to watch constnatly updated trailers
Increased value for the money (meaning even if I buy a combo at prices today, I'm still spending less money then buying a DVD and hi-def counterpart separately)
Overall compatibility with older DVD (cause you know it will take a few years to go all hi-def and I want to carry some of my movies with me and share them with my family)
Same video and audio quality (you can spin bitrates as much as you want but I still think that majority of HD DVD titles look better..and others agree - read Hot Fuzz)


is somehow SO BAD and that I should just go and drop it and immeditely buy:


$500+ players
DRM enforced and regionally coded discs that I can use only in country of origin
No combo capability meaning less compatibilty - meaning that my family needs to buy more $500+ blu-ray players in order to watch my collection if I want to borrow. But hey, you know BORROWING IS NOT OK for BDA. They want everyone to buy their own copy. How customer oriented.
Unfinished specs creating all current BD players obsolete before they are even out
That just watching a movie without any features or interactive elements is actually OK
That going 4:1 then 3:1 and 2:1 in sales with increased user base over the last couple of months, is actually kicking butt
Overall more expensive software (compared non-combo HD DVD to BD)
Trailing encoding practices that provide overall worse picture on many titles
And a worry that rot problem MIGHT kill my collection as noticed on several titles


I don't know..am I missing something here? How is the other list doing good to consumers and the first list is so against consumers?


I'll try to find my car analogy for HD DVD and Blu-Ray so other Blu-Ray koolaid drinking kids can read something much more simplified.



====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg

This is a hit piece plane and simple. Look at the title, Universal is the bad guy. Propaganda from a propaganda website. Why Universal would grant Bill Hunt or his sole mate Scott Hettrick an interview is beyond me. Scott Hettrick is already involved with /behind a website that announced under false intentions and is a tool for Sony's propaganda.

What does impress me is how Craig Kornblau and other Universal executives handle them selves under fire and pressure from a billion dollar entity with vision of monopoly dancing in their head..
Hettrick's site is close to crossing the line as any tabloid paper in print .

Bottom line is HD is going nowhere and the upsets sony to no ends.
What do the Studio's care who format the use, it dosn't make or break them, it does Sony.

I used to think it was Sony's to lose, Now I think it is Toshiba's. Is Toshiba doesn't follow through then HD has Problems. Two small things can win the "war", cheap players and The combo disk replacing DVD. Even one major release on Combo only will help public perceptions.

You're absolutely right -- if I wasn't trying to provide an editorial/opinion, I would consider that. However, even if I were trying to provide a verbatim transcript, which was not my intent, that would mean that every article you read and every story you see on TV would be massively long if every interview that every journalist did were presented in its entirety. It would also mean the profession of journalism would change dramatically as there would be no "voice" in newspaper articles or blogs, just verbatim Q&A interviews.

Who knows, it may happen someday.

This is why I get my political news from C-Span, and not from CNN, CBS, Fox, or The Daily Show. I prefer to get the whole, unbiased story, and make my own judgement about what was said and what the speaker intended.

Shame on those who foolishly expect 'journalists' to be unbiased. It's simply not possible. Don't believe me? Ask Dan Rather.....


Thank goodness critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentarian Ken Burns didn't include every word of every one of his thousands of interviews and letters and books he sourced in his "Civil War" series or that thing would still be running every night on PBS!

But you're right, would be great to have all transcripts of every interview available for archiving and researching somewhere.

All you have to do is read the original Articles of Confederation to find out that what every American kid in public school is taught about the Civil War is simply not true. History of war is always written by the victor, and is not bound by such simplistic notions as accuracy and truth.

Don't believe me? Do some research - look for mentions of slavery in the Confederate articles; there are three. I think you'd be surprised at what you might find, and what was REALLY behind the American Civil War.

All you have to do is read the original Articles of Confederation to find out that what every American kid in public school is taught about the Civil War is simply not true. History of war is always written by the victor, and is not bound by such simplistic notions as accuracy and truth.

Has this thread veered off into an argument about the Civil War? If so, I don't see how you can argue that it wasn't about slavery.

This is why I get my political news from C-Span, and not from CNN, CBS, Fox, or The Daily Show. I prefer to get the whole, unbiased story, and make my own judgement about what was said and what the speaker intended.

Shame on those who foolishly expect 'journalists' to be unbiased. It's simply not possible. Don't believe me? Ask Dan Rather.....

The Daily Show for news? Is that a joke or are you being serious?

Yes, since he was not quoted verbatim, and since I paraphrased much of what he said, many of my words are not his and therefore could potentially miss his intended points, just as an English language interpreter could misinterpret what was said and in using different words might inadvertantly not convey what was intended.

Sure, I'll take that bet right now. Name it, and give me your contact info so I can hold you to it. Anyone else want in on this bet?
To paraphrase is not accurate reporting. A more experienced reporter would have clearly delineated between his wishful thinking and what the interviewer actually said. Your job, if you were an unbiased reporter would be to represent the truth exactly as the interviewed personality presented them, and then allow the reader to decide for themselves, having had the truth placed before them. What you did was interpret not report. :rolleyes:

But since you work for the BDA's propaganda machine, on a website that was created solely to misinform potential buyers, you basically worked to earn your keep. Kudos. :D

Quote:
Of course, that's the same position taken by Disney as well as Fox; the only difference being they individually chose the opposing format for a number of their own reasons, not the least of which is that each independently told me from the beginning that they believe that Blu-ray will ultimately offer the most consumer satisfaction and that the technology represents a full step forward in technology -- not a half-step -- to ensure the longest-term value for consumers. And, most importantly to Fox from the outset and now others as well, an extra layer of protection against piracy.

End quote

Where is the mention of Sony's ownership of MGM? What does he have to say about Sony's intentions with respect to the purchase of MGM and "their reasons" for being BR exclusive. Why did they do this? Was it because they believe that BR will ultimately offer the most consumer satisfaction long-term value and that MGM would have selected BR without their ownership?? :rolleyes:

No interview asking. No mention of this. This speaks volumes to his capabilties of being impartial and balanced.

Using his convoluted reasoning and logic, I suggest that if Sony didn't have an interest in studios, we'd see more support from the very studios they control... Perhaps they are the ones prolonging the format war??

Which then begs the question, "How well would BR be doing today if Sony didn't control access to content via the purchase and ownership of studio catalogs all the while still being the more costly option and less consumer friendly format?"

Wow. This guys commentary is so full of sh** I have to wipe my screen with toilet paper after reading it.

Don't kid yourself. This commentary was not meant to be read by anyone other than those who are uninformed. To the rest of us, seeing how full of sh** he is, it's all to clear that the only movement his commentary should result in is one from his bowels.

BDA owners want Universal becuase its the only Company they don't have. Once they have it, I'm sure you'll never see them around these parts.

ClearVision, I think your article was written very well. People just do not want to hear the truth on this side of the forum. Any time an article is written or a story is broken in BD's favor you will get the "it is not important" or "this is BD propaganda." No one wants to be wrong and everyone hates a winner. So you get people that will do whatever they can to protect their $200, $300, $400, etc. investment. The sad thing is, it has actually become a hatred for some people. That they actually hate a certain format or a company. That is the most pathetic part of it. I have said this before, it is just a format. Win, lose, or draw there are more important things in life. It is going to be a cold day in this forum the day Toshiba makes their first BD player.


Cognitive dissonance. Look it up. :)

I am betting you'd find more of it among those who spent nearly double on a piece of hardware while all of this is going on. :)

Of course you would. Writing an "editorial" piece that's heavily slanted Blu on a site established by the BDA to promote all things Blu-ray. You're not doing it just for the hell of it.

ClearVision? More like BluVision.

Friggen LOL

you are probably the only one here who knows the power of the written word. the subtle squews that may lead a person to interpret something one way or another. Its the one reason why we have freedom of the press. Is the pen mightier then the sword? hands down yes. People are really only sheep that may be led by words alone.

That is not me. I dont believe in things where i only know half the story. Did the earthquake cause the mine to collapse or did the collapse of the mine cause the earthquake? All i know is the fact that the mine collapsed and also learned to stay the hell out of mines for this reason.

edit--------
one more thing to mention... I find it entertaining when i think about it.
the original post was at 9:06 a.m. any You Mr. ClearVision arrive at about 3:15 P.M. only 6 hours to find a post in which your "interview" was posted. Is this really your work sir? You do see where i am going with this dont you?

Have a nice day :)
Actually, I don't see where you are going or what you are implying. Sorry, guess I'm dense. I actually wasn't looking for this because I don't regularly troll these sites and threads, but it was brought to my attention so I checked it out. Sorry if it took awhile. FYI, this is the only one of several that were brought to my attention that I decided to engage in a day-long dialogue.

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg


Can we take it from your sig link that you work for a marketing agency, and that you campaign here is part of an advertising contract and sponsored by a HD-DVD alliance member?

I agree. This article is obviously very pro-Blu. The author is trying to belittle Universal as much as possible, but at the same time saying if they join BD, the war is over. Very funny.

actually, it was Universal president Kornblau who said he thought HD DVD was so fragile that the war would be over if Uni started publishing in Blu-ray.

Why Universal would grant Bill Hunt or his sole mate Scott Hettrick an interview is beyond me.
Maybe because Universal and Kornblau have known and worked with me for more than 20 years and know that what I write will be a fair representation of what they said? Maybe Kornblau wanted that message out and knew he could trust me to get it straight and that it might even be more credible voiced through a Blu-ray site and a journalist who believes Blu-ray will win but isn't too biased to hear other views?
Or, maybe he was just drunk at work that day. :)

To paraphrase is not accurate reporting. A more experienced reporter would have clearly delineated between his wishful thinking and what the interviewer actually said. Your job, if you were an unbiased reporter would be to represent the truth exactly as the interviewed personality presented them, and then allow the reader to decide for themselves, having had the truth placed before them. What you did was interpret not report. :rolleyes:

But since you work for the BDA's propaganda machine, on a website that was created solely to misinform potential buyers, you basically worked to earn your keep. Kudos. :D

Thanks. Now you've got it -- kind of. I'm paid to present my opinion in a blog. That's what this is, my slant on information I learned in a conversation. It's not a news story -- it was a blog, an opinion piece.
Even if it was a news story, you'd have a hard time finding many news stories of any kind that don't contain paraphrasing.

Actually, I don't see where you are going or what you are implying. Sorry, guess I'm dense. I actually wasn't looking for this because I don't regularly troll these sites and threads , but it was brought to my attention so I checked it out. Sorry if it took awhile. FYI, this is the only one of several that were brought to my attention that I decided to engage in a day-long dialogue.

Interesting choice of words.

Where is the mention of Sony's ownership of MGM? What does he have to say about Sony's intentions with respect to the purchase of MGM and "their reasons" for being BR exclusive. No interview asking. No mention of this. This speaks volumes to his capabilties of being impartial and balanced.

Wow. This guys commentary is so full of sh** I have to wipe my screen with toilet paper after reading it. To the rest of us, seeing how full of sh** he is, it's all to clear that the only movement his commentary should result in is one from his bowels.

Sorry I was gone for awhile -- nothing to do with bowel movements. I'm sure someone else has pointed out that Sony only has a minority -- not controlling -- interest in MGM and that Fox has been distributing and controlling MGM's product for several years now.

Sorry I was gone for awhile -- nothing to do with bowel movements. I'm sure someone else has pointed out that Sony only has a minority -- not controlling -- interest in Sony and that Fox has been distributing and controlling MGM's product for several years now.


You must be joking!

Excerpt from Wikepedia:

On April 8, 2005, the company was acquired by a partnership led by Sony Corporation of America and Comcast in association with Texas Pacific Group (now TPG Capital, L.P.) and Providence Equity Partners. MGM Mirage, a Las Vegas-based hotel and casino company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MGM", is not currently affiliated with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Sony Pictures will distribute several MGM/Sony (with either Columbia or TriStar Pictures) co-productions—most notably Casino Royale—but outside of the co-productions MGM is now actively involved in acquiring worldwide film rights and distributing theatrical motion pictures domestically. 20th Century Fox will be handling the international theatrical distribution and worldwide home video distribution of MGM titles.

You must think people here are stupid? Distribution does not = control. You think because Fox handles distribution, Sony has no say in what format they distribute it in? You are foolish for even suggesting that.

Wrap it up as a Snickers bar - but it will still smell and taste like ****. :)

Sorry I was gone for awhile -- nothing to do with bowel movements. I'm sure someone else has pointed out that Sony only has a minority -- not controlling -- interest in Sony and that Fox has been distributing and controlling MGM's product for several years now.

How far out of the loop are you. Fox distributing MGM movies has actually only recently happen (think about the time Robocop got pulled from BD.) They still own a very large portion of MGM. Take Disney for example. At 7% of Disney Steve Jobs owns the most shares. 20% of a large corporation that has lived for so long is fracken huge.

You must be joking!

Excerpt from Wikepedia:

On April 8, 2005, the company was acquired by a partnership led by Sony Corporation of America and Comcast in association with Texas Pacific Group (now TPG Capital, L.P.) and Providence Equity Partners. MGM Mirage, a Las Vegas-based hotel and casino company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MGM", is not currently affiliated with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Sony Pictures will distribute several MGM/Sony (with either Columbia or TriStar Pictures) co-productions—most notably Casino Royale—but outside of the co-productions MGM is now actively involved in acquiring worldwide film rights and distributing theatrical motion pictures domestically. 20th Century Fox will be handling the international theatrical distribution and worldwide home video distribution of MGM titles.

You must think people here are stupid? Ownership = control. Distribution does not. You think because Fox handles distribution, Sony has no say in what format they distribute it in? You are foolish for even suggesting that.

Wrap it up as a Snickers bar - but it will still smell and taste like ****. :)


No he is right. Sony doesn't own them, they wanted the whole thing then ended up paying out the ass for 20% (which is massive for a company as large and old as them) and distro rights which MGM defaulted on then asked (Fox doesn't have any interest or "full distro" rights) Fox to distribute.

No he is right. Sony doesn't own them, they wanted the whole thing then ended up paying out the ass for 20% (which is massive for a company as large and old as them) and distro rights which MGM defaulted on then asked (Fox doesn't have any interest or "full distro" rights) Fox to distribute.


Sony led the crusade to buy them.

Call it a minority interest, or de facto control.

They DO delegate the format in which MGM releases their content.

You must be joking!

You must think people here are stupid? Ownership = control. Distribution does not. You think because Fox handles distribution, Sony has no say in what format they distribute it in? You are foolish for even suggesting that.

