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Blu-ray political tensions fume at recent DVD Forum meeting between Panasonic and LG  

post #1 of 242
4/24/07 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
From the CED Industry Newsletter a few week ago:

The article is talking about the Samsung Duo player recently announced, but at the end of the article is this tiny bit about what happened at a recent DVD Forum meeting.

Quote:
Blu-ray stalwart Panasonic brutalized LG for its combo at the latest DVD Forum Steering Committee meeting, we're told. From transcripts we've seen, Panasonic accused LG of breach of contract for offering a combo player, and said it should be censured for doing so. LG blithely thanked Panasonic for bringing publicity to its combo -- and said its lawyers would respond. In what seemed an exchange of spite, LG split ranks with its Blu-ray compatriots by voting in favor of all HD DVD measures before the SC -- rather than abstaining, as the pragmatic Korean companies usually had.

Hopefully people will see the humor in this and not take the happening too seriously, no matter what side of the fence they are on...

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post #2 of 242
4/24/07 at 2:47pm
Wow, just Wow
post #3 of 242
4/24/07 at 2:55pm
I think it would be safe to say that at this point in time things have not exactly gone the way either side would have hoped.

With things looking less and less likely for either side to be able to declair a decisive victory I can see tensions rising all over the place.

If in fact the BR model requires virtual domination to be viable as some claim then we should see continued cracks forming.

If Toshiba is just doing this to prolong the war and maintain DVD licensing revenues as some claim then maybe they are truly the smart ones.

Expect studios and CE's to see mounting pressure from consumers, retailers, the press, you name it both for and against each format, choosing a unified format, killing one or the other formats in the next year. It is going to be a bumpy ride for sure.

Cheers,

Richard
post #4 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:13pm
In all likelihood this is just coincidence but it's interesting how both major CEs which have broken ranks from BD exclusivity are Korean, and not Japanese companies.

I'm sure that LG and Samsung knew that they would get major heat from the other BD only companies, but perhaps they took some comfort in knowing of each other's plans ahead of time "if you produce a duo player so will we" ?
post #5 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by roma_victor View Post

In all likelihood this is just coincidence but it's interesting how both major CEs which have broken ranks from BD exclusivity are Korean, and not Japanese companies.

I'm sure that LG and Samsung knew that they would get major heat from the other BD only companies, but perhaps they took some comfort in knowing of each other's plans ahead of time "if you produce a duo player so will we" ?

Things that make you go hmmm...
post #6 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:33pm
So they sue LG, LG is trying to protect its company's bottom line by trying not to leave any money on the table. Who is Panasonic to tell them what is good for there company?
post #7 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:35pm
I wonder just what kind of anti-competitve contract they are talking about, and if the EU has seen a copy of it...
post #8 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:37pm
Man - I was hearing stuff about this and was just dying to see the story posted.

I would LOVE to know more about the contract they supposedly breached. And I'm sure the EU and other consumer affairs bodies should get a good read, too!

Very interesting.
post #9 of 242
4/24/07 at 3:37pm
Would love to see the BDA contracts with studios and CE's
post #10 of 242
4/24/07 at 4:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertR1 View Post

Would love to see the BDA contracts with studios and CE's

I would love to see contracts from both sides. I bet both would make interesting reads. I wonder if some of them are with the parent companies, like Sony with Time-Warner, Toshiba with General Electric, etc.

--Darin
post #11 of 242
4/24/07 at 4:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darinp2 View Post

I would love to see contracts from both sides. I bet both would make interesting reads. I wonder if some of them are with the parent companies, like Sony with Time-Warner, Toshiba with General Electric, etc.

--Darin

Yeah that side would be interesting also. More importantly, I'd love to read Amir's book if he's serious about it. The backroom politics that have and are taking place in this war could be entertaining beyond belief.

