[Eug Wanker]

Ouch on the pricing.

Catalog Blu-ray disc titles will wholesale for $17.95, about the same as DVDs when that format hit the market in 1997. New-release Blu-ray discs will wholesale for $23.45, a premium of 15%-20% over what suppliers were charging for new theatrical DVDs.

Blu-ray discs likely will start showing up in stores by early summer, sources say. In advance of that, Sony is bowing a bundling concept to DVD and the Universal Media Disc (UMD) that it may migrate to Blu-ray.

Starting March 28, consumers can buy DVD-UMD combo packs of "The Grudge," "Resident Evil," "Underworld," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and MGM's "The Terminator" for just pennies more than Sony typically charges for a new DVD.

A second batch of DVD-UMD combos -- "Ghostbusters," "Mad Max," "The Fifth Element" and "Snatch" -- arrives April 25, with a third wave is slated to come on the market in May.

Each combo is priced at $28.95. Sony typically charges $24.96-$26.96 for new DVD releases, while titles new to UMD generally list for $19.95.

[Dork.]

At least they seem to understand that not everyone who wants to copy a movie is a dirty, filthy pirate:

"With the launch of Blu-ray, we're going to try to introduce the managed-copy concept, where if you buy Blu-ray you'll be able to get additional versions (of the same title) to use in your home," Feingold said. "Ultimately, we might even get to the point where we'll offer consumers the ability to have different versions of the same movie on different devices in the home -- that's something we're working on."

I'd still prefer to be guaranteed the right to make a copy of a movie instead of letting the MPAA or Sony "Manage" it for me, but hey, baby steps, right?

Also, I'll admit that I haven't been paying attention: why exactly do we need to switch to something other than DVD?

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Dork.

Also, I'll admit that I haven't been paying attention: why exactly do we need to switch to something other than DVD?

DVD: 720x480
Hi-Def: 1920x1080

Nuff said.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Dork.

Also, I'll admit that I haven't been paying attention: why exactly do we need to switch to something other than DVD?

About US $6,000.

[I Bent My Wookiee]

I think the pricing is very reasonable for the quality you are getting.

[production_coordinator]

I think this will be the final hurdle for me regarding purchasing a HD TV. I'm not a big sports fan, and most of the shows I watch aren't in HD... or even if they are, I'm not going to buy a $3K TV to watch them... especially when DVDs are still SD.

NOW that movies will be available for HD, I think it's a good time to jump ship. I'm a big movie fan, and seeing some of them in HD will be a wonderful experience.

I'm going to wait until I start seeing more titles come out and the first significant price drop in the players... then I'll jump in.

[I Bent My Wookiee]

Another think to keep in mind is since the storage is so great on Blu-Ray that even though a disk may be $20 it could have more than one movie on it. Such as Spiderman 1 & 2 plus tons of extras for each movie.

[residentEvil]

They are NOT coming out next month; NORMAL DVD/UMD combos come out in March. Blu-Ray discs will come out in May/June.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Ouch on the pricing.

Indeed—$23.45 for new-release Blu-ray movies is still about $8 less than what we pay for new-release DVD movies.

[wdlove]

I will wait to see what really happens. Don't want to have to be buying new equipment. Want to be able to still use my large library of DVD's.

[I Bent My Wookiee]

Originally Posted by wdlove

I will wait to see what really happens. Don't want to have to be buying new equipment. Want to be able to still use my large library of DVD's.

All the players will play standard DVD's.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Oisín

Indeed—$23.45 for new-release Blu-ray movies is still about $8 less than what we pay for new-release DVD movies.

No it's not. Furthermore, that's wholesale. That's how much Blockbuster buys them. Retail, you're going to be paying upwards $30 for a new release Blue-Ray disc at the store.

[Big Mac]

And when are the HD-DVDs coming out?

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

No it's not.

Yes, it is. Might not be what you pay, but it’s what we pay.

Furthermore, that's wholesale. That's how much Blockbuster buys them. Retail, you're going to be paying upwards $30 for a new release Blue-Ray disc at the store.

... which is about what we pay for the normal DVD’s. I haven’t seen any info on expected prices here, but I’d expect about $45 or so, initially at least.

[hickey]

sucks that with this, and the bill Bush signed about stopping broadcasting analog tv by 2009, they're forcing us to get digital and HD stuff. For people like my parents who only watch the news and weather type shows, its a kick in the pants.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by hickey

sucks that with this, and the bill Bush signed about stopping broadcasting analog tv by 2009, they're forcing us to get digital and HD stuff. For people like my parents who only watch the news and weather type shows, its a kick in the pants.

