Warner to attend HD DVD Press Conference at CES 2008 as a speaker

Don Lindich posted on Sound Advice on Thursday, December 20th, 2007:

Will Warner Bros. go Blu-ray exclusive at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show? There have been numerous unfounded rumors that they will, despite Warner Bros.' recent public statements to the contrary.

That scenario is looking extremely remote now, as Don Lindich has just received his press invitation to the HD DVD Promotional Group's Press Conference. Warner Bros. is clearly listed on the invitation. The PR agency confirmed that Warner Bros. is scheduled to attend the HD DVD press conference as a speaker.

[Multigamer]

they announce that its actually hd dvd they are going to support exclusivly

[Grassroots]

lol, yes that makes all the sense in the world. Blu domination across the globe so Warner drops it. Yep.

[wallace1000]

"Domination across the globe"? Neither format has more than a small following. Across the globe, you make me chuckle.

EDIT: to the disagrees, you are dillusional if you think a few million players means a battle between two formats is over. Put aside what you want to happen in the format war and try to take an objective stance.

[godofthunder10]

how crazy can people be,just because br is selling more discs doesn't mean that they will choose br.if people think instead of being bias they will see that there is no company that went to another company just because they are selling more content at a certain time.
any one with a brain knows that they will look at how many stand alone players are sold,the price it cost to make them because the cheaper to make the bigger the profit for them,and who they think can win,not just what format is selling more disc at this time,hell beta had a lead over vhs and look who won.
people are saying that if they choose hd dvd then a lot of the other movie companies that just make br will probaly start making both format,that's why people are saying that if they choose hd dvd it will be a big blow to br.
Grassroots owns a ps3 and he's saying that the ps3 will win the console war even when the 360 is leading but now he's saying that br is going to win because it's leading,well you can't have it both ways,only one can be right .

[UnblessedSoul]

Warner you have to choose a side sooner or later, make it sooner you stupid fools

[nirwanda]

it not like programing for a console where there are cost involved hell they even use the same codecs half the time so they won't even have to re-encode anything they just bung it on a different disk you would be f-in stupid to choose sides and make less money

[deeznuts]

That view may be shortsighted. What if they could choose a side (the one that is winning) end the war, which then spurs widerspread consumer adaptation, then increased sales, all the while reducing their lines which in turn reduces cost?

It's like saying Dell should adapt AMD so as not to lose sales, but doing so doubles overhead in some areas. And that AMD thing didn't work out so well with Dell now reducing AMD participation. Sometimes streamlined is better than having a hand in each jar.

[crazy25000]

man i hope its blu-ray

[ktchong]

Warner is not going to attend and speak at the HD DVD press conference and then drop HD DVD on the same day.

In fact, the Blu-ray people better check to make sure that Warner will also be attending the Blu-ray press conference at the CES... otherwise, it could be bad news.

[titntin]

I agree. It unlikely they will chose either 'side' Why create enemies by being seen as the company that killed off a format? Why restrict your customer base when your already set up to sell to both camps?

Theres every reason to believe that HD DVD will naturally die off in the near future anyway, as it almost gone in europe, never started in Japan, and the sales ratio's are consistantly worsening in the US which is its strongest market.
No point in making corporate 'enemies' when a natural death for the format is looking increasingly likely anyway. I don't say that with any glee at all, if it does fail thats a whole bunch of people that will not be able to get there movies and will be unlikley to buy into new formats in the future.... nobody wins. But thats what happens when people can't agree a format.........

[TANOD]

i agree with you

HD DVD might die completely in 2008 atleast in EU and JAPAN

Warner's defection /their decision to stay neutral will only prolong the HD war. It would become stalemate.

I am quite certain that after the disclosure of HD format sales of Harry Potter Warner will go Blu-Ray exclusive

[Lucreto]

Well there part of the HD-DVD group so they would be on there. It is just like Paramount is still under Blu-ray supporting studios which change after they go to print.

In the Argos catalog they have GTA4 bundle out not but the game was delayed just as the catalog was released.

[MaximusPrime]

this is going to be interesting.
I predict Warner will join Bluray. HDDVD figure just keeps falling.