Wrap it up as a Snickers bar - but it will still smell and taste like ****. :)

No, I actually think most people here are smart and resourceful enough to know that Sony has only a 20% stake in MGM. That is why they do not control what format MGM is distributed in (they have a 1/5 "say" in the matter). I mentioned the distribution thing as an aside, but it's relevant because Universal, though they did not own any piece of DreamWorks but only distributed DW's videos, was a big factor in DW's DVD distribution decisions. Distributors are marketers and partners. Regardless, my primary point to you is that Sony does not own or control MGM -- they only have a minority stake, smaller even than two of the other owners of MGM and the same as Comcast. Just points of fact that I would think you would welcome as an intelligent and respectful dialogue, unless you want to keep dragging it down to the level of name-calling and bathroom humor. That can be fun too.

Sorry I was gone for awhile -- nothing to do with bowel movements. I'm sure someone else has pointed out that Sony only has a minority -- not controlling -- interest in MGM and that Fox has been distributing and controlling MGM's product for several years now.

Sure, that's why everyone in MGM marketing dept. was fired when the Sony MGM purchase happened. I remember, I worked for MGM at that time.

Most people fired actually crossed over to Fox. So all that story about Sony owning MGM minority is BS.

It was obvious that Sony had only 2 reasons for MGM purchase. One was the rights to the Bond catalog and rights for Casino Royale and the other was format war backup (manipulation).

Sure, that's why everyone in MGM marketing dept. was fired when the Sony MGM purchase happened. I remember, I worked for MGM at that time.

Most people fired actually crossed over to Fox. So all that story about Sony owning MGM minority is BS.

It was obvious that Sony had only 2 reasons for MGM purchase. One was the rights to the Bond catalog and the other was format war backup.

You're absolutely right, and so sorry that you were one of the many victims, as were several of my friends and colleagues.

Yep, Sony bought it for the reasons you said and was able to make those kinds of decisions when they initially had distribution control, but then their fellow owners realzied they overpaid for it and decided to try to get some of their investment back. That's when Fox stepped in and ponied up some coin for distribution rights. They did that for similar strategic reasons, including increasing their overall marketshare in DVD and bolstering their Blu-ray position.

"Anything that he intended to convey?" :D

You should be a psychic palm reader not a reviewer or blogger. :D

Wanna bet that this is your last interview with him? ;)
I bet that there will be another interview after Universal announces it is going neutral.

No, I actually think most people here are smart and resourceful enough to know that Sony has only a 20% stake in MGM. That is why they do not control what format MGM is distributed in (they have a 1/5 "say" in the matter). I mentioned the distribution thing as an aside, but it's relevant because Universal, though they did not own any piece of DreamWorks but only distributed DW's videos, was a big factor in DW's DVD distribution decisions. Distributors are marketers and partners. Regardless, my primary point to you is that Sony does not own or control MGM -- they only have a minority stake, smaller even than two of the other owners of MGM and the same as Comcast. Just points of fact that I would think you would welcome as an intelligent and respectful dialogue, unless you want to keep dragging it down to the level of name-calling and bathroom humor. That can be fun too.

The substance of the 20% ownership is de facto control sir. Unless, you are suggesting that MGM could easily turn around and go neutral, I don't know what you point is.

As for studio ownership, what about Sony Pictures - formerly Columbia Pictures and Tristar Pictures?

Again, speak to the point. We all know what Sony was doing by leading the group of investors to buy up MGM.

Your skirting this issue speak volumes about how you are ignoring how "prolonging" the format war could be something that is attributed to both Uni and MGM et al. The BIG difference is that Toshiba didn't BUY Universal to do so.

You spoke of "Disney and Fox individually choosing to back a the BR format for their own reasons" in contrast with Universal. No mention of MGM and Sony pictures. Why? Is it because their reasons would include corporate ownership?? How virtuous. :)

I bet that there will be another interview after Universal announces it is going neutral.

Where did our bold Mr. 5thDanMaster go after he challenged us to a bet?

If you are pointing out how Universal is prolong a format war by failing to go neutral, you may have wanted to mention that some of the BR backers are doing the same, not necessarily because of their "own reasons" but rather, corporate ownership.

But then, as you said, your commentary is saddled with a slant - your slant.

The substance of the 20% ownership is de facto control sir. Unless, you are suggesting that MGM could easily turn around and go neutral, I don't know what you point is.

You spoke of "Disney and Fox individually choosing to back a the BR format for their own reasons" in contrast with Universal. No mention of MGM and Sony pictures. Why? Is it because their reasons would include corporate ownership?? How virtuous. :)

MY point? You're the one who brought up this point about Sony owning MGM somehow factoring into the format war. I was not making a point, simply clarifying that Sony does not own MGM -- not with a majority stake and not with "controlling interest" even with a minority stake. They are one of multiple voices in a consortium, and many people will tell you that Comcast has more leverage than Sony in that consortium.
Many people will also tell you that as its distributor, Fox has a big voice in the format decisions of MGM.
So if YOUR point is that I should have mentioned MGM's reasons for going Blu-ray as I mentioned Fox and Disney's, I have several responses:
1.) Just as DreamWorks always went with Universal's decisions when Universal distributed DW's titles, it's a given (to me, anyway) that MGM would go along with its distributor, Fox. I'm not sure MGM even had much of a voice in the matter between distributor Fox and 20% owner Sony.
2.) MGM is not one of the major studios -- I also did not mention Lionsgate or DreamWorks or Weinsteins -- was just talking about the major studios.

Finally, just as there's no reason to mention why Toshiba didn't choose HD DVD, there was no reason to give reasons why Sony chose Blu-ray. Those are the formats of those respective companies -- of course they will exclusively endorse them. The studios worth mentioning relative to their rationale of choosing one format or the other are Universal, Disney and Fox.

I'm open to dissenting opinions on my logic.

If you are pointing out how Universal is prolong a format war by failing to go neutral, you may have wanted to mention that some of the BR backers are doing the same, not necessarily because of their "own reasons" but rather, corporate ownership.

But then, as you said, your commentary is saddled with a slant - your slant.

I think we covered all this ground already...

I always have hard time looking at anyone recommending Blu-Ray seriously, especially when I see paid authors like (Clear Vision) who continuosly write how Blu-Ray won and how HD DVD is doing consumers a disservice.

I always have a problem when someone tries to tell me that:


sub $200 players
No regional coding
Plethora of titles from Universal, Warner, Paramount and other 15+ studios
Revolutionary interactive features
Web connectivity that still BLOWS my mind - just look Motorhead's HD DVD and that other HD DVD that allows you to watch constnatly updated trailers
Increased value for the money (meaning even if I buy a combo at prices today, I'm still spending less money then buying a DVD and hi-def counterpart separately)
Overall compatibility with older DVD (cause you know it will take a few years to go all hi-def and I want to carry some of my movies with me and share them with my family)
Same video and audio quality (you can spin bitrates as much as you want but I still think that majority of HD DVD titles look better..and others agree - read Hot Fuzz)


is somehow SO BAD and that I should just go and drop it and immeditely buy:


$500+ players
DRM enforced and regionally coded discs that I can use only in country of origin
No combo capability meaning less compatibilty - meaning that my family needs to buy more $500+ blu-ray players in order to watch my collection if I want to borrow. But hey, you know BORROWING IS NOT OK for BDA. They want everyone to buy their own copy. How customer oriented.
Unfinished specs creating all current BD players obsolete before they are even out
That just watching a movie without any features or interactive elements is actually OK
That going 4:1 then 3:1 and 2:1 in sales with increased user base over the last couple of months, is actually kicking butt
Overall more expensive software (compared non-combo HD DVD to BD)
Trailing encoding practices that provide overall worse picture on many titles
And a worry that rot problem MIGHT kill my collection as noticed on several titles


I don't know..am I missing something here? How is the other list doing good to consumers and the first list is so against consumers?


I'll try to find my car analogy for HD DVD and Blu-Ray so other Blu-Ray koolaid drinking kids can read something much more simplified.



====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg

Hey Mr. "Format Neutral HD-DVD Supporter", you claim to be neutral why wouldn't you want to encourage others to follow your illustrious lead and buy a blu-ray player and multiple BDs?

I own PS3 is extracted from your posting #39 on the thread "Why are Pioneer, Samsung and Others tolerating Sony's PS3?" you started in the Blu-ray Player section. So you claim to be a PS3 owner and format neutral to establish your bona fides but you are on a campaign to malign Blu ray? If you are format neutral as you state, why wouldn't you be promoting format neutrality by all studios including Universal?

Sincerely,
Whippersnapper (a firm believer in "truth in advertising")

“This is not about a high-def movie on a disc,” said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “It’s about a fully immersive experience, connected interactivity. That’s what is going to separate these high-def formats.”

Kornblau said he isn’t worried about Blu-ray’s momentum and doesn’t believe there’s a need for one to knockout the other.

“To call this market nascent is to a degree to pay it a complement,” he said. “The people who have bought so far aren’t early adopters, they are early, early adopters.” From this news article posted today by the detroit free press.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/NEWS09/70809084

I think he must of been drunk.

I think we covered all this ground already...

We certainly did.

Once again, it's a shame you don't scrutinize the decision making of MGM and Sony Pictures the way you do Universal.

Unless of course you authored some other commentary like "Sony invests in studios: Good or Bad?" or "Sony invests in studios: Will those studios make a balanced decision about what format to back?" or "Sony invests in studios: Why?" or "Sony invests in studios: Will this prolong the format war?".

It's interesting to see that the BDA now realize that the only way to win this format war outright is for Uni to go neutral....this stems from the realization that the standalone player battle is being lost and over time the sales momentum will shift from the PS3 to standalone players...and BD would have a hard time keeping up with HD DVD. BD needs this battle to be decided in 2007 or they lose. HD DVD simply needs to be around in 2007 and they will win in the long run. Universal recognizes this and hence head up the HD DVD promo group. That is how it is :)

We certainly did.

Once again, it's a shame you don't scrutinize the decision making of MGM and Sony Pictures the way you do Universal.

Unless of course you authored some other commentary like "Sony invests in studios: Good or Bad?" or "Sony invests in studios: Will those studios make a balanced decision about what format to back?" or "Sony invests in studios: Why?" or "Sony invests in studios: Will this prolong the format war?".

I did indeed author commentary several years ago about Sony's investment in MGM -- I'll let you do the research. As I have been syaing for about 12 hours on this thread now -- offering opinions on such entertainment business deals has been my job for more than 20 years. And mine is not a unique job -- thousands of journalists do the same thing.

Hey Mr. "Format Neutral HD-DVD Supporter", you claim to be neutral why wouldn't you want to encourage others to follow your illustrious lead and buy a blu-ray player and multiple BDs?

is extracted from your posting #39 on the thread "Why are Pioneer, Samsung and Others tolerating Sony's PS3?" you started in the Blu-ray Player section. So you claim to be a PS3 owner and format neutral to establish your bona fides but you are on a campaign to malign Blu ray? If you are format neutral as you state, why wouldn't you be promoting format neutrality by all studios including Universal?

Sincerely,
Whippersnapper (a firm believer in "truth in advertising")

First, please stop cross posting piece of my responses out of context. I guess you see how Blu-ray propaganda works.

Second, I am format neutral in terms that I can play both, my personal preference as a consumer is with HD DVD. As a consumer and thanks to what Blu-Ray Associations (read mostly Sony's) greed is making me is that I got a few movies on Blu-Ray.

My question I posted in that thread you mentioned is completely a valid question that nobody responded with facts or at least theories. It seems that Blu-heads can only read and respond to information that praises Blu-Ray.

If you are format neutral as you state, why wouldn't you be promoting format neutrality by all studios including Universal?

No, I promote and encourage a format that actually has MORE features, is COMPLETED, cheaper and is overall more consumer friendly.

Blu-Ray is just an unfortunate inconvenience caused primarily by desire for control and greed, that will most likely stop itching us by end of this year or by mid 2008. It's imminent.

And for your information, out of 22 titles I have on Blu-Ray, 11 were just too much of a deal to pass on as they were trade-ins at Gamestop from people who actually quit Blu-Ray or brought in their PS3s to exchange for Xbox 360 and in the meantime bought some movies. I got over 60% of my Blu-Ray titles for about $10-$12 each. That was the ONLY reason. Otherwise I would still be at around 8 or 9 titles.

I do have on the other over 50 HD DVD titles and growing..actually I just yesterday ordered another 25 titles through Amazon and I'm going to pick up TNMT right now.

Unlike MANY loudmouth Blu-Ray kids, I actually put my money where my mouth is.

From this news article posted today by the detroit free press.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/NEWS09/70809084

I think he must of been drunk.
Now that's a great article. Thanks for the link.

I'm so glad we have studios such as Warner Bros., who are fully committed to backing BOTH formats.

2.) MGM is not one of the major studios -- I also did not mention Lionsgate or DreamWorks or Weinsteins -- was just talking about the major studios.


Then why is their no mention of Sony Pictures?? Are they not a major studio? Or will the mention of that studio make your propositions worthless?

It's interesting to see that the BDA now realize that the only way to win this format war outright is for Uni to go neutral....

First of all, BDA has nothing to do with any of this, if you're basing your comments on my blog, which is the origin of this thread. It was a conversation I had on my own with Mr. Kornblau this week based on my 15-year relationship with him and wanting to confirm comments I had heard he was making to manufacturers about wanting the format war to continue.

Secondly, no one in the Blu-ray camp said they think the only way they can win this war outright is for Uni to go neutral. Everyone that I know who is backing Blu-ray (including me) believes Blu-ray will win regardless. Uni going Blu-ray will simply hasten the process for the good of everyone.

Then why is their no mention of Sony Pictures?? Are they not a major studio? Or will the mention of that studio make your propositions worthless?

You must be getting sleepy or worn down or exhausted, Jay-whatever. You have to at least read my whole response to your previous post before blasting away at me again. I answered this question the last time:

Quote: Finally, just as there's no reason to mention why Toshiba didn't choose HD DVD, there was no reason to give reasons why Sony chose Blu-ray. Those are the formats of those respective companies -- of course they will exclusively endorse them. The studios worth mentioning relative to their rationale of choosing one format or the other are Universal, Disney and Fox.

If you are going to post commentary about Universal's reasoning for backing HD DVD and it's implications for the format war, along side Fox and Disney decision making "reasons" how could you not mention Sony??

Your portrayal of Universal in the format war is hardly flattering. But then, even a cursory overview of Sony pictures studios would hardly be much better. Again, the big difference is Sony owns Sony pictures. Toshiba does not own Universal.

As for MY earlier POINT, MGM's format decision was affected by corporate ownership. Period.

Scott Hettrick = Bill Hunt under an internet alias (like 'Allan Smithee' or 'John Doh!') :rolleyes:

At one time I liked Bill Hunt but after he came out of the closet as a Sony fan boy
I lost all respect it's far to early to kill HD DVD I love my player and movies
he keeps hounding about the format war! must end, why?

there is a game console war with three fighters and who's bitching about that no one.

