Is Disney considering going HD DVD?

[TheDisneyMagic]

Unlike other members of the Blu-ray Association, who always withdraw from HD DVD votes, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, a major Hollywood studio and one of the strongest backers of Blu-ray disc format, voted for approval of a preliminary specification of 51GB triple-layer HD DVD media. At the Steering Committee meeting in September Disney voted for triple layer twin-format HD DVD as well as triple layer HD DVD 51GB revision 1.9 preliminary media standards, according to the notes from the event available at the DVD Forum. The fact that in both cases Walt Disney voted for the new HD DVD standards, might not be proof they’ve changed sides, but I can assure you it raised some eyebrows.

Continued at source: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20071119150942_Disney_Votes_for_51GB_HD_DVD_Media_Approval.html

 

[Master Yoda]

From my understanding Disney is in bed pretty deep with Sony so for that reason alone I would say no. In this case I think Disney is just being proactive in advancing the technology and not being format biased which IMHO is the correct way to be. They probably also know that this could help pave the way to a triple layer blu-ray.

Personally being the proud owner of a HD DVD player I would love Disney to switch sides or go dual format. Right now it seems like blu-ray's main edge over HD-DVD is capacity where as HD-DVD's are less expensive to produce. If triple layer disks cost the same to press it will help to erode away at blu-ray's market share. Inexpensive HD-DVD players do not hurt HD-DVD's market position either.

 

[lovesafron]

Yes

I say yes if this is confirm because it is relavent in this time and need for the time.

 

[haveyoumetmark]

I would love for there to be just one alternative. Not only will it be annoying to switch from our DVDs that are only getting cheaper, we now have to choose a new format in uncertainty.
For some reason I was leaning towards blu-ray...

 

[Monty]

I would love for there to be just one alternative. Not only will it be annoying to switch from our DVDs that are only getting cheaper, we now have to choose a new format in uncertainty.
For some reason I was leaning towards blu-ray...

I'm in the blu-ray camp. Mainly because Disney is releasing in blu-ray. I got a PS-3 for my DS and it plays them. Worst-case, if HD-DVD wins out in the end I'll buy another player. :shrug:

I'm at the point now of searching for a Home Theatre system that has four or more HDMI inputs so I can watch all the equipment I've already got!

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I kinda hope Disney stays with Blue-Ray simply 'cause they're a good 85% why I want Blue-Ray and frankly, Blue-Ray looks pretty darn good. Mind you, it's gonna be a cold day in a REALLY hot place before I start rebuying all my movies in Blue-Ray like I am with DVD.

 

[Fievel]

Disney is why we purchased Blu-Ray over HD-DVD. We have Pirates 1 and 2, Meet the Robinsons, Cars, and Ratatoulle. My wife cannot wait for Sleeping Beauty on Blu-Ray next year.

 

[dxwwf3]

Considering how much they are putting into Blu Ray and how there have been quotes putting down HD DVD from Disney execs in the past, I think the only way they switch formats is if HD DVD wins the format war (Which I think is unlikely) or if neither of them make it (which I hope doesn't happen). I'm a proud PS3 owner and have close to 20 Blu Ray discs and I'm very pleased with what you get.

 

[tomm4004]

Based solely on watching the Blu-Ray demo in Best Buy and the Sony Store, I have to say that I think it looks horrible for feature films. It could be a case of the brightness being maxed out on the demo TVs. It looks superb for sports, Discovery Channel and computer animation. Movies, however, are a different story.

One clip showed the scene from Pirates 1 where Jack tells the two soldiers he's going to steal the ship. It was extremely bright and garish. Their faces looked painted with shellac. It looked video-ish. It had none of the quality or texture associated with film. Film is not supposed to be crystal clear and sharp. DPs choose film stocks carefully to get certain looks. On LCDs, Blu-Ray movies look just like documentaries or NFL games shot on video - and they're not supposed to. They looked cartoon-ish.

I read an excellent article (forget where) and the author said that hi-def provides our eye with so much information that it doesn't allow our mind to actively fill in gaps. If you watch old movies you can't clearly see the texture of the actors' faces. You never saw Cary Grant's pores! Johnny Depp should not look like he's standing right next to me with a giant spotlight shining on his face. They are characters in a play and the viewer has to actively participate to help bring them to life. The Blu-Ray that I saw didn't allow for this.

