I'm not normally a fan of www.thedigitalbits.com and Bill Hunt but I have to hand it to him that in the face of winning he has been especially gracious to the same HD DVD supporters that he has been at odds with over the past 18 months.

Apparently he has brought up an idea with the BDA folks to offer some kind of exchange or credit program to get their HD DVD movies on BD.

I think this is a great opportunity to offer an "olive branch" to HD DVD owners who might feel burned by the recent shakeup in the format war;

One last note this evening: That idea I floated yesterday, that the BDA should offer an olive branch to HD-DVD consumers? I mentioned it to senior BDA executives this evening, and I think you can safely say that they're going to move forward with something along these very lines in the weeks ahead. We'll post more when we can, but the idea was definitely warmly received. In fact, plans are already in the works. We'll post more on this as things develop.

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.
Lets not be greedy...

Hey, I'm just glad that after all of the liquor and hookers that BDA paid for he is actually doing something for HD DVD fans!

:) I kid, I kid.

Well, not really, but credit on my HD DVDs would be great! :)

This would be a wonderful olive branch and would certainly get me feeling a lot better about recent developments. I would much rather trade my player for a BD player too but I'll take whatever I can get.

What would the timeframe be like? Would it be a sort of "ACT NOW SUPPLIES LIMITED!!!" sort of thing to try and force people to switch right now or could I get my disks swapped within a year or so when I can actually get a blu ray player?

And what disks would be supported?

Off the top of my head I would absolutly need my warner titles, which would be Batman Begins (How annoying would it be to have Dark Knight in a different format?), My HP box, and my Blade Runner set. I also have Pans Labyrinth and NiN beside you in time that concern me. NiN is probably never going to happen, I don't think an actual studio released it, but it is a Dual format available.

If Paramount an Uni go Blu, then my disk count just goes through the roof. I have 34 titles right now, I doubt all, or any will be replaced, but it's nice to think about.

*Edit* I know Batman Begins is not available on Blu yet, but it is announced, no reason to point that out please.

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.

LOL.. yeah, I mean what would they do with my Universal and Paramount movies :)

Interesting, so they'll replace my Bourne HD DVDs with BD versions?

Even if Paramount and Universal dumped HD DVD tomorrow, I wouldn't see a reason to trade in my existing HD DVDs, or my XA2. They all still work just fine.

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.

They could give you a free player and you'd still bitch that you had to buy the software. :eek:

If they had anything remotely close to my XA2, I would do it, but as of now, the XA2 is the best player out, though that new Panny looks interesting...

Interesting, so they'll replace my Bourne HD DVDs with BD versions?

We have no idea. It's just an idea that the BDA seems to be in favor of.

I would expect a kind of thing where you send in your HD DVDs with some kind of proof of purchase, maybe pay $5 and get a BD in return. Maybe they will limit it to only certain titles or only 10 per household.

The point is it's an olive branch, they don't really have to do anything but if this gets us (nearly) free stuff I'm all for it!

I wouldn't get excited.

They'll probably give you a $5 rebate towards the purchase of the BD version.

No Thank you.... :D

I wouldn't get excited.

They'll probably give you a $5 rebate towards the purchase of the BD version.

Ya, let's take a big ole crap on it before we even know what it is! :p

Sorry, but the BDA will have to pry my HD DVD's from my cold.....dead........

Wait, $20 a movie? Sold!!!

J/K. My movies aren't going to stop working, so I think I'll keep them, and just keep buying whatever movies I want with whatever color case it's in. :)

On movies? Pass.

Any deal like this though would most likely be a limited time deal for Warner titles and from the sounds of it is currently just an idea. Logically speaking one would think that most HD DVD supporters would be encouraging this kind of deal to happen rather than mocking it but people aren't always logical.

Maybe the person who sends in the most HD-DVDs will also get a free dinner with Michael Bay, where he can scold for you for supporting a format that looks good, but one that certainly isn't high definition.

Logically speaking one would think that most HD DVD supporters would be encouraging this kind of deal to happen rather than mocking it but people aren't always logical.I'm guessing that some HD DVD supporters realize that they will lose some other HD DVD supporters if people are given the option to exchange Warner HD DVDs for BDs. Obviously, not everybody will take advantage of any offer, but the BDA doesn't need everybody to take advantage of an offer, just enough of them. There are business reasons to offer something.

--Darin

I wouldn't mind swapping my HARRY POTTER HD DVD boxset for a BD set.

Wow. This will be a good thread to refer people to when asked why sympathy levels for HD-DVD owners are dropping precipitously. Maybe Warners should just cancel all their HD-DVD releases immediately and get it over with.

Wow. This will be a good thread to refer people to when asked why sympathy levels for HD-DVD owners are dropping precipitously. Maybe Warners should just cancel all their HD-DVD releases immediately and get it over with.

I hope your not referring to my post. I was serious about my question.

Any deal like this though would most likely be a limited time deal for Warner titles and from the sounds of it is currently just an idea. Logically speaking one would think that most HD DVD supporters would be encouraging this kind of deal to happen rather than mocking it but people aren't always logical.

It wouldn't be bad publicity.

Have the HD DVD owner provide a copy of a receipt for a new Blu player and offer a 1-1 swap for Warner titles.

That's a tricky one. Given I started with HD DVD and happen to very much like my players and the format, it's not at all clear I'd be in any hurry to swap the titles, though it IS clear many persons are already engaged in doing exactly that!

Perhaps I could swap my HD DVD Harry Potter Gift Set for the BR version? Interesting! (Oh, Larry already mentioned that above :o)

Wow. This will be a good thread to refer people to when asked why sympathy levels for HD-DVD owners are dropping precipitously. Maybe Warners should just cancel all their HD-DVD releases immediately and get it over with.


Well, they just have to get it out of their system.

It wouldn't be bad publicity.

Have the HD DVD owner provide a copy of a receipt for a new Blu player and offer a 1-1 swap for Warner titles.

This is a bit of stretch, but anyone think it could possibly happen in store? Head into BB, take my warner titles with me, buy a PS3 and swap right there on the spot and send away for anything not in stock?

A stretch I know, but hey, just thought it was worth floating out there. I hope it doesn't require a receipt though. I have the invoice for my HP set still, but alot of my stuff was bought months ago and I don't have receipts for it.

I would do it in a hearbeat. I think many others would jump at the chance as well.

This is a bit of stretch, but anyone think it could possibly happen in store? Head into BB, take my warner titles with me, buy a PS3 and swap right there on the spot and send away for anything not in stock?

A stretch I know, but hey, just thought it was worth floating out there. I hope it doesn't require a receipt though. I have the invoice for my HP set still, but alot of my stuff was bought months ago and I don't have receipts for it.

That's expecting a bit much. Personally I would be thrilled if they offered title swapouts for a nominal price, say the cost to cover their overhead or around $5.

The good will would buy them a lot of new supporters, but yes, there are going to be people that won't be satisfied if they don't get a brand new player for FREE and get a bunch of movies swapped out for FREE. Remember that Betamax owners got a stick in the eye when Beta died. Anything we get is cake.

http://www.whatwereeating.com/food_pics/2007-02-18_layered-cake.jpg

I thought rumors were not allowed here anymore? This place is going downhill again :(

Rumor or not this directly pertains to the current situation. Sorry if it doesn't meet your criteria.

For WB movies, sure. I'll take an exchange. Can't take my HD player though. How will I watch Transformers? :cool:

This doesn't sound like the actions of a group that has won.

For WB movies, sure. I'll take an exchange. Can't take my HD player though. How will I watch Transformers? :cool:

Nothing says that this is to be a WB initiative. It says that this is a BDA initiative.

This doesn't sound like the actions of a group that has won.

We see this in the software business all the time. Give a big discount, etc, for a long time customer of a competitor to come on board with us. And we are the biggest company in world that does what we do. ;)

it aint gonna happen.

The idea is absurd and unnecessary

I bet this is the first of many moves. I would expect Sony to announce a contract buy-out at some point as well....or more likely to engage in a confidential secure settlement to shut-up Toshiba and get all of the studios on board. :-)

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.

