Rob2687 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Warner Bros studio on Friday said it would exclusively release high-definition DVDs in Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray format, dealing a big blow to Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rival HD DVD technology.Warner Bros, Hollywood's biggest seller of DVDs, representing about 18 to 20 percent of sales in the United States, was one of the few studios that backed both formats. All sides of the format war had agreed it was confusing to consumers and a stumbling block for a potential multibillion-dollar industry. Total DVD unit sales fell 4.5 percent in 2007, the first major year-over-year decline since the disc format debuted in 1997, according to Adams Media Research. Sales fell 4.8 percent to $15.7 billion. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers," Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement. News Corp's (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), and Lionsgate (LGF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are among studios backing the Blu-ray format. Viacom Inc's (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Paramount studios and General Electric's (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) NBC Universal release movies in HD DVD format. Warner said it would continue releasing in the HD DVD format until the end of May, although those releases would follow the standard DVD and Blu-ray releases. (Reporting by Kenneth Li in New York and Bob Tourtellotte and Peter Henderson in Los Angeles; Editing by Brian Moss) http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsume...432340820080104 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miuku. Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Kaboom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewism Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 That's a big blow to HDDVD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey_snake Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 All good wars must come to an end. I believe we can at least smell it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KoL Veteran Posted January 4, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 4, 2008 Kaboom. ouch that is a big KABOOM!! but that is good news. One step closer to end the format war. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterTHX Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Boz? Hellloooo Boz? Heh. 70% of Hollywood studios exclusively Blu-ray. It's over HD DVD fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted January 4, 2008 Veteran Share Posted January 4, 2008 Man, this is a big strike against HD-DVD. I'm really not sure how they're going to manage after losing Warner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheppard Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 What was that Boz? Im sure i remember you claiming that Warner would go HD DVD and that you were definate it would and that your predictions are never wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey_snake Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 At least all those people with HDDVD players only paid $100 for them, though. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowRanger13 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 One step closer to ending the format war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormier6083 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I laughed my ass off when I read this. My family thought I was going crazy. Goodbye HD-DVD. It was nice knowing you. Boz, I would say I told you so... but those words just don't cut it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yep I agree it might be over for HD but we will all lose with Sony. Every time they put their proprietary mark on it something it gets all f*** up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightz Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 right after i got my hd dvd add on for the 360 :laugh: oh well. got the bourne trilogy and my 5 free movies are coming it, so it wasn't a complete waste. nice win for the blu side :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xilo Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Hooray. With two of the major studios now Blu-ray only, this HD format war will finally soon come to an end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goji Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I should have put money on this. So the big 360 announcement at CES may read built in Blu Ray drive or addon. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathanael Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah loooooooooool... You probably all know which two sentiments are included in there... hint: (bye and Boz) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brayan27 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 finally its about time, now I know which one i might buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterTHX Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Yep I agree it might be over for HD but we will all lose with Sony. Every time they put their proprietary mark on it something it gets all f*** up. Then buy a Panasonic. Or a Pioneer. Or Samsung. Sharp. Hitachi. Denon... or Philips or the MANY Blu-ray supporting companies. For the last time: IT'S NOT A SONY FORMAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xilo Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 It's a good thing too, because Blu-ray is a helluva lot better than HD-DVD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey_snake Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Boz?Hellloooo Boz? I never likes his debating style much either, but I seriously hope he doesn't pull a Dora the Explorer. ;) (too soon?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonComet Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I wonder what Universal, Paramount, Dreamworks, and Weinstein will do. I hope that this format war will finally end. Also, when is Batman Begins and the Matrix Trilogy coming out on blu-ray? Hopefully soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAbad28 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Dang, I just bought an HD-DVD Player a month ago.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emon Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Where is Boz when we need him !?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sethos Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 I'd like to see Boz's reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted January 4, 2008 MVC Share Posted January 4, 2008 aww no more players with upgradeable firmware, was nice while it lasted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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