HD DVD and Blu-ray can go on for many years all studios should have films in both formats let "the people" choose. he say's they have chosen, PS3 can not be counted as it's a game machine if you count stand alone players HD DVD is kicking Blu-ray all over the place Sony screwed people by putting a Blu-Ray drive in it's PS3 forcing Blu-Ray on comsumers btw don't forget in the game format war PS3 is losing :-)

If he wants to ask a question ask "How much is Sony paying to Fox, MGM & Disney

my .02

You must be getting sleepy or worn down or exhausted, Jay-whatever. You have to at least read my whole response to your previous post before blasting away at me again. I answered this question the last time:

Quote: Finally, just as there's no reason to mention why Toshiba didn't choose HD DVD, there was no reason to give reasons why Sony chose Blu-ray. Those are the formats of those respective companies -- of course they will exclusively endorse them. The studios worth mentioning relative to their rationale of choosing one format or the other are Universal, Disney and Fox.

Clear-whatever, you must be dozy. Sony is a major studio.

Paint a picture for you readers. Just be sure you cover the canvas in an even fashion.

It's interesting to see that the BDA now realize that the only way to win this format war outright is for Uni to go neutral....this stems from the realization that the standalone player battle is being lost and over time the sales momentum will shift from the PS3 to standalone players...and BD would have a hard time keeping up with HD DVD. BD needs this battle to be decided in 2007 or they lose. HD DVD simply needs to be around in 2007 and they will win in the long run. Universal recognizes this and hence head up the HD DVD promo group. That is how it is :)
Excellent and well thought out post.
I agree completely :)

Clear-whatever, you must be dozy. Sony is a major studio.

Paint a picture for you readers. Just be sure you cover the canvas in an even fashion.

Seems like it would be condescending to point out to readers such an obvious point that Sony's reason for backing Blu-ray is because it is the creator of the format. But next time I will be sure to add that at your request, though somehow I don't think that will change anything relative to your perception of my blog or my opinions.

Quote:
When that point comes, on behalf of those of us who don’t believe that prolonging the format war is a good thing, I hope that Kornblau and Universal are quick to respond to the will of consumers and end this war.
End quote:

Why not suggest that Sony is quick to respond and go neutral? Why Universal?


By your own admission, your commentary has a slant - your slant.

Don't think for one second that this commentary will win you any support here. It is partial, and one-sided as evidenced by your closing comment.

Once again Clear-whatever.... How well would Sony's BR format be doing if they didn't own studios and control content all the while being the more expensive hardware option?

Hmmmm

Quote:
When that point comes, on behalf of those of us who don’t believe that prolonging the format war is a good thing, I hope that Kornblau and Universal are quick to respond to the will of consumers and end this war.
End quote:

Why not suggest that Sony is quick to respond and go neutral? Why Universal?


By your own admission, your commentary has a slant - your slant.

Don't think for one second that this commentary will win you any support here. It is partial, and one-side as evidenced by your closing comment.

Once again Clear-whatever.... How well would Sony's BR format be doing if they didn't own studios and control content all the while being the more expensive hardware option?

Hmmmm :D :D

In closing, if you are going to make an argument, make sure it is properly constructed. It should not be shrouded with "well everyone knows that Sony studios will release only in BR" all the while painting a disparaging picture of Universal for supporting HD DVD all the while them NOT doing so by virtue of corporate ownership.

Perhaps you should have concluded with, "It would have been nice if Sony and Toshiba succeeded on the merits of what they offered rather than the ability to force consumers who want to watch an HD title to buy into their technology. Ideally, these companies would have agreed on ONE format and then even more choice would be available to us. But in keeping with the theme of all or nothing, Sony would never concede to such an sitution unless it was "their" technology. It's a moot point. We are where we are. But Sony, going back to 2003, anticipated this and made sure that if consumers didn't want their technology, but wanted their titles, they'd have no other option. Their systematic investments did just that. The technology/format war should be based on several factors none of which include the ability of one party to control access to content and the abilty of the consumer to buy the software, or lack thereof."

It seems like properly constructing an argument is limited to academics these days. It's painfully obvious that so many HD DVD/Blu-Ray articles these days wouldn't even reach the standard of a first year University paper.

At one time I liked Bill Hunt but after he came out of the closet as a Sony fan boy
I lost all respect it's far to early to kill HD DVD I love my player and movies
he keeps hounding about the format war! must end, why?

there is a game console war with three fighters and who's bitching about that no one.

HD DVD and Blu-ray can go on for many years all studios should have films in both formats let "the people" choose. he say's they have chosen, PS3 can not be counted as it's a game machine if you count stand alone players HD DVD is kicking Blu-ray all over the place Sony screwed people by putting a Blu-Ray drive in it's PS3 forcing Blu-Ray on comsumers btw don't forget in the game format war PS3 is losing :-)

If he wants to ask a question ask "How much is Sony paying to Fox, MGM & Disney

my .02

Just because Bill Hunt states that he believes Blu-ray will win the war doesn't make him a fanboy and doesn't make him un-objective in his reporting. I don't even know if he personally prefers Blu-ray as a format -- he's simply stating that he thinks it has the best chance of succeeding. That doesn't mean he can't hear anything else or acknowledge gains made by HD DVD or continue reporting on HD DVD.
Why do so many of you have to make everything so black-and-white. Isn't a person allowed to express an opinion without then becoming immediately painted as a fanboy who is 100% committed to that position and therefore 100% against anything else?
Give the guy a break - he's expressing an opinion and projecting a winner, just as many other journalists do all the time in editorials and columns and on TV shows.

As for keeping both formats alive because it works with video games, that's a whole different market. Video game hardware and software companies can survive with just a few million players of each type in homes and game title sales of hundreds of thousands or even tens of thousands of units. I don't believe studios and CE companies are the same. The laserdisc market died with a peak of 2 million homes. Studios and CE companies need tens of millions of homes to adopt each and every home video format - preferrably close to the 90 million-plus homes with DVD players. A few million homes with HD DVD players and a few million homes with Blu-ray players won't cut it for either format. Warner and Paramount don't like having to produce movies in both formats -- it costs them twice as much. I do not believe they will not continue down that path indefnitely.
High-def discs face a serious challenge of succeeding under the best circumstances; the only chance any high-def format has is if there is only one format.
Even Universal president Crig Kornblau knows that and told me so this week, which I noted in my blog. He knows the consumers must soon choose one format, and says Universal will go that direction as soon as the choice is clear.

It seems like properly constructing an argument is limited to academics. As it is obvious that so many articles these wouldn't even reach the standard of a first year University paper.
A 12th Grade public School English essay at best. ;)

Just because Bill Hunt states that he believes Blu-ray will win the war doesn't make him a fanboy and doesn't make him un-objective in his reporting. I don't even know if he personally prefers Blu-ray as a format -- he's simply stating that he thinks it has the best chance of succeeding. That doesn't mean he can't hear anything else or acknowledge gains made by HD DVD or continue reporting on HD DVD.
Why do so many of you have to make everything so black-and-white. Isn't a person allowed to express an opinion without then becoming immediately painted as a fanboy who is 100% committed to that position and therefore 100% against anything else?
Give the guy a break - he's expressing an opinion and projecting a winner, just as many other journalists do all the time in editorials and columns and on TV shows.

As for keeping both formats alive because it works with video games, that's a whole different market. Video game hardware and software companies can survive with just a few million players of each type in homes and game title sales of hundreds of thousands or even tens of thousands of units. I don't believe studios and CE companies are the same. The laserdisc market died with a peak of 2 million homes. Studios and CE companies need tens of millions of homes to adopt each and every home video format - preferrably close to the 90 million-plus homes with DVD players. A few million homes with HD DVD players and a few million homes with Blu-ray players won't cut it for either format. Warner and Paramount don't like having to produce movies in both formats -- it costs them twice as much. I do not believe they will not continue down that path indefnitely.
High-def discs face a serious challenge of succeeding under the best circumstances; the only chance any high-def format has is if there is only one format.
Even Universal president Crig Kornblau knows that and told me so this week, which I noted in my blog. He knows the consumers must soon choose one format, and says Universal will go that direction as soon as the choice is clear.

When Bill Hunt makes comments like the ones below - with my response following - it is OBVIOUS that he is NOT impartial. His agenda is all to clear...

EXCERPTS FROM B.H. COMMENTARY WITH MY THOUGHTS IN CAPS:

*****

"Let's look at these simple facts: Of the 12 major and mini-major Hollywood studios (Fox, Disney, MGM, Sony, Lionsgate, Paramount, New Line, HBO, Warner Bros, Universal, DreamWorks and The Weinstein Company) 9 support Blu-ray, 5 of them exclusively. Only 6 support HD-DVD, just 2 of them exclusively (one studio, DreamWorks, remains uncommitted). Not counting computer hardware or budget brands, Blu-ray Disc has 9 major set-top hardware manufacturers behind it (Sony, Pioneer, Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, LG, Mitsubishi, Thomson, Sharp), while HD-DVD boasts just two (Toshiba and now LG). HD-DVD is an add-on to Microsoft's Xbox 360, while Blu-ray is built into EVERY Sony PlayStation 3. Nielsen VideoScan is reporting that in software sales, Blu-ray has virtually erased the sales lead enjoyed by HD-DVD since the formats were launched, and is now outselling HD-DVD by a 2 to 1 (and growing) margin."

LETS LOOK AT THIS SIMPLE FACT WHICH WAS IGNORED - NO MENTION OF SONY GARNERING "PURCHASED" EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT OF STUDIOS.

I WONDER, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY BENEFIT FROM THEIR EFFORTS TO BUY STUDIOS AND THEIR CATALOGS?

WAS SONY THINKING OF HD CONSUMERS IN 2003 WHEN SPEARHEADING THE BID FOR MGM AND THEIR CATALOG OR WAS THIS A NEW TYPE OF INSURANCE FOR ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGIES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE DESTINED FOR FAILURE? NOTWITHSTANDING THAT AND GIVEN SONY'S HISTORICAL PRICING POLICIES AND CURRENT BLU RAY PRICE POINTS, WOULD THEY PRESENT CONSUMERS WITH COMPETIVE PRICING IF THEY SUCCEEDED AND THIS WAS A ONE FORMAT WORLD?

THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING "NO" TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.

*****

"I can understand that some people just love HD-DVD and have had great experiences with it. We have too. I understand that some people hate Sony for perceived corporate arrogance. I'm not a big fan of their tactics either, particularly how they went around the DVD Forum to develop their format. But let's face it - the biggest corporate cheerleader for HD-DVD seems to be Microsoft, which isn't exactly comforting either."

SO WHAT IF MICROSOFT IS A SUPPORTER? DOES THIS SOMEHOW ABSOLVE SONY OF THEIR TACTICS? MS IS NOT THE FORMAT FOUNDER OR CHAMPION SO DRAWING PARALLELS BETWEEN MS AND SONY TO SOMEHOW MITIGATE SONY'S ACTIONS IS NONSENSICAL. EVEN STILL, I SUGGEST THAT MICROSOFT'S MOST NOTABLE ACTION WHICH MIGHT NOT BE "EXACTLY COMFORTING" PALES IN COMPARISON TO SONY'S OVERT ANTI-COMPETITIVE/ANTI-CONSUMER TACTICS IN THE HD ARENA, SOME OF WHICH ARE MENTIONED ABOVE.

*****

"All of those issues aside, however, how do you argue with the facts that are clearly becoming obvious - all those things I just mentioned above?"

YOU CAN'T EASILY REFUTE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SO INCOMPLETE AND ONE-SIDED.

*****

"As I said earlier, I love both formats. But I just don't see any circumstance in which HD-DVD can evolve into a viable mass market consumer video format. I certainly can't recommend in good conscience that Bits readers commit to HD-DVD right now. I tell most readers who ask me about the format war to just stick with DVD, and wait until it's all over. But if they're prepared to risk their money now, and are eager to do so, I have to tell them that Blu-ray is the better bet."

IF SOMEONE IS IN A POSITION TO OFFER THEIR OPINION AND ACTUALLY "CARED" FOR THOSE WHO ASK FOR IT, THEY MIGHT WANT TO STEER THEM IN THE DIRECTION WHICH WOULD OFFER THEM ENTRY INTO THE HD WORLD AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF THAT WHICH BLU RAY WOULD NECESITATE - HD DVD. GIVEN THAT THE FORMATS ARE COMPARABLE AND THAT THE FORMAT WAR IS FAR FROM BEING DECIDED, AS ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE COMMENTARY ABOVE, IT AMAZES ME HOW SOMEONE IN "GOOD CONSCIENCE" COULD EVEN TRY TO RATIONALIZE ADVICE WHICH STEERS THEIR "READERS" TO THE FORMAT WHICH IS MORE COSTLY, WHOSE SPECS ARE INCOMPLETE, IS NOT AS CONSUMER FRIENDLY AND IS COUPLED WITH REGION CODING.

SEEING THAT THE INSTANCE OF BOTH FORMATS FALTERING IS PRESENTED AS A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY, WOULDN'T IT BE MUCH MORE RESPONSIBLE TO ADVISE "READERS" TO BE PRAGMATIC AND MINIMIZE THEIR SUNK COSTS/INITIAL INVESTMENT?

AS THE COMMENTARY IS DIRECTED TO HD CONSUMERS - NOT STUDIOS, IT BEHOOVES THE WRITER TO GIVE ADVICE THAT WOULD PERPETUATE THE FORMAT THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE GREATEST GAIN FOR THE READER/ALL HD CONSUMERS (OR AT LEAST MINIMIZE THEIR INVESTMENT SHOULD THE WORST OCCUR). LEST WE THINK FOR A MOMENT THAT GIVEN THE MEAGER SALES THAT BOTH FORMATS GENERATE, THAT ANYTHING IS DECIDED AND THAT THINGS CAN'T STILL SWING THE OTHER WAY OR PERHAPS THAT BOTH COULD EVEN COEXIST.

*****

"For the good of the video industry as a whole, and for the benefit of film fans everywhere, this format war needs to end and SOON. So how long do we all have to wait before we start acknowledging the elephant in the room: One of these formats is already winning... and, for better or worse, it isn't HD-DVD

I'm curious as to why"

I AM VERY CURIOUS AS TO WHY TOO! ....A COMPARABLE FORMAT WHICH IS NOT SADDLED WITH RC, IS MUCH LESS COSTLY (HARDWARE), MORE CONSUMER FRIENDLY, AND WHOSE SPECS ARE FINALIZED, ETC ETC. HMMMM...PERHAPS IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE ABUNDANCE OF PARTIAL COMMENTARY BEING SPEWED IN FAVOR OF BLU RAY, THE ANTI-COMPETITIVE TACTICS EMPLOYED BY SONY IN BUYING UP STUDIO CATALOGS AND LEADING THOSE WHO WANT THOSE TITLES IN HD TO GO BLU RAY, BLOCKBUSTER BREAKING A CARDINAL BUSINESS MARKETING RULE AND PRESS RELEASING WHAT THEY WON'T/DON'T HAVE FOR CUSTOMERS TO RENT (CHECK MY POST ON WHY THAT MIGHT BE)....I COULD GO ON AND ON.