Hey, maybe Toshiba will do the right thing and buy your players back from you. It's not the fault of Warner or Sony or Panasonic that you bought the format that didn't pull it off. People on both sides took the gamble.

Bill Hunt...format war Peacemaker, the irony of it all. Bill, for once I'm listening.

Bill Hunt...format war Peacemaker, the irony of it all. Bill, for once I'm listening.

+1

Get us some freebies Bill and all is forgiven!

P.S.,

I like cake.

P.P.S,

Someone needs to somehow get him in this thread after his CES/BDA wine and dine is done tonight.

Truth, I do feel pretty stung right now. It would sure lesson the blow. I will never buy Sony for the player.

I would do it in a hearbeat. I think many others would jump at the chance as well.

++1!

Any deal like this though would most likely be a limited time deal for Warner titles and from the sounds of it is currently just an idea. Logically speaking one would think that most HD DVD supporters would be encouraging this kind of deal to happen rather than mocking it but people aren't always logical.


Sure, I want to lose the IME in my HD DVD's for movies that don't have them just because they are Blu-ray movies.

Remind me to stay away from some people's "logic".

Any deal like this though would most likely be a limited time deal for Warner titles and from the sounds of it is currently just an idea. Logically speaking one would think that most HD DVD supporters would be encouraging this kind of deal to happen rather than mocking it but people aren't always logical.

I would welcome it. If Warner causes HD DVD to "lose" I want it to be as quick and painless as possible. If Warner had a program where you send in your HD DVD movies plus $5 S&H per title and in return they sent you new BD copies of th same movies it would speed my transistion towards BD.

Like another player said first their needs to be an HD-XA2 equivelent but I think the Panny BD50 may be the ticket. Bad news is it looks like it will be $300 more than what I paid for the XA2.

So the fanboys will never get it but I have always been a realist. I neither demand or expect a trade program but it would earn Warner some loyalty from me and move me into the BD column quicker.

If the BDA is smart they will do this. Most people will not double dip so it isn't like they are losing a sale. Imagine if 100K or so HD DVD only buyers (most purple buyers leaned blu) took the offer. That means 100K or so players sold. Plus those buyers will be buying more BD so the weekly numbers get skewed even more. A 80/20 split or 90/10 split consistently would ensure retailers drop support of HD DVD and move to one format.

This could be a method to capitalize on the Warner move by gaining some goodwill and consumers. I hope Bill is right and the BDA is smart enough to realize this (even if they have to subsidize part of it). If it is popular it could be a carrot to pull over Paramount of Universal.

I am mocking it and I am a BD supporter. He must be a smart marketing and sales guys, because even as a BD supporter who has zero against HD DVD I can see why he or anyone would say or offer this. They want to insure you go Blu dummies. Come on guys obvious psychology marketing 101. Why the hell would this guy give a damn about you or your movies. We Americans really are a gullible bunch aren't we. This is why I never became rich, I don't think like that, but I do have a healthy dose of cynicism to keep me in check.

From the BDA presser:

Any chance there will be a HD DVD trade in program for Blu-ray.
David Bishop, said not at this time.

^^ you are a cynic Lee, at least I think you are. :D

Do you see a point in this?

This would be a nice and completely surprising gesture. The BDA doesn't owe HD DVD owners a THING so to do this would show that the BDA isn't quite as evil as they seem.

Of course an offer like this only further cements Blu-ray as the clear victor (eliminating many HD DVD supporters in one fell swoop), but for once it looks like it's win-win for the consumer and corporations.

And for those who would never trade-in your discs: you don't have to. Since when is having options, especially incredibly gracious ones, a bad thing?

I'd like it better if I could get a credit on a "Bonus View" -compatible player. The HD-DVDs work already, and what are the odds that a WB re-release of say, "The Matrix" would work on my 1.0 and 1.1 players? (Yes, the movie might work but would the extras?)

Nothing says that this is to be a WB initiative. It says that this is a BDA initiative.

I knew that. I was just stating that I would just have all my WB movies replaced. maybe even Paramount movies as well. As for a BD player, unless it's a coupon, I can't trade in my player. I got too many Uni and Para movies.

I think there's another 'Bill' in the equation that should pony up for this debacle...his company is largely responsible for propping up this format war ;). Maybe it could be his first charity booster once he steps down?

Nothing says that this is to be a WB initiative. It says that this is a BDA initiative.

AS far as I know, Warner is the only studio that has something to swap.

It wouldn't be bad publicity.

Have the HD DVD owner provide a copy of a receipt for a new Blu player and offer a 1-1 swap for Warner titles.

Well, if they were to do this, I sure hope it wouldn't require the purchase of a new player. I'm not about to replace my PS3 any time soon.

BTW, I am not surprised that Bill Hunt wants to do this. I never thought he was pro-BD, per se. He was just adamant about having one format as soon as possible, and BD was the one that had a better chance of ending the war sooner. If the studio support was swapped, I believe he would have endorsed HD DVD.

Oh BTW, Paramount would have some titles to swap too. Everything before August of last year could be a candidate.

No Deal!!!

Hd Dvd Till The End!!!

It is too late for me. Mine have already sold on Ebay. It is a good idea though. I really dont think it will actually happen.

Bill Hunt...format war Peacemaker, the irony of it all. Bill, for once I'm listening.


Only Nixon could go to China.

If it means titles without interactivity and lesser sound formats, no thanks.

No Thanks. HD DVD is still alive and so is my XA2 and HD DVD collection.

Shrewd cookie that I am I returned many unopened HD DVDs already and kept the ones I truly wouldn't be without (mostly unique titles). I think I probably took about a 20% loss on my software overall, the player (XA2) stays, it's best upconverting player, CD player, I've owned, and I kept a dozen HD DVDs for the novelty of it.

When/if HD DVD exclusive companies like Universal also support HD DVD, I presume they're going to port a lot of titles over, and sadly release very few new-to-hdm titles for a while. That may do something for you BD-only folks, but it's going to be dullsville for me. I hung on to things like CAT PEOPLE, FORBIDDEN PLANET, ROBBIN HOOD, and CASBLANCA, because my guess is that which sold poorly in red, will sell equally if not worse in blue, given that some that were or will be purple are just gonna keep their HD DVDs, and the studios will feel such titles won't pay.

Sadly, my guess is that older catalog exclusives on HD may not get ported to BD any time soon, but a lot of the crap will.

If they offer free players. I'll be there... I have no use for BD movies until then.

:D

Hey, I'm just glad that after all of the liquor and hookers that BDA paid for he is actually doing something for HD DVD fans!

:) I kid, I kid.

Well, not really, but credit on my HD DVDs would be great! :)

;);):D

That's expecting a bit much. Personally I would be thrilled if they offered title swapouts for a nominal price, say the cost to cover their overhead or around $5.

The good will would buy them a lot of new supporters, but yes, there are going to be people that won't be satisfied if they don't get a brand new player for FREE and get a bunch of movies swapped out for FREE. Remember that Betamax owners got a stick in the eye when Beta died. Anything we get is cake.



I conceded in my post it was a stretch, but I was just tossing it out there, would be cool to do an on the spot swap, and besides, you don't get what you don't ask for, so it's worth mentioning.

IF this happens at all I think it will be more along the lines of your suggestion, and that wouldn't be bad at all. However, I just did a little inventory of my collection, and I have alot of WB titles. I would need at a minimum my box sets replaced (Planet Earth, Matrix, Harry Potter, and even Blade Runner.). Individual titles I might be able to replace on my own, but the big ticket stuff, no way.

Someone lock this already.

Someone lock this already.

Why?

I'd probably swap my WB titles if they offered a good deal.

I think it's silly and a bit condescending, especially when most of the HD DVD versions have better audio and interactivity than their BD counterparts. The only type of "olive branch" that I would consider respectful is one involving hardware. For example, as a condition for Uni and Paramount to go neutral, some of the better BDA CE makers (like Panasonic and Pioneer) put out at least mid-priced (~ $500) fully functional dual format players. That would be more along the lines of BD absorbing HD DVD. But, I doubt any of that will happen.

This is Warner Brothers ONLY option. Failure to do so will leave a bad taste in the mouth of approx. 40% of their customers.

