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High-definition optical disc format war

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Corporate support

Main article: List of corporations supporting Blu-ray

Blu-ray Disc has gained a large amount of support in the corporate world,[1] with companies such as Apple, Dell, and Panasonic backing it. Blu-ray Disc was started by Hitachi, LG, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Thomson in February 19, 2002, with Panasonic, Sony, Pioneer, and Philips as the back-bone of the foundation.[2] Several members of the Blu-ray organization's Board of Directors who had originally pledged to support Blu-ray Disc later also supported HD DVD, such as Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, and LG.

Studio alliances

Current and announced release formats v. 2007 US box office share[3]

Among the movie studios, Blu-ray Disc is currently exclusively supported in the United States by Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM (20% of MGM's stake is owned by Sony) as well as Disney, 20th Century Fox, New Line Cinema[4] and Lionsgate, representing over 70% of home video marketshare.[5]

Studios that still support both formats include BBC,[6] First Look Studios,[7] Image Entertainment (including the Discovery Channel),[8] Magnolia Pictures,[9] Brentwood Home Video, Ryko, and Koch/Goldhil Entertainment.[10]

On August 20 2007, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures and DreamWorks Animation, announced they would no longer be supporting the Blu-ray Disc format. However, Paramount reserves the right to switch its backing to Blu-ray Disc.[11] Citing HD DVD's lower consumer equipment and disc replication costs (due to its similarities to the standard DVD format), all future Paramount/Dreamworks titles will be released exclusively on HD DVD. Together, Paramount and DreamWorks are currently the 2007 box office leaders.[12][13] Movies directed by Steven Spielberg are not included in this announcement, as Spielberg controls his films. He has also stated that he is a backer of the Blu-ray format. Some time in late 2007, Universal Studios made a promotion in Japan for HD DVD and showed that Back To The Future, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and E.T. would be released on the format. Spielberg got angry and asked Universal to remove the promotion since he does not allow the movies to come out on HD DVD.[14] In an interview with PC World, Alan Bell, the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Paramount Pictures, stated the exclusive support for HD DVD is currently indefinite.[15] However, two Viacom executives who spoke to the New York Times disclosed that the terms of the agreement were for $150 million in incentives in exchange for an exclusivity period of at least 18 months, or through the next two holiday seasons.[16] In response to these reports of a $150 million deal, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg stated that it was disingenuous for other companies to suggest that they were not compensated for endorsing Blu-ray.[17]

Warner Brothers Pictures, initially in the HD DVD camp, later decided to support both formats. However, on January 4, 2008, they announced that they would discontinue HD DVD support as of June 1, 2008. Furthermore, they intend to delay remaining HD DVD titles until after standard DVD and Blu-ray releases.[18] Warner has since announced that all future HD DVD titles and catalog titles will be released 3 weeks after the DVD and Blu-ray releases. Warner Brothers has also scheduled all of their HD DVD exclusive titles for release on Blu-ray in the near future. Warner Brothers' sister studio New Line Cinema has followed suit, cancelling tentative plans to release titles on HD DVD contingent on region coding with immediate effect, thus making Pan's Labyrinth its first and last HD DVD release.[19][4][20][21] Various news outlets have speculated that Warner Brothers' decision will effectively end the nearly two year long format war with HD DVD.[22][23][24] The HD DVD group responded to the decision by stating, "We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer." While there is speculation other HD DVD backers may drop the format and back Blu-ray, so far the only studio to have responded, Paramount, has denied rumors it intends to do so.[25] However, during a interview with DVD town, Warner stated that they will continue to supply titles on HD DVD past 1 June 2008]] if there is a demand from retailers and consumers as long as it is still in stock. [1] Since the Warner announcement, all 'National Geographic Presents' titles will only be released on Blu-ray and DVD, and several other small studios, manufacturers and retailers including Woolworths in the UK, will exclusively support Blu-ray as their format of choice for high definition media.

Outside of the United States, movies from American studios are often distributed by different companies (e.g. StudioCanal in Europe). Thus many of these Blu-ray exclusive titles are available outside the U.S. on HD DVD.[26] Likewise, movies that are exclusive to HD DVD in the United States have Blu-ray releases in other regions. An example of this is the Universal Studios film Bruce Almighty, which has been released exclusively on HD DVD in the U.S., but has been released as a Blu-ray exclusive in Europe due to the distribution rights held by Miramax.[27] Other examples of films from NBC Universal studios include Hollywoodland and Cinderella Man. Warner Brothers have also released the Paramount title Flags of our fathers and have continued production on it after Paramount's defection to HD DVD. Moreover the Paramount title We were soldiers has also been released on Blu-ray by Icon Home Entertainment, it also is still in production. Many Blu-ray discs are multi-region, making import of these titles easier.[28]

Even though Blu-ray currently holds an impressive 70% of studio support, its reach prior to the August 20, 2007 Paramount HD DVD deal was far greater with a massive 88% of studio support (albeit with non-exclusive Warner and Paramount). At this time the only exclusive HD DVD content was from Universal and a handful of select Warner titles such as The Matrix Trilogy, Batman Begins and Poseidon, now that Warner has become Blu-ray exclusive it is probable that these few Warner titles will see releases on Blu-ray, marking the studio's full transition into the format. In February 2008, Warner announced that Batman Begins would be available in Q3 2008.[29]

Other interests

It had been reported by various sources (PC World, Ars Technica, CNN, et al) that pornography had been disallowed on Blu-ray Disc, which may have had an effect on the success of the format.[30] However, this is inaccurate, as both formats have said they fully support all material, including porn, and have no control over what companies release with their license.[31] Blu-ray is currently exclusively backed by several adult-movie studios/publishers,[32] including Taisei Co. Ltd. and Total Media Agency Inc. Contrary to many internet blogs, it has been estimated by ABC News that the porn industry will not be a factor in the current format war.[33] The main reason is that many pornographic websites have movie downloads as an option, thus making the disc format less important. Despite these instances, adult studio Digital Playground released their award-winning megahit adult film "Pirates" in Blu-ray format.

