Lets pretend that HD-DVD won the format war. Would the lack of region coding in HD-DVD be a problem for a boutique company like Criterion? Would the majors still let them release their editions if they knew they might compete with their ability to sell the rights for the movies overseas?

Or would the be the end of local releases? Would all movies just be issued from the country of origin?

Daniel.

Lets pretend that HD-DVD won the format war. Would the lack of region coding in HD-DVD be a problem for a boutique company like Criterion?

Great post! Great question!
Here are some thoughts:

I believe "some" Criterion titles are already region free. I got many of them and I tried (just by coincidence) some European films on R2 players and some of them worked. I cannot remember exactly which ones, but some did got played.

MAYBE that's because they know their titles do carry some appeal to some European consumers.

The lack of region coding actually may help them... or not. I think it depends.

It will certainly allow them to have better sales - specially through Amazon and several other retailers who ship overseas. OR international retailers who may import more of their titles if region coding is no impediment.

But Criterion releases are very expensive - comparing to similar or inferior local editions. On another thread, I said that I saw in Brazil very similar editions (almost the same extras and all) for 30% less. Maybe Criterion will be able to go cheaper if the absence of region coding helps them to sell more... or maybe they will decide to remain more expensive. I guess it depends on company policy.
I am a regular customer even knowing many of their titles are available in my area. If could find a 10% increase in availability (here in Europe), maybe I'd buy 10% more. :)

They need to study the impact.


Would the majors still let them release their editions if they knew they might compete with their ability to sell the rights for the movies overseas?


I don't believe that. Language is a great barrier. If you are Italian, it may be irrelevant if the Fellini film you bought has no other subtitles than English. But you may not think that way if you bought a Bergman or a Kurosawa film. BUT HD DVD would allow you to download the subtitles in your language. That may help international releases... if they do have more subtitles available (which I think they don't because translations are made locally by the local distributor).

Bottom line is, the HD DVD no region policy may be a little shaky for some companies at first. BUT the real impact is for the future of film sales.


Or would the be the end of local releases? Would all movies just be issued from the country of origin?


There's space for both. Big companies like Warner and Sony (who may operate worldwide) will release their films as always... except for the fact that no-coding may push a little more for international synchronized releases instead of the opposite. That may be helpful against piracy.

Local distributors will always exist for independent films.

But consumers will be the ultimate winners being able to see any movie regardless of where they live.

There is NO evidence that regional coding or the lack of it impacts sales in any way shape or form. The vast majority of players sold in Europe are region free to the extent that anyone interested in importing discs has one.

There is NO evidence that regional coding or the lack of it impacts sales in any way shape or form. The vast majority of players sold in Europe are region free to the extent that anyone interested in importing discs has one.

In the end... that is true.
Here in Europe, there are lots of cheap region-free players.

I believe consumers are aware of it and do favor a "free" player.

But studios have tried several times to circumvent the "free" players by adding more hurdles to those machines. Sony Pictures (who else? :) ) introduced the RCE (Region Coding Enhancement) some time ago... and my "free" player did NOT play some of their titles (CLOSER was one of them). I had to watch them at my computer - where I have a zone-free software. :(

Amazon, for example, warns consumers that a certain title MAY have RCE.

The problem then turns out to be of another origin when it comes to HDM:
1 - can Blu-ray studios and CE companies (Sony being both) prevent other companies from releasing "free" players?
2 - can the discs (through BD+ or something) know where it's been played and decide not to let itself be played?

One thing is to allow software makers to make zone-less discs. Now to allow CE manufacturers to make "free" players is quite another.

Is there any difference (when it comes to Blu-ray) from what we are used to with DVD?

I don't think lack of region coding would hurt Criterion. I think that the situation with the US studios would remain the same....those who like to take the care to release catalogue titles themselves (i.e Warner) will continue to do so, those who don't would probably continue to license titles to Criterion for the same reason they do with DVD: they don't see enough sales potential to warrant the expensive restoration work.

The Japanese studios are keen on region coding, often trying to enforce region coding as part of the license, because they like to re-sell the rights to as many territories as possible, and also trying to prevent hurting domestic sales (DVDs are pricey in Japan), but if the format itself had no region coding, I don't think it would make any difference really.

Region coding (without region free players) would actually hurt Criterion and similar companies, because that niche market depends heavily on international sales.

Quote "Let's pretend HD DVD won the format war."

No thanks, You can pretend that if you like. Lots of people pretend that daily anyhow. I can't even imagine that one.

But about criterion, Why care?

Criterion is pretty sad, They preached to all about quality then took forever to figure out animophic widesceen encoding. I'm glad they have taken a backseat for now and haven't bother-ed with HD. Can you imagine what they will charge for HD versions of the films they get to release?

-Brian

When is the last time Criterion released a movie in theaters?

No, region coding should not be a problem for them. And I would expect it not to be.

And there is nothing stopping Criterion's overseas distributors from releasing the same movie in other regions anyway. So it's not as though it would really hurt region specific sales.


No thanks, You can pretend that if you like. Lots of people pretend that daily anyhow. I can't even imagine that one.

A totally uncalled for statement.

I had correspondence with Criterion in the past asking why they wouldn't sell their DVD's region free or with PAL releases and they told me that they were specifically forbidden from doing so.

When they purchased rights for many titles it was only for the North American market, and they weren't allowed to sell them out of that.

So thats why it could effect them. Remember Major Studio X might like the sell the rights over and over again to all the different regions.

If there is no region coding, they just might not sell the rights to Criterion. I know it seems silly, but the studios wouldn't allow them to sell their DVD's region free

Daniel.

Quote "Let's pretend HD DVD won the format war."

No thanks, You can pretend that if you like. Lots of people pretend that daily anyhow. I can't even imagine that one.

But about criterion, Why care?

Criterion is pretty sad, They preached to all about quality then took forever to figure out animophic widesceen encoding. I'm glad they have taken a backseat for now and haven't bother-ed with HD. Can you imagine what they will charge for HD versions of the films they get to release?

-Brian

Good, so then you give your full permission for Criterion to go HD DVD exclusive, I for one am delighted to have them on board.

Enjoy you comic-book movies.

I had correspondence with Criterion in the past asking why they wouldn't sell their DVD's region free or with PAL releases and they told me that they were specifically forbidden from doing so.

When they purchased rights for many titles it was only for the North American market, and they weren't allowed to sell them out of that.

So thats why it could effect them. Remember Major Studio X might like the sell the rights over and over again to all the different regions.

If there is no region coding, they just might not sell the rights to Criterion. I know it seems silly, but the studios wouldn't allow them to sell their DVD's region free

Daniel.

Getting a region-free player is like falling off a log.

I can see where Criterion wouldn't be able to market in Europe, but I doubt they would be banned from being sold by a third party.

There is NO evidence that regional coding or the lack of it impacts sales in any way shape or form. The vast majority of players sold in Europe are region free to the extent that anyone interested in importing discs has one.

Well I can tell you. I import quite a few Blu-ray and HD-Dvd disks. There are quite a few Fox titles that I want, but can't get because they won't play in my region b player. So even though i'm only one person, there would be more people like me i'm sure. So you can say it is effecting Foxs BD sales, that's for sure.

Quote "Good, so then you give your full permission for Criterion to go HD DVD exclusive, I for one am delighted to have them on board."

Sure,.. I give them permission and if that qualifies them as "on board" then run with that, it doesn't have to be true to use it as HD DVD propaganda

-Brian