[whoelse]

The probably havnt chosen sides yet which is why everything is going as usual.

[PStriple703]

come on ova waner!

[JokesOnYou]

why are people assuming they are going to choose a side whenever they do speak?, its likely they're just going to be talking about sales and upcoming releases etc, but they definitely wouldn't accept hd dvd invitation to speak if its not to promote positive news for hd dvd, this just further proves what they have already officially stated which is they are NOT going bluray exclusive (anytime soon).

JOY

[fresco]

toshiba and ms is going deep in their pockets for this one.

[Blitzed]

Is this a press conference or a Wake? j/k

[Grassroots]

haha, this means nothing, why would they tell Warner they aren't going to be at their conference even if they were going exclusive, think about it. Plus the BDA's conference is after theirs, so it could be easily made after the fact of their weak ass stage show with nothing positive to push anymore. They have now lost the Bourne/Potter week by a 61/39 ratio. Funny, what's put out their because their just isn't much left to say on the DUD side of things.

[DarkSniper]

Blu-Ray disc is the widely accepted propietory high-definition format. It would be senseless to give HD-DVD any kind of attention in the matter. It's been a proven fact that with the PLAYSTATION 3®, there are over 7 million proud Blu-Ray owners worldwide. Numbers that can not be seen with the combined sales of standalone HD-DVD players and XBOX 360 consoles.

$niper

[chfthnder26]

like i said the only people buying blu ray is ps3 fans and last time i checked there were a lot more movie lovers than video game finatics so if you look at just blu ray as a movie format it is losing dont get me wrong ps3 fans r buying movies but not as many as hd dvd fans are according to hardware sales 7 million against maybe 800,000 and only 3to1 thats pretty bad

[Xbox is the BEST]

you mean accepted by Sony fanboys? Because Warner stated many times that they are watching standalone player sales.

[pwnsause]

Warner is either going BD exlcusive or stay Multi. we will see this january

[bigshynepo]

That's fact, more media sales, more market penetration, more studios, more capacity, more bandwidth, more manufacturer support, more titles, higher box-office movies, and not a country in the world shows that Blu-ray is slowing down.

Warner won't make an announcement till after CES. Give it till March and expect to see Warner's release schedule for BOTH formats fluctuate before the change, IMO.

[WilliamRLBaker]

More media sale? no More movie sales yes, But media sales would be blank blu ray discs and you dont have access to that information no one does.

More market penetration? Wrong market penetration is ad's...ect not exclusively sales, I know of more peoeple that can tell me the word HD DVD and not blu ray, More bandwidth? nope wrong there is no more bandwidth on an blu ray.

More manufaturer support? actually no when compared the manufacturers supporting hd dvd are big enough to offset all the smaller ones supporting blu ray.

More titles? really? last I checked blu ray only had like 20 more unqiue titles in the queu, Higher box office movies? really? 300 (both formats) Matrix (hd dvd only last I checked) need i say more? More capacity? WRONGGGGGGGGG infact hd dvd now has 1 gig more then blu ray and movies are starting to use the new 51gig spec.

so many wrong statements, do some research before you make such stupid broad blu ray spin statements.

[wallace1000]

The problem with reading posts regarding HD-DVD/Blu-ray on this site is that the majority or all of PS3 owners will support blu-ray whereas other console owners/pc/other readers don't have a format yet so the posts are always blu-ray heavy. I just love all the "forsure" predictions regarding two HD formats that have minimal sales. Blu-ray sales are based solely on the fact that you buy a gamers machine and get a blu-ray player and as i would do you think "I have one so why not buy a few movies to try it out", then you either like it and get more or just stick with what you have. HD DVD sales are based on (just my opinion and guess work) the cheaper price that will encourage people without a money tree and the fact that to the average joe HD DVD is familiar because it must be like a DVD but in HD like some of those sport channels and stuff avg joe (in the HD market) gets. I think a lot of people are thinking "what the hell is a blu-ray"?

