Give it up, it's over for HD-DVD
Hooray for Blu-ray, it's looking like a winner
Asher Moses - Sydney Morning Herald
February 15, 2007 - 10:49AM
Product delays and lacklustre movie studio support could spell doom for the HD DVD disc format, which is struggling to gain a foothold in the Australian market as rival Blu-ray continues to extend its lead.
Not only has the Blu-ray camp managed to secure the exclusive support of five of the eight major movie studios (two of the remaining three studios support both formats), it has also succeeded in being the first to market with stand-alone players, and enjoys wider support from retailers.
These will be crucial factors in determining which format eventually takes over from the ageing DVD standard, as picture quality differences between the two are virtually indiscernible.
Retailer support is seen by many in the industry as particularly critical, as the advantages the high-definition formats offer over standard-definition DVDs are most effectively demonstrated through in-store demos.
JB Hi-Fi, described by its marketing director Scott Browning as the "largest true home entertainment specialist" in Australia, supports Blu-ray exclusively.
Browning said the main factor driving this decision was Blu-ray's superior movie studio support when compared with that of HD DVD.
"We don't want to be selling $1000 clocks," he said, referring to the fact that buying an expensive high-definition player is useless if there are no corresponding movies.
Stand-alone Blu-ray players and movie discs have been widely available since before Christmas last year, whereas HD DVD movies are difficult to find, barring a few titles from Universal Pictures.
Further, HD DVD players are at this point limited to a select few laptop computers from Toshiba's Qosmio range. Stand-alone players are due for release on the Australian market in the coming months.
Luke Goldsworthy, national merchandise manager at Dick Smith Electronics, said the shortage of HD DVD movies was so severe that the retailer could only stock them by importing from overseas.
But Goldsworthy added that sales of Toshiba's HD DVD laptops at Dick Smith outlets were strong despite this.
Like JB Hi-Fi, Myer also stocks Blu-ray exclusively. Its category buyer for home entertainment, Roger Drinkwater, said the retailer was still deciding when it would begin stocking HD DVD.
Drinkwater said Blu-ray sales in Myer stores had to date been "steady" ("it's very expensive at this point in time"), but he expected a "big push" once the PlayStation 3 - which offers built-in support for Blu-ray - is launched in Australia on March 23.
Xbox 360 owners can add HD DVD support through an optional accessory that will be sold from March 29, but JB Hi-Fi's Browning doubted whether it would have a significant impact on the format war because it would not be bundled with the console.
He described the accessory as an "afterthought add-on".
Universal Pictures is the only major movie studio to side exclusively with HD DVD. Its Australian managing director, Liz van Hooven, said HD DVD had "yet to get full traction" because it was virtually impossible to find a HD DVD player to buy in stores.
"It's during quarter one [this year] that the hardware will be launched in this market," she said, adding that "various technology issues" and the need to satisfy overseas demand had prevented Toshiba - the main backer of HD DVD - from bringing players to the local market earlier.
Warner Home Video has announced its support for both formats, but issues similar to those experienced by Universal are preventing it from bringing HD DVD movies to the Australian market.
"We actually haven't yet brought any HD DVD titles to market because clearly our plan was to align with hardware availability," the studio's local managing director, Roger Clarke, said.
"[But] there have been Blu-ray players in the market since before Christmas and [therefore] we have [already] released titles on Blu-ray."
Australians can now choose from a selection of about 70 Blu-ray movies, and a further 30 are scheduled to reach stores between March and April.
Michele Garra, chairwoman of the Australian Blu-ray Disc Working Group, denied there was a "format war" in Australia, since few stores stocked players and movies in "the rival format".
She said Blu-ray sales to date had been "terrific", but acknowledged that the take-up of the format would be driven by the penetration of HDTV sets in Australian homes.
Citing "industry estimates" as the source of her data, Garra said 33 per cent of Australian households owned an HDTV, and that this figure was expected to increase to 90 per cent by 2010.
Toshiba did not return requests for comment in time for the publication of this story.
Asher Moses - Sydney Morning Herald
February 15, 2007 - 10:49AM
Product delays and lacklustre movie studio support could spell doom for the HD DVD disc format, which is struggling to gain a foothold in the Australian market as rival Blu-ray continues to extend its lead.
Not only has the Blu-ray camp managed to secure the exclusive support of five of the eight major movie studios (two of the remaining three studios support both formats), it has also succeeded in being the first to market with stand-alone players, and enjoys wider support from retailers.
These will be crucial factors in determining which format eventually takes over from the ageing DVD standard, as picture quality differences between the two are virtually indiscernible.
Retailer support is seen by many in the industry as particularly critical, as the advantages the high-definition formats offer over standard-definition DVDs are most effectively demonstrated through in-store demos.
JB Hi-Fi, described by its marketing director Scott Browning as the "largest true home entertainment specialist" in Australia, supports Blu-ray exclusively.
