Home Media Magazine - February 24, 2008 - (Page 3) FEBRUARY 24–MARCH 1, 2008 Netflix, Microsoft: The Deal That Wasn’t — Yet By Erik Gruenwedel nalysts, industry insiders and the tech press could barely contain themselves. All were convinced last week that an imminent announcement was forthcoming in which Netflix would offer movie rental streams via Xbox Live. The online DVD rental pioneer has made no secret its desire to offer its 7,000 movie streams to 100 set-top boxes, beginning later this year with a proprietary device from LG Electronics. The concept seems like a win-win for both companies, especially Xbox Live, which has millions of users and limited movies — about 300 at last count. See NETFLIX, Page 38 >> E L E CTRONIC DE L IV E RY INS IDE A BRINGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TO YOU VOD Slow to Pick UP A study says consumers aren’t yet showing interest in — much less knowledge of — video-ondemand. Web Vid Fans Hooked Research says the heaviest of online video viewers watch exponentially more than other viewers. PAGE 16 >> HIGH-DEF FORMAT WAR OVER! Toshiba pulls plug on HD DVD; Uni, Paramount go Blu INSIDE: PAGE 14 >> Blu’s Win Was Due Analysts discuss HD DVD’s fall. >> Testing HD Testronic Lab debuts an HD test space. By Chris Tribbey he high-definition format war is officially over. Toshiba Corp. last week announced it will discontinue developing, manufacturing and marketing HD DVD players and recorders. The announcement ends a twoyear battle with Blu-ray Disc to succeed DVD, and was followed immediately by word from former HD DVD stalwart Universal Studios Home Entertainment that it will release titles on Blu-ray Disc. Fellow HD DVD backers Paramount Home Entertainment and DreamWorks soon followed suit. “We carefully assessed the long- T term impact of continuing the socalled ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, president and CEO of Toshiba. “While we are disappointed for the company and, more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass-market opportunity for high-definition content remains untapped and See FORMAT WAR, Page 40 HIGH-DEF TIMELINE JUNE 2006: APRIL 2006: I Sony bows the first Blu-ray titles, inI The first four major studio films on cluding The Fifth Element, HD DVD debut April 18, Warner’s Last 50 First Dates, Hitch and Samurai, Million Dollar House of Flying DagBaby and The Phangers. tom of the Opera, and JULY 2006: Universal’s Serenity. I Warner, ParaI Warner unveils mount and Fox the first HD DVD/ announce their DVD combo disc, first Blu-ray Disc slates. Rumor Has It…, House of Flying NOVEMBER 2006: due May 9. Serenity Daggers I Sony’s PlayStation 3, which plays Blu-ray Discs, launches. JANUARY 2007 I Warner and LG Electronics announce dual-format software and hardware at the Consumer Electronics Show. Warner dubs its dual-format disc “Total HD.” APRIL 2007: I Samsung Electronics, which in 2006 introduced the first Blu-ray Disc player, says it will support HD DVD as well. JUNE 2007: I Blockbuster Inc. says it will offer only Blu-ray Disc titles in stores. AUGUST 2007: I Paramount and DreamWorks vow exclusive support of HD DVD. NOVEMBER 2007: I Warner puts Total HD plans on hold. JANUARY 2008 I Warner casts its lot exclusively with the Blu-ray Disc format. FEBRUARY 2008 I Netflix, Best Buy and Wal-Mart go Blu. I Toshiba Corp. Feb. 19 throws in the towel on HD DVD. – Compiled by Erik Gruenwedel FORMAT WAR’S END KILLS BLOGGERS MAIN TOPIC By Chris Tribbey P erhaps those most disappointed with the end of the format war — outside of Toshiba Corp. of course — are the fans. For nearly two full years, thousands of early adopters and curious spectators bantered back and forth on dozens of Web sites, arguing in favor of either Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD. Whether it was See BLOGGERS, Page 38 NEWS Genius Products is looking past DVD to other sources of revenue, such as digital distribution, licensing, video games and music. RESEARCH Consumers said “I do” to Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?, which garnered the top spot on the sales chart for Lionsgate. PRODUCT Director Ridley Scott attended a screening of the unrated, extended version of his film American Gangster, on DVD from Universal. Page 8 Page 34 Page 38
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