A good faith move like this.. whether it's actually taken advantage of or not... would at least show that in the end... they were simply concerned about making things better for consumers... and not getting people to double dip on the same encodes.

I'm in to swap my Warner HD DVDs for BDs with this program so long as it is a fair deal (no more than $5 including S/H). After all the discs cost pennies to make and we already bought them once in HD.

This is Warner Brothers ONLY option. Failure to do so will leave a bad taste in the mouth of approx. 40% of their customers.

A good faith move like this.. whether it's actually taken advantage of or not... would at least show that in the end... they were simply concerned about making things better for consumers... and not getting people to double dip on the same encodes.

It may or may not be Warner only, that is the assumption since they are the ones who jumped ship, but if other studios do they might maybe possibly could do the same thing. And the rumor/speculation is that is coming from the BDA as an option, not Warner.

As for your second paragraph, I absolutely agree.

This is Warner Brothers ONLY option. Failure to do so will leave a bad taste in the mouth of approx. 40% of their customers.

A good faith move like this.. whether it's actually taken advantage of or not... would at least show that in the end... they were simply concerned about making things better for consumers... and not getting people to double dip on the same encodes.

Why?
Did Warner forced you or anyone else to buy their HD DVDs?
C'mon guys this was a format WAR so you were well aware that one side is going to lose. Risk of an early adopter. And Warner has already included the "40% loss of potential consumers". That is way all the HD DVD consumers have time until May to either drop optical HDM or jump on Blu-Ray. Besides, many of these 40% will switch to Blu-Ray and many many more will join Blu-Ray in 2008 with either PS3 or standalones, so Warner will easily compensate the few thousand "Sony-haters". The market is growing, with or without you. "A good faith move" would be stop whining bitter tears and get over your ego, cause your HD DVDs are STILL working and will continue to work - there is no need to double dip on BR, unless you like to drop your HD DVD collection anyways, which on the other hand makes you a bit of a hypocrite ;) This isn't about Warner guys, this about you and your inability to admit defeat by making the wrong choice. :)

It may or may not be Warner only, that is the assumption since they are the ones who jumped ship, but if other studios do they might maybe possibly could do the same thing. And the rumor/speculation is that is coming from the BDA as an option, not Warner.

As for your second paragraph, I absolutely agree.

Isn't Warner the only one with non-exclusive titles? I'm not sure BDA will pay me for my Paramount and Universal titles.

I would be content enough with just Warner.. and ONLY because they let people spend through the holiday season while discounting rumors of exclusivity. If they hadn't deceived their consumers.. I would be content to say "too bad"

No Deal!!!

Hd Dvd Till The End!!!

I agree!. BD still has it's issues!

...Angelo

I wouldn't get excited.

They'll probably give you a $5 rebate towards the purchase of the BD version.

Exactly what I was thinking.

I wouldn't get excited.

They'll probably give you a $5 rebate towards the purchase of the BD version.

The reality is.. most would simply save their money for a box of DVD-R's.

Apparently he has brought up an idea with the BDA folks to offer some kind of exchange or credit program to get their HD DVD movies on BD.

I think this is a great opportunity to offer an "olive branch" to HD DVD owners who might feel burned by the recent shakeup in the format war;

Sure, I'll trade them 1:1 so long as the BD versions have all the same features as the HD-DVD titles I'd be trading. What's that? They won't because there are no profile 2.0 BD discs out yet?

Call me back in 2009 when they've managed to get those features I've been enjoying since June of '07.

Quote:
Any chance there will be a HD DVD trade in program for Blu-ray.
David Bishop, said not at this time. Come on guys this isn't gonna happen. A member of the BDA stated in a politically correct way "not at this time" Translation: Hell No. Everybody and their dog would just buy a closeout firesale HD DVD and expect a new one from Warner. It would be a cheater's dream. Nice try by Bill, but another BDA executive in the BDA presentation clearly said no.

Excellent. I still have 14 HDDVDs I will gladly exchange...

Why?
Did Warner forced you or anyone else to buy their HD DVDs?
C'mon guys this was a format WAR so you were well aware that one side is going to lose. Risk of an early adopter. And Warner has already included the "40% loss of potential consumers". That is way all the HD DVD consumers have time until May to either drop optical HDM or jump on Blu-Ray. Besides, many of these 40% will switch to Blu-Ray and many many more will join Blu-Ray in 2008 with either PS3 or standalones, so Warner will easily compensate the few thousand "Sony-haters". The market is growing, with or without you. "A good faith move" would be stop whining bitter tears and get over your ego, cause your HD DVDs are STILL working and will continue to work - there is no need to double dip on BR, unless you like to drop your HD DVD collection anyways, which on the other hand makes you a bit of a hypocrite ;) This isn't about Warner guys, this about you and your inability to admit defeat by making the wrong choice. :)

Cut the crap!!! This easily could have gone the other way and most of the bluray players out there can still play games if it would have!!! HDDVD buyers bought these players for the sole purpose of watching movies. This is about Warner!!! Consumers did not win this war, corporate greed in the form of 500,000,000 did. Warner should beyond the shadow of a doubt replace those discs!!! They should have made this call before the xmas season. You can return the player you brought but you cannot return the movies you opened xmas day. Warner is fully responsible and should replace all discs purchased Q4 2007!!

I'm one of the recently burned, having jumped into HD with an A-35 and purchased about 15 movies during the holiday season (not counting freebies).

It would seem to me that if Sony and the BDA were truly interested in "winning" the format war with few casualties (consumers), they should be VERY interested in lessening the pain by providing a 1 for 1 swap.

For me, if I was given the opportunity to switch my Warner HD-DVDs for BD (even with a nominal P&H fee), I'd do it, even knowing that I'd be losing out on some features, such as Combo Discs, and other HD-DVD features that aren't currently in BD. Sony and the BDA should be the ones to subsidize this trade-in. Sure, I'd still have to buy a player, but PS3s aren't that expensive.

I would also expect the other HD-DVD studios to follow suit with a trade-in policy as soon as they have equivalent discs that are BD, again, with Sony and the BDA eating the cost.

Reasons why they should do it? Swapping out all these discs will save them a ton of money on marketing (they won't have to advertise as heavily as before, at least not for a while), they'll have increased hardware sales, but most importantly, it will buy them GOODWILL. I think most consumers would see this as a definite "olive branch" type of move, and would actually embrace the format, rather than resent the whole experience.

Here's the truth of the matter. If Sony, the BDA, Time Warner, etc. do NOT offer some kind of swap, I think I will seriously consider never buying movies on physical media again and will instead embrace HD movies on demand.

As the victor, IMHO, if they want ANY kind of loyalty from those burned, they had better step up and do something.

I think I'd have too much of a bad taste in my mouth to ever want to give Sony any kind of business again if they didn't.

Cut the crap!!! This easily could have gone the other way and most of the bluray players out there can still play games if it would have!!! HDDVD buyers bought these players for the sole purpose of watching movies. This is about Warner!!! Consumers did not win this war, corporate greed in the form of 500,000,000 did. Warner should beyond the shadow of a doubt replace those discs!!! They should have made this call before the xmas season. You can return the player you brought but you cannot return the movies you opened xmas day. Warner is fully responsible and should replace all discs purchased Q4 2007!!

So, basically the only accepteable outcome was an HD DVD one? I very much like the HD DVD format but realized it certainly wasn't guarenteed a victory.

Would have have preferred another year of waffling on the part of studios with tacit release schedules and wishy washy neutrality?

Such a thing would have resulted in both HDM formats being niche and most titles never seen HDM release because it wouldn't have been profitable for studios OR retailers to carry both.

Sure, I'll trade them 1:1 so long as the BD versions have all the same features as the HD-DVD titles I'd be trading. What's that? They won't because there are no profile 2.0 BD discs out yet?

Call me back in 2009 when they've managed to get those features I've been enjoying since June of '07.

I'm with you. Would take 2.0 BD discs and a 2.0 player to get anything from me, my parents, or my sister. All of which are happily purple.

Is there anyone on this forum over the age of fifteen anymore?
One sheep two sheep red sheep blu sheep

Is there anyone on this forum over the age of fifteen anymore?
One sheep two sheep red sheep blu sheep

The maturity levels around here have seriously deteriorated since Friday.