Browning said the main factor driving this decision was Blu-ray's superior movie studio support when compared with that of HD DVD.
"We don't want to be selling $1000 clocks," he said, referring to the fact that buying an expensive high-definition player is useless if there are no corresponding movies.
Stand-alone Blu-ray players and movie discs have been widely available since before Christmas last year, whereas HD DVD movies are difficult to find, barring a few titles from Universal Pictures.
Further, HD DVD players are at this point limited to a select few laptop computers from Toshiba's Qosmio range. Stand-alone players are due for release on the Australian market in the coming months.
Luke Goldsworthy, national merchandise manager at Dick Smith Electronics, said the shortage of HD DVD movies was so severe that the retailer could only stock them by importing from overseas.
But Goldsworthy added that sales of Toshiba's HD DVD laptops at Dick Smith outlets were strong despite this.
Like JB Hi-Fi, Myer also stocks Blu-ray exclusively. Its category buyer for home entertainment, Roger Drinkwater, said the retailer was still deciding when it would begin stocking HD DVD.
Drinkwater said Blu-ray sales in Myer stores had to date been "steady" ("it's very expensive at this point in time"), but he expected a "big push" once the PlayStation 3 - which offers built-in support for Blu-ray - is launched in Australia on March 23.
Xbox 360 owners can add HD DVD support through an optional accessory that will be sold from March 29, but JB Hi-Fi's Browning doubted whether it would have a significant impact on the format war because it would not be bundled with the console.
He described the accessory as an "afterthought add-on".
Universal Pictures is the only major movie studio to side exclusively with HD DVD. Its Australian managing director, Liz van Hooven, said HD DVD had "yet to get full traction" because it was virtually impossible to find a HD DVD player to buy in stores.
"It's during quarter one [this year] that the hardware will be launched in this market," she said, adding that "various technology issues" and the need to satisfy overseas demand had prevented Toshiba - the main backer of HD DVD - from bringing players to the local market earlier.
Warner Home Video has announced its support for both formats, but issues similar to those experienced by Universal are preventing it from bringing HD DVD movies to the Australian market.
"We actually haven't yet brought any HD DVD titles to market because clearly our plan was to align with hardware availability," the studio's local managing director, Roger Clarke, said.
"[But] there have been Blu-ray players in the market since before Christmas and [therefore] we have [already] released titles on Blu-ray."
Australians can now choose from a selection of about 70 Blu-ray movies, and a further 30 are scheduled to reach stores between March and April.
Michele Garra, chairwoman of the Australian Blu-ray Disc Working Group, denied there was a "format war" in Australia, since few stores stocked players and movies in "the rival format".
She said Blu-ray sales to date had been "terrific", but acknowledged that the take-up of the format would be driven by the penetration of HDTV sets in Australian homes.
Citing "industry estimates" as the source of her data, Garra said 33 per cent of Australian households owned an HDTV, and that this figure was expected to increase to 90 per cent by 2010.
Toshiba did not return requests for comment in time for the publication of this story.
Comments
Universal is the only studio releasing titles exclusively on HD DVD. How long do you think they will hold out? I predict they will release titles on Blu-ray within six months.
In 6 months. I doubt they will hold out that long.
whilst HD-DVD has. strangely, almost no presence in australia, the pitifully small australian market is not going to be the determining factor in this 'format war'. meh, i'm over it, haven't looked at that thread for months now, and don't care to as everyone has picked their side and is hanging on for grim death. i'm just waiting for the hi-def authoring tools to come to DVDSP, and the hardware of course...
Why is it pitiful?
Mate, I'm a kiwi, no dingos where I come from.
Off topic...but whereabouts in NZ do you come from? I am currently in the hellish nightmare known as the UK and im looking to relocate to Kiwi-land in the next 18- months. 8)
The BluRay camp seems to be marketing their product a little better than HD-DVD, but they could still be MUCH better. We should be seeing prime time TV ads, but we don't. Why?
Numerous reviewers of the format war have said that the difference between DVD and HD-DVD/BluRay isn't nearly the jump that it was from VHS to DVD. I think the average consumer is picking up on that. They see the demos in the store and think, "yeah, that looks pretty good, but it's not $700 to $1000 better than the picture quality I'm getting with the DVD player I already have."
I think about my experience: I have a Toshiba HD tube TV and a Sony upscaling DVD player. Movies look really darn good on them! Animated features especially look awesome. I don't see enough compelling reasons to make the jump to HD-DVD or BluRay yet.
Honestly, I think what will tip my hand will be when movies start to only become available on HD-DVD or BluRay and player prices come down to less than $300.
Still, the two camps need to show consumers why their formats are so much better than DVD to begin with.
Universal is the only studio releasing titles exclusively on HD DVD. How long do you think they will hold out? I predict they will release titles on Blu-ray within six months.
