HD DVD getting marketed finally ?

[MrKat]

On may way to work this morning I heard 3 Circuit City commercials hyping HDDVD and the Toshiba players. Never heard this before.

I think CC and BB are starting to realize how much cash theyre leaving on the table by treating HDDVD like a bastard sone. I can see the BD only studios following suit. Why leave all that HDDVD money on the table ? maybe this is part of the $150 million in marketing that was talked about? I doubt it's the stores wanting to promote a product for free. I'm not surprised to see them waiting until now to start marketing.

BR spent a lot of money on brand recognition but let's face it, unless you're in the market for a PS3 the BR players currently available are out of the price range of most people, especially the prices at their local retail stores.

What HDDVD really needs now is content. The lack of new, first tier titles, is going to seriously hurt HD-DVD if they don't get some announcements out soon.

[hightechfan]

On may way to work this morning I heard 3 Circuit City commercials hyping HDDVD and the Toshiba players. Never heard this before.

I think CC and BB are starting to realize how much cash theyre leaving on the table by treating HDDVD like a bastard sone. I can see the BD only studios following suit. Why leave all that HDDVD money on the table ? maybe this is part of the $150 million in marketing that was talked about? I doubt it's the stores wanting to promote a product for free. I'm not surprised to see them waiting until now to start marketing.

BR spent a lot of money on brand recognition but let's face it, unless you're in the market for a PS3 the BR players currently available are out of the price range of most people, especially the prices at their local retail stores.

What HDDVD really needs now is content. The lack of new, first tier titles, is going to seriously hurt HD-DVD if they don't get some announcements out soon.


There is tons of first tier hd dvds out and coming out.The probleam is alot of stores won't carry them.Your best bet is to go to amazon.com.

[The Digital Dolphin]

CircuitCity made a huge deal with Toshiba for HD DVD promotion. Toshiba also made a smaller deal with London Drugs for in-store displays. HD DVD *IS* promoting, just not as effectively or as much as Blu-Ray generally. In the U.S. there was a place offering an additional 4 free HD DVD movies on top of the regular Toshiba offer of 5 free HD DVD movies, when you purchase an HD DVD player. Pretty insane to get 9 free movies with a player!!

But with Blu-Ray already enjoying a 4:1 lead on weekly sales since early March, a 2:1 lead on year to date sales (since Jan 1 2007), and a 100:84.07 lead on 'Since Inception' sales (since the first HD DVD titles/drives hit the market last year), I just don't see HD DVD coming back to being in lead any time soon. Especially with Pirates of the Caribbean coming out on Blu-Ray so soon, and several other huge names in the works (like Spiderman, Cars, Ghostrider...ect).

[Gedge]

They'll be lining up for that Ghostrider disc lol.

[Jon Lai]

CircuitCity made a huge deal with Toshiba for HD DVD promotion. Toshiba also made a smaller deal with London Drugs for in-store displays. HD DVD *IS* promoting, just not as effectively or as much as Blu-Ray generally. In the U.S. there was a place offering an additional 4 free HD DVD movies on top of the regular Toshiba offer of 5 free HD DVD movies, when you purchase an HD DVD player. Pretty insane to get 9 free movies with a player!!

But with Blu-Ray already enjoying a 4:1 lead on weekly sales since early March, a 2:1 lead on year to date sales (since Jan 1 2007), and a 100:84.07 lead on 'Since Inception' sales (since the first HD DVD titles/drives hit the market last year), I just don't see HD DVD coming back to being in lead any time soon. Especially with Pirates of the Caribbean coming out on Blu-Ray so soon, and several other huge names in the works (like Spiderman, Cars, Ghostrider...ect).

Well said.

Plus, OP, when you said Circuit City, you mean the Source, right?

[slowtalon]

As an 360 add-on owner, I really hope HD wins!

In any case, just checked out today's FS and BB flyers, and FS mentions nothing about either, while BB has a small section on one page for Blu-Ray.

:(

I hope it gets better!

Check out the support HD DVD thread at AVS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=818991)

[Jon Lai]

As an 360 add-on owner, I really hope HD wins!

In any case, just checked out today's FS and BB flyers, and FS mentions nothing about either, while BB has a small section on one page for Blu-Ray.

:(

I hope it gets better!

Check out the support HD DVD thread at AVS (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=818991)

I hate to break it to you, but HDDVD is sliding, while BluRay is climbing. Just March, the Bluray sales to HDDVD sales are 4:1, and in February, 2.5:1. I dont' see how HDDVD is going to win anymore unless the Bluray consortium makes a big mistake, or at least two of the film developers move over, which, I don't see happening either.

