Warner Bros to back Blu-ray DVD format exclusively

[Rob2687]

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

[Miuku.]

Kaboom.

[Lewism]

That's a big blow to HDDVD

[shakey_snake]

All good wars must come to an end.

I believe we can at least smell it now.

[KoL Veteran]

Kaboom.

ouch that is a big KABOOM!! but that is good news. One step closer to end the format war. :D

[PeterTHX]

Boz?

Hellloooo Boz?

Heh. 70% of Hollywood studios exclusively Blu-ray.

It's over HD DVD fans.

[Veedems Veteran]

Man, this is a big strike against HD-DVD. I'm really not sure how they're going to manage after losing Warner.

[Sheppard]

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?

[shakey_snake]

At least all those people with HDDVD players only paid $100 for them, though. ;)

[SnowRanger13]

One step closer to ending the format war.

[Cormier6083]

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.

[wolfie]

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.

[Nightz]

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 :)

[Xilo]

Hooray. With two of the major studios now Blu-ray only, this HD format war will finally soon come to an end.

[goji]

I should have put money on this. So the big 360 announcement at CES may read built in Blu Ray drive or addon. :p

[Nathanael]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah loooooooooool... You probably all know which two sentiments are included in there... hint: (bye and Boz)

[brayan27]

finally its about time, now I know which one i might buy.

[PeterTHX]

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!

[Xilo]

It's a good thing too, because Blu-ray is a helluva lot better than HD-DVD.

[shakey_snake]

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?)

[SonComet]

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.

[JAbad28]

Dang, I just bought an HD-DVD Player a month ago..

[Emon]

Where is Boz when we need him !?!?

[Sethos]

I'd like to see Boz's reply.

[+Warwagon MVC]

aww no more players with upgradeable firmware, was nice while it lasted