Sony CEO: Hi-Def Movie War A 'Stalemate'

[azsouthendzone]

Sony CEO: Hi-Def Movie War A 'Stalemate'
By Chris Kohler November 09, 2007 | 12:24:17 PMCategories: Tech
Bummed about Blu-Ray? So is Howard Stringer. The CEO of Sony, speaking at an event in Manhattan, said that the fight between competing high-definition movie formats is looking like a "stalemate."

"We were trying to win on the merits, which we were doing for a while, until Paramount changed sides," he said, referring to the studio's recent switch to HD-DVD over Sony's format.

The Associated Press reports that Stringer is attempting to downplay the importance of winning the war, saying that the winner will be "mostly a matter of prestige." Sounds like he's trying to prepare everyone for another Sony format that won't become the standard.


http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/11/sony-ceo-hi-def.html

 

[D-Dogg]

Hmm, after Wal-Mart moves 90K HD-DVD drives in a weekend, with more sales planned, and God knows how many units of software, this comes out.

The war ended when Wal-Mart threw its weight behind Microsoft and HD DVD...now it's just a matter of clearing out the pockets of resistance with more price attacks and sales.

Sony is trying to save face...again.

 

[Chaplin]

Hmm, after Wal-Mart moves 90K HD-DVD drives in a weekend, with more sales planned, and God knows how many units of software, this comes out.

The war ended when Wal-Mart threw its weight behind Microsoft and HD DVD...now it's just a matter of clearing out the pockets of resistance with more price attacks and sales.

Sony is trying to save face...again.

For the first time since Paramount switched, the number of titles on Blu-Ray have eclipsed HD-DVD. This war hasn't ended, not even close.

 

[D-Dogg]

For the first time since Paramount switched, the number of titles on Blu-Ray have eclipsed HD-DVD. This war hasn't ended, not even close.

Sales numbers from Wal-Mart won't be reported, but they sold a TON of HD DVDs during this sale, heck I bought three at those prices. And they still have some for 18 bucks. People are snapping them up...I go by Walmart every day, and people are all over this. Attach rates are going to be larger than expected.

Number of titles may be more, but last week the biggest shot was fired and it was huge. Joe Six Pack is now involved in the format war, and he chose HD DVD. 70% of PS3 owners don't even know their console plays Blu-Ray.

Wal-Mart's entry into the market with the value priced player = domination. No coincidence Sony's CEO is now talking about "stalemates" and winning the war only being about "prestige." They are done...and they know it. They can't compete on price, and if walmart continues to deep discount HD DVD software, game over.

 

[azsouthendzone]

For the first time since Paramount switched, the number of titles on Blu-Ray have eclipsed HD-DVD. This war hasn't ended, not even close.

The writing is on the wall. Its all about what is going on in the trenches. Stand alones will win the war, not a game console. Attach rates prove it. If Sony would have used the PS3 to introduce Blu Ray, then offered a low price stand alone, this probably would have been over awhile ago. But HD DVD offers a great product at half the price, and the tide is turning, and Sony knows this. He basically made a pre-deafeat speech to lessen the blow from stock holders and to imply that they will shift focus to marketing the PS3 as a game console, trying to salvage the console. The Blu-Ray disc is about to become the UMD and everyone knows it. Sony is very much like the Arizona Cardinals, all talk, but with terrible results in the end. (Sorry Cards)

 

[Chaplin]

OMG, you guys have bought dreamcast's opinion hook, line and sinker. Wow.

 

[Linderbee]

And here I thought Donald & azsouthendzone were capable of intelligent, independent thinking. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[azsouthendzone]

OMG, you guys have bought dreamcast's opinion hook, line and sinker. Wow.

Dreamcastrocks owns a PS3. It's called reality chap. You may never see your movie on the shiny blu disc.

 

[D-Dogg]

OMG, you guys have bought dreamcast's opinion hook, line and sinker. Wow.

LOL...I don't even know what dreamcast's line of thinking is. I know what I've seen happen, and what I read on the AVS forum. And also how the blueray fans are crapping their pants over there, when not spinning out of control.

I don't think the CEO of sony has bought into dreamcast's opinion, whatever it may be, but his words sure are NOT the ones of someone winning a format war.

Remember, one aspect of my job has always been to put words in my CEO's mouth...I would never allow something like that to be said unless I were prepping the media/stakeholders for something else...soften the blow, if you will. Even then, the transparency of the comments from him are idiotic.

In fact, doesn't DCR own a PS3 and HD DVD players? If anything, I'd think he was format neutral.

I've bought into Wal-Mart's power, hook line and sinker. After 5 years in the entertainment software industry, I know firsthand how much their swagger is based in cold hard reality. What Walmart says, goes. Argue with them at your own peril.

 

[Linderbee]

DCR's stance, as I understand it (and I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong) is that he hopes the war lasts as long as possible to keep the prices down. And yes, he does own both.

He may have argued at some point that he believes HD DVD will win out in the end, but he'd prefer the competition to remain.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Blu Ray and HD DVD aside, Donald's avatar rules. Goodnight.

 

[Linderbee]

OMG, you guys have bought dreamcast's opinion hook, line and sinker. Wow.

Only because I am bored as hell right now....I don't understand what you think they "bought":

I agree 100%.

My movie total so far is 9 HDDVD 8 Bluray. I really don't care one over the other as I have both formats. I actually don't want to see a winner between either format for a while. The competition is driving down costs like crazy.

That's going extreme. I think that this would mean that both formats will be around for a long, long time.

azsouthendzone, before this announcement, most people thought that Bluray was going to come out victorious.

I'm truly glad that the war will be extended at least another year, probably two. Bluray isn't going anywhere, as long as they are using it in PS3's.

Bluray may very well win the "war" but not because of the "stats" that you have failed to mention.

Like I said, Bluray may win this war, but it will be at least 2 years from now.

I am reading the words that you are saying, and refuting most of them. I am not really taking it personally, just debating you on a point that you might very well win. (Sony's Bluray winning the war) Your inaccurate facts are what is causing me to take it "personally," even though I will be a dual format supporter. I don't "personally" care who wins.

The battle will be around for at least another 2 years.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Holy crap. I am gone for one evening, and this place blows up.

The only thing that I have done, is to try and push some people into the HD arena.

I am proudly format neutral, but I would prefer that HDDVD win the war. Only because it is the cheaper format, the only format that uses combo discs, and Sony's arrogance has gotten to me.

 

[Linderbee]

Holy crap. I am gone for one evening, and this place blows up.

The only thing that I have done, is to try and push some people into the HD arena.

I am proudly format neutral, but I would prefer that HDDVD win the war. Only because it is the cheaper format, the only format that uses combo discs, and Sony's arrogance has gotten to me.

That's what you get for not checking in!