Just because you have a XBOX360 doesn't mean you shoudl support an inferior format ;)

[AnthraX]

I hate to break it to you, but HDDVD is sliding, while BluRay is climbing. Just March, the Bluray sales to HDDVD sales are 4:1, and in February, 2.5:1. I dont' see how HDDVD is going to win anymore unless the Bluray consortium makes a big mistake, or at least two of the film developers move over, which, I don't see happening either.

Just because you have a XBOX360 doesn't mean you shoudl support an inferior format ;)

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38506

Big enough mistake for BluRay?

[joshmxpx]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38506

Big enough mistake for BluRay?

Don't listen to those hacks at the enquirer, they can't even write an article that isn't full of spelling and grammar mistakes.

[Jon Lai]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38506

Big enough mistake for BluRay?

The only thing mentioned in that thread is that BluRay players don't have picture-in-picture... this is a known issue already, but guess what, movies and players are still selling like hotcakes in relation to HDDVD players and movies. Is PIP really such a big issue? I think not - I rarely use it anyways.

[Raxel]

March 27, 2007
Children of Men (Universal)
Happy Feet (Warner)
March of the Penguins (Warner)
National Geographic: Relentless Enemies (Warner)

April 03, 2007
The Good Shepherd (Universal)

April 10, 2007
Dog Day Afternoon (Warner)
Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (Paramount)
A Scanner Darkly (Warner)

April 17, 2007
Feast (Weinstein)
The Game (Universal)
The Jerk (Universal)
School for Scoundrels (Genius)
Smokin' Aces (Universal)

April 24, 2007
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Universal)
Failure to Launch (Paramount)
The Nutty Professor (1996) (Universal)
Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (BBC)

May 01, 2007
Alpha Dog (Universal)
Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
The Hitcher (2007) (Universal)

May 08, 2007
Battle of the Bulge (Warner)
Black Christmas (2006) (Weinstein)
Harsh Times (Weinstein)
The Road Warrior (Warner)

May 15, 2007
The Fountain (Warner)
May 22, 2007
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Universal)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy (Warner)
Flags of Our Fathers (DreamWorks)
Freedom Writers (Paramount)
The Hurricane (2000) (Universal)
M:I-2 (Paramount)
Mission: Impossible (Paramount)
The Skeleton Key (Universal)
Smokey and the Bandit (Universal)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (Warner)

May 29, 2007
The Big Lebowski (Universal)
Dragonheart (Universal)
The Frighteners: Director's Cut (Universal)
Lost in Translation (Universal)
Midnight Run (Universal)
The River (Universal)

June 05, 2007
Coming to America (Paramount)
Trading Places (Paramount)

June 12, 2007
Born on the Fourth of July (Universal)
Bruce Almighty (Universal)
Daylight (Universal)
Liar Liar (Universal)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Universal)
Sneakers (Universal)

June 26, 2007
American Me (Universal)
Army of Darkness (Universal) JUST LISTED!
Being John Malkovich (Universal)
Bulletproof (Universal)
Freedom: Vol. 1 (Bandai Visual)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)
Mallrats (Universal)
Meet Joe Black (Universal)
Mystery Men (Universal)
Unleashed (Universal) JUST LISTED!
The Watcher (Universal)

July 03, 2007
The Untouchables (Paramount)
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (Paramount)

[Raxel]

Now, aside from the already-released 'Eragon' and the upcoming April 24 debut of 'Night at the Museum,' Fox's entire winter Blu-ray line-up has been wiped clean.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Fox_Bumps_Me,_Myself_&_Irene_from_Blu-ray_Slate/545

[sfu_lifer]

Way to go to recognize your marketing sucks.
Why it took so long for these sales folks (i.e. complete tools) to get going is asinine. This is no longer a marathon but more like a middle distance race, give up some slack and you're gonna pay and may never catch up.
Ah well, I'm pretty safe anyways regardless of which format wins but I'm partial to HD-DVD since the PIP stuff and general pic quality from the movies I've viewed exceeds that of blu-ray's lazy and phoned in efforts (the quality SHOULD be at least equal but it seems quality is not on the priority for quite a bit of these blu-ray offerings).

[MrKat]

Well said.

Plus, OP, when you said Circuit City, you mean the Source, right?

ya the source.