Again, perhaps it was just the store display set-up. I hope so, because I don't want to watch movies that look like that.

 

[Hakunamatata]

I say yes if this is confirm because it is relavent in this time and need for the time.

 

[dxwwf3]

Based solely on watching the Blu-Ray demo in Best Buy and the Sony Store, I have to say that I think it looks horrible for feature films. It could be a case of the brightness being maxed out on the demo TVs. It looks superb for sports, Discovery Channel and computer animation. Movies, however, are a different story.

One clip showed the scene from Pirates 1 where Jack tells the two soldiers he's going to steal the ship. It was extremely bright and garish. Their faces looked painted with shellac. It looked video-ish. It had none of the quality or texture associated with film. Film is not supposed to be crystal clear and sharp. DPs choose film stocks carefully to get certain looks. On LCDs, Blu-Ray movies look just like documentaries or NFL games shot on video - and they're not supposed to. They looked cartoon-ish.

I read an excellent article (forget where) and the author said that hi-def provides our eye with so much information that it doesn't allow our mind to actively fill in gaps. If you watch old movies you can't clearly see the texture of the actors' faces. You never saw Cary Grant's pores! Johnny Depp should not look like he's standing right next to me with a giant spotlight shining on his face. They are characters in a play and the viewer has to actively participate to help bring them to life. The Blu-Ray that I saw didn't allow for this.

Again, perhaps it was just the store display set-up. I hope so, because I don't want to watch movies that look like that.

You can't go by in store displays. Blu Ray films look almost identical to HD DVD's in most cases. Sometimes one will look SLIGHTLY better than the other (used to be more HD DVD's looking better and now it seems some Blu Ray's have the edge), but they are extremely similar picture wise.

 

[Hakunamatata]

You can't go by in store displays. Blu Ray films look almost identical to HD DVD's in most cases. Sometimes one will look SLIGHTLY better than the other (used to be more HD DVD's looking better and now it seems some Blu Ray's have the edge), but they are extremely similar picture wise.

I agree. Alot has to do with the type of TV the display is using. LCD vs Plasma.

 

[k.hunter30]

I believe Disney is considering allowing movies to be bought and downloaded online in a high definition format, similar to downloading movies from iTunes.

 

[dxwwf3]

I believe Disney is considering allowing movies to be bought and downloaded online in a high definition format, similar to downloading movies from iTunes.

We're still a ways away from this being the norm. Not large enough hard drives yet to hold people's entire film library. And not worth it money wise to buy multiple hard drives for movies. I think Blu Ray (hopefully) or HD DVD will still be the norm once one wins.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

I've been reading a lot about this format war lately, and it looks like Blu-Ray typically has higher quality and seems to be preferred by filmmakers. I think Disney has made a safe bet with Blu-Ray and won't ever need to go with HD-DVD.

 

[Master Yoda]

I've been reading a lot about this format war lately, and it looks like Blu-Ray typically has higher quality and seems to be preferred by filmmakers. I think Disney has made a safe bet with Blu-Ray and won't ever need to go with HD-DVD.

It all depends on who you ask. One person will say one is better than the other, others claim it is pretty much dead even. About the only technical edge Blu-ray has is higher capacity which will allow for better audio and more special features but that will be eclipsed by the triple layer HD-DVD that is just around the corner. In Europe HD-DVD is more popular than Blu-Ray. However the US numbers can be skewed to make Blu-ray and HD-DVD almost dead even. (the number of Blu-Ray players sold in the US includes PS3's) Also while the filmmakers might prefer the Blu-Ray the studios as a rule would rather do HD-DVD because the production costs of HD-DVD are less so they make more money off of a $30 HD-DVD vs. a $30 Blu-Ray.

While Blu-Ray does have a slight lead I think unless Sony starts drastically cutting their Blu-Ray players price HD-DVD will begin to surpass it.

 

[dxwwf3]

While Blu-Ray does have a slight lead I think unless Sony starts drastically cutting their Blu-Ray players price HD-DVD will begin to surpass it.