I think a "swap" deal is fair and amicable. It definetly reaches out to consumers burned by the war itself, the only issue I have with it is, why trade your discs if you still have a player they'll work on?

For those interested in saving shelf space I could understand.

A nice large discount off a BD player with and HD DVD trade in would probably go a little further in getting converts, but I wouldn't hold my breath for that.

Cool.
Hopefully I can trade my Bourne collection, Transformers and the Matrix collection for the Blu-ray versions.

Way to go BDA !

Cut the crap!!! This easily could have gone the other way and most of the bluray players out there can still play games if it would have!!! HDDVD buyers bought these players for the sole purpose of watching movies. This is about Warner!!! Consumers did not win this war, corporate greed in the form of 500,000,000 did. Warner should beyond the shadow of a doubt replace those discs!!! They should have made this call before the xmas season. You can return the player you brought but you cannot return the movies you opened xmas day. Warner is fully responsible and should replace all discs purchased Q4 2007!!


Warner clearly stated they would be watching disc sales during the holiday season and be deciding on 1 format. Let me see if I can jog your memory...

"That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449


This article was dated Oct. 29, 2007 about 3 weeks after Amir announced he would be leaving his position as head of the HD-DVD division for Microsoft. Your captain bailed on you before the ship sank but all the clues were their for you to decipher. Bottom line is you gambled on HD-DVD and lost now you are looking at others to blame. Sounds alot like those people who gambled on the housing market and lost their shirts are know looking at big brother to bail them out. Time to look in the mirror and grow a pair.

I want to trade my Warner titles. I am not interested in trading my Universal or Paramount titles. Even if Paramount were to switch back to blu now, I wouldn't care.

When Warner announced they had no plan to choose a side back in November, I decided to buy my titles primarily in HD DVD because, with the HD-A2, I always got better sound than with the PS3 (I dont have TrueHD/LPCM5.1, but HD-A2 converts it to DTS, PS3 doesnt). Now I've got 5 Harry Potter movies, and the next two will be in blu-ray. I've got 3 Superman titles, and all the others will be on blu-ray. None of this would have happened if they had just cancelled HD DVD before the holiday season. It was a smart business move, but it was a horrible PR move. Offer me a 1:1 swap and I'll take it.... Even if it's just for movies purchased after their announcement which made me feel "safe" in buying them on red.

Warner clearly stated they would be watching disc sales during the holiday season and be deciding on 1 format. Let me see if I can jog your memory...

"That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449


This article was dated Oct. 29, 2007 about 3 weeks after Amir announced he would be leaving his position as head of the HD-DVD division for Microsoft. Your captain bailed on you before the ship sank but all the clues were their for you to decipher. Bottom line is you gambled on HD-DVD and lost now your looking at others to blame. Sounds alot like those people who gambled on the housing market and lost their shirts are know looking at big brother to bail them out. Time to look in the mirror and grow a pair.

Wow! What a selective Memory:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Warner/Warner_Says_Blu-ray_Comments_Misquoted_and_Misconstrued/1135

For those interested in saving shelf space I could understand.

How so? The cases the same size. Or do you mean having one less player?

Some people are getting excited about being able to trade in The Matrix or Transformers, but I don't think that will happen. If they do this at all, I think it will be for a limited time (maybe up to six months) and will only apply to titles already released on BD. It could take them a couple of years to catch up on those unreleased titles (Universal could take 3 years or more), and I don't think they'll want a prolonged replacement period.

Plus, some titles could get redone with new transfers and/or extras, and I doubt they'd want people swapping for a better edition.

I'm one of the recently burned, having jumped into HD with an A-35 and purchased about 15 movies during the holiday season (not counting freebies).

It would seem to me that if Sony and the BDA were truly interested in "winning" the format war with few casualties (consumers), they should be VERY interested in lessening the pain by providing a 1 for 1 swap.

For me, if I was given the opportunity to switch my Warner HD-DVDs for BD (even with a nominal P&H fee), I'd do it, even knowing that I'd be losing out on some features, such as Combo Discs, and other HD-DVD features that aren't currently in BD. Sony and the BDA should be the ones to subsidize this trade-in. Sure, I'd still have to buy a player, but PS3s aren't that expensive.

I would also expect the other HD-DVD studios to follow suit with a trade-in policy as soon as they have equivalent discs that are BD, again, with Sony and the BDA eating the cost.

Reasons why they should do it? Swapping out all these discs will save them a ton of money on marketing (they won't have to advertise as heavily as before, at least not for a while), they'll have increased hardware sales, but most importantly, it will buy them GOODWILL. I think most consumers would see this as a definite "olive branch" type of move, and would actually embrace the format, rather than resent the whole experience.

Here's the truth of the matter. If Sony, the BDA, Time Warner, etc. do NOT offer some kind of swap, I think I will seriously consider never buying movies on physical media again and will instead embrace HD movies on demand.

As the victor, IMHO, if they want ANY kind of loyalty from those burned, they had better step up and do something.

I think I'd have too much of a bad taste in my mouth to ever want to give Sony any kind of business again if they didn't.


You know what... after reading post like yours I hope Sony, Warner, the whole BDA tells you to take a hike. Here is the TRUTH of the matter. You decided to put your money behind a format(HD-DVD) That had less studio support, 1 Company making players (Toshiba) and inferior specs. You became a early adopter and gambled on HD-DVD and LOST. Having that bad taste in your mouth comes from all that BS that HD-DVD fans were feeding you. You should try some crow....I heard it taste better.

You know what... after reading post like yours I hope Sony, Warner, the whole BDA tells you to take a hike. Here is the TRUTH of the matter. You decided to put your money behind a format(HD-DVD) That had less studio support, 1 Company making players (Toshiba) and inferior specs. You became a early adopter and gambled on HD-DVD and LOST. Having that bad taste in your mouth comes from all that BS that HD-DVD fans were feeding you. You should try some crow....I heard it taste better.

Hey Jackass!!!!! Not everyone can afford a $400+ bluray player. An early adapter is one thing, a person who just wanted to enjoy movies in high def is another and at as very attractive price point from $99 to $199 is different. People buy what they can afford. HDDVD's at Walmart were on sale for $15. Most titles Warner titles were $19. HDDVD was heavily promoted during the holiday season and the average consumer does not spend time reading home theater blogs. Any title purchased from Oct. on Warner should fully exchange for the bluray version. They are entirley responsible. These people were not early adapters.

Superior specs huh!! Tell me how your PIP from 300 works on your 1.0 bluray player LOL!!!!!! Tell me about the firmware upgrades you can get over your ethernet port and web downloads on your Harry Potter disc!! I found it funny as today the BDA showed these features coming to bluray players that have been on hddvd players since day one. There is something to be said for having your $h!t together when you launch a format. Finalized specs are a nice thing to have. As you can see BD 2.0 players are clones of what every hddvd player has had since day one. Nice to see them finally getting caught up. Eat some crow yourself!!!

I am dual format but your post was entirely uncalled for!!!

I am mocking it and I am a BD supporter. He must be a smart marketing and sales guys, because even as a BD supporter who has zero against HD DVD I can see why he or anyone would say or offer this. They want to insure you go Blu dummies. Come on guys obvious psychology marketing 101. Why the hell would this guy give a damn about you or your movies. We Americans really are a gullible bunch aren't we. This is why I never became rich, I don't think like that, but I do have a healthy dose of cynicism to keep me in check.

Are you seriously a BD supporter? If so... you make me feel slightly ashamed to be a BD supporter.

You know maybe people care because they care about HDM, not simply Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. It is beneficial to get everyone no matter their stupid "color" behind the format that becomes dominant.

Guys for what better be the last time, enough already. These are shiny little discs that play movies in high definition, not the freaking Battle of the Bulge during WW2. Some of you guys really need to get over it. Life will go on after HD DVD, trust me.

If there is a program to let us exchange our HD DVDs that's great for those who want to move to a single format.

Toshiba is likely to do something to gain some good will too, whether it be ultra cheap licensing of the HD DVD spec, to some kind of rebate on the players towards a combo player they offer down the road.