*****

SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THIS COMMENTARY IS FROM A BLOG AND IS JUST OPINION. WELL THEN, SHOULD THIS ACTUALLY BE THE CASE, PERHAPS THE COMMENTARY SHOULD NOT ALLUDE TO BEING IMPARTIAL AND SHOULD NOT PRESENT IT'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS BEING SO ALTRUISTIC, AS IT'S PAINFULLY CLEAR, THEY COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THAT.

Quote:
When that point comes, on behalf of those of us who don’t believe that prolonging the format war is a good thing, I hope that Kornblau and Universal are quick to respond to the will of consumers and end this war.
End quote:

Why not suggest that Sony is quick to respond and go neutral? Why Universal?


By your own admission, your commentary has a slant - your slant.

Don't think for one second that this commentary will win you any support here. It is partial, and one-sided as evidenced by your closing comment.

Once again Clear-whatever.... How well would Sony's BR format be doing if they didn't own studios and control content all the while being the more expensive hardware option?

Hmmmm

Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes -- my blog, like all blogs by definition, has a slant -- my slant.
I'm not looking to win any support from you or change your mind; just engaging in a dialogue.
Yes, if the universe were different and Sony did not own the Blu-ray format and did not back Blu-ray and if MGM wasn't partilally owned by Sony and distributed by Fox and if Disney didn't support Blu-ray, yadda yadda yadda.
But all those things are not the case. Sony DOES support the format it created; MGM, Fox, Disney, Lionsgate and other do support Blu-ray exclusively; almost all the biggest CE manufacturers except Toshiba are backing Blu-ray; and all the MAJOR studios except Universal are releasing titles on Blu-ray.
Those are the facts -- I don't live or work in a what-if world.
If those facts were all different, my position would be different.
But given that those are the facts, my position is that Blu-ray will win the war.
And I think it will be easier and more likely to get one major studio -- Universal -- to alter its position (especially since it doesn not have a vested interest -- that I know of -- in the HD DVD technology aside from the interest all studios shared in the underlying DVD technology), than it will be to get 3 major studios -- Sony, Disney and Fox -- and the largest indie -- Lionsgate -- to all change their positions, especially since Sony does have a vested interest in Blu-ray.

:D :D


You've been kind of low-key since I tried to take you up on your offer to bet me on a future interview with Kornblau, Mr. DanMaster Jr.

Typical Blu-spin. If HD DVD sucks so hard, how come all the Blu-boys are jonesing for Uni titles?


Huh???? Sorry - this doesn't make much sense.

A. I don't know anyone who thinks HD DVD sucks. I think a fair number of people would like to put an end to this confusing situation so everyone can move on.

B. Just because we don't like the format war doesn't mean we can't appreciate Universal titles. I for one can't wait for them to go neutral and will be first in line to buy the Bourne series.

Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes -- my blog, like all blogs by definition, has a slant -- my slant.
I'm not looking to win any support from you or change your mind; just engaging in a dialogue.
Yes, if the universe were different and Sony did not own the Blu-ray format and did not back Blu-ray and if MGM wasn't partilally owned by Sony and distributed by Fox and if Disney didn't support Blu-ray, yadda yadda yadda.
But all those things are not the case. Sony DOES support the format it created; MGM, Fox, Disney, Lionsgate and other do support Blu-ray exclusively; almost all the biggest CE manufacturers except Toshiba are backing Blu-ray; and all the MAJOR studios except Universal are releasing titles on Blu-ray.
Those are the facts -- I don't live or work in a what-if world.
If those facts were all different, my position would be different.
But given that those are the facts, my position is that Blu-ray will win the war.
And I think it will be easier and more likely to get one major studio -- Universal -- to alter its position (especially since it doesn not have a vested interest -- that I know of -- in the HD DVD technology aside from the interest all studios shared in the underlying DVD technology), than it will be to get 3 major studios -- Sony, Disney and Fox -- and the largest indie -- Lionsgate -- to all change their positions, especially since Sony does have a vested interest in Blu-ray.

Thank you for your honesty. Perhaps you are right. But, just because it "will be easier and more likely to get one major studio -- Universal -- to alter its position (especially since it doesn not have a vested interest -- that I know of -- in the HD DVD technology aside from the interest all studios shared in the underlying DVD technology), than it will be to get 3 major studios -- Sony, Disney and Fox -- and the largest indie -- Lionsgate -- to all change their positions, it doesn't mean that we should hope for/want it. Lest we think a one format world with Sony having both rights to the hardware technology AND a lot of the software we would need to play in them would be a good outcome. I personally don't.

In any event, your opinion that Blu Ray will "WIN" this war speaks volumes here.

Seeing that the installed base is a meger 1%, declaring a winner would be presumptuous. You must know something that millions of investors don't.

When Bill Hunt makes comments like the ones below - with my response following - it is OBVIOUS that he is NOT impartial. His agenda is all to clear...

It doesn't appear that you believe someone can have an opinion contrary to yours without being impartial. I don't agree. You express your opinions even more strongly that either Bill or I -- are you impartial? I don't know and I don't assume one way or the other. Not sure why it is so important for you to attach that judgment on someone during an argument. Facts are facts and opinons are just that.
I prefer sticking to the points of the argument without getting into a character assessment or assassination. That is not only disrespectful but also strays from the topic and the points for no valuable reason.
If you are angry about the way we write or our journalistic skills, then take up the profession yourself and show us how it should be done.
You have some well researched points and are clearly passionate on many topics and obviously spend a lot of time on these sites. Don't let your arguments get overshadowed by your antagonistic and judgmental remarks.

I have stated many times here and on my blog that HD DVD has long had the edge in many ways over Blu-ray in terms of first to market, pricing, marketing, and interactive and connected technologies. Even predicting a win for Blu-ray I am still capable of saying that. And I have stated many things that Blu-ray is continuing to do right now that I think are not smart, like my blog noting Sony's decision to price the Blu-ray version of "Spider-Man 3" $13 higher than the DVD version even though there is nothing on the Blu-ray version that isn't on the DVD.

We're all in this forum because we all love movies and home disc versions of movies and we all want to see the best quality product at the best price. Just because we may have different opinions of how to get there, there's no need to generate animosity. A civil discourse and a shared respect for differing opinions will likely be the most productive.

Or, I could suggest that my mother could whip your mother. :)

Thank you for your honesty. Perhaps you are right. But, just because it "will be easier and more likely to get one major studio -- Universal -- to alter its position (especially since it doesn not have a vested interest -- that I know of -- in the HD DVD technology aside from the interest all studios shared in the underlying DVD technology), than it will be to get 3 major studios -- Sony, Disney and Fox -- and the largest indie -- Lionsgate -- to all change their positions, it doesn't mean that we should hope for/want it. Lest we think a one format world with Sony having both rights to the hardware technology AND a lot of the software we would need to play in them would be a good outcome. I personally don't.

In any event, your opinion that Blu Ray will "WIN" this war speaks volumes here.

Seeing that the installed base is a meger 1%, declaring a winner would be presumptuous. You must know something that millions of investors don't.

Thank you for your words.
I haven't "declared a winner." I am saying that at this point, given the facts, I am predicting Blu-ray will win. (There's a big difference.) And I am saying that prolonging the war will be more damaging to the success of either format because:
1.) those who choose the wrong format will have to eat all their hardware and software
2.) consumers are more hesitant to jump into the market for fear of #1.

Huh???? Sorry - this doesn't make much sense.

A. I don't know anyone who thinks HD DVD sucks. I think a fair number of people would like to put an end to this confusing situation so everyone can move on.

B. Just because we don't like the format war doesn't mean we can't appreciate Universal titles. I for one can't wait for them to go neutral and will be first in line to buy the Bourne series.

Here Here! Well said.

And even though they haven't opened yet I have a feeling "Superbad" and "Balls of Fury" will do pretty well at the box office in the next few weeks.Superbad is from Sony.
Did someone conveniently forget about King Kong?It was one of the 2 in the top 30 mentioned for 2005.
It's interesting to see that the BDA now realize that the only way to win this format war outright is for Uni to go neutral....Both sides have known for a long time that the only way to win this format war outright is to have all the major studios releasing on it. Neither side can win outright if any major studio is releasing only on the other format, so I'm not sure why you made this claim. You might as well say, "So and so now realizes that 2 plus 2 is 4" as if they didn't know that already. Can you honestly tell me and others that you think the BDA didn't realize they needed Universal to join their side (even if only as neutral) to win this outright? At least Oshodi agrees with you if that makes you feel any better.

BTW: I thought the article was pretty biased, but this thread is long and most of it has probably already been covered. I would like to see some actual quotes of questions to and answers from Craig Kornblau (especially with one or more of the tough questions) instead of an interpretation.

--Darin

I always have hard time looking at anyone recommending Blu-Ray seriously, especially when I see paid authors like (Clear Vision) who continuosly write how Blu-Ray won and how HD DVD is doing consumers a disservice.

I always have a problem when someone tries to tell me that:


sub $200 players
No regional coding
Plethora of titles from Universal, Warner, Paramount and other 15+ studios
Revolutionary interactive features
Web connectivity that still BLOWS my mind - just look Motorhead's HD DVD and that other HD DVD that allows you to watch constnatly updated trailers
Increased value for the money (meaning even if I buy a combo at prices today, I'm still spending less money then buying a DVD and hi-def counterpart separately)
Overall compatibility with older DVD (cause you know it will take a few years to go all hi-def and I want to carry some of my movies with me and share them with my family)
Same video and audio quality (you can spin bitrates as much as you want but I still think that majority of HD DVD titles look better..and others agree - read Hot Fuzz)


is somehow SO BAD and that I should just go and drop it and immeditely buy:


$500+ players
DRM enforced and regionally coded discs that I can use only in country of origin
No combo capability meaning less compatibilty - meaning that my family needs to buy more $500+ blu-ray players in order to watch my collection if I want to borrow. But hey, you know BORROWING IS NOT OK for BDA. They want everyone to buy their own copy. How customer oriented.
Unfinished specs creating all current BD players obsolete before they are even out
That just watching a movie without any features or interactive elements is actually OK
That going 4:1 then 3:1 and 2:1 in sales with increased user base over the last couple of months, is actually kicking butt
Overall more expensive software (compared non-combo HD DVD to BD)
Trailing encoding practices that provide overall worse picture on many titles
And a worry that rot problem MIGHT kill my collection as noticed on several titles


I don't know..am I missing something here? How is the other list doing good to consumers and the first list is so against consumers?


I'll try to find my car analogy for HD DVD and Blu-Ray so other Blu-Ray koolaid drinking kids can read something much more simplified.


====

http://www.designbyinfinity.com/internet/avssig.jpg



Very well written. Best post of the thread so far. I will continue to "support" Hd-Dvd untill the Ps3 or Bd standalones are actually worth the money. I have only 13 movies out of 400+, so I think I have plenty of movies to buy.


Not to mention BD "exclusives" from over the water..Ooops..

It doesn't appear that you believe someone can have an opinion contrary to yours without being impartial. I don't agree. You express your opinions even more strongly that either Bill or I -- are you impartial? I don't know and I don't assume one way or the other. Not sure why it is so important for you to attach that judgment on someone during an argument. Facts are facts and opinons are just that.
I prefer sticking to the points of the argument without getting into a character assessment or assassination. That is not only disrespectful but also strays from the topic and the points for no valuable reason.
If you are angry about the way we write or our journalistic skills, then take up the profession yourself and show us how it should be done.
You have some well researched points and are clearly passionate on many topics and obviously spend a lot of time on these sites. Don't let your arguments get overshadowed by your antagonistic and judgmental remarks.

I have stated many times here and on my blog that HD DVD has long had the edge in many ways over Blu-ray in terms of first to market, pricing, marketing, and interactive and connected technologies. Even predicting a win for Blu-ray I am still capable of saying that. And I have stated many things that Blu-ray is continuing to do right now that I think is not smart, like my blog noting Sony's decision to price the Blu-ray version of "Spider-Man 3" $13 higher than the DVD version even though there is nothing on the Blu-ray version that isn't on the DVD.

We're all in this forum because we all love movies and home disc versions of movies and we all want to see the best quality product at the best price. Just because we may have different opinions of how to get there, there's no need to generate animosity. A civil discourse and a shared respect for differing opinions will likely be the most productive.

Or, I could suggest that mother could whip your mother. :)

Constructive dialogue is great.

I am not at all angry. My sentiment here would be more accurately described as disappointed. Disappointed with people passing themselves off as credible reporters/journalists, who are balanced and perhaps even altruistic, all the while being one-sided and having their own agenda.

You cannot absolve those who make comments that are incomplete and one-sided on the basis that it is "opinion". Even if this were the case, those opinions (one-sided or otherwise) should be open to criticism. Should someone pass themselves off as being a journalist, he/she has a responsibility to present a complete story. NOT one that is littered with opinion.

Notwithstanding that, what I challenge is not opinion. An opinion such as "I love Blu Ray because of the beautiful case colour" is fine. My issues is with statements such as those made by BH above which are NOT presented as opinion at all.

Thank you for your words.
I haven't "declared a winner." I am saying that at this point, given the facts, I am predicting Blu-ray will win. (There's a big difference.) And I am saying that prolonging the war will be more damaging to the success of either format because:
1.) those who choose the wrong format will have to eat all their hardware and software
2.) consumers are more hesitant to jump into the market for fear of #1.


Lets see...

I said "In any event, your opinion that Blu Ray will "WIN" this war..."

You said..."given the facts, I am predicting Blu-ray will win"

The operate word here is "will". I used it in describing your prediction as did you. I never said you declared a winner.


Once again you might be right...but you saying Blu-ray 'will' win this war so early in the game surprises me. In fact, point #1 demonstrates that you don't even think that both can co-exist.

Recap of your prediction: HD DVD will not co-exist with Blu-ray in the future; HD DVD will loose; and Blu-ray will win.

Well, case closed... I guess.

Even Universal president Crig Kornblau knows that and told me so this week, which I noted in my blog. He knows the consumers must soon choose one format, and says Universal will go that direction as soon as the choice is clear.

So My question to you is why would he tell you to put everything he basically said in a blog a week ago then today Kornblau said what is bolded down below.

“The fourth quarter is critical for the formats to show growth and momentum,” said Steve Nickerson, Warner Home Video’s senior vice president of marketing. “It’s more than about winning or losing. If you can continue to show growth (in both formats), that’s a positive in a situation where standard DVD sales aren’t growing.”

To counter Blu-ray’s recent gains, the HD DVD camp is planning an advertising campaign touting the interactive elements of the format, which allow users to connect to the Internet to download special features.