EDIT: @Kain The 51gb HD-DVD disc is triple layer, no quadruple layer. Plus if HD DVD was dead then they wouldn't be selling HD DVD players or HD DVD movies would they? There is nothing wrong with supporting either format but saying either one is dead at this point in time just makes you look at little stupid.

[Kain81]

there is a problem, HD-Dvd with 51Gb has 4 layers.
And the problem now is that many players not suport 4Layer HD-Dvds specialy not the one who cost 99$
At this point Blu-ray have 200Gb with 8Layers and 100Gb with 4Layers.
HD-Dvd is inferior and dead.
Get informed before you tell stupid things...please^^

[WilliamRLBaker]

kain wrong, the HD DVD spec is ment for adaption and updates and because of all HD DVD players ehternet connection it can get firmware updates immeadiately.

a simple firmware update is needed to play the 51 gig disc....the HD DVD camp wasn't the ones having problems geting dual layer discs running for a long time...that was blu ray, so I have no doubt most HD DVD players will support the new discs.

[WilliamRLBaker]

they are making more money off supporting both formats then just one.

[wallace1000]

The person that disagreed has to go take some post secondary economics classes or maybe they shouldn't have been dropped on their head as a baby. Warner is in the sweet spot right now, they are selling to the entire HD market instead of limiting their sales to either HD DVD or Blu-ray supporters.

EDIT: Did someone disagree with me because they don't think warner will sell more movies supporting both formats or because they want Warner to go Blu-ray exclusive?

[Cherchez La Ghost]

WB is not going to Blu-Ray exclusively!

http://www.dvdtown.com/news...

Blu-Ray & HD-DVD numbers are weak against DVD9. 'Nuff Said!!

[DJ]

But we all know how THAT turned out.

[wallace1000]

But switching from VHS to DVD wouldn't have costs thousands of dollars for many people. Lots of people still don't have HDTVs. Even if you have an HDTV, were launch DVD players (comparatively with inflation) more than prices for blu-ray and hd dvd players?

[Bladestar]

Yeah... we know DJ... it took DVD 10 years to overthrone VHS... do your research.... The transition between VHS to DVD didn't happen quick... and lets not forget the following facts:
a) people werent forced to buy an expensive new TV to play DVDs.
b) DVD offered many more benefits over VHS(i.e. chapters, skip, etc) and not just extra pixels.
c) DVD didn't really have a competitor that offered similar benefits..

not the same with this format war... now we have two formats that offer practically the same thing... same ress... same sound... and enough space... most of the features (important) available on HD formats are already on DVD.... and HD DVD and blu-ray are probably the most similar formats any other format war have ever seen...

and you expect blu-ray to beat HD DVD and DVD within months... lol.. you obviously was no born during any format war... probably not even DVD.

[Kain81]

What they cost more than 1000$. The first DVD appeard 1999 and cost 1500$
And it was the Playstation 2 that have made it mainstream.
So the switch between VHS to DVD was expensiv too

[wallace1000]

Cool, thanks for the answer. I couldn't find it on the net and couldn't remember myself.

[DJ]

is expecting a little too much. The only point in time that they would probably choose to do so on their own is when the sales ratio is 90:10, Blu-ray to HD-DVD.

As of right now, it's 76:24 here in the U.S., and growing.

[hardcorehippiez]

and im sorry that just wont happen.for those on the blu camp if we cant get a film on blu then we buy dvd .... simple .blu is selling well and the more popular ps3 s are becoming blu will only get stronger.if warner dont realize this then thats going to be bad times for them.like it or not ps3 is a multi media machine and is effecting the sales of the hd format.you can use the arguement well i thought it was a games machine well guess what ? it is the ps2 survived as a dvd player and a games console and the ps3 will do the same for hd .

[ravinash]

If anything it would imply that they were going with HD-DVD.
I hope not, but weired things have happened before.
You would think that a company looking for which format to go with would go with the one thats more successful and the one that that customers seem to want.
But you never know whats happening behind the scenes, and if they do make an announcement that their going with HD-DVD, then you know something has been going on.
Remember its not about what the customer wants, or whats best for the technology....its all about profit.

[Bladestar]

You are so far from the truth... also many Sony fanboys are just in denial... the success of any of the format does not depends on the previous success of the format... but on the future directions studios take...

