New Line states they do not want to release Hairspray in the US before the end of the year on HD DVD but will relase it on Blu-ray. They state the reason for this is that there is no region coding (like there is on Blu-ray) and so it will be delayed until it's theatrical run is done in all countries.

Ok, so why are they releasing this in Italy December 12th?

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

Is this just a favoring Blu-ray thing and throwing out a lame excuse?

Is this a situation of varying rights to release in varrying countries? (Mondo Entertainment is releasing it)

Even so, if region coding and letting it finish it's theatrical globally were the reasons, why is it ok to release in some territories?

New Line states they do not want to release Hairspray in the US before the end of the year on HD DVD but will relase it on Blu-ray. They state the reason for this is that there is no region coding (like there is on Blu-ray) and so it will be delayed until it's theatrical run is done in all countries.

Ok, so why are they releasing this in Italy December 12th?

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

Is this just a favoring Blu-ray thing and throwing out a lame excuse?

Is this a situation of varying rights to release in varrying countries? (Mondo Entertainment is releasing it)

Even so, if region coding and letting it finish it's theatrical globally were the reasons, why is it ok to release in some territories?

I think they are being honest although I wonder why their parent studio, Warner, seems to not care.

If Mondo has the rights in Italy then that's that; Mondo decides if and when a home release in Italy is appropriate.

Ok, so why are they releasing this in Italy December 12th?



They're not. Another company has Italian distribution rights to this film.

New Line states they do not want to release Hairspray in the US before the end of the year on HD DVD but will relase it on Blu-ray. They state the reason for this is that there is no region coding (like there is on Blu-ray) and so it will be delayed until it's theatrical run is done in all countries.

Ok, so why are they releasing this in Italy December 12th?

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

Is this just a favoring Blu-ray thing and throwing out a lame excuse?

Is this a situation of varying rights to release in varrying countries? (Mondo Entertainment is releasing it)

Even so, if region coding and letting it finish it's theatrical globally were the reasons, why is it ok to release in some territories?

If you go further using hddvdformat links to a retailer, who it would appear lists Moviemax as the distributor of this title

http://www.mondohe.it/customer/product.php?productid=3306

New Line states they do not want to release Hairspray in the US before the end of the year on HD DVD but will relase it on Blu-ray. They state the reason for this is that there is no region coding (like there is on Blu-ray) and so it will be delayed until it's theatrical run is done in all countries.

Ok, so why are they releasing this in Italy December 12th?

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

Is this just a favoring Blu-ray thing and throwing out a lame excuse?

Is this a situation of varying rights to release in varrying countries? (Mondo Entertainment is releasing it)

Even so, if region coding and letting it finish it's theatrical globally were the reasons, why is it ok to release in some territories?

Well said, I was thinking the exact same thing.

HDM is such a small market right now that it makes no sense whatsoever to hold back the HD DVD version because of staggered theatrical launch dates. They better not do it with The Golden Compass! :mad:

It has already been released in the UK on DVD.

It has already been released in the UK on DVD.
DVD is region-coded, included subcodes for region 2 (ie., subcode D1 is a UK-only release), so it's not surprising that it has been released on DVD in the UK.

So if the DVD is available on R2 and R1, what regions are being protected by not releaseing the HD DVD? And how many HD DVD players do we recon are there in the protected regions? Less than a 1000?

So if the DVD is available on R2 and R1, what regions are being protected by not releaseing the HD DVD? And how many HD DVD players do we recon are there in the protected regions? Less than a 1000?
if my understanding of the european subcodes is correct and the R2 DVD is subcoded D1, then the rest of europe would still be "protected." i may not have a full understanding though.

i understand your point and generally agree with it, but you have to understand that these corporations do not see things the same way. a lot of it is has to do with distribution agreements between companies that are not entirely based in common sense.

So if the DVD is available on R2 and R1, what regions are being protected by not releaseing the HD DVD? And how many HD DVD players do we recon are there in the protected regions? Less than a 1000?
Exactly what I was thinking. What will they lose by releasing the HD DVD now?! I think the HDM market is still so small that it would be better to release the title now to get at least an acceptable number of discs sold.

I don't understand why only New Line is doing this. Wouldn't Warner and the gone and forgotten days of the purple Paramount of done the same thing with new releases?

if my understanding of the european subcodes is correct and the R2 DVD is subcoded D1, then the rest of europe would still be "protected." i may not have a full understanding though.

i understand your point and generally agree with it, but you have to understand that these corporations do not see things the same way. a lot of it is has to do with distribution agreements between companies that are not entirely based in common sense.
Never heard of the subcodes you're mentioning. I believe cross europe has region2 so UK titles play fine in other european countries. However: regions are pointless even on DVDs these days because
- all budget DVD players (=the majority of players sold) are region free
- DVDs can be had for budget prices locally, so the majority of people will not bother importing anyway

I don't understand why only New Line is doing this. Wouldn't Warner and the gone and forgotten days of the purple Paramount of done the same thing with new releases?
it's because New Line's international theatrical distribution is set up differently than the other studios you mentioned. you will probably find some details on that if you do a search here, as i know it's been discussed before.

Never heard of the subcodes you're mentioning. I believe cross europe has region2 so UK titles play fine in other european countries.
they definitely exist in the DVD spec, though i don't know if they are used in practice. there is a "D4" subcode that means all of region 2 gets it. it's possible that no companies mess with the subcodes and just use D4.

Notwithstanding how weak their argument is for delaying the HD DVD release, the simple fact is, just about all dvd players bought these days either can be gotten with region coding disabled or can be disabled aftermarket. It is silly and very dumb on the part of New Line to hurt themselves this way as obviously they could've advertised the dvd/hd dvd/blu ray in one marketing campaign whereas now, if they will even advertise, will have to do a seperate one for just the hd dvd (which I doubt they'll even do). Thus, they're going to lose sales on the hd dvd version and in turn make hd dvd look bad once again.

they definitely exist in the DVD spec, though i don't know if they are used in practice. there is a "D4" subcode that means all of region 2 gets it. it's possible that no companies mess with the subcodes and just use D4.

I've never heard of these subscodes, it would be illegal to make a UK DVD that couldn't be sold/work in the rest of Europe.

Notwithstanding how weak their argument is for delaying the HD DVD release, the simple fact is, just about all dvd players bought these days either can be gotten with region coding disabled or can be disabled aftermarket. It is silly and very dumb on the part of New Line to hurt themselves this way as obviously they could've advertised the dvd/hd dvd/blu ray in one marketing campaign whereas now, if they will even advertise, will have to do a seperate one for just the hd dvd (which I doubt they'll even do). Thus, they're going to lose sales on the hd dvd version and in turn make hd dvd look bad once again.
let's be honest though - the average consumer, at least in north america, does not have a region free player, or if they do, they don't realize/utilize it. and again, it's not so much about the actual practical possibility of someone being able to see a movie on home video while it's still out in the theaters. it's about the perception that the international distributors have about that possibility and the implications that has on their agreements with New Line.

Is this because it may still be showing in theaters in some countries where New Line also has distribution rights for the movie?

It Europe over 75% of players are region free and they do use it.

Is this because it may still be showing in theaters in some countries where New Line also has distribution rights for the movie?

I understand there is a theater in Ubekestan still showing it.

It Europe over 75% of players are region free and they do use it.
even if that's true, it's still a moot point. as i've stated repeatedly now, those are likely not factors considered in these business deals between New Line and their international distributors. additionally, they may care more about HD than SD, as HD more closely resembles theater-like quality.