“This is not about a high-def movie on a disc,” said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “It’s about a fully immersive experience, connected interactivity. That’s what is going to separate these high-def formats.”

Kornblau said he isn’t worried about Blu-ray’s momentum and doesn’t believe there’s a need for one to knockout the other.

“To call this market nascent is to a degree to pay it a complement,” he said. “The people who have bought so far aren’t early adopters, they are early, early adopters.”

So if he was so open to you about hd-dvd why the hell would he not do it in a press confrence. why would he say only early, early adopters are accepting it. Last i checked early, early adopters are far from mainstream. How the heck is that fragile. early adopters especially now don't make the mass market take off its is infact prices. Something tells me clearvision that your full of ****, if he is your good friend have him issue a press statement or post in this forum. Also note that Warner brothers say both formats are growing how the hell did you come up with its fragile. I think that is blu-biased.

Source: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/NEWS09/70809084

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea and belief that multiple formats is a bad thing.

We have multiple options for the same content, with some exclusives, when it comes to our:

1) Television viewing (broken down into OTA, Cable, Satellite and FIOS, and then broken down even further to the specific companies).

2) Videogame playing (Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony).

I think it's about time that the movie business realizes it's okay to have more than one way to play their movies, in fact, in the long term it'll be more beneficial to them and the consumer.

Multiple formats is not a bad thing. Just because it hasn't been done before to any great extent, doesn't make it bad.

The current philosophy of those constantly declaring Blu-ray the winner, or hoping for one format is that it will spur adoption, when in reality sales will increase when more content and players are pushed into the market.

Constructive dialogue is great.

I am not at all angry. My sentiment here would be more accurately described as disappointed. Disappointed with people passing themselves off as credible reporters/journalists, who are balanced and perhaps even altruistic, all the while being one-sided and having their own agenda.

You cannot absolve those who make comments that are incomplete and one-sided on the basis that it is "opinion". Even if this were the case, those opinions (one-sided or otherwise) should be open to criticism. Should someone pass themselves off as being a journalist, he/she has a responsibility to present a complete story. NOT one that is littered with opinion.

Notwithstanding that, what I challenge is not opinion. An opinion such as "I love Blu Ray because of the beautiful case colour" is fine. My issues is with statements such as those made by BH above which are NOT presented as opinion at all.

As I have stated many times in this thread today, a blog is not a news story and is not expected to be a "complete story." That is for the news or feature section. I am not passing myself or this story as anything other than a conveyance of a conversation, with my take on the comments made during that conversation. Anyone writing a blog is absolutely presenting that information as an opinion since that is the definition of a blog. Actually, in my view, I prefer hearing an opinion in response to comments made by an authority like Kornblau in the same blog rather than just random opinions such as "I love Blu-ray because the beautiful case color," which can be anyone's opinion about anything that has no bearing on anything in particular. At least you are also hearing information -- hopefully new or interesting information -- from an interesting credible source in the process. I have a feeling if I just said I think Blu-ray will win the war, this blog would not have engaged you and the thousands of others today, like it has since I shared my conversation with someone notable.

Apparently, the only way you and others would be satisifed (and probably not even then) would be to have a complete transcript of the conversation. That is for another venue -- that is not a blog and that approach is not what any journalist for any paper -- NY Times or Wall Street Journal included -- ever takes when writing even a news story, but especically not an editorial, which is what a blog is.
But I know you have read my comments saying this repeatedly today, so I will assume you choose to just keep remaking the same arguments as if you never heard this response.
I am certainly open to criticism and even encourage it -- doesn't mean I have to agree with every criticism served up. If you look at my response to constructive criticsim on my blogs on the site from Day One, you will see that I have indeed accepted many criticisms as valid and made changes to my blog and the web site accordingly. Also accepted quickly early this morning someone pointing out that I had an error in my blog suggesting that "Blades of Glory" would be Blu-ray exclusive.

You are certainly free to express your perceptions of my work and positions, but please also be open to my challenge of those perceptions if I feel they are not based in fact and I have evidence to the contrary.

Anyway, glad to hear you aren't angry -- really.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea and belief that multiple formats is a bad thing.For studios having both formats tie to the point that they need to release on both 5 years from now means that they would have to pay for some of their extras to be produced in both HDi and BD-J for one thing. I cannot imagine any major studio other than Warner and Sony preferring a tie 5 years from now over their second choice format winning. I don't believe Universal wants a tie 5 years from now where they have the extra costs of supporting both formats either. I think they want an HD DVD win, but also want to force some lower prices and interactivity support (although that is probably coming anyway) on Blu-ray if it is going to win. In other words, I don't think Universal is against the competition now, but also seems fiscally responsible enough that they wouldn't want to be burdened with supporting both or missing out on a big chunk of the market 5 years from now.

--Darin

Lets see...

I said "In any event, your opinion that Blu Ray will "WIN" this war..."

You said..."given the facts, I am predicting Blu-ray will win"

The operate word here is "will". I used it in describing your prediction as did you. I never said you declared a winner.


Once again you might be right...but you saying Blu-ray 'will' win this war so early in the game surprises me. In fact, point #1 demonstrates that you don't even think that both can co-exist.

Recap of your prediction: HD DVD will not co-exist with Blu-ray in the future; HD DVD will loose; and Blu-ray will win.

Well, case closed... I guess.

From your previous post (#191?)

Quote: Seeing that the installed base is a meger 1%, declaring a winner would be presumptuous. You must know something that millions of investors don't.

That is what I was referring to -- I have not declared a winner at this point -- no one has won at this point and the race isn't over until it's over; anything could change. But at this moment in time, given the current status of things, I do indeed believe that Blu-ray will win the war.
And correct, I, along with HD DVD proponent Craig Kornblau, do not believe that both formats can co-exist longterm.
Now, you can close the case if you like.

So My question to you is why would he tell you to put everything he basically said in a blog a week ago then today Kornblau said what is bolded down below.

Kornblau said he isn’t worried about Blu-ray’s momentum and doesn’t believe there’s a need for one to knockout the other.

“To call this market nascent is to a degree to pay it a complement,” he said. “The people who have bought so far aren’t early adopters, they are early, early adopters.”[/B]

So if he was so open to you about hd-dvd why the hell would he not do it in a press confrence. why would he say only early, early adopters are accepting it. Last i checked early, early adopters are far from mainstream. How the heck is that fragile. early adopters especially now don't make the mass market take off its is infact prices. Something tells me clearvision that your full of ****, if he is your good friend have him issue a press statement or post in this forum. Also note that Warner brothers say both formats are growing how the hell did you come up with its fragile. I think that is blu-biased.

Source: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/NEWS09/70809084

Well, first of all he didn't say those things to me a week ago -- it was about 48 hours before I posted it late last night.
Secondly, I have no idea when or where he said the comments in today's AP story -- you seem to think it was at a press conference today?
Third, I have no idea why people choose to say things and where and when they choose to say them -- you'd have to ask them. I can only tell you what he said to me and let you know that he thanked me this morning for my blog, so obviously he is not upset about anything I wrote concerning his comments, including his use of the word "fragile" -- his word, not mine.
I don't need to ask him to issue a press release to satisfy you about the veracity of his comments to me so that you are satisfied that I am not full of ****.

Maybe because Universal and Kornblau have known and worked with me for more than 20 years and know that what I write will be a fair representation of what they said? Maybe Kornblau wanted that message out and knew he could trust me to get it straight and that it might even be more credible voiced through a Blu-ray site and a journalist who believes Blu-ray will win but isn't too biased to hear other views?
Or, maybe he was just drunk at work that day. :)
Not too biased??? You got easy facts wrong.
I doubt trust had anything to do with anything.

You gave us "the intent" but not the content of his words. How hard is it to give us his actual words, how would it be it all of your post, your words here, were taken reorganized and then only intent as perceived by whomever did the editing were given?
Same difference when his intent is winnowed through the thresher of your beliefs.

Consideration of your objectivity has to be considered along with the source of your income and your bias. You believe Blu will win, you report is for a website who's covert or overt purpose is to bolster that belief.

Journalist?? Just like Geraldo Rivera is a journalist??? ;)

Thank you for your words.
I haven't "declared a winner." I am saying that at this point, given the facts, I am predicting Blu-ray will win. (There's a big difference.) And I am saying that prolonging the war will be more damaging to the success of either format because:
1.) those who choose the wrong format will have to eat all their hardware and software
2.) consumers are more hesitant to jump into the market for fear of #1.


I don't really want to interfere in this discussion because I know what your task is and it is pointless to point out the error of your ways, I just wanted to address what you wrote under #1.

1.) those who choose the wrong format will have to eat all their hardware and software

This is something that Sony has been doing from years now with the proprietary formats. You know this. So why are we pointing the blame over to HD DVD for this. The fact is that all this could've been avoided but Sony felt that they could've made more money by going with their format this time instead of DVD Forums suggestion.

It is pretty hypocritical that a person like you, who should actually know a bit more about history, who in one way represents Sony's interests by holding a site and getting paid by mostly Sony (I know about Fox's and Disney's involvement) comes out and actually says something like that.

So a company that has been constantly developing closed and proprietary technologies for the sake of bigger revenues and control, now comes out and says (through you) that HD DVD is the reason why consumers are suffering when they have a history of huge quantities of customers with useless technologies they have developed and pushed JUST like Blu-Ray.

And please don't tell me that they pay you for YOUR opinion, I'm very much aware that anything you post or gets on that site has to be approved by the trio of your bosses.

Cheers.

the problem i have with HD DVD going away (Universal going neutral) is that prices won't come down as quickly and studios will start overcharging even more for individual titles

The price of Spiderman 3 makes the HD DVD Combo prices look godly

Not too biased??? You got easy facts wrong.
I doubt trust had anything to do with anything.

You gave us "the intent" but not the content of his words. How hard is it to give us his actual words, how would it be it all of your post, your words here, were taken reorganized and then only intent as perceived by whomever did the editing were given?
Same difference when his intent is winnowed through the thresher of your beliefs.

Consideration of your objectivity has to be considered along with the source of your income and your bias. You believe Blu will win, you report is for a website who's covert or overt purpose is to bolster that belief.

Journalist?? Just like Geraldo Rivera is a journalist??? ;)

Yep, you have to judge me based on my credibility of 20 years of covering this industry. I'll happily stand on that reputation, which I assume is at least in part why Universal president Craig Kornblau decided to talk to me at length for a blog even though he knew it was going to be posted on a pro-Blu-ray site. Doubt he would do that if he didn't trust and respect my fairness.
For the 10oth time today -- it's unrealistic to expect any journalist to provide a complete transcript of every interview they conduct for every story or blog or column they write. You would never read it or watch it on TV because it would be dozens of pages long or hours long on TV. That's why almost every story everywhere paraphrases and characterizes comments made from many different people they talked to for the story.
If the subject of my blog has no problem with what I wrote, I would suggest that the reader should be satisfied that it is a fair representation of what he said. But you are certainly welcome to judge without evidence that the blog is an inaccurate or incomplete summary of his comments even if the person himself doesn't feel that way.





As for presenting every

For studios having both formats tie to the point that they need to release on both 5 years from now means that they would have to pay for some of their extras to be produced in both HDi and BD-J for one thing. I cannot imagine any major studio other than Warner and Sony preferring a tie 5 years from now over their second choice format winning. I don't believe Universal wants a tie 5 years from now where they have the extra costs of supporting both formats either. I think they want an HD DVD win, but also want to force some lower prices and interactivity support (although that is probably coming anyway) on Blu-ray if it is going to win. In other words, I don't think Universal is against the competition now, but also seems fiscally responsible enough that they wouldn't want to be burdened with supporting both or missing out on a big chunk of the market 5 years from now.

--Darin

If both formats are here 5 years from now, inexpensive dual-format players will be the norm and studios will not have to release in both formats. Each studio can then choose just one format to publish in. The format of the disc will be transparent to the user via the universal player. (In fact, that scenario still has the most votes in that poll in the Dual Format Players section.)

I don't really want to interfere in this discussion because I know what your task is and it is pointless to point out the error of your ways, I just wanted to address what you wrote under #1.

1.) those who choose the wrong format will have to eat all their hardware and software

So why are we pointing the blame over to HD DVD for this.

And please don't tell me that they pay you for YOUR opinion, I'm very much aware that anything you post or gets on that site has to be approved by the trio of your bosses.

Cheers.

Actually, the main point of the blog I wrote is that Universal president Craig Kornblau himself is saying Universal is keeping the format war alive; I did not say that.
I also did not say that HD DVD will be responsible for people having to eat all their hardware and software. Whichever format wins, consumers of the other format will have to eat all their hardware and software.

Your last comment is just not true -- nothing I write HAS to be approved by a trio of anyone. I have complete independence to post whatever I want, which I have done with most of my blogs. I have, in fact, run a few of my blogs past a couple of studio execs and a couple of different Blu-ray hardware manufacturers before I post them to check on facts I may not be privvy to and insider perspective they may be able to provide that may enhance my comments. It's up to me whether I incorporate any or all of their feedback. Also, I run some blogs past some legal people if there are any potential problematic legal issues I raise. That's a far cry from the way you are trying to characterize the situation.

Well, first of all he didn't say those things to me a week ago -- it was about 48 hours before I posted it late last night.
Secondly, I have no idea when or where he said the comments in today's AP story -- you seem to think it was at a press conference today?
Third, I have no idea why people choose to say things and where and when they choose to say them -- you'd have to ask them. I can only tell you what he said to me and let you know that he thanked me this morning for my blog, so obviously he is not upset about anything I wrote concerning his comments, including his use of the word "fragile" -- his word, not mine.
I don't need to ask him to issue a press release to satisfy you about the veracity of his comments to me so that you are satisfied that I am not full of ****.

Cool sorry if I seemed to attack you, thanks for clearning that up with me i belive you and will go now.

As I have stated many times in this thread today, a blog is not a news story and is not expected to be a "complete story." That is for the news or feature section. I am not passing myself or this story as anything other than a conveyance of a conversation, with my take on the comments made during that conversation. Anyone writing a blog is absolutely presenting that information as an opinion since that is the definition of a blog. Actually, in my view, I prefer hearing an opinion in response to comments made by an authority like Kornblau in the same blog rather than just random opinions such as "I love Blu-ray because the beautiful case color," which can be anyone's opinion about anything that has no bearing on anything in particular. At least you are also hearing information -- hopefully new or interesting information -- from an interesting credible source in the process. I have a feeling if I just said I think Blu-ray will win the war, this blog would not have engaged you and the thousands of others today, like it has since I shared my conversation with someone notable.