I mean look how Paramount deal affect the format war...

Warner knows (and even you know) that if that which ever format they take wins.... period... studios decide the fate of the format.. unlike what Sony fanboys think.. that it's the PS3.

if warner announces HD DVD exclusivity... lol... do you still think any success which by the way is like 7% of the movie industry thanks to Sony giving 6-12 blu-ray movies and shipping movies with their console even to people that do not own HD TVs...

right now... blu-ray is willing because of the selling advantage that the PS3 brings... but there is a reason why Sony gives free movies away... I don't see companies giving 10 DVD movies when you buy a DVD player... so, if blu-ray is the obvious winner... so, why are they losing money on hardware and movies?

as of now... the movie industry is fracture equally in terms of studios between blu-ray and HD DVD... if Warner goes to bed with microsof and HD DVD ala Paramount... I can see blu-ray going belly up.

[athlon770]

You are so funny. You HD-DVD (Red) supporters need to remember that with Blu-Ray's (Blue) foothold in the PC market, and the PS3, and set top boxes, blue will NOT be going anywhere! Learn it, Love it, Get over it! Despite what you may dream about hapening, Sony will not put a red player in the PS3 just as Microsoft will not put a red or blue player IN the 360! There are too many units out in the world which will prevent such a thing from happening. Yes, High Def Movies (HDM) are the next greatest thing, and yes there is a price for admission, but least you forget that the FCC has mandated that by 2009, everything will be transmitted in high-def (in the USA). People will be replacing those Standard def (SD) TV's with new HD ones. Those very TV's are becoming cheaper and cheaper.

Now, with the HDM sales being only what 2 - 5% of all movie sales may sound small and insignificant, remember that 72%+ are blue sales. So while you are acting all smug that blue sales are small compared to dvd, red is even smaller.

And Blade, please do not think for one moment that anyone is forgetting the free give-a-ways that the red format is doing also. Your not looking at the big picture and it is very evident. Trying to say blue does this and blue does that, all the while red is doing the same darn thing is making you look foolish in your posts.

Do I think WB is going blue exclusive...no. It does not make any sence. They have already upgraded their mfg process to stamp out both blue and red formats. To throw either side out would be stupid. Plus with more and more of us adopting the HDM lifestyle, any studio that goes exclusive at this point is loosing more money without the chance to re-coup. Heck, even with red's low selling, that studio would still miss out on those sales.

Now, that is not to say that at some point red will be overshadowed by the blue side. That much should be obvious to anyone, even the Sony haters. However, unless blue starts selling 80% of the market, and Paramount starts selling to both formats again, I can't see red going anywhere for another year or two.

[theox2g7]

athlon,
totally agree, comment of the day, and one thing fanboys on both sides don't get about competitive formats is that they don't necessarily die off, they just become isolated and rare even after the next successor of the formats has been decided, umd isn't dead, it's just for the niche who want to want to watch movies on their psp, sales are weak compared to dvd but it's still selling and they're still making movies, betamax never died, movie industries still use it till date, stuff like this don't really die off and it's pretty obvious that bluray will take over and become mainstream but that doesn't mean u guys can go like "ZOOOMG, HD DVD is dead, ur box will be useless in x years", it's here to stay and it's not going anywhere, it'll just be in the niche like umd, u can't say hd dvd will die but u can definitely say bluray will be the rightful successor of dvd

[eagle21]

Just terrible movies and marketing. They better get another PR team. Blu-ray has everything on point.

[Xbox is the BEST]

like I DO BLU.

[dragonJP]

...if Warner switches to HD DVD there would be an absolute stalemate in the format war? That could be what Warner wants, since a stalemate WOULD FORCE BOTH SIDES BACK TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE. Think about it, do you think that Warner, Paramount, even Disney and Fox really want to be beholden to Sony's proprietary disc format LONG-TERM? Sony is a competing movie studio after all. I think a fully-negotiated NEW DISC format (backwards compatible with BOTH HD DVD AND BLU-RAY) agreed upon by all parties involved is the ultimate solution to the format war, a solution where no ONE movie studio holds all the cards.