Originally they were supposed to stop broadcasting analog by 2006... but people complained about that. BTW, where are all the "inexpensive tuners" that people were supposed to be able to add to their analog sets.

Of course, they were supposed to stop making analog receivers by now, too.

My bet is that in 2009, there will be enough of an outcry that it will be pushed back to 2012. Then in 2012 there will be another outcry that will push it back to 2015, and so on, etc.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by I Bent My Wookiee

I think the pricing is very reasonable for the quality you are getting.

Oh joy, the 15th release of Fifth Element.

Starting March 28, consumers can buy DVD-UMD combo packs of "The Grudge," "Resident Evil," "Underworld," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and MGM's "The Terminator" for just pennies more than Sony typically charges for a new DVD.

A second batch of DVD-UMD combos -- "Ghostbusters," "Mad Max," "The Fifth Element" and "Snatch" -- arrives April 25, with a third wave is slated to come on the market in May.

[TheMule]

Retail, you're going to be paying upwards $30 for a new release Blue-Ray disc at the store.
================
Heck, new DVDS are still $25.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by TheMule

Retail, you're going to be paying upwards $30 for a new release Blue-Ray disc at the store.
================
Heck, new DVDS are still $25.

Does Amazon get them cheaper somehow? I've never payed more than $20 for a single DVD.

[meelk]

You people paying $25 for dvds are paying too damn much already. I dont pay more than 20, and thats high. On release you can get a lot of titles at 15 to 17.

I have over 400 dvds.

[Eriamjh]

If you think HD movies are going to cost the same or less than DVDs, you are a fool.

[meelk]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

If you think HD movies are going to cost the same or less than DVDs, you are a fool.

that doesnt change the fact that they SHOULD. they are a replacement technology. $30 for a dvd, even hd-dvd/blu ray is unreasonable. $30 discs will not win market share. The market is driven by the mass walmart shopper, and it simply wont happen.

[PurpleGiant]

Relax dudes, prices will come down. DVDs cost more than Videos when they first came out, and they were even more of a replacement technology. I would fully expect HD/blu-ray movies to cost more at first.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by PurpleGiant

Relax dudes, prices will come down. DVDs cost more than Videos when they first came out, and they were even more of a replacement technology. I would fully expect HD/blu-ray movies to cost more at first.

Yes, in the mid 1980s VHS tapes were REALLY expensive.

For example... when I was 9 (in 1985) I really liked the animated film "The Secret of NIMH." My mother always wanted to buy it for me on video.

Fast forward to 2005, when she buys the DVD for me for Christmas... she said she paid "$5.00 for it at Meijer's. Do you know how much I wanted to get it for you in 1985? They wanted $85 for it on VHS back then."

[B Gallagher]

Yeah.. everything is expensive when it is first released to the market. If it catches on, it gets cheaper. Usually.

When is HD-DVD planning on being released?

Apple supports Blu-Ray, right?

[moonmonkey]

I pay about 1$ per DVD, which is what I think they are worth.

[Goldfinger]

The absolute maximum that I pay for a DVD is €20. And that's for new releases of movies that I really love. Most DVDs I buy are between 5 and 12 euros. If a new realease is €20+ I just wait for the price to come down.

Just bought my 150th DVD yesterday. The road to 200 is open.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

I pay about 1$ per DVD, which is what I think they are worth.

Yeah, well, with the quality of the DVD’s available over there, that is pretty much all they’re worth

I bought about 400 DVD’s over there as well. And then managed to forget about 300 of them in a suitcase in the airport, somewhere between security check and gate. Typical. $200 or so out the window. Hadn’t even gotten around to seeing half of them.

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by Oisín

Yeah, well, with the quality of the DVD’s available over there, that is pretty much all they’re worth

I bought about 400 DVD’s over there as well. And then managed to forget about 300 of them in a suitcase in the airport, somewhere between security check and gate. Typical. $200 or so out the window. Hadn’t even gotten around to seeing half of them.

I think the quality in Shanghai is a bit better than Beijing, but still a bit hit and miss, you can get fantastic box sets now, even the packaging is identical.

Can't wait till we can get blueray movies too.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

I think the quality in Shanghai is a bit better than Beijing, but still a bit hit and miss, you can get fantastic box sets now, even the packaging is identical.

Yeah, those were the only ones (almost) that I got back with me, ‘cause they were in a different suitcase...

[residentEvil]

If anyone can be the Japan box set of Alien Quad, that would rule I still haven't gotten one; damnit.