In any event, stick to the topic at hand and keep the format opinions out of this thread.

Guys for what better be the last time, enough already. These are shiny little discs that play movies in high definition, not the freaking Battle of the Bulge during WW2. Some of you guys really need to get over it. Life will go on after HD DVD, trust me.

If there is a program to let us exchange our HD DVDs that's great for those who want to move to a single format.

Toshiba is likely to do something to gain some good will too, whether it be ultra cheap licensing of the HD DVD spec, to some kind of rebate on the players towards a combo player they offer down the road.

In any event, stick to the topic at hand and keep the format opinions out of this thread.

Just wanted you to know your sentiments aren't lost on everyone here. Thanks for the post and I hope that the BDA truly is considering implementing a program like this.

I'm skeptical that Bill Hunt has much influence with the powers-that-be in the BDA, and more skeptical still that they'd offer any kind of disc-swap program. Of course, I could be wrong.

For myself, I'll keep the HD DVDs and pick up a backup player when they're firesaled. I plan on purchasing a BD player around the time LOTR comes out (hoping that will be this year).

I am dual format but your post was entirely uncalled for!!!

That post was not in response to you. This one was....



Cut the crap!!! This easily could have gone the other way and most of the bluray players out there can still play games if it would have!!! HDDVD buyers bought these players for the sole purpose of watching movies. This is about Warner!!! Consumers did not win this war, corporate greed in the form of 500,000,000 did. Warner should beyond the shadow of a doubt replace those discs!!! They should have made this call before the xmas season. You can return the player you brought but you cannot return the movies you opened xmas day. Warner is fully responsible and should replace all discs purchased Q4 2007!!






Warner clearly stated they would be watching disc sales during the holiday season and be deciding on 1 format. Let me see if I can jog your memory...

"That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449


This article was dated Oct. 29, 2007 about 3 weeks after Amir announced he would be leaving his position as head of the HD-DVD division for Microsoft. Your captain bailed on you before the ship sank but all the clues were their for you to decipher. Bottom line is you gambled on HD-DVD and lost now you are looking at others to blame. Sounds alot like those people who gambled on the housing market and lost their shirts are know looking at big brother to bail them out. Time to look in the mirror and grow a pair.

Hey, maybe Toshiba will do the right thing and buy your players back from you. It's not the fault of Warner or Sony or Panasonic that you bought the format that didn't pull it off. People on both sides took the gamble.

It might be a good business decision to rally the HDM market to overtake and pass DVD. It would seem to suck for early Blu-ray adopters and fans who did all the (message board) fighting in in the HDM holy wars.

But hey I would dig it.:)

-D
"Wars teach us not to love our enemies, but to hate our allies."

I am dual format but your post was entirely uncalled for!!!


Dual format! Thats a good one. Just click on your posting history to see how
"Dual format" you were. Now that HD-DVD is dead don't go running and try to hide behind the dual format slogan. Buying a Blu-Ray player doesn't erase your long standing HD-DVD bias. My post is the truth.. sorry you can't except that.

I'm not normally a fan of www.thedigitalbits.com and Bill Hunt but I have to hand it to him that in the face of winning he has been especially gracious to the same HD DVD supporters that he has been at odds with over the past 18 months.

Apparently he has brought up an idea with the BDA folks to offer some kind of exchange or credit program to get their HD DVD movies on BD.

I think this is a great opportunity to offer an "olive branch" to HD DVD owners who might feel burned by the recent shakeup in the format war;


Sorry but I prefer to keep my HD DVDs, especially 300.

Maybe the person who sends in the most HD-DVDs will also get a free dinner with Michael Bay, where he can scold for you for supporting a format that looks good, but one that certainly isn't high definition.

lol...

You know what... after reading post like yours I hope Sony, Warner, the whole BDA tells you to take a hike. Here is the TRUTH of the matter. You decided to put your money behind a format(HD-DVD) That had less studio support, 1 Company making players (Toshiba) and inferior specs. You became a early adopter and gambled on HD-DVD and LOST. Having that bad taste in your mouth comes from all that BS that HD-DVD fans were feeding you. You should try some crow....I heard it taste better.

We gambled on a company (Toshiba) that made available a HDM player at a low cost and was just gaining more Studio support (Paramount) and lost. I made a $99 bet and will probably buy a Blu-ray player at around that price when the time comes. How much was your bet?

And it was pretty much an inferior SPEC (storage) not specs. Of course you can do a lot with storage...

-D
"Everybody is 6'3 and 250 lb on the internet"

I think the offer would be more in the form of a trade up program for your HD DVD discs, not for your players.

The players aren't the problem, it's having a library of movies that will be obsolete in the future if they don't produce more players and your dies.

Also, the studios want you to buy more movies. They can't offer you players. That would come from the CE manufacturers. I don't think the CE manufacturer's would take your player since most of them are blu-ray only. Why would say Panasonic take back an Xbox 360 add on drive?

It's in the studio's best interest to swap some discs with you since you already bought their movie once.

I would chalk my player up to early adopter loss. It's just the movies I care about at this point.

Hell, I dont even need all of mine replaced. At least a portion to get me started on my Blu-ray collection so I don't feel so screwed.

Also, the studios really only have a 1% (wild guess) or so of the market. That 1% is really 0.6% blu fans and 0.4 % red fans. Last thing they want is to alienate nearly half their 1% market base and sour the whole thing. If they sour it for us early adopters and we all just say screw you blu, I am going SD DVD, then they do more damage to the long term adoption then they did during the acceleration of the format war.

Just my 2 cents.

Guess who's joining the B.W.O?
The Blu World Order!!

...and with that, we cue up the music!

Honestly, I don't think a trade-in program will happen. I think the "Olive Branch" quote from Sony is for the HD-DVD COMPANIES not consumers.

I would be happy with one more year of HD-DVD movies being released by WB and Paramount - that way Blu-ray is even cheaper when I buy it.

-D

How so? The cases the same size. Or do you mean having one less player?

Some people are getting excited about being able to trade in The Matrix or Transformers, but I don't think that will happen. If they do this at all, I think it will be for a limited time (maybe up to six months) and will only apply to titles already released on BD. It could take them a couple of years to catch up on those unreleased titles (Universal could take 3 years or more), and I don't think they'll want a prolonged replacement period.

Plus, some titles could get redone with new transfers and/or extras, and I doubt they'd want people swapping for a better edition.

Agreed, limited time and for titles that are currently on Blu now. That would be a fair compormise.

+1

Get us some freebies Bill and all is forgiven!

P.S.,

I like cake.

P.P.S,

Someone needs to somehow get him in this thread after his CES/BDA wine and dine is done tonight.

I sent and email to Bill and got a personal response tonight. I won't divulge the details of what he said out of politeness but he did talk with someone after the panel and there is reason to be optimistic.

Don't run to the presses, I am not confirming or stretching or exagerating or anything. We should probably wait and hope something comes out of it, but it is seriously being considered by the right people.

This kind of deal should be offered by those who confused consumers i.e. Toshiba and Paramount

http://www.whatwereeating.com/food_pics/2007-02-18_layered-cake.jpg
THE CAKE IS A LIE (sorry, had to crack a Portal joke)

I would certainly welcome a swap opportunity for my WB titles where applicable, I have something like 80 of them!

i would guess no trade ins if any thing they wil put out SE blu-rays of the top selling tittles in a effort to get you to upgrade you HD-DVD versions. that way they still make money.

although the SE's only work for some. ive done this with DVD a few times. but for the most part i just don't. i have a friend who always buys the SE version of a movie. i ask him do you ever watch the second disc. he say no never leaves the case. well then what the point. its a SE DVD. thats a example of marketing right their.

Warner clearly stated they would be watching disc sales during the holiday season and be deciding on 1 format. Let me see if I can jog your memory...

"That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449


This article was dated Oct. 29, 2007 about 3 weeks after Amir announced he would be leaving his position as head of the HD-DVD division for Microsoft. Your captain bailed on you before the ship sank but all the clues were their for you to decipher. Bottom line is you gambled on HD-DVD and lost now you are looking at others to blame. Sounds alot like those people who gambled on the housing market and lost their shirts are know looking at big brother to bail them out. Time to look in the mirror and grow a pair.