At the end of the day, I just wanna be entertained
post #12 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertR1 View Post

At the end of the day, I just wanna be entertained

And as much as I hate to say this, the next-gen format war has been more entertaining than any HD title on either format. The players involved, the spin, the behind-the-scenes backroom maneuvering, the hype, the passion aroused on internet chatrooms. I almost want the standoff between BD and HD-DVD to continue so my daily quota on non-stop fun doesn't dry up overnight!
post #13 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darinp2 View Post

I would love to see contracts from both sides. I bet both would make interesting reads. I wonder if some of them are with the parent companies, like Sony with Time-Warner, Toshiba with General Electric, etc.

--Darin

See, that's the part that confuses me. Why would Murdoch pair up with Sony?
post #14 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:32pm
Interesting.
Excellent find!
post #15 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dad1153 View Post

And as much as I hate to say this, the next-gen format war has been more entertaining than any HD title on either format. The players involved, the spin, the behind-the-scenes backroom maneuvering, the hype, the passion aroused on internet chatrooms. I almost want the standoff between BD and HD-DVD to continue so my daily quota on non-stop fun doesn't dry up overnight!

Take comfort in the fact that this war is far from over. We will know nothing until at least 1/30/09 when 2008's results are in, or even 1/30/10 if it continues for all of 2009.

Personally I see two formats until Super HDTV comes and once again the manufacturers will have a chance to unite and produce a single format.
post #16 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dad1153 View Post

And as much as I hate to say this, the next-gen format war has been more entertaining than any HD title on either format. The players involved, the spin, the behind-the-scenes backroom maneuvering, the hype, the passion aroused on internet chatrooms. I almost want the standoff between BD and HD-DVD to continue so my daily quota on non-stop fun doesn't dry up overnight!

I hear ya. An Indie label needs to produce a documentary on the rollout of Blu-ray and HD DVD and all the wheeling and dealing that's going on. I can see the title now - "HD DVD vs. Blu-ray: The Greediest Guys In The Room"
post #17 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:48pm
The part I consider the most telling, is that Sony and the BDA made public statements before there was a combo player saying there was nothing keeping any company from making such a player. They were basically saying that anyone can make a combo player if they want to, but the BDA companies were so committed to the Blu-ray format, and they were so certain Blu-ray would prevail, there was no reason to make a dual format player.

LG decided to make a combo, has to, essentially, keep it a secret until they are nearly ready to release it, then gets accused of breach of a contract that isn't supposed to exist.

The outright lies of the BDA turn my stomach.
post #18 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:51pm
Would this make LG go HD DVD only, or maybe Samsung as well?

What would be the penality for them doing so?
post #19 of 242
4/24/07 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by B Leisle View Post

I hear ya. An Indie label needs to produce a documentary on the rollout of Blu-ray and HD DVD and all the wheeling and dealing that's going on. I can see the title now - "HD DVD vs. Blu-ray: The Greediest Guys In The Room"

ROTFLMAO
post #20 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:09pm
Remember that Samsung is pissed at Sony for what happened last year when Sony promised Samsung they would release the PS3 in Europe in Nov. 2006 so Samsung started selling their standalone in October. Sony left Samsung twisting in the wind and from 10/06 to 3/07 they managed to sell 3000 of them - with almost no software from BDA Europe.

Samsung has publically stated that therre will be NO 2nd. Gen BD player for Europe. Maybe a 3 rd Gen player but that has not been decided yet.

Samsung will defy the BDA and make that DF player and it will be a good one. Not the best but good enough.
post #21 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by B Leisle View Post

I hear ya. An Indie label needs to produce a documentary on the rollout of Blu-ray and HD DVD and all the wheeling and dealing that's going on. I can see the title now - "HD DVD vs. Blu-ray: The Greediest Guys In The Room"

And then release it only on red-laser DVD.

P.S. I anxiously await next month's newsletter, with comments from Panasonic to Samsung.
post #22 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dad1153 View Post

And as much as I hate to say this, the next-gen format war has been more entertaining than any HD title on either format. The players involved, the spin, the behind-the-scenes backroom maneuvering, the hype, the passion aroused on internet chatrooms. I almost want the standoff between BD and HD-DVD to continue so my daily quota on non-stop fun doesn't dry up overnight!