[meelk]

Originally Posted by Person Man

Yes, in the mid 1980s VHS tapes were REALLY expensive.

For example... when I was 9 (in 1985) I really liked the animated film "The Secret of NIMH." My mother always wanted to buy it for me on video.

Fast forward to 2005, when she buys the DVD for me for Christmas... she said she paid "$5.00 for it at Meijer's. Do you know how much I wanted to get it for you in 1985? They wanted $85 for it on VHS back then."

thats because there was no established market for movies. do people even think through their responses?

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by meelk

thats because there was no established market for movies. do people even think through their responses?

Yes.

My point was that back then, buying movies on VHS was new. But the price eventually came down. When DVDs came out they were more expensive than VHS but the price eventually came down, and it stands to reason that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, being the newer technologies are going to be more expensive than standard definition DVDs. And the prices will eventually come down.

[11011001]

Originally Posted by residentEvil

If anyone can be the Japan box set of Alien Quad, that would rule I still haven't gotten one; damnit.

What??

[mania]

so, lets ask ourselves a question - do we need these things? i don't mean want i mean need. clearly the answer is no. if we excersize patience perhaps the whole thing will fall flat on its face. why do i want this to happen. these rapidly changing formats for the same thing you may already own is creating a monster which must be killed. speak with one voice that we will not be soma drones (if you don't know what soma is you watch too many movies and do not read enough). i for one am tired of keeping up with the joneses - count me out.

there was an interesting quote somewhere I read that in 10 or 20 years people will laugh that we actually purchased data on a disc.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey

I think the quality in Shanghai is a bit better than Beijing

I hope you realize that most of the bootlegs you buy in Shanghai and Beijing aren't even made in either Shanghai or Beijing.

Also, while the quality has improved significantly, it's still not up to par IMO. Ignoring moral considerations for the moment... I hate watching a movie only to have it crap out 15 minutes before it ends. That and the fact that a ton of the stuff has terrible quality video. Sure it may play fine, but if the video sucks, or half the extras are missing (etc.), then why bother?

I'd rather just rent them for $3. At least if they're bad, I can just ask for another one.

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

The absolute maximum that I pay for a DVD is €20. And that's for new releases of movies that I really love. Most DVDs I buy are between 5 and 12 euros. If a new realease is €20+ I just wait for the price to come down.

Just bought my 150th DVD yesterday. The road to 200 is open.

What do you do with them? I've taken to culling my collection as of late. Every once in a while I pick say the ten I have the least interest in, and then take them to the local used DVD store as trade-ins. For most of them, it's not as if I'd ever watch them again anyway.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by 11011001

What??

You have to BE the box before you can really appreciate the movie. Like, seriously. Just shove that disc up your anus already.

[DoctorGonzo]

Originally Posted by Person Man

Yes, in the mid 1980s VHS tapes were REALLY expensive....

The concept of sell-through releases (movies arriving on home video at "reasonable" prices) didn't take hold until the late '90s.

Up until that point, a copy of a new movie released on either DVD or VHS would be in the vicinity of $90-$100 with Saving Private Ryan being the most expensive of all time (that I recall), topping out at something like $120 a copy on VHS. These prices were used to throw video rental stores a bone by discouraging all but die-hard fans from buying a movie until the prices dropped significantly 6 months or so later to the $20-$30 level.

When Titanic went sell-through, it caused a major stir as certain factions wanted their business protected and the studios backing it saw more dollar signs by tossing their conventional methodology out the window.

It marked a turning point in the industry, and studios never looked back.

[Ozmodiar]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

No it's not. Furthermore, that's wholesale. That's how much Blockbuster buys them. Retail, you're going to be paying upwards $30 for a new release Blue-Ray disc at the store.

Just to make a distinction: Blockbuster will buy the movies at wholesale prices when they intend to sell the movie. If they're going to rent the movie out, they pay between $100 and $150 a piece. It takes 30 to 50 rentals before they make any money off a movie.

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by meelk

that doesnt change the fact that they SHOULD. they are a replacement technology. $30 for a dvd, even hd-dvd/blu ray is unreasonable. $30 discs will not win market share. The market is driven by the mass walmart shopper, and it simply wont happen.

I believe that is a misconception. HD is not intended to replace DVD. HD is not going to replace standard resolution TV. Not all content is available in HD. It is intended to supplement it for the consumer who wants an even better picture.

Are all TVs sold HD capable? No. HD's market is likely not to ever exceed 10-20% compared to DVD. Why? Cost. The wal-mart shopper will not buy an HD set to replace his SD set if he considers it "good enough". Quality does not drive the market. Price does.