Apparently, the only way you and others would be satisifed (and probably not even then) would be to have a complete transcript of the conversation. That is for another venue -- that is not a blog and that approach is not what any journalist for any paper -- NY Times or Wall Street Journal included -- ever takes when writing even a news story, but especically not an editorial, which is what a blog is.
But I know you have read my comments saying this repeatedly today, so I will assume you choose to just keep remaking the same arguments as if you never heard this response.
I am certainly open to criticism and even encourage it -- doesn't mean I have to agree with every criticism served up. If you look at my response to constructive criticsim on my blogs on the site from Day One, you will see that I have indeed accepted many criticisms as valid and made changes to my blog and the web site accordingly. Also accepted quickly early this morning someone pointing out that I had an error in my blog suggesting that "Blades of Glory" would be Blu-ray exclusive.

You are certainly free to express your perceptions of my work and positions, but please also be open to my challenge of those perceptions if I feel they are not based in fact and I have evidence to the contrary.

Anyway, glad to hear you aren't angry -- really.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion - as am I and everyone else. It is obvious that our views differ. Even still, I have voiced my objections with what/how you presented your commentary even though as you point out, much of it is opinion. So I suppose we should leave it at that.

No point in beating a dead horse.

Best of luck to you, and for the record, I truly hope (both for my sake and the rest of the HD consumers out there) your prediction proves wrong.

Actually, the main point of the blog I wrote is that Universal president Craig Kornblau himself is saying Universal is keeping the format war alive; I did not say that.
I also did not say that HD DVD will be responsible for people having to eat all their hardware and software. Whichever format wins, consumers of the other format will have to eat all their hardware and software.

Your last comment is just not true -- nothing I write HAS to be approved by a trio of anyone. I have complete independence to post whatever I want, which I have done with most of my blogs. I have, in fact, run a few of my blogs past a couple of studio execs and a couple of different Blu-ray hardware manufacturers before I post them to check on facts I may not be privvy to and insider perspective they may be able to provide that may enhance my comments. It's up to me whether I incorporate any or all of their feedback. Also, I run some blogs past some legal people if there are any potential problematic legal issues I raise. That's a far cry from the way you are trying to characterize the situation.


Okay, well I was under impression that you need to run all your articles and content by the studios. My mistake if this is not the case.

However I find it interesting that again you cut out responses conveniently. You did not address the previous well know history of Sony's unsuccessful formats and their track record of screwing customers over.

This is relevant because HD DVD people have less to lose. First of all love it or hate it we have combos. These disk WILL in fact play as regular DVDs even on upscaling Blu-Ray players if by some miracle Blu-Ray wins. This means that at least piece of our investment is usable, something that no Blu-Ray owner can say. Actually I'm not even sure that my existing Blu-Ray titles won't develop rot issue where I will have to re-buy my stuff anyways. Or is rot issue covered by studios who support Blu-ray so i can get a replacement?

Second the amount of investment that HD DVD people have is at least 2-3 times less then if they went Blu-Ray. So the fact is, that by saying CONSUMERS will lose, actually affects more people who went Blu-Ray only as opposed to people who went HD DVD.

Another thing I can't wrap my head around is that you guys never address the issues that non of the Blu-Ray players now with the exception of new Denons have Profile 1.1 certification and hardware requirements.

How can you recommend a format in your blogs that will eventually cost a customer $500+ to start off and will pretty much only play movies. How is this BETTER for consumer.

I mean with HD DVD at least I know..if it goes down, I made a mistake and that's it. But with Blu-Ray even a person who SUPPORTS Blu-Ray will have to pay again for the Profile 1.1 or even 2.0 players. Or do you consider this collateral damage among early adopters.

I'm sorry if we are off topic, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the whole idea how by supporting HD DVD, consumers are losing approach and that Blu-Ray will give consumers a piece of mind and is overall better.

Second the amount of investment that HD DVD people have is at least 2-3 times less then if they went Blu-Ray.If they only rent or don't buy many discs. I just checked on Amazon and it shows the HD-A2 at $249.82, while it has the BDP-S300 at $499 and the PS3 at $499.99. Not even counting the premium for those combos you were talking about buying, for somebody who buys 20 discs at $20 each the total difference would be basically $650 vs $900. Or 38% more for the Blu-ray total. Throw in a Blu-ray remote for the PS3 at $25 and it goes up to 42% more.

--Darin

Yep, you have to judge me based on my credibility of 20 years of covering this industry. I'll happily stand on that reputation, which I assume is at least in part why Universal president Craig Kornblau decided to talk to me at length for a blog even though he knew it was going to be posted on a pro-Blu-ray site. Doubt he would do that if he didn't trust and respect my fairness.
For the 10oth time today -- it's unrealistic to expect any journalist to provide a complete transcript of every interview they conduct for every story or blog or column they write. You would never read it or watch it on TV because it would be dozens of pages long or hours long on TV. That's why almost every story everywhere paraphrases and characterizes comments made from many different people they talked to for the story.
If the subject of my blog has no problem with what I wrote, I would suggest that the reader should be satisfied that it is a fair representation of what he said. But you are certainly welcome to judge without evidence that the blog is an inaccurate or incomplete summary of his comments even if the person himself doesn't feel that way.





As for presenting every

We were also given the intent of EMA Vegas 2007, thankfully there was a video transcript to verify.
We're talking specifics and you generalizing. Specifically the whole conversation wasn't 12 or 24 hours. Half hour or an hour at the most.
Your intent and tone are crystal clear, you begin with a premise then repeat it and confirm it, then repeat it again.
You're not without skill. Skillfully crafted words do not disguise their intent. Plenty of other propagandist have made their cases too. I could name some but it seems too trite to bring up.

To come here claiming only the purest journalistic of intentions and integrity is all but laughable. "We report you decide." is the catch phrase I believe you're looking for ;) You were editorializing by interjecting your beliefs.
We can't be happy with your "report" because it was an editorial endorsing a candidate not a unbiased report. The criticism for the lack of Kornblau's acutal quoutes is a well taken one.
For instance: Question: Do you still beat your wife?
Answer: What??! No!
The write up of the intention: He indicated he is no longer beating his current spouse. However his former wife could not be reached at the time of this publication to confirm when he stopped beating her.

Bottom line you editorialized and thumped the blu bible pushing the blu agenda.

In closing Jeff Gannon was(/is?) a journalist too.

Blu-ray backers launch deceptive "Hi-Def News" site (http://valleywag.com/tech/sony/blu+ray-backers-launch-deceptive-hi+def-news-site-278312.php)
There is a new web site focused on unbiased coverage of high-definition entertainment. The only problem: it's a Blu-Ray promotional campaign -- exclusively covering Blu-Ray -- created by its backers: Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, and others. Hi-def fans spotted the campaign immediately and are decrying the site as propaganda.

The site's blogger, Scott Hettrick, has been proactively responding. He edited his first blog post that, ironically, attempted to dispel the rumors and propaganda surrounding the hi-def format war ("...there's an awful lot of propaganda and posturing out there by both the companies releasing the product and the so-called "fanboys" of the Internet.") with a disclaimer ("As we note clearly in "About Us," this site is supported on many different levels by many of the more than 170 companies that support Blu-ray, most primarily Disney, Fox and Sony, but no single organization or group.") But Hettrick's "honesty" does little to alter the "propaganda and posturing" of this advertising campaign. The deception is sure to backfire, the site shuttered as has happened in the past.

In fact, everyone involved, particularly Sony, should have known better. Sony has been caught creating a fake blog promoting the PSP last December and fake critics for its movies six years ago. And we thought Sony had learned with the PSP fiasco: "Guess we were trying to be just a little too clever. From this point forward, we will just stick to making cool products, and use this site to give you nothing but the facts..." Yes, please.

Okay, well I was under impression that you need to run all your articles and content by the studios. My mistake if this is not the case.

However I find it interesting that again you cut out responses conveniently. You did not address the previous well know history of Sony's unsuccessful formats and their track record of screwing customers over.

This is relevant because HD DVD people have less to lose. First of all love it or hate it we have combos. These disk WILL in fact play as regular DVDs even on upscaling Blu-Ray players if by some miracle Blu-Ray wins. This means that at least piece of our investment is usable, something that no Blu-Ray owner can say. Actually I'm not even sure that my existing Blu-Ray titles won't develop rot issue where I will have to re-buy my stuff anyways. Or is rot issue covered by studios who support Blu-ray so i can get a replacement?

Second the amount of investment that HD DVD people have is at least 2-3 times less then if they went Blu-Ray. So the fact is, that by saying CONSUMERS will lose, actually affects more people who went Blu-Ray only as opposed to people who went HD DVD.

Another thing I can't wrap my head around is that you guys never address the issues that non of the Blu-Ray players now with the exception of new Denons have Profile 1.1 certification and hardware requirements.

How can you recommend a format in your blogs that will eventually cost a customer $500+ to start off and will pretty much only play movies. How is this BETTER for consumer.

I mean with HD DVD at least I know..if it goes down, I made a mistake and that's it. But with Blu-Ray even a person who SUPPORTS Blu-Ray will have to pay again for the Profile 1.1 or even 2.0 players. Or do you consider this collateral damage among early adopters.

I'm sorry if we are off topic, I'm just trying to wrap my head around the whole idea how by supporting HD DVD, consumers are losing approach and that Blu-Ray will give consumers a piece of mind and is overall better.

No need to apologize -- I appreciate you taking the time to dialogue.
First, the rot issue has been fully addressed here and in other threads -- it is a non-issue, a one-time anomaly, so no worries about that.

Second, you're right that I did not address your point relative to previous Sony products. I intended to but forgot -- hard to remember to cover every point made in every comment. My feeling is that your concerns about Sony's history of products and screwing customers may be warranted to a certain extent -- though they have also created some of the most revolutionary and successful products in history (I wonder if any other company has had as many successes -- I guess you have to expect a certain ratio of failure with so many successes and attempts at new products). Still, even if you say they have had a horrible track record, I think we have to look at this product and this situation. If it's good enough to get many favorable reviews as both a stand-alone Blu-ray player and as the underlying format in PS3, and if it generates sufficient consumer sales (jury still out), then I think you have to accept that or at least deal with that reality, despite your distrust of their historical track record. Chrysler made an awful lot of crap cars in the 1970s (the "K" car and others), but then came back with the minivan and other revolutionary vehicles that changed the auto industry and were quite successful. So, while you can be and should be skeptical about a new product from a company with a poor recent track record, you can't dismiss them out of hand.

As for HD DVD customers feeling like their products will still be use-able, can't you say the same thing about Blu-ray players, which also play DVDs?
But your point is well taken that in terms of hardware, HD DVD customers stand to lose less -- at the moment -- than Blu-ray customers if their format folds.

As for recommending product, I agree and have said that I think HD DVD has been ahead and remains ahead of Blu-ray in terms of players offering higher levels of interactviity and connectivity, though there hasn't been a ton of that by the HD DVD people yet, and Blu-ray promises there's is coming this fall and will be better than HD DVD (we'll see). So, yes, personally I am not strongly recommending anyone buy Blu-ray players today since they are not all web-capable (primarily just the PS3). Nonetheless, I think Blu-ray will catch up quickly and surpass HD DVD and provide a more inherently robust infrastructure for the long-term, which will mean consumers won't be forced to buy the next-genertation format quite as quickly as they might have to with HD DVD.

Thanks for your thoughtful comments and questions.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion - as am I and everyone else. It is obvious that our views differ. Even still, I have voiced my objections with what/how you presented your commentary even though as you point out, much of it is opinion. So I suppose we should leave it at that.

No point in beating a dead horse.

Best of luck to you, and for the record, I truly hope (both for my sake and the rest of the HD consumers out there) your prediction proves wrong.

Best to you as well. Appreciate the chat.

If they only rent or don't buy many discs. I just checked on Amazon and it shows the HD-A2 at $249.82, while it has the BDP-S300 at $499 and the PS3 at $499.99. Not even counting the premium for those combos you were talking about buying, for somebody who buys 20 discs at $20 each the total difference would be basically $650 vs $900. Or 38% more for the Blu-ray total. Throw in a Blu-ray remote for the PS3 at $25 and it goes up to 42% more.

--Darin

Yep, that's certainly the truth today. I wish Blu-ray machines were $250. The problem for consumers is that companies have to treat this as a business. I have heard some very credible people say that Toshiba is already subsidizing their machines at that low price because they are that desperate to get into the market. That doesn't make for a very sustainable business and, as I stated in my Thursday blog, is counter to the reason consumer electronics companies pushed the high-def disc platform in the first place -- they were tired of losing money on DVD players. Right now, thanks to PS3, Blu-ray manufacturers can hold the line on their prices at about $500, but I imagine you will soon see hardware companies like Samsung and maybe even Sony start lowering the price on their Blu-ray stand-alone players to compete not only with HD DVD's $250 price but also with each other. If not, they may lose critical ground to Toshiba and HD DVD.

We were also given the intent of EMA Vegas 2007, thankfully there was a video transcript to verify.
We're talking specifics and you generalizing. Specifically the whole conversation wasn't 12 or 24 hours. Half hour or an hour at the most.
Your intent and tone are crystal clear, you begin with a premise then repeat it and confirm it, then repeat it again.
You're not without skill. Skillfully crafted words do not disguise their intent. Plenty of other propagandist have made their cases too. I could name some but it seems too trite to bring up.

To come here claiming only the purest journalistic of intentions and integrity is all but laughable. "We report you decide." is the catch phrase I believe you're looking for ;) You were editorializing by interjecting your beliefs.
We can't be happy with your "report" because it was an editorial endorsing a candidate not a unbiased report. The criticism for the lack of Kornblau's acutal quoutes is a well taken one.
For instance: Question: Do you still beat your wife?
Answer: What??! No!
The write up of the intention: He indicated he is no longer beating his current spouse. However his former wife could not be reached at the time of this publication to confirm when he stopped beating her.

Bottom line you editorialized and thumped the blu bible pushing the blu agenda.

In closing Jeff Gannon was(/is?) a journalist too.

So no journalist in print, in blogs, or on TV is allowed to present an opinion or take a position or to present portions of an interview without presenting the entire transcript? Anything else does not meet with your approval and your standards for journalistic excellence?
Wow, I don't believe I have ever read any magazine, newspaper, seen any TV news program, or read any series of blogs that conform to that standard or meet your requirements. Actually, I don't think you have either, and I seriously doubt that you would like to read or watch that, and I know you would not have the time.

We report -- you decide? Who said I claimed to be reporting or trying to get you to decide anything? I was sharing a conversation I had with the president of Universal video and offering my opinion about his comments. That's it. My job is done at that point. What you think of it or do with it is entirely up to you.

Mr. Kornblau thanked me this morning for the blog -- he didn't seem to have any concerns about the nature of my questions, but you are certainly free to carry a flag he never wanted to wave if it makes you feel better.

My job is done at that point.

I think the main point of contention is the fact that your job entails writing a blog that is part of the "Blu-Ray promotional campaign", or do you disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things?