Blockbuster, the largest U.S. movie rental company, offers Blu-ray exclusively in 1450 stores. Previously, the company test-marketed both competing formats at 250 stores and found that more than 70% of high definition rentals were Blu-ray discs. They continue to offer both formats at those initial 250 stores, as well as on its online rental service.[34][35][36]

Netflix, the world's largest online movie rental service,[37] currently offers titles in both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats, however, on 11 February 2008, Netflix announced they are to offer high-definition Blu-ray Disc exclusively and thus will be dropping HD DVD support.

On July 25 2007, Target Corporation announced they will carry Sony Blu-ray Disc stand alone players in their stores and promote them with end cap displays including exclusive Blu-ray Disc movies from Sony and Walt Disney. Sony has publicly stated that the promotion would last at least through the 2007 holiday season.[38] While Target will not carry HD DVD stand alone players on its shelves, the chain will continue to sell both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD movies in all stores and HD DVD players online.[39] The LA Times reports that the deal to promote Sony Blu-ray Disc stand alone players was the result of a bidding war, in which Sony and three studios reportedly paid a "jaw-dropping" sum for the end cap displays.[40]

On September 24 2007 the Home Theater Specialists of America, a national buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined annual revenue of more than a half-billion dollars, officially endorsed Blu-ray Disc as its next-generation format of choice.[41]

On 11 February 2008, Best Buy has announced that beginning March 2008, they will take a step forward in addressing consumer confusion about high-definition formats by recommending Blu-ray Disc as the customer's digital format choice.[42]

On 15 February 2008, WalMart and Sam's Club have announced that they are phasing HD DVD out completely by June 2008, thus supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively. [43].

  1. ^ "Companies supporting Blu-ray". Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  2. ^ "Large Capacity Optical Disc Video Recording Format "Blu-ray Disc" Established". SONY Press Release. February 19, 2002. Retrieved 2007-08-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "The Numbers: Annual Movie Chart for Year 2007". Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  4. ^ a b "Warner Bros. backs Blu-ray". Variety. January 4 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "DVD format war appears to be over". LA Times. January 5 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "BBC says it will still support both high-def formats".
  7. ^ "First Look Brings 'King of California,' 'Amateur' to HD DVD; Adds Blu-ray Support".
  8. ^ "Discovery Channel Brings 'Atlas' to Blu-ray, HD DVD".
  9. ^ "Psst! Magnolia Jumps Into Blu-ray with 'Bubble'".
  10. ^ "'Chronos' HD DVD Gets New Distributor; Blu-ray Version on the Way".
  11. ^ "Format war reworks 1980s video fight". Financial Times. January 6 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Paramount is box office leader in 2007
  13. ^ "Paramount to drop Blu-ray high-def DVDs". Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  14. ^ "Paramount to drop Blu-ray high-def DVDs {Spielberg)". Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  15. ^ "Interview with Executive Vice President of Paramount Pictures on HD DVD and Blu-ray". Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  16. ^ "Two Studios to Support HD DVD Over Rival". Retrieved 2007-08-21.
  17. ^ "Katzenberg stands behind Spielberg". Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  18. ^ "Warner Bros. Entertainment to Release Its High-Definition DVD Titles Exclusively in the Blu-ray Disc Format Beginning Later This Year". Business Wire. January 4 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "New Line Details Transition to Blu-ray". High-Def Digest. January 8 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "hddvd.com - New line titles delayed for HD DVD due to lack of region coding".
  21. ^ "New Line Jumps Into High-Def with 'Hairspray' on Blu-ray; HD DVD to Follow in 2008".
  22. ^ "Did Warner Brothers Just Kill HD DVD?". Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  23. ^ "DVD format war appears to be over". Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  24. ^ "Pie Charts Show True Impact of Warner Bros. Move to Blu-ray". Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  25. ^ Paramount Denies Report It Will Drop Toshiba's HD DVD (Update2) - Bloomberg
  26. ^ "Blu-ray exclusive movies on HD DVD".
  27. ^ Bruce Almighty, HMV.co.uk (Label: Miramax)
  28. ^ Region Coded/Region Free compatibility list
  29. ^ "Warner Previews 2008/2009 Blu-ray Slate".
  30. ^ "Adult film industry embracing HD DVD". ars technica. January 12, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Sony Denies Preventing Adult Content On Blu-ray". InformationWeek. January 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ "PCworld.com - Japanese Porn Industry Embraces Blu-ray".
  33. ^ "Porn Factor: Why Erotic Movies Won't Decide Next Gen DVD War". January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ Blockbuster to Expand Blu-ray to 1,700 Stores, Blockbuster Inc. Press Releases 2007-06-18.
  35. ^ "Blockbuster to favor Blu-ray high-definition discs over rival HD DVD format". 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  36. ^ "Blockbuster to Expand Blu-ray to 1,700 Stores". 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
  37. ^ "About Netflix". 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  38. ^ Target to sell only Blu-ray DVD players | Reuters
  39. ^ "Target to Promote Blu-ray DVD Format". 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
  40. ^ "A high-definition fight scene in slow motion". 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-10.
  41. ^ Blu-ray.com - HTSA to Support Blu-ray Exclusively
  42. ^ "Best Buy to Recommend Blu-ray as the Customer's Digital Format Choice" (Press release). Business Wire. February 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5673.aspx
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