I believe that HD will be to DVD what laserdisk was to VHS: a better format for a premium price. Hopefully, HD will do better in the long run.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

What do you do with them? I've taken to culling my collection as of late. Every once in a while I pick say the ten I have the least interest in, and then take them to the local used DVD store as trade-ins. For most of them, it's not as if I'd ever watch them again anyway.

I watch them

No seriously. I just want to collect movies. Some of them I only watch once a year or maybe once in two years. Others more. Right now I'm just trying to buy all the classics and new movies that will be classics. I'm just a big movie fan.

It's nice that you can just pick a movie from your collection and watch it when you're bored. Not having to depend on what's on tv or going out to rent a movie.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

I'd rather just rent them for $3. At least if they're bad, I can just ask for another one.

That reply isn’t really logical: it’s only really relevant for China (through the comparison of the $3 not being that much more than the pirated Chinese DVDs), but the renting alternative doesn’t exist there. Or, well, it might, in some places. But there sure as hell weren’t any places to rent movies in Beijing when I lived there. Or perhaps they just hid them really, really well.

If we’re talking in the Western world, though, I would probably do what you do, too, if I could rent a DVD for $3. Unfortunately, renting a DVD is 2-3 times more expensive, which does start to climb a bit outside what my student budget can afford on a regular basis. I would rather, then, buy and own one DVD every other month than rent five DVDs a month and only get to watch them once. I don’t watch all that many movies, anyhow.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Oisín

That reply isn’t really logical: it’s only really relevant for China (through the comparison of the $3 not being that much more than the pirated Chinese DVDs), but the renting alternative doesn’t exist there. Or, well, it might, in some places. But there sure as hell weren’t any places to rent movies in Beijing when I lived there. Or perhaps they just hid them really, really well.

If we’re talking in the Western world, though, I would probably do what you do, too, if I could rent a DVD for $3. Unfortunately, renting a DVD is 2-3 times more expensive, which does start to climb a bit outside what my student budget can afford on a regular basis. I would rather, then, buy and own one DVD every other month than rent five DVDs a month and only get to watch them once. I don’t watch all that many movies, anyhow.

I live in Toronto. Bootlegs from China (which are common here) and rentals cost about the same.

[B Gallagher]

BluRay!!!

It's 5.30am. I'm bored.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

I live in Toronto. Bootlegs from China (which are common here) and rentals cost about the same.

Ah, I didn’t know they were that common in Canada (well, Toronto, anyway)—I only wish they were here as well...

[meelk]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

I believe that is a misconception. HD is not intended to replace DVD. HD is not going to replace standard resolution TV. Not all content is available in HD. It is intended to supplement it for the consumer who wants an even better picture.

Are all TVs sold HD capable? No. HD's market is likely not to ever exceed 10-20% compared to DVD. Why? Cost. The wal-mart shopper will not buy an HD set to replace his SD set if he considers it "good enough". Quality does not drive the market. Price does.

I believe that HD will be to DVD what laserdisk was to VHS: a better format for a premium price. Hopefully, HD will do better in the long run.

Apparently you have already missed the boat, as new shows are going HD across the board. The switch to all digital, which is happening by 2009 ensures even more of an HD push. HD is standard def replacement in the same way color replaced black and white. Get over it.

[Eug Wanker]

HD is standard def replacement in the same way color replaced black and white. Get over it.

Not really. Standard def digital is replacing standard def analogue.

Yes, HD adoption will increase, but the switch to digital isn't really about HD per se.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh

I believe that is a misconception. HD is not intended to replace DVD. HD is not going to replace standard resolution TV. Not all content is available in HD. It is intended to supplement it for the consumer who wants an even better picture.

Are all TVs sold HD capable? No. HD's market is likely not to ever exceed 10-20% compared to DVD. Why? Cost. The wal-mart shopper will not buy an HD set to replace his SD set if he considers it "good enough". Quality does not drive the market. Price does.

I believe that HD will be to DVD what laserdisk was to VHS: a better format for a premium price. Hopefully, HD will do better in the long run.

I couldn't disagree more.

High Definition (HD) TV will replace Standard Definition (SD) TV... and...
HD-DVD or Blue-Ray will replace DVDs as the dominant movie format.

As with records and cassettes... SD TVs and DVDs will be around for a LONG time... but you will start to see HD DVDs and HD content being the norm.

[Dakar]

Let's not forget black & white tvs were still to be found well into the 80s...

[residentEvil]

Originally Posted by Dakar

Let's not forget black & white tvs were still to be found well into the 80s...

You can still buy black and white monitors...what is your point?