How does it feel to be a shill for the BDA?


You get BD releases a month early ;)

If they only rent or don't buy many discs. I just checked on Amazon and it shows the HD-A2 at $249.82, while it has the BDP-S300 at $499 and the PS3 at $499.99. Not even counting the premium for those combos you were talking about buying, for somebody who buys 20 discs at $20 each the total difference would be basically $650 vs $900. Or 38% more for the Blu-ray total. Throw in a Blu-ray remote for the PS3 at $25 and it goes up to 42% more.

--Darin

Darin, I understand what you are trying to say, however I strongly disagree for several reasons.

What exactly do I need in order to have HD DVD experience?

I pay $249 for a standalone HD DVD player with 5 free movies or even $160 or something like that with 5 movies. So I already have 5 movies I can watch on this.

I did some numbers as for what tittles are more expensive. You still lose more on Blu-Ray even if I buy all combos.

Here pure math based on calculator and hdvdstats.com and blu-raystats.com:

$26.82 HD15
$32.72 HD30

$34.05 BD25
$34.72 BD50

the average price for BD titles be it BD25 or BD50 (of course taking in consideration the number of each released, I didn't just sum up the two and divided by 2 to get average) is

BD average price: $34.5 same way HD average price is: $32

average price of combo disk is $34.95 on HD DVD

Now imagine I bought 10 combo movies on HD DVD and 10 BD movies.

I paid on average the same amount. Of course I might find them somewhat cheaper online but on average they will be approx. same price.


If you can show me, why I have to throw away my HD DVD combo discs even if the format fails? My investment is safe. I can use those combos as regular DVDs on any upconverting player or even Blu-Ray player if god forbid this format wins.

All I would have to throw away would be a $160 X360 HD DVD AO or $249 HD DVD standalone and possibly some non-combo HD discs, but if we know that 90+% of HD DVD discs will be combo by year's end. This is becomes a non-issue.

So consumer's loss is minimized as much as possible with HD DVD.

Can Blu-Ray say the same? On Blu-Ray you pay $500 for player, and then you have to throw away ALL your discs if HD DVD wins. Not only that, but come year end, I'm not even sure that people will be too happy if they have to replace their Blu-Ray players with some newer models for 2008 as the ones that are being sold this year will most definitely have serious limitations with features and so on.

How exactly is Blu-Ray good any way you look at this?

Hey you know what, I don't disagree that in 2 years Blu-Ray will be great. But you know what, don't come out and tell me that I will lose stuff equally on both sides because I will not. (I mean not you, but any Blu-Ray PR person).

This is misleading and plain lie. This is why HD DVD was made the way it was to protect consumers and allow backwards compatibility to maximize consumers bang-for-the-buck.

The only thing that Blu-Ray is doing is cause problems for combos not to go down in price as studios are split. And this is MOSTLY Sony's, Fox's and Disney's fault.

Shame on BDA for screwing consumers like this.

Very dissapointing.

You get BD releases a month early ;)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :D ...good one ;)

I think the main point of contention is the fact that your job entails writing a blog that is part of the "Blu-Ray promotional campaign", or do you disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things?

Yes, I disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things but I allow for the fact that he made those comments about a month ago when we initially launched the site. He predicted the site would be shut down. It's been more than a month and we are growing stronger every day with more breaking news tips, exclusives, reviews from more and more writers from many credible sites and videos from events and interviews and trailers and traffic and coverage and pick-ups.
Initial skepticism was understandable; now it's just uninformed and ignorant of the evidence.

What exactly do I need in order to have HD DVD experience?

I pay $249 for a standalone HD DVD player with 5 free movies or even $160 or something like that with 5 movies. So I already have 5 movies I can watch on this.It took something like 5 months for my movies to come. They came yesterday.
Here pure math based on calculator and hdvdstats.com and blu-raystats.com:

$26.82 HD15
$32.72 HD30

$34.05 BD25
$34.72 BD50What titles did you use for this?
Now imagine I bought 10 combo movies on HD DVD and 10 BD movies.How many HD DVDs do you own? Do you think 15 total is about right for enthusiasts?
If you can show me, why I have to throw away my HD DVD combo discs even if the format fails? My investment is safe.It is only safe if your standards are so low that you consider DVD equal to high definition. If a stock I bought goes to 1/3rd its original value I wouldn't say my investment was safe because there was something left. If you value DVD quality so much, why are you buying HD DVDs?
All I would have to throw away would be a $160 X360 HD DVD AO or $249 HD DVD standalone and possibly some non-combo HD discs, but if we know that 90+% of HD DVD discs will be combo by year's end. This is becomes a non-issue.You don't have to throw away anything with either side if you just keep using that player. But seriously, are you telling me that if you have a movie you really like on HD DVD and HD DVD loses and you don't have a player, that you won't get the movie on Blu-ray? If it isn't worth that much to you, then why are you spending the premium for HD now? The amount I spent for my display makes $250 a piddly amount of difference and I'm not going back to DVD to save a few bucks. I could dig through the $5 bin at Wal-mart or buy DVDs off ebay if I cared little about image quality.
Can Blu-Ray say the same? On Blu-Ray you pay $500 for player, and then you have to throw away ALL your discs if HD DVD wins.You don't have to throw away anything as I said, but using your logic you have to throw away some of your HD DVDs and the rest I would consider crap anyway.

I'm taking it you don't agree with Amir's statement along the lines of people not being happy with SD after they have gotten used to HD. Is that true?
How exactly is Blu-Ray good any way you look at this?If you would be content with DVD quality, then I doubt there is much way your eyes could see how it is worth it. There is also the factor of how likely it is for the format to go away and while around last November I might have put the odds at 50/50, now I think anybody realistic laying odds would have to say the odds of Blu-ray going away are getting pretty small, while the odds of HD DVD going away have risen with recent events (and if the Weinsteins really are going neutral the odds go up even more).
This is why HD DVD was made the way it was to protect consumers and allow backwards compatibility to maximize consumers bang-for-the-buck.HD DVD was made the way it was largely for Toshiba and Warner's patents. Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with that, but you have to be happy enough with standard definition to think that you have enough value that if your chosen format dies you would rather watch the SD version than get the thing in HD on the other format. And most of these DVDs get real cheap, so a person that was happy with DVD could go buy most of them for not a whole lot of money in the case where their chosen format dies.

If you want to argue about still having value, if HD DVD loses the movie war an HD DVD player is unlikely to be worth much at all for resale. Even if Blu-ray loses the movie war a PS3 can still be sold to somebody for games. Not for the original price of course, but likely more than an old HD DVD player would sell for.

Honestly, I can understand Amir making this claim about protecting your investment if the format loses as he is pushing the format for his job, but I find it quite incredible that an enthusiast on an enthusiast site would push that people can just watch the standard definition version as some great benefit. What are we all doing here if standard definition is good enough? You think Amir would spend $8k on a projector and way more than that on his audio and then watch his content from the DVD side of a combo disc if HD DVD died and the movie was available on Blu-ray? I am curious as to what kind of display you use.

--Darin

It took something like 5 months for my movies to come. They came yesterday.
What titles did you use for this?
How many HD DVDs do you own? Do you think 15 total is about right for enthusiasts?
It is only safe if your standards are so low that you consider DVD equal to high definition. If a stock I bought goes to 1/3rd its original value I wouldn't say my investment was safe because there was something left. If you value DVD quality so much, why are you buying HD DVDs?

You don't have to throw away anything with either side if you just keep using that player. But seriously, are you telling me that if you have a movie you really like on HD DVD and HD DVD loses and you don't have a player, that you won't get the movie on Blu-ray? If it isn't worth that much to you, then why are you spending the premium for HD now? The amount I spent for my display makes $250 a piddly amount of difference and I'm not going back to DVD to save a few bucks. I could dig through the $5 bin at Wal-mart or buy DVDs off ebay if I cared little about image quality.
You don't have to throw away anything as I said, but using your logic you have to throw away some of your HD DVDs and the rest I would consider crap anyway.

I'm taking it you don't agree with Amir's statement along the lines of people not being happy with SD after they have gotten used to HD. Is that true?
If you would be content with DVD quality, then I doubt there is much way your eyes could see how it is worth it. There is also the factor of how likely it is for the format to go away and while around last November I might have put the odds at 50/50, now I think anybody realistic laying odds would have to say the odds of Blu-ray going away are getting pretty small, while the odds of HD DVD going away have risen with recent events (and if the Weinsteins really are going neutral the odds go up even more).
HD DVD was made the way it was largely for Toshiba and Warner's patents. Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with that, but you have to be happy enough with standard definition to think that you have enough value that if your chosen format dies you would rather watch the SD version than get the thing in HD on the other format. And most of these DVDs get real cheap, so a person that was happy with DVD could go buy most of them for not a whole lot of money in the case where their chosen format dies.

If you want to argue about still having value, if HD DVD loses the movie war an HD DVD player is unlikely to be worth much at all for resale. Even if Blu-ray loses the movie war a PS3 can still be sold to somebody for games. Not for the original price of course, but likely more than an old HD DVD player would sell for.

Honestly, I can understand Amir making this claim about protecting your investment if the format loses as he is pushing the format for his job, but I find it quite incredible that an enthusiast on an enthusiast site would push that people can just watch the standard definition version as some great benefit. What are we all doing here if standard definition is good enough? You think Amir would spend $8k on a projector and way more than that on his audio and then watch his content from the DVD side of a combo disc if HD DVD died and the movie was available on Blu-ray? I am curious as to what kind of display you use.

--Darin


Darin you are twisting my words.

I am not defending SD. I am just saying that IF anyone chooses they can STILL keep, give away or whatever they want, their HDDVD combo collection and use it.

You see the problem with what you are saying is thinking that EVERYONE will just drop SD overnight and switch to whatever format wins. How funny is this.

You do realize that there will be millions of homes that will have 1 hi-def player and several $30 DVD players, including cars, mobile electronics and players etc etc.

To say that regular SD doesn't have place at all and to hint that it is ok rebuy everything to accomodate forced hi-def format is wrong and pretty much irresponsible. And this is certainly not what HD DVD stands for.

I have over 50+ HD DVD titles for example, but I'm not in question here. I can afford several more Blu-Ray or HD DVD players. this is not what we are talking about. I said 10 HD DVD and 10 Blu-Ray just so it's easier to understand my point.

I am talking about a regular person who doesn't make $60-100k+ a year salary and can't drop $1500-$2000 on a movie collection in like 2 months as I did.

I am comparing reality, while you are citing imaginary scenarios.

The fact is, someone who even has hard time spending $200 on a hi-def player and waits until they can get 5 free discs with their purchase (which is most people by the way) will not have a collection of movies as you and I will have. It's a fact..they will have a few movies in the beginning, they will rent the rest and it will take years for them to accumulate the amount of titles I have collected in just a month. This is why the TRUE next format standard needs to accomodate this transition in the least painful way for consumer.

This is the fundimental difference between a down-to-earth HD DVD supporting individual and Sony-BD dreamer that thinks that everyone is shi*ting money.

For this reason, I said, HD DVD will ALWAYS be better for consumer, not only does it have better features and is more universal (what a true format standard should be) but it gives users a great value as they can make a transition to all hi-def over a longer period of time while still utilizing their existing equipment while using those combo discs.

As it was said many times, and a fact that many Blu-Ray zealots just jump over. The fact that a regular person can buy an HD DVD, then watch it in their car video player, an airplane on their small video player, take it to their bedroom in the same house without the need to buy another $500+ player as they already have a $40 dvd player, or give that movie to grandparents or parents that still don't have hi-def is extermely pro-consumer.

The approach that Sony is doing with Blu-Ray is completely opposite, They are literally saying..you know what in order for you to use all this new stuff to the fullest you need to buy ALL new equipment. I ask you why? Why do you have to replace all of your DVD players in your house with Blu-Ray players in order to use your existing movie collection.

I'm sorry I have problems recommending this to anyone, at least not until we see $50 Blu-Ray players which I think will take about 2-3 more years to at least start thinking about, while HD DVD might hit this price as early as next year.


I'm taking it you don't agree with Amir's statement along the lines of people not being happy with SD after they have gotten used to HD. Is that true?


I completely agree with Amir. The person is very objective regardless of his insider position. But what I'm addressing here has nothing to do with how cool hi-def is and it has everything to do with an overall value for the consumer. So I don't keep repeating myself you can read above again if you're unclear on what I'm talking about.


If you want to argue about still having value, if HD DVD loses the movie war an HD DVD player is unlikely to be worth much at all for resale. Even if Blu-ray loses the movie war a PS3 can still be sold to somebody for games. Not for the original price of course, but likely more than an old HD DVD player would sell for.


True, that's why I said, if my player breaks down or whatever, I can still use my HD DVD combos to watch them at my gradparents house, I can borrow it to uncle who doesn't have hi-def, I can carry it with me on the plane when I travel to Europe to watch it on that portable video player... can you do that with Blu-Ray?

The answer is NO.

Sure PS3 will always be able to be used as games, and I never said Blu-Ray will seize to exist, but that's the problem. Today when you say Blu-Ray you say PS3. So what exactly is the point here? Should all users then buy a gaming consoles to watch Blu-Ray movies? If not, then that Blu-Ray standalone will have the same faith if BD loses.

This is a BIG problem for all CE companies that are in BD camp as they have to lose profit to match up with PS3 and even then they are simply not being sold in enough quantities as PS3 is too much of a deal. Can you sense how wrong this is?

I'm betting that most of these CE companies are under contractual obligations and it is the ONLY reason why they are still not coming out with HD DVD only players. But that's just a hunch. Let's not go there.


The whole point is:

Blu-Ray -> ZERO consumer value if it loses and actually forces people to rebuy expensive equipment

HD DVD -> at least some return even if the format loses and allows us consumer to "GROW" into hi-def with less expense or at least expense stretched out until the mass productions takes charge.


That's it.

So no journalist in print, in blogs, or on TV is allowed to present an opinion or take a position or to present portions of an interview without presenting the entire transcript? Anything else does not meet with your approval and your standards for journalistic excellence?
Wow, I don't believe I have ever read any magazine, newspaper, seen any TV news program, or read any series of blogs that conform to that standard or meet your requirements. Actually, I don't think you have either, and I seriously doubt that you would like to read or watch that, and I know you would not have the time.

We report -- you decide? Who said I claimed to be reporting or trying to get you to decide anything? I was sharing a conversation I had with the president of Universal video and offering my opinion about his comments. That's it. My job is done at that point. What you think of it or do with it is entirely up to you.

Mr. Kornblau thanked me this morning for the blog -- he didn't seem to have any concerns about the nature of my questions, but you are certainly free to carry a flag he never wanted to wave if it makes you feel better.
Mr. Kornblau has his own agenda and you probably did exactly what he wanted you to do. He may have no compliant to voice publicly. But lack of his admonishment doesn't declare you did a good job. Plenty of public figures are cordial with reporters/interviewers/whoever, doesn't mean they approve of how it was relayed to the public.