[MrKat]

March 27, 2007
Children of Men (Universal)
Happy Feet (Warner)
March of the Penguins (Warner)
National Geographic: Relentless Enemies (Warner)

April 03, 2007
The Good Shepherd (Universal)

April 10, 2007
Dog Day Afternoon (Warner)
Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut (Paramount)
A Scanner Darkly (Warner)

April 17, 2007
Feast (Weinstein)
The Game (Universal)
The Jerk (Universal)
School for Scoundrels (Genius)
Smokin' Aces (Universal)

April 24, 2007
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Universal)
Failure to Launch (Paramount)
The Nutty Professor (1996) (Universal)
Planet Earth: The Complete Collection (BBC)

May 01, 2007
Alpha Dog (Universal)
Dreamgirls (DreamWorks)
The Hitcher (2007) (Universal)

May 08, 2007
Battle of the Bulge (Warner)
Black Christmas (2006) (Weinstein)
Harsh Times (Weinstein)
The Road Warrior (Warner)

May 15, 2007
The Fountain (Warner)
May 22, 2007
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (Universal)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy (Warner)
Flags of Our Fathers (DreamWorks)
Freedom Writers (Paramount)
The Hurricane (2000) (Universal)
M:I-2 (Paramount)
Mission: Impossible (Paramount)
The Skeleton Key (Universal)
Smokey and the Bandit (Universal)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (Warner)

May 29, 2007
The Big Lebowski (Universal)
Dragonheart (Universal)
The Frighteners: Director's Cut (Universal)
Lost in Translation (Universal)
Midnight Run (Universal)
The River (Universal)

June 05, 2007
Coming to America (Paramount)
Trading Places (Paramount)

June 12, 2007
Born on the Fourth of July (Universal)
Bruce Almighty (Universal)
Daylight (Universal)
Liar Liar (Universal)
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (Universal)
Sneakers (Universal)

June 26, 2007
American Me (Universal)
Army of Darkness (Universal) JUST LISTED!
Being John Malkovich (Universal)
Bulletproof (Universal)
Freedom: Vol. 1 (Bandai Visual)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)
Mallrats (Universal)
Meet Joe Black (Universal)
Mystery Men (Universal)
Unleashed (Universal) JUST LISTED!
The Watcher (Universal)

July 03, 2007
The Untouchables (Paramount)
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut (Paramount)


I just dont know man, Im thinking about selling off my 360 add on. Not too many of those titles interest me (at least enough to buy) and I was looking forward to Children of Men, but not at a $55 price tag! You know Im really getting sick of these combo packages! I just dont get it, why force the customer to have to buy the combo? I mean really, how many people really care for the SD-DVD if they have a HD drive? Uhh hello thats why we bought the HD drive to begin with! Waste of money. And I have a feeling this combo crap wont stop, if anything get worse. If thats the case, the HDDVD is gone for me.

[Jon Lai]

I just dont know man, Im thinking about selling off my 360 add on. Not too many of those titles interest me (at least enough to buy) and I was looking forward to Children of Men, but not at a $55 price tag! You know Im really getting sick of these combo packages! I just dont get it, why force the customer to have to buy the combo? I mean really, how many people really care for the SD-DVD if they have a HD drive? Uhh hello thats why we bought the HD drive to begin with! Waste of money. And I have a feeling this combo crap wont stop, if anything get worse. If thats the case, the HDDVD is gone for me.

Good choice. You're better off getting a PS3 anyways ;)

[The Digital Dolphin]

most of this conversation should be moved into the format war thread...

and speaking of mistakes, looks like Children of Men is not playing properly on a lot of XBox360 add on drives, and even some stand alones.... oops!

[Raxel]

I just dont know man, Im thinking about selling off my 360 add on. Not too many of those titles interest me (at least enough to buy) and I was looking forward to Children of Men, but not at a $55 price tag! You know Im really getting sick of these combo packages! I just dont get it, why force the customer to have to buy the combo? I mean really, how many people really care for the SD-DVD if they have a HD drive? Uhh hello thats why we bought the HD drive to begin with! Waste of money. And I have a feeling this combo crap wont stop, if anything get worse. If thats the case, the HDDVD is gone for me.

I purchased COM from amazon, and it's nowhere close to $55. not even $35.

Universal is re-releasing combo as single side HD-DVD. but I do think combo is helpful to some users, who might want to watch the movie on the move or maybe lend the disc to his friend who only has dvd player. Of course $10 difference is too much for a SD side.

[slowtalon]

I'm glad they're making single sided as well. I'd buy single for a few bucks less, but a combo option is great, for kids movies, or people who want to play their disks here and there.

I vote for seeing majority in stores as singles, with 1 or two combos for each title (or no combo if it's not really that type of movie, ie, not kids).