And then on November 5...

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Warner/Warner_Says_Blu-ray_Comments_Misquoted_and_Misconstrued/1135

Speaking to High-Def Digest, Jim Noonan, SVP of Strategic Promotion and Communication for Warner Home Entertainment Group said, "I can tell you that Warner's position has not changed, and I know that Dan did not intend to suggest that wasn't the case. We support both formats and we have made no decision to alter that policy, nor are there any such announcements coming, or being planned."

As for speculation that the studio is waiting for Q4 sales results before making an announcement of format exclusivity -- perhaps even as soon as this January's CES in Las Vegas -- Noonan shot down any such short-term scenarios.

"Like any major company, we are always reviewing our strategies in every aspect of our business, it is what smart companies do. I can't say what may happen five, ten years down the line. But right now, Warner Bros. has made no decision to change course. We are still onboard with both formats, and will continue [with a strong line-up of new releases and catalog titles], just as we have in the past in supporting HD DVD and Blu-ray."

Warner has clearly, directly LIED and misled its customers heading into the busiest buying season of the year.

Direct quote from the Senior VP two months before the announcement was made, "I can't say what may happen five, ten years down the line. But right now, Warner Bros. has made no decision to change course."

Nice!!! Makeusleep, put yourself to sleep please!!!!

Maybe if we bump this thread enough, it will be reported in the Financial Times, picked up by other newspapers and snowball into reality.

This really isn't to poke fun at recent developments -I'm actually kind of serious. It's too early for serious.

I bet this is the first of many moves. I would expect Sony to announce a contract buy-out at some point as well....or more likely to engage in a confidential secure settlement to shut-up Toshiba and get all of the studios on board. :-)...more likely to engage in a confidential secure settlement to shut-up Toshiba and get all of the studios on board.


Toshiba and the two remaining HD-DVD studios are in a situation analogous to being in a high stakes seven card stud poker game. It's the last hand of the night. The final card has been dealt and Toshiba and the two studios all have NOTHING and the Blu-ray Association has a pair of aces SHOWING.

What to do now? Fold and call it a night? Or bet the farm and throw all their remaining money in hoping to bluff the BDA?

I play a lot of winning poker and I know what I would do. Will Toshiba and the studios be smart? Or dumb asses?

The BDA knows that it is holding the winning hand now. Toshiba and the others shouldn't realistically expect much in the way of a "settlement" at this point.

I would appreciate the offer (if it comes to life)...

I'm a dual format owner, but so far have always been in favor of HD-DVD regarding Warner titles...

So far I've about 40Bds and 100 HD-DVDs, about half of them are Warner and beside the exclusives titles were all available in BD... It'll be a nice gesture to swapt them (BTW about 50 titles !).

I would understand Universal or Paramount did not offer that as they are (were ?) exclusives, same for hardware, we bet, we lost, that's life...

--Patrice ;)

If it means titles without interactivity and lesser sound formats, no thanks.
Pretty much my thoughts. I'm actually trying to buy up the rest of the Warner HD DVD movies I need because I want DD+ instead of DD. The only disc I have that I'd consider swapping is Planet Earth.

This kind of deal should be offered by those who confused consumers i.e. Toshiba and Paramount

Sorry, no one is innocent there. Sony and the BDA aren't exactly crystal clear with their profiles, supported audio, etc. I am seriously considering a PS3 now, but until I can get some clear answers on how it will interact with my TV and my Receiver I am waiting.

Frankly if you want to put the blame on everyone who "confused" the consumer you are going to have to Blame EVERYONE involved in any type of HDM. I forget who (I think it was someone at Warner or someone at the BDA) said a few weeks ago that at one point there was a chance to consolidate before either format went to market and he wished they could go back to that. But neither association is innocent here. There never should have been 2 formats to begin with.

I'd probably take them up on this offer.

I doubt there will be any serious software "swap" thingy offered...BR doesn't truly benefit enuff from that ($) and thats what this is all about, at best you might see an ad or series or promotions with a little tag line catered to HD DVD owners: "Now avail on Blu Ray Disc, etc", then in fine print: "HD DVD owners, here's your first chance at getting titleX at this new lower price, etc."

Regardless, all any of us are really in this for is owning movies (well, some guys come of as if all they cared about was bragging rights, EF them)....but I don't care what format a favorite film is on, I want to own the best version, period - I still have many DVDs of my favs because until they're out on hi def, thats all there is - same holds true here...until there is a better (not equal) version of my HD DVD titles, they stay.

This is amusing. The rumor started because of Bill Hunt and his effort to talk to the BDA about this swap thing.

At the BDA presser - they said no.

But the thread continues . . .:confused:

I might like participating in a trade-in program, but seriously doubt one will come to pass. We still have a bookcase full of Disney VHS tapes, among others, that Disney and other studios have never been willing to trade for the 'new' DVD format. Why should I expect something like that now? Don't remember ever hearing about a beta trade-in for vhs either.

jimb

This is amusing. The rumor started because of Bill Hunt and his effort to talk to the BDA about this swap thing.

At the BDA presser - they said no.

But the thread continues . . .:confused:At the BDA presser - they said no. They said there were no plans at this point. Leaves the barn door wide open.

Heh, I still don't see this happening, they'll just use this as a marketing angle...its not about being nice and making a cool offer, the real agenda here is pushing BLU - its just "talk" to further entice and ensure guys they already know are Hidef enthusiasts to buy into their format, not to mention create more hype for the undecided that Sony bought, err, won the war and its safe now to go for it...nothing will happen with this, guar-uhn-teed.

I don't think it makes any sense. With the overall market so small, disenfranchised HD DVD owners are not that important (and I am one, so don't flame, please). After all, HD DVD early adopters have proven they wanted HD media, and they are the most likely to move to BD once the dust settles and the wounds heal.

Honestly, a swap offer would come off as arrogant right now, and it would irritate me. I'd likely feel different once HD DVD officially ceases production, but not right now.

I don't think it makes any sense. With the overall market so small, disenfranchised HD DVD owners are not that important (and I am one, so don't flame, please). After all, HD DVD early adopters have proven they wanted HD media, and they are the most likely to move to BD once the dust settles and the wounds heal.

Honestly, a swap offer would come off as arrogant right now, and it would irritate me. I'd likely feel different once HD DVD officially ceases production, but not right now.


Actually many HD DVD owners are early adopters. The kind of people who talk a format up to friends and family, help them set it up, etc.

These are exactly the type of consumers that the BDA wants to win over through a loyalty program that swaps out their HD DVDs for Blu-Ray discs.

Back in 1984, RCA did some 'swaps' for owners of their abandoned SelectaVision CED VideoDisc format - they gave them RCA VHS VCR's. It didn't happen on a 'huge' scale, only for those that complained the loudest to them... but it did happen.

I'd like to swap all my kubrick titles, superman returns, and blazing saddles please. I'll keep 300, matrix trilogy, and batman until until an equal BD comes out.

I think it would be great if Warner and the BDA offered this to HD DVD owners. Im currently thinking of replacing my Warner HD DVDs so this would help take the sting off a little.

And I still don't understand the war mentality BD supporters who think Sony and the BDA should be snobbish and smug toward HD DVD supporters.

If they (and you) want BD to have any chance at giving DVD a run they need every ounce of help they can get... the best PR move they can make is showing good will towards HD DVD owners to get them to their side.

Thinking otherwise isn;t helping your format, its only further alienating the HD DVD guys that never wanted to cross over in the first place.

Edit: Kudos to Hunt for being reasonable. Its great that a vocal BD supporter can show logic and good will in something that is pretty trivial in the big scheme of things.

If they do this at all (I'd be surprised) there's no way they won't require a dated receipt.

If they don't require a receipt, I'm going to some shopping for cheap WB titles on Ebay.

Are there currently any petitions for an exchange program?

If they had anything remotely close to my XA2, I would do it, but as of now, the XA2 is the best player out, though that new Panny looks interesting...

Tooo funny!! LOL!!

I'd like to swap all my kubrick titles, superman returns, and blazing saddles please. I'll keep 300, matrix trilogy, and batman until until an equal BD comes out.