They already are. The PS3 is already just $399 and stand alone players are dropping rapidly. Soon the production cost gap will narrow. If the rumor of Warner Brothers soon going Blu Ray only are true, it's all over. Blu Ray would have too much of the market all by itself. Then Universal and Paramount will basically be forced to go Blu. However if the WB by some chance would choose HD DVD, then we're back to square one and it's anyone's game.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

It all depends on who you ask. One person will say one is better than the other, others claim it is pretty much dead even. About the only technical edge Blu-ray has is higher capacity which will allow for better audio and more special features but that will be eclipsed by the triple layer HD-DVD that is just around the corner. In Europe HD-DVD is more popular than Blu-Ray. However the US numbers can be skewed to make Blu-ray and HD-DVD almost dead even. (the number of Blu-Ray players sold in the US includes PS3's) Also while the filmmakers might prefer the Blu-Ray the studios as a rule would rather do HD-DVD because the production costs of HD-DVD are less so they make more money off of a $30 HD-DVD vs. a $30 Blu-Ray.

While Blu-Ray does have a slight lead I think unless Sony starts drastically cutting their Blu-Ray players price HD-DVD will begin to surpass it.

I was just reading a Variety article about the format war. Here are a couple of snippets:

"Blu-ray backers are bullish about the coming year, crowing about fourth-quarter sales in their format. Execs say they should have a better idea about high-def after the Consumer Electronics Show in early January, when homevid execs confer with their manufacturing brethren. Should Warner drop HD DVD then, sibling New Line is expected to follow suit, further tipping the scale toward Blu-ray."

"There’s also a growing belief that the high-def battle is hindering the success of a replacement format; even Warners, the lone studio backing both formats, has indicated its desire to back one format in the near future."

"“We see meaningful movement toward Blu-ray globally,” says Sony homevid topper David Bishop, who points out that the Sony-developed format has dwarfed HD DVD in countries like Japan and Australia."

 

[Master Yoda]

They already are. The PS3 is already just $399 and stand alone players are dropping rapidly. Soon the production cost gap will narrow. If the rumor of Warner Brothers soon going Blu Ray only are true, it's all over. Blu Ray would have too much of the market all by itself. Then Universal and Paramount will basically be forced to go Blu. However if the WB by some chance would choose HD DVD, then we're back to square one and it's anyone's game.

WB is the key for HD-DVD's survival or possible dominance in the US so I think that Toshiba will not let them go Blu-Ray only without a huge fight.

There is still a huge gap in player price. The lowest price Blu-Ray is $400 while HD-DVD players have dropped as low as $98 and can commonly be found for under $200.

When you look at the first format war (BETA vs VHS) VHS won out because of longer recording time, cheaper players, and cheaper manufacturing cost. BETA quality was better but not enough to win out. I see the same thing in our current format war. HD-DVD players and disks are less expensive than Blu-Ray. Capacity is not as much of an issue with a read only medium so that advantage that Blu-ray has is not enough to win over those people that simply are not willing to shell out $400 for a DVD player when there is an option that come in at less than half the price.

It is a shame that no one has come out with a good affordable dual format player.

 

[Master Yoda]

I was just reading a Variety article about the format war. Here are a couple of snippets:

"Blu-ray backers are bullish about the coming year, crowing about fourth-quarter sales in their format. Execs say they should have a better idea about high-def after the Consumer Electronics Show in early January, when homevid execs confer with their manufacturing brethren. Should Warner drop HD DVD then, sibling New Line is expected to follow suit, further tipping the scale toward Blu-ray."

"There’s also a growing belief that the high-def battle is hindering the success of a replacement format; even Warners, the lone studio backing both formats, has indicated its desire to back one format in the near future."

"“We see meaningful movement toward Blu-ray globally,” says Sony homevid topper David Bishop, who points out that the Sony-developed format has dwarfed HD DVD in countries like Japan and Australia."

This is one of those statistics that you kind of have to put an asterik by. The numbers they use also include every PS3 sold in those markets and it is a valid argument that a good segment of the people that purchased a PS3 rarely or never use it for playing Blu-Ray disks. Blu-ray is still legitimately ahead of Blu-Ray but not by the huge margin they would have you believe. In retrospect the HD-DVD camp should have demanded that the HD-DVD player be integrated into every XBox 360. If they did I think we would be looking at much more dominant HD-DVD presence.