I couldn't agree with you more. I find myself logging into this website multiple times per day simply to see what the latest news is from both sides. While I won't say that I've become obssessed, I want to know what the heck is gonna happen tomorrow, next week or next month. It's a fun ride.

cheers,
post #23 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:33pm
Is the public allowed access to transcript from DVD forum meeting? And what is this "violation of contract" they are talking about? I see "anti-trust" bells going off somewhere at the FTC......
post #24 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by efralope View Post

From the CED Industry Newsletter a few week ago:

Great. I didn't want to post this - just alluded to this in other threads.

To give context, this was in the artcile giving the news about Samsung going neutral. The article infact began with "The other show fell off". No wonder BD companies are upset.

This also proves the point I was making earlier when both LG & Samsung backed off their universal announcements in 2006.
post #25 of 242
4/24/07 at 6:50pm
I'm not Asian but I've many friends that tell me that Korea and Japan are still fuedal in many ways. LG and Samsung probably gave the BDA the old "College Try" and when it didn't work they began to work on bailing.

I'd be interested in knowing the "vibe" of Japan and Korea. Japan has always felt superior to China and Korea IMO (admittedly I have little actual experience but looking from a historical viewpoint) and I think Samsung relishes being called "the next Sony".

Panasonic and Sony are like cousins. They both aligned for AVCHD (which was virtually ignored at NAB 2007) camcorders yet they also compete (DVD-Audio vs SACD).

Should be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes. This does prove to me that Panasonic is not wavering in Blu-ray support which will make some people happy.
post #26 of 242
4/24/07 at 7:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hmurchison View Post

Japan has always felt superior to China and Korea IMO (admittedly I have little actual experience but looking from a historical viewpoint) and I think Samsung relishes being called "the next Sony".

A bit of history would be useful. Nothing would satisfy Koreans than beating Japanese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea#Japanese_occupation

Quote:


Korean resistance to the brutal [11][12][13] Japanese occupation was manifested in the nonviolent March 1st Movement of 1919, where 7,000 demonstrators were killed by Japanese police and military.[14] Thereafter the Korean independence movement was largely active in neighboring Manchuria and Siberia.

Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labor beginning in 1939[15] and tens of thousands of men[16] were conscripted into Japan's military. Approximately 200,000 girls and women,[17] mostly from Korea and China, were pressed into work as sex slaves,[18] euphemistically called "comfort women".[19]

The Korean language was banned in official documents and Koreans were obligated to adopt Japanese names. The [20] Traditional Korean culture suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artifacts were destroyed[21] or taken to Japan.[22] To this day, valuable Korean artifacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collectors.[23] One investigation by the South Korea government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 of which are in Japan, and 17,803 of which are in the United States.[24]
post #27 of 242
4/24/07 at 7:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by darinp2 View Post

I would love to see contracts from both sides. I bet both would make interesting reads. I wonder if some of them are with the parent companies, like Sony with Time-Warner, Toshiba with General Electric, etc.

Do you mean Sony with News Corp?
post #28 of 242
4/24/07 at 7:46pm
Japan is still distrusted and disliked throughout most of Asia as result of their violent occupation in the early part of 20th century. However, China, Korea, and Japan still share much of their culture as most politic/science/arts flowed from China through Korea and passed onto Japan throughout most of their history. Japan became a major power in Asia by opening up to the West before their neighbors and quickly adopting rifles instead of swords.
post #29 of 242
4/24/07 at 7:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nataraj View Post

A bit of history would be useful. Nothing would satisfy Koreans than beating Japanese.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea#Japanese_occupation


looks to be just business to me and LG trying to keep their investors happy. But this phantom contract is pretty intriguing
post #30 of 242
4/24/07 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobgpsr View Post

Do you mean Sony with News Corp?

No. I'm not sure they had to do much for Fox other than BD+. But getting Warner to go neutral probably took some doing.

--Darin
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