Posted by Tarkus on 01/06/08 00:28

Derek Janssen wrote:
> As Bill Hunt put it in the Digital Bits:
> ---
> http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa148.html#itsover
> Warner could have done one of three things: Go Blu-ray exclusive, go
> HD-DVD exclusive, or stay neutral. It's apparent from their statement
> this morning that Warner knows as well as we do that this format war is
> confusing consumers and hurting the chances for high-def packaged media
> in the long run. While early adopters online have been happily
> back-biting each other these past two years, most folks elsewhere on
> planet Earth have just issued a collective yawn. Meanwhile, those
> non-early adopter consumers who are actually interested in high-def
> discs have sat on the sidelines waiting for the axe to fall on one of
> these formats. So for Warner, staying neutral just wasn't an option
> anymore. The question then becomes, if you're going to make a change in
> strategy, you want to make one that's going to impart genuine forward
> momentum on the situation. Warner going HD-DVD exclusive would have
> effectively created a 50/50 split in Hollywood studio support for these
> formats, resulting in an even bigger stalemate than already exists, and
> probably closing the door completely on either of these formats ever
> gaining widespread acceptance. On the other hand, Warner going Blu-ray
> only makes that studio split 70/30. It effectively gives Blu-ray
> exclusive access to 70% of Hollywood studio content. And that's not only
> a game changer, it's a game ender.

Bingo! Excellent analysis. HD on disc was likely dead in the water if
Warner went any other way. This gives HD on disc a real chance.
Consumers no longer have to worry about buying into a potential obsolete
format.

> And interesting to see that HD's only biggest counterattack so far is to
> try and scrape up any last remaining Sony-is-evil sentiment from last
> year to hope to play the "They musta been bribed!" card--Seeing from
> firsthand evidence how much animosity the public has against...a format
> that's been bribed.

You mean like they did with Paramount?

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