Real quick, are those 3 movies not available on BD, or are the HD DVDs better?

I wouldn't trade in any HD DVDs that aren't available on Blu yet, that's for dang sure! But they could take my Superman Returns...that movie stinks! :D

They'll allow you to trade in your HD DVDs for the same number of BDs.......but you're limited to the crappy "5 Free Discs" list of the players. :p

I'll just buy a dual format player. I'm still going to buy HD DVDs as long as I can but if Blu-ray wins, I'm not just going to give exchange my discs for the same thing with a blue case.

You are seriously naive if you think this has ANY chance of happening.

I own 130+ HD-DVD titles and have purchased 5 HD-DVD players. No one nor ANY company owes me a god damn thing. It's a decison I made knowing FULLY well that I could (and would) get burned by one of the formats going down in flames.

WHERE ARE MY ENTITLEMENTS!!!! I AM ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR MY OWN ACTIONS AND DECISIONS!!! :rolleyes:

Although I'm totally in the HD-DVD camp, I would warmly welcome any kind of exchange program. Something along the lines that someone else suggested: Send in the disks for replacement while keeping the boxes. This wouldn't cost the studios very much and would make most of us happy.

Truth be told, although recent developments hurt me financially, I haven't bought that many HD-DVD movies and I welcome the move to one format -- even if I picked the wrong one.

Bill Hunt...format war Peacemaker, the irony of it all. Bill, for once I'm listening.

Bill Hunt is no peacemaker, he's just acting the part of the bluray shepherd herding all the lost, confused hd dvd sheep into the bluray pen. Here, sad hd dvd owners, give me all those nasty, worhtless hd dvd copies and I'll get you brand new bluray copies instead.

I like my HD-DVD players and my HD-DVDs and plan to continue to purchase them. I also have a PS3 and do purchase exclusive BD titles as well. If titles are at some point no longer released on HD-DVD, I still have excellent dvd players that also play my current library of HD-DVDs and I will likely purchase all new releases on BD. But I see no reason to trade my HD-DVDs for BDs.

Obviously some people want to do anything they can to kill HD-DVD and the faster the better. This "offer" is nothing but additional self interest in killing the format.

Bill Hunt is no peacemaker, he's just acting the part of the bluray shepherd herding all the lost, confused hd dvd sheep into the bluray pen. Here, sad hd dvd owners, give me all those nasty, worhtless hd dvd copies and I'll get you brand new bluray copies instead.

Agreed. Bill's theory was that he wanted to make sure there was one format so the consumers could benefit through reduced prices and subsequent mass market penetration. Of course, for Bill, that format had to be BD not HD-DVD even though HD-DVD quickly reached lower price levels and at least initially had superior perofrmance (tell me that the those PS3 firmware updates would have been so quick without the existence of HD-DVD).

Ugggh. I hate to rehash this stuff. I really liked his site, but its forever tarnished.

Bill Hunt is no peacemaker, he's just acting the part of the bluray shepherd herding all the lost, confused hd dvd sheep into the bluray pen. Here, sad hd dvd owners, give me all those nasty, worhtless hd dvd copies and I'll get you brand new bluray copies instead.

Exactly it is a win-win for both sides. Consumer (WHO CHOOSE you aren't being forced) feel like the corp interest are looking out for them. Warner gets a big PR win "looking out for the consumer". BDA will likely get a lot of HD only consumers to buy a BD player if they can save some of their library. Think of the press releases: "Over 50,000 user have abandoned the HD DVD format and embraced BD as the only HD media. I don't agree with the press release but I think you can imagine BD doing this. Imagine how much it will be played up by the media.

What is Q2 Toshiba announces the sold 300K HD DVD discs and the BD counters that they not only sold 700K discs but 200K discs were exchanged for BD? They would spin that as 9:1 ratio (300K-200K vs 700K+200K). More people going from red->blu compared to blu-> will shift the marketshare away from the 60:40 to 80:20 or 90:10. That is what it will take to get the studios and retailers to drop HD DVD.

I don't for a second think that the corps will do this "out of the kindness of their heart". It is a weapon that will kick HD DVD while they are down and as a side bonus allows consumers (who once again choose) to have a more seamless transition to blu.

This kind of deal should be offered by those who confused consumers i.e. Toshiba and Paramount

THE most ridiculous and fanboyish post of this thread. AVS was so amazing the last few months...........until recently. (Everyone knows darn well that the confusion and FUD was alive from both camps)

Tooo funny!! LOL!!

Not really:D

It wouldn't be bad publicity.

And then on November 5...

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Warner/Warner_Says_Blu-ray_Comments_Misquoted_and_Misconstrued/1135



Warner has clearly, directly LIED and misled its customers heading into the busiest buying season of the year.

Direct quote from the Senior VP two months before the announcement was made, "I can't say what may happen five, ten years down the line. But right now, Warner Bros. has made no decision to change course."


Dan Silverberg= VP of high-definition media for Warner Home Video

Jim Noonan= Senior Vice President, Worldwide Strategic Promotions & Communications


Don't you think the VP of HDM would have a better idea what HIS department will be doing in the future? If you listened to a Worldwide Strategic Promotions & Communications guy giving you spin, thats why your stuck with HD-DEAD. If you objectively looked at everything leading up to the statement given by Mr. Silverberg (Steve Nickerson stepping down, Amir stepping down) you should have easily figured out what was about to happen. I guess you also believe that Paramount will not be breaking their contract with HD-DVD according to their spin department after Financial Times broke a story saying they will.

The only one trying to get some good publicity here is Bill Hunt. It ain't working. How great it was the last couple of months when his tirades stopped being quoted on AVS all the time. I'll promise not to exchange any titles (not that a full exchange offer will ever happen) if we never hear of him again. And I'm purple.

The only one trying to get some good publicity here is Bill Hunt. It ain't working. How great it was the last couple of months when his tirades stopped being quoted on AVS all the time. I'll promise not to exchange any titles (not that a full exchange offer will ever happen) if we never hear of him again. And I'm purple.

I'm no fan of him either, but I think that him pushing the idea to BDA of offering some kind of swapout or rebate program to let HD DVD owners swap their titles from HD DVD to BD is a great one.

Better than a sharp stick in the eye anyways.

I'm no fan of him either, but I think that him pushing the idea to BDA of offering some kind of swapout or rebate program to let HD DVD owners swap their titles from HD DVD to BD is a great one.

Better than a sharp stick in the eye anyways.

Why would I want to trade when I already have a great player to view it on my XA2

This ain't happening. You will have to buy all new copies on blu ray. Don't kid yourself. :cool:

This ain't happening. You will have to buy all new copies on blu ray. Don't kid yourself. :cool:

What they have to gain is the "goodwill" of 1M HD DVD owners who can help speed up BD adoption by converting from HD DVD and telling their friends to buy BD media.

Both Blu-Ray and HD DVD are "bridge" formats to eventual totally digital distribution sans physical media.

The faster that a clear leader is established the longer it will take for the digital distribution channel to get hold. The longer it takes for the digital distribution channel to get hold the longer people keep buying shiny discs with high def movies on them.

Better than a sharp stick in the eye anyways.

+1

Isn't that exactly what Toshiba got, though? Those folks must feel completely demoralized if not "violated" (if you know what I mean). I don't even care about how much money I've "wasted" on HD DVD when I think of that. Something about rooting for the underdog I guess. *shrug*

+1

Isn't that exactly what Toshiba got, though? Those folks must feel completely demoralized if not "violated" (if you know what I mean). I don't even care about how much money I've "wasted" on HD DVD when I think of that. Something about rooting for the underdog I guess. *shrug*

I've always liked your posts because they are well thought out and rational. On the other hand, when I bought into the HD DVD format I knew I was taking a risk. There was no guarantee of a pro HD DVD outcome.

I know one thing for sure. I care far more about watching great movies in high definition than the little shiny discs they come on or which players use which software.

The real enemy now is SD-DVD and crappy software downloads that the industry is going to try to shove down our throats in another couple of years.