Bill Hunt, Richard Doherty, and you are in the same journalistic boat .

You act like I'm asking for C-span coverage, I'm not, I am asking for un-subjective reporting, which is what you claimed to be doing. You weren't sharing a conversation, you were sharing your point of view, "my opinion" as you said, which happened to coincide with a conversation.

You don't deny you were editorializing, subjective comments and incorporation of blu doctrine are apparent. The introjection of opinion is in no way journalistic.

Mr. Kornblau is probably please to get half of his points across, and probably has his own reasons to be pleased with it. He had his agenda as you have yours.

"Mr. Kornblau thanked me this morning for the blog" Wasn't this moring was it? ;)

@nfinity

Very good post.

Yes, I disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things but I allow for the fact that he made those comments about a month ago when we initially launched the site. He predicted the site would be shut down. It's been more than a month and we are growing stronger every day with more breaking news tips, exclusives, reviews from more and more writers from many credible sites and videos from events and interviews and trailers and traffic and coverage and pick-ups.
Initial skepticism was understandable; now it's just uninformed and ignorant of the evidence.

So you're saying the site isn't run by and for Blu Ray supporters???? :eek:

Er.. OK we believe you, although I kind of thought the banner proclaiming the site to be "Built for Blu-ray" and "Powered by Blu-ray supporters" was slightly indicative of the general bias of the site.

And there I was thinking your job was to promote Blu-ray on a Blu-ray site funded by Blu-ray supporters - whatever was I thinking.

Yes, I disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things but I allow for the fact that he made those comments about a month ago when we initially launched the site.I really hope you're not talking about political-reporter-cum-Washington-call-boy Jeff Gannon...

excellent post nfinity +1

Its hard to resist the Battlestar/Heroes combo this fall.

I actually wasn't looking for this because I don't regularly troll these sites and threads

Thanks.. :) you stated it better then i could. This thread is done.

Bottom line is simply this - if you want Universal titles in HD then buy an HD DVD player and get on with your life! If not, then don't! Besides that - who really cares?

Cheers,

Grant

You act like I'm asking for C-span coverage, I'm not, I am asking for un-subjective reporting, which is what you claimed to be doing. You weren't sharing a conversation, you were sharing your point of view, "my opinion" as you said, which happened to coincide with a conversation.

You don't deny you were editorializing, subjective comments and incorporation of blu doctrine are apparent. The introjection of opinion is in no way journalistic.

The comments in bold are contradictory. You're asking for something you admit he claims he is not providing? Why on earth then should you be upset with the blog? It is, by the author's own admission, an editorial. Expecting "un-subjective" reporting from an editorial is like expecting vanilla ice cream to taste like chocolate. You're destined to be disappointed.

Yes, I disagree with Jeff Gannon's take on things but I allow for the fact that he made those comments about a month ago when we initially launched the site. He predicted the site would be shut down. It's been more than a month and we are growing stronger every day with more breaking news tips, exclusives, reviews from more and more writers from many credible sites and videos from events and interviews and trailers and traffic and coverage and pick-ups.
Initial skepticism was understandable; now it's just uninformed and ignorant of the evidence.
to clarify Jeff Gannon was a "White House reporter between 2003 and 2005 , representing the virtual organization Talon News." "Bobby Eberle has asserted that Talon News was a "straight news site," despite running prominent advertisements for conservative causes and links to GOPUSA.com, a conservative site also run by Eberle."

cybereality is right.

Jeff Gannon has nothing to do with the quote below.
Blu-ray backers launch deceptive "Hi-Def News" site (http://valleywag.com/tech/sony/blu+ray-backers-launch-deceptive-hi+def-news-site-278312.php)
There is a new web site focused on unbiased coverage of high-definition entertainment. The only problem: it's a Blu-Ray promotional campaign -- exclusively covering Blu-Ray -- created by its backers: Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Walt Disney Studios, and others. Hi-def fans spotted the campaign immediately and are decrying the site as propaganda.

The site's blogger, Scott Hettrick, has been proactively responding. He edited his first blog post that, ironically, attempted to dispel the rumors and propaganda surrounding the hi-def format war ("...there's an awful lot of propaganda and posturing out there by both the companies releasing the product and the so-called "fanboys" of the Internet.") with a disclaimer ("As we note clearly in "About Us," this site is supported on many different levels by many of the more than 170 companies that support Blu-ray, most primarily Disney, Fox and Sony, but no single organization or group.") But Hettrick's "honesty" does little to alter the "propaganda and posturing" of this advertising campaign. The deception is sure to backfire, the site shuttered as has happened in the past.

In fact, everyone involved, particularly Sony, should have known better. Sony has been caught creating a fake blog promoting the PSP last December and fake critics for its movies six years ago. And we thought Sony had learned with the PSP fiasco: "Guess we were trying to be just a little too clever. From this point forward, we will just stick to making cool products, and use this site to give you nothing but the facts..." Yes, please.

So no journalist in print, in blogs, or on TV is allowed to present an opinion or take a position or to present portions of an interview without presenting the entire transcript? Anything else does not meet with your approval and your standards for journalistic excellence?

Blogging doesn't make you a journalist because you get to hide behind the protection of 'editorial comments' without being held accountable for libel or slander because you are not under the requirement of presenting facts, a blog is an opinion after all. Not any better that someone writing in a myspace about how much someone sucks. Journalists present articles in print or other mediums which are held up against journalistic integrity and are accountable to represent the truth of the situation otherwise they can be put up against legal risks.

This is from Wiki, but it's a summary of multiple organizations codes of ethics for journalistic integrity:
Wiki: Journalism and Ethics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism_ethics_and_standards)
Objectivity
* Unequivocal separation between news and opinion. In-house editorials and opinion (Op-Ed) pieces are clearly separated from news pieces. News reporters and editorial staff are distinct.
* Unequivocal separation between advertisements and news. All advertisements must be clearly identifiable as such.
* Reporter must avoid conflicts of interest — incentives to report a story with a given slant. This includes not taking bribes and not reporting on stories that affect the reporter's personal, economic or political interests. See envelope journalism.
* Competing points of view are balanced and fairly characterized.
* Persons who are the subject of adverse news stories are allowed a reasonable opportunity to respond to the adverse information before the story is published or broadcast.
* Interference with reporting by any entity, including censorship, must be disclosed.

Blogging doesn't make you a journalist because you get to hide behind the protection of 'editorial comments' without being held accountable for libel or slander because you are not under the requirement of presenting facts, a blog is an opinion after all. Not any better that someone writing in a myspace about how much someone sucks. Journalists present articles in print or other mediums which are held up against journalistic integrity and are accountable to represent the truth of the situation otherwise they can be put up against legal risks.


Considering that the subject interviewed in the blog has no trouble with its content, how responsible is it of you to talk about libel and slander?

There were direct and indirect quotes from Kornblau in the blog, so it hardly qualifies as someone writing in myspace about how much "someone sucks."

Considering that the subject interviewed in the blog has no trouble with its content, how responsible is it of you to talk about libel and slander?

There were direct and indirect quotes from Kornblau in the blog, so it hardly qualifies as someone writing in myspace about how much "someone sucks."
Assuming that the e-mail was sent from him and not from an assistant as a standard follow up to the interview, there's nothing he could do at that point and any attempt to attack the person could result in worst action the otherway. Next article...sorry, blog, might be along the lines of "Kornbleau's secret is out and not he's trying to hide it!" I'm not going to represent either the writer, nor the subject in my opinions, what I wrote was in response to the article...dammit, blog posting only and the claims made by the writer that professes that he's a journalist who doesn't follow the journalistic code of ethics and uses the medium, a blog, to protect his actions.

The Daily Show for news? Is that a joke or are you being serious?

I've seen it quoted as if it were a serious news source. Yes, people ARE that uninformed. You simply cannot underestimate the gullibility and lack of understanding of the general public.

Has this thread veered off into an argument about the Civil War? If so, I don't see how you can argue that it wasn't about slavery.

The thread veered off as a response to a Civil War comment regarding opinion vs. fact in reporting. My point was that if you ACTUALLY READ the factual documents that were generated during the war, you will find that the reasons for the war are not those that are being taught today. (Have you actually read the initial CSA Constitution (vs. the later 'permanent' one)? Few people today have - and it doesn't say what you think it does.) The history being taught today was written by the victors, and is designed to present the winning side's heroes as pictures of valor and chivalry; the real reasons for war are rarely so clear-cut and pretty.

The comments in bold are contradictory. You're asking for something you admit he claims he is not providing? Why on earth then should you be upset with the blog? It is, by the author's own admission, an editorial. Expecting "un-subjective" reporting from an editorial is like expecting vanilla ice cream to taste like chocolate. You're destined to be disappointed.

Not at all. The difference between c-span and reporting is the reporter condenses without bias. I explained what I expected, what anyone should reasonably expect in a fair journalistic interview.


He didn't refuted my assertion of his editorializing which is why I pressed it. Previously he had stated "I'll happily stand on that reputation, which I assume is at least in part why Universal president Craig Kornblau decided to talk to me at length for a blog even though he knew it was going to be posted on a pro-Blu-ray site. Doubt he would do that if he didn't trust and respect my fairness." He also talked about writing the intent rather than the content of what they said.
"That's why almost every story everywhere paraphrases and characterizes comments made from many different people they talked to for the story."

Since fairness is brought it to question, we have to examine his biases because the intent of the words he will relate filter through his own agenda and purposes. He pertains to journalism and fairness, to which there are standards. Bloggers who interpret and claim fairness are not conducting journalism.

"If the subject of my blog has no problem with what I wrote, I would suggest that the reader should be satisfied that it is a fair representation of what he said."
One doesn't necessarily rate the other. Kornblau had his own agenda that may or may not have been served by this. It is highly unlikely Universal president Craig Kornblau would raise a stink over this, like any other public figure he takes the good with the bad and keeps smiling.
For being a fair representation of what he said, we can’t know. The writer’s intent is clear, the format war is because of Universal. Then continues to make blu talking points. Were these part of Kornblau’s comments? Certainly not.

When the writers opinion and his goals are one in the same. The pretense of fairness and accuracy has to be questioned.

You don't deny you were editorializing, subjective comments and incorporation of blu doctrine are apparent. The introjection of opinion is in no way journalistic.

"Mr. Kornblau thanked me this morning for the blog" Wasn't this moring was it? ;)

Huh? Yes, when I wrote that it was "this morning" that Kornblau thanked me -- he thanked me Thurssday morning after he saw the blog.

A blog is an opinion piece, just like an editorial in a newspaper or a column in a magazine, which is part of jorunalism, and therefore, I would think, "journalistic." But there's no need to start arguing over definitions of words. I presented a blog -- if you don't want to call it journalistic; that's fine with me. It doesn't change my intent or the result.
I have to tell you that I have been interviewed in recent months by Lesley Stahl on "60 Minutes," I have been interviewed several times on The Today Show and dozens of times on CNN, CNBC, Fox News Channel, NPR, Entetainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and many other TV and radio programs and radio; I have been interviewed hundreds of times in NY Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, New Yorker, and dozens of other magazines and newspapers. Not one of those times did everything I said get presented. Not one of those times did my words not get edited. Not one of those times did the reporter not paraphrase and summarize the things that I said. And many of those times they put their own spin on what I said. And almost all of those stories were regular news stories or interviews, not editorials or blogs.
I'm not sure what world of journalism you are referring to.

Assuming that the e-mail was sent from him and not from an assistant as a standard follow up to the interview, there's nothing he could do at that point and any attempt to attack the person could result in worst action the otherway. Next article...sorry, blog, might be along the lines of "Kornbleau's secret is out and not he's trying to hide it!" I'm not going to represent either the writer, nor the subject in my opinions, what I wrote was in response to the article...dammit, blog posting only and the claims made by the writer that professes that he's a journalist who doesn't follow the journalistic code of ethics and uses the medium, a blog, to protect his actions.
Great point

So you're saying the site isn't run by and for Blu Ray supporters???? :eek:

Er.. OK we believe you, although I kind of thought the banner proclaiming the site to be "Built for Blu-ray" and "Powered by Blu-ray supporters" was slightly indicative of the general bias of the site.

And there I was thinking your job was to promote Blu-ray on a Blu-ray site funded by Blu-ray supporters - whatever was I thinking.

Huh, no I didn't say the site isn't run by and for Blu-ray supporters. That's their mission. They pay me to write what I think in a blog on that site so they can generate as wider base of readers due to having more of an independent and objective voice than a typical promotional site. Otherwise, they could hire any p.r. person. They know that I believe Blu-ray will win buit they also know that doesn't mean I can't be objective about the battle along the way and point out many mistakes made by Blu-ray as I have pointed out many times on my site and many times on this thread in the last 24-hours.

I really hope you're not talking about political-reporter-cum-Washington-call-boy Jeff Gannon...

I don't know who the hell he is. I didn't bring up his name. Someone here quoted him and asked me if I agree with him. I was just responding...

LOL, you really think that by end of october THIS YEAR, Blu-Ray will match functionality of HD DVD? Don't make me laugh. If anything by end of this year, almost all Blu-Ray players (it's not even certain that PS3 will be able to) will most likely be unable to play any features developed after official Profile 1.1 implementation, meaning that movie studios will continue releasing poor and feature movie only BDs.

Blu-Ray, in current form, will never match HD DVD because not ALL player have mandatory ethernet. This is one of the first things you want to look at.

Who cares about interactivity and downloadable features, all I want is a movie with the best soundtrack and picture.

The comments in bold are contradictory. You're asking for something you admit he claims he is not providing? Why on earth then should you be upset with the blog? It is, by the author's own admission, an editorial. Expecting "un-subjective" reporting from an editorial is like expecting vanilla ice cream to taste like chocolate. You're destined to be disappointed.

You are the man, David F. Hopefully the light bulb will go on with that great post.

to clarify Jeff Gannon was a "White House reporter between 2003 and 2005 , representing the virtual organization Talon News." "Bobby Eberle has asserted that Talon News was a "straight news site," despite running prominent advertisements for conservative causes and links to GOPUSA.com, a conservative site also run by Eberle."

cybereality is right.

Jeff Gannon has nothing to do with the quote below.

Thanks for clarifying.

OK, then no, I do not agree with Jeff Gannon because we never claimed to be a "straight news site." We are clear that we are a pro-Blu-ray site with my independent blog that is no different than the weekly editorial column I wrote for 6 years for Video Business and my monthly editorial column I wrote for the DVD Exclusive magazine I founded, or the occasional editorial pieces I wrote for The Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety, with the exception that my blogs are focused on a single subject area.

And my previous comments referring to the predictions of the HiHD's site's demise written a month ago still stand.