[HarryEtTubMan]

lol either way I will keep buying Blu Ray movies and it be the chosen format within the next 9 years.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Opps didn't know that was loaded.

[name]

My guess: Microsoft spent more money to make Warner HD DVD exclusive so neither format will win.

[terrencetmurda]

They will be HD DVD exclusive!!

[Kain81]

There are more Blu ray consumer than HD-DVD consumer.
Warner will not go Hddvd-exclusiv

[bigshynepo]

WilliamRLBaker , You know nothing! Blu-Ray can stand behind facts, facts that I would point out to you if I didn't know you could google them yourself.

HD-DVD stands behind mis-truths (YtoD hardware sales vs Monthly numbers), lies (the paramount deal), and deceit (showing spielberg's movies at their press conferences). You obviously are a blind fanboy who knows nothing of the facts in the format war. Look them up before you come on here embarassing yourself.

Once again, to stay on topic, Warner won't announce anything at CES. Rest assured. On the other hand, why is warner f*cking up so much with their packaging and authoring? (Harry potter, Bladerunner and Terminator 3...get it together guys, give up HD-DVD so you can concentrate on getting it right with Blu-Ray, the format that matters.)

[Baron79]

Well you can officialy put the "WB is going blu" stories to rest. WB has always favored HD-DVD more so this is really not that suprising to most following the war. Great news for HD-DVD.

[Xbox is the BEST]

people really followed the format they would know that WB favors HD DVD. Stuff that I've been posting along. expect announcement from Warner Bros. CES 2008

[Xbox is the BEST]

2.7+ million Blu Ray players and a blockbuster like Pirates only manages to sell 160K first week. WB is looking at these sales figures.
I bleed Red, do you?

[bigshynepo]

Yeah, Toshiba bleeds 800 Million dollars in Red from it's HD-DVD division just trying to keep it afloat.

[Xbox is the BEST]

Toshiba is still Head of the DVD Forum along with Warner Bros. So Toshiba still making royalities off DVDs and more money off the PS#3 than Sony. Remember Sony sold their Cell plant to Toshiba and borrowed $8 Billion plus liquidated $3 Billion (totaling $11Billion) of their company to try stopping the Blu Ray bleeding.

[Snukadaman]

can you imagine the anger..the hatred..the excuses. and before someone says well if they go blu-ray imagine the anger..the hatred...the excuses..blu-ray has everything too lose...hd-dvd has everything too gain. if blu-ray wins this format war its not like everyone will magically switch too blu-ray folks...some people act like there will be a line where you have too give up your regular dvd player and forced too buy a blu-ray player...its no secret that whatever format wins this format war...theres another war brewing with the hearts and minds of people who think regular dvd is still tops.

[jorellpogi]

There are numerous speculation that WB will go exclusively to BD. It is prudent for us to wait for the official stand of WB. Either way, BD will still dominate 2008.

[chfthnder26]

im getting ready to go get the kingdom on hddvd at wal mart cant wait to watch it i bet is going to be off the hook PEACE!!!!!

[Shaka2K6]

The matrix flopped on h-dud.

Warner knows where the money is at?
Blu.

[weezeru2]

Most of you seem to be misinformed. Blu-Ray holds the market share. Toshiba IS THE ONLY STAND ALONE HD-DVD MAKER! Blu-ray has the support of Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Denon, Pioneer, Sharp and Phillips!! More options for the consumer! Prices are coming down and there are more movie titles that are bigger blockbusters on Blu-Ray! Last I checked Disney/Pixar movies make more money than the over rated franchise of Shrek! If HD-DVD couldnt pursuade more people to go with them with Transformers and Shrek then whatelse could they possibly do? Buy out Warner?! Microsoft has the money to do so but I doubt it will come to that.

[jonboi24]

omg i hope warner bros. doesn't go red i mean they're making enough cash being neutral. i hope they don't get bribed by cash and regret it like another company *ahem*paramount*ahem*. with batman begins only being on hd-dvd, i'd really be pissed if the dark knight was hd-dvd exclusive.