The sooner we all rally behind the format with a chance of breaking into the mainstream, the BETTER I says! :p

I'd like to remain optimistic about some type of trade in deal, but in reality everyone who has followed this format battle has seen nothing but greed by the corporations involved and the consumer seems to be the last thing any of them really cared about. I just don't see them changing their ways now. Especially when they really have nothing to gain by an act of good faith that they would ultimately be subsidizing. I could be wrong though. Here's hoping I am.

If you ask me, Warner should be the first to step up to the plate and start offering some form of goodwill to the HD DVD customer base they just alienated. From what I've gathered, the Warner execs didn't even have the courtesy to make a phone call and discuss their decision with Toshiba and the HD DVD group before going public... RIGHT BEFORE CES. I know life is tough and it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, but it's hard to see that as anything other than a low blow and an example of bad business practices. For that reason, I think Warner deserves all the negative press it gets.

I just have to say that I've always been irked by movie studios going exclusive for either format and it's a shame it has to come down to this. It's not really been about which product offers better value. It's largely about marketing and back-room deals.

I confess I'll be a little sad to see HD DVD go by the wayside, but it doesn't hurt me personally. As a product and technology, I like BD just fine and I already have a PS3 which I bought just to watch BD movies on. Right now I'm not really concerned about swapping my HD DVD discs for BD, although I suppose years down the road I may regret it when/if my Toshiba XA2 goes kaput.

It would nice if the BDA did offer some goodwill or assistance (instead of just gloating and chest thumping) but my expectations are pretty low as far as that is concerned. I can only hope the individual studios step up to the plate and offer a disc exchange program, even if it requires nominal fee, for people who own HD DVD titles and want to swap them out for BD.

I might like participating in a trade-in program, but seriously doubt one will come to pass. We still have a bookcase full of Disney VHS tapes, among others, that Disney and other studios have never been willing to trade for the 'new' DVD format. Why should I expect something like that now? Don't remember ever hearing about a beta trade-in for vhs either.

jimb

You are missing the point. There is no obligation for a company to give you newer versions on newer formats. For instance, no one is asking for updates from your DVD to Blu-ray, or VHS to DVD. Those are newer technologies that supercede and replace eachother.

What we are witnessing here is Warner Brothers putting out a lot of GREAT content on HD DVD and advertising/pushing that to not only early adopters but recent customers over Christmas. Two months ago claiming they are not changing their strategy in the short term. Now, BAM! They pull the rug out from under HD DVD and leave a bunch of customers stranded.

Now, two formats just went to one. That's different than what you are saying.

Still they aren't obligated to do anything. We are just hoping they will do something for us.

Don't understand the offer.

OK, Paramount jumps. I have an HD-DVD player and Transformers on HD-DVD. The only way I would exchange would be the Transformers Blu-Ray version being absolutely superior. This is assuming I have a BRD player. If I didn't would they give me a player for 5 movies.

Don't understand the offer.

OK, Paramount jumps. I have an HD-DVD player and Transformers on HD-DVD. The only way I would exchange would be the Transformers Blu-Ray version being absolutely superior. This is assuming I have a BRD player. If I didn't would they give me a player for 5 movies.

Dude... Michael Bay guarantees it! :p

I know the look, color, and sounds on my own movies better they anyone in the world. I color-time every single image, and am there for every single audio tweak. I see my films in the editing and final process no less then a 100 times. I know ever single nuance. For some dick wads on these posts who think I can't make an informed choice on what format in the end, has the truer results for my own films. Well you where to shove.... My films finished in Blu-Ray are better - more true. Hd is better than DVD, but just not as good as Blu-Ray. So buying a Transformers Hd is still the best you will see this movie as of today. But when Paramount caves for Blu-Ray in the future - This will happen, then you will see Transformers one day finished in Blu-Ray and I will sure be able to tell the difference.

Don't understand the offer.

OK, Paramount jumps. I have an HD-DVD player and Transformers on HD-DVD. The only way I would exchange would be the Transformers Blu-Ray version being absolutely superior. This is assuming I have a BRD player. If I didn't would they give me a player for 5 movies.

1. There is no offer. Apparently the idea of an olive branch in the form of some kind of offer was floated to BDA members who agreed it was a good idea.

2. You would make the exchange if you wanted to, like if you were worried your HD DVD player was going to die, you wanted to simplify with one player and one set of movies, etc.

3. Michael Bay is an idiot.

3. Michael Bay is an idiot.Yep... did you see the one where he claims the lighting is better on Blu-Ray than the identical encode on HD DVD?

Yep... did you see the one where he claims the lighting is better on Blu-Ray than the identical encode on HD DVD?

Yes, the guy is a moron. It doesn't change the fact that like many other Blu ray fans who were a little umm, "over the top" in their priase of the format, it still won.

Cool.
Hopefully I can trade my Bourne collection, Transformers and the Matrix collection for the Blu-ray versions.

Way to go BDA !

Those (and other HD-DVD titles) will be available on Blu-Ray with the same features as the HD-DVD when???

And yes, I do use and enjoy those features.

Could a firmware update by Toshiba make the HDDVD players play BD also, just like the Sony rumor about PS3 being able to play HDDVD.

Could a firmware update by Toshiba make the HDDVD players play BD also, just like the Sony rumor about PS3 being able to play HDDVD.

No......Different lens aperture & Bandwidth limitations of HD-DVD players

Could a firmware update by Toshiba make the HDDVD players play BD also, just like the Sony rumor about PS3 being able to play HDDVD.

The speculation was whether Sony could shoe horn or modify the drive in the PS3 to play HD DVD if BD lost.

Unless the PS3 was designed to shine the blue laser diode through the SD-DVD playback lens and understand how to interpret the output as HD DVD then there's no way it will ever play back HD DVD.

In other words, impossible by means of a firmware update.

You are missing the point. There is no obligation for a company to give you newer versions on newer formats. For instance, no one is asking for updates from your DVD to Blu-ray, or VHS to DVD. Those are newer technologies that supercede and replace eachother.

What we are witnessing here is Warner Brothers putting out a lot of GREAT content on HD DVD and advertising/pushing that to not only early adopters but recent customers over Christmas. Two months ago claiming they are not changing their strategy in the short term. Now, BAM! They pull the rug out from under HD DVD and leave a bunch of customers stranded.

Now, two formats just went to one. That's different than what you are saying.

Still they aren't obligated to do anything. We are just hoping they will do something for us.
Amen!!

And I have both formats!

You know . . there was no swap or trade in program when DVD was introduced and it killed LD almost overnight.

Nor with VHS.

So does anyone really thiink that there will be one now?

"To the victor goes the spoils."

<"Originally Posted by Michael 'Cry Baby' Bay
I know the look, color, and sounds on my own movies better they anyone in the world. I color-time every single image, and am there for every single audio tweak. I see my films in the editing and final process no less then a 100 times. I know ever single nuance. For some dick wads on these posts who think I can't make an informed choice on what format in the end, has the truer results for my own films. Well you where to shove.... My films finished in Blu-Ray are better - more true. Hd is better than DVD, but just not as good as Blu-Ray. So buying a Transformers Hd is still the best you will see this movie as of today. But when Paramount caves for Blu-Ray in the future - This will happen, then you will see Transformers one day finished in Blu-Ray and I will sure be able to tell the difference.">

Of course the Director is right!! We must give him that.

But, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, PLEASE tell me I never have to sit through "Pearl Harbor" again!!!

Of course the Director is right!! We must give him that.

But, HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, PLEASE tell me I never have to sit through "Pearl Harbor" again!!!

On THAT point, we can most certainly agree! :)

What about those thousands of customer who just got their player this past Christmast? and they are not avid AVSer ? nor are they well informed about this format war?

You know . . there was no swap or trade in program when DVD was introduced and it killed LD almost overnight.

Nor with VHS.

So does anyone really thiink that there will be one now?

"To the victor goes the spoils."

Lee that is totally different and you know it.

Lee that is totally different and you know it.

Let me see if I understand this . . .

YOU the consumer (or anyone for that matter) makes a decision/choice in a two horse race . . .

And because you picked the wrong horse to win . . . the winning side should compensate your loss?

Guys . . . if any one agrees with that . . . DON'T EVER walk into a casino.

Thank you