Incorrect. Universal is the only studio releasing exclusively on HD DVD that could be considered a Major company. The Weinstein Co is still HD DVD exclusive there are a lot of smaller studios that will be falling on both sides of the fence. Universals catalog is over 4 thousand titles. Fox and Lionsgate combined won't hit half that number.
HD DVD studios cover about %70 of all movies from Major studios.
Incorrect. Universal is the only studio releasing exclusively on HD DVD that could be considered a Major company. The Weinstein Co is still HD DVD exclusive there are a lot of smaller studios that will be falling on both sides of the fence. Universals catalog is over 4 thousand titles. Fox and Lionsgate combined won't hit half that number.
HD DVD studios cover about %70 of all movies from Major studios.
There is still far more support for Blu-Ray in terms of manufacturers and studios.
In 6 months. I doubt they will hold out that long.
Based on what? There are over a million BD players in home today and HD DVD sill sells more titles on Head to Head blockbuster challenges.
Check out the Amazon rankings for "The Departed" Universal isn't losing any significant money sticking with HD DVD. The BD attachrate is horrible. The PS3 has indeed had an effect but it's been rather small.
I'm not sure why this required another thread.
I'm sorry, but neither camp has shown me that they're serious about spreading the HD love. I think if you'd ask the average consumer, they'd say that they heard something about it and/or saw stuff in the Best Buy flier but didn't pay much attention to it.
The BluRay camp seems to be marketing their product a little better than HD-DVD, but they could still be MUCH better. We should be seeing prime time TV ads, but we don't. Why?
Numerous reviewers of the format war have said that the difference between DVD and HD-DVD/BluRay isn't nearly the jump that it was from VHS to DVD. I think the average consumer is picking up on that. They see the demos in the store and think, "yeah, that looks pretty good, but it's not $700 to $1000 better than the picture quality I'm getting with the DVD player I already have."
I think about my experience: I have a Toshiba HD tube TV and a Sony upscaling DVD player. Movies look really darn good on them! Animated features especially look awesome. I don't see enough compelling reasons to make the jump to HD-DVD or BluRay yet.
Honestly, I think what will tip my hand will be when movies start to only become available on HD-DVD or BluRay and player prices come down to less than $300.
Still, the two camps need to show consumers why their formats are so much better than DVD to begin with.
I agree with you here. And all that hi-def capability doesn't mean jack when it's a shitty transfer, like Talledega nights. That BRD looks worse than DVD displayed at 480p. I recently have been getting into "Lost" episodes on DVD. The picture is really nice on my 1080i Panasonic 42" Plasma. I hear that Talledega Nights was a shitty transfer, so I suppose I can expect better quality from other releases.
Why is it pitiful?
i said it was "pitifully small". thre are cities in asia and europe who have virtually our whole population in them. do you really think that the market here could have any bearing of this blu-ray/HD-DVD thing?!
do you really think that the market here could have any bearing of this blu-ray/HD-DVD thing?!
Actually...yeah.
Right now WE make all the movies and WE get to buy them on DVD before anyone else. Therefore WE are kind of dictating how this is going to work out. American companies are going to distribute the format that Americans buy and ditch the other. The rest of the world will then have to deal with it.
Yay America.
(slithers away to hide)
Actually...yeah.
Right now WE make all the movies and WE get to buy them on DVD before anyone else. Therefore WE are kind of dictating how this is going to work out. American companies are going to distribute the format that Americans buy and ditch the other. The rest of the world will then have to deal with it.
Yay America.
(slithers away to hide)
What are you talking about? He's referring to Australia not having any impact.
... The picture is really nice on my 1080i Panasonic 42" Plasma. ...
Congratulations on having a great TV, but it does not display 1080i natively. Like all digital sets, it accepts 1080i input. However, it scales content to its native pixel density which is most likely 1024 x 768. You don't even have square pixels--which is common for plasma screens in this size range. To get square pixels, you have to get at least the 50" TH-50PX60U which is 1366 x 768. To get native 1080 resolution, you have to go all the way up to the 65" TH-65PX600U which is 1920 x 1080 and is advertised as 1080p. It will, however, set you back $10,000.
Congratulations on having a great TV, but it does not display 1080i natively. Like all digital sets, it accepts 1080i input. However, it scales content to its native pixel density which is most likely 1024 x 768. You don't even have square pixels--which is common for plasma screens in this size range. To get square pixels, you have to get at least the 50" TH-50PX60U which is 1366 x 768. To get native 1080 resolution, you have to go all the way up to the 65" TH-65PX600U which is 1920 x 1080 and is advertised as 1080p. It will, however, set you back $10,000.
I know that. Thanks captain.
Off topic...but whereabouts in NZ do you come from? I am currently in the hellish nightmare known as the UK and im looking to relocate to Kiwi-land in the next 18- months. 8)
A little town called Tauranga. Unless you're ready to retire, I dont recommend it.
Try Christchurch.