Could Warner Bros. Abandon HD DVD in 2008?

[JerryDelColliano]

I have never heard of Bill Hunt. Where does he write and Why are people upset about him?

Most publications are format agnostic as they get money from both sides. Microsoft doesn't spend money in the home theater space like HD DVD and Blu-ray do although I bet they chipped in for the HD DVD war chest. They did buy me dinner on Wends (along with Brent Butterworth of Robb Report and Maureen Jensen of Home Theater Magazine). Does that make us sell outs too? Hell, we talked about wine most of the night - not media center PCs. The MS guys did get some good jabs in with me because I use a Mac and run my company on a Mac. I did remind them - there would BE no Apple with out MS and with Apple surging in stock price and marketshare - you also don't hear about "anti-trust" anymore with MS. Seems like a win-win.

[DaViD Boulet]

Bill Hunt's personal website/blog related to the hometheater community:

www.thedigitalbits.com

Bill Hunt has been an instrumental force in helping shape the course of the DVD format and created his website at the inception of DVD for the purpose of advancing HT (one of the first "DVD" websites if you will... along with dvdresource.com which no longer exists). For instance, he helped to put pressure on Fox and Warner to stop recyling 4x3 lbxed laserdisc masters on DVD and instate policies of providing new 16x9 DVD transfers when feasable. He also levied lots of criticism against the Circuit City DIVX format (which many forget at one time threatened the success of DVD) given the confusion and apprehension that it created with consumers. He stated openly a few months back that he feels that the BD format will ultimately succeed and that the HT industry, at this point, would be best served if the format war came to an end quickly as the prolonged war keeps many consumers on the side-lines and keeps the studios from fully investing in HD media. He's also stated that he personally feels that MS is investinng in the format war in order to prolong the war to foster confusion and lack of interest among consumers given Bill Gate's espoused vision for a future download-paradigm for home-entertainment.

Because of the influence (real or perceived) of his opinion, these last statements were met with a great deal of back-lash from some pro-HD DVD enthusiasts.

[JerryDelColliano]

Go figure.

I have never heard of him.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Because he posts pro-BD opinions? Are you bought and paid for because you post pro-HD DVD opinions?

I believe the only "opinion," I've ever discussed is that BD has a better picture on average than HD DVD, and that WB if they chose one side it would be HD DVD. Quit obsessing over me. It's scary.

Bill Hunt is bought and paid for and receives GIFTS. Not screeners. GIFTS. There is a big difference. He's as much a journalist as Harry Knowles of AICN is. Both receive GIFTS and perks from the industry. Neither can be trusted to give you an unbiased review of things.

The funny thing is that Bill is bought by BD, and Harry is bought by HD DVD. They both shouldn't be trusted for their opinions on "the war." The only difference between the two is that Harry is read by about 1000 times as many people. I had respect for Bill before the whole fiasco. Now I think he's 1 card short of a full deck.

Also Bill Hunt's whole MS Conspiracy thing is just CRAZY TALK. I've discussed this subject with other people who laughed hysterically about his OBSESSION on the whole BD/HD DVD subject. The guy needs to quit looking for the extra shooter in the grassy gnoll.

Bill Gates has no hidden agenda. In fact Mr. Gates will tell you that 1080p HD content to download quickly for the majority of people is SEVEN YEARS away. He has no secret plan to make the war last SEVEN YEARS until his XBOX LIVE Marketplace can take over the industry.

He does have a plan for HD DVD to WIN. He and MS are very interested in that outcome.

Just as Sony has a plan for BD to WIN. They've veered off their plan by having to make new standards to keep a certain Studio in the fold.

All of you people who are taking this so seriously need to do yourself a favor and RELAX. If tomorrow Sony announced a HD DVD Player and that they'd release HD DVD titles your world would not be over. It's not that serious of a matter. Same as if Toshiba announced a BD player, and Universal & Paramount went neutral. I know either way I'd still be happy old me.

The only TRUE agenda I personally have:

I want both parties to put Component Cable and HDMI cables in their player's boxing and remove the cheap cables. Consumers are already confused. Make sure they hook up their players for High Def by providing them with Hi Def cables. Throw a HDMI to DVI converter in there too....

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by JerryDelColliano

I have never heard of Bill Hunt. Where does he write and Why are people upset about him?

Most publications are format agnostic as they get money from both sides. Microsoft doesn't spend money in the home theater space like HD DVD and Blu-ray do although I bet they chipped in for the HD DVD war chest. They did buy me dinner on Wends (along with Brent Butterworth of Robb Report and Maureen Jensen of Home Theater Magazine). Does that make us sell outs too? Hell, we talked about wine most of the night - not media center PCs. The MS guys did get some good jabs in with me because I use a Mac and run my company on a Mac. I did remind them - there would BE no Apple with out MS and with Apple surging in stock price and marketshare - you also don't hear about "anti-trust" anymore with MS. Seems like a win-win.

When they start paying for your hotels, flights, rental cars, etc. get back in touch with me.

Dinner has always been something the whole industry is about. I think of all the times that Martin Logan, Bel Canto, Canton, Sony, etc. have taken me out to dinner as money well spent by them.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Dude, as politely as I can say this: Get a Life.

This isn't the AVS forum where you can get away with saying such nonsense. I could go over all your posts, but it's obvious YOU ARE in the BD camp.

I'm in neither. Quit attacking people and get your paranoia under control. I could attack the "data," you've posted for it's inaccuracies:

Casino Royale has sold 107,000 units in NA to date according to you. Well it did that opening week. It didn't sell any after that? Remarkable!

Casino Royale SHIPPED 100,000 copies in North America in its first week, it sold just under 50,000 according to Nielsen numbers.

I'm not going to lie and spout forth misinformation like you, I'm quite happy to back up what I say with facts.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ques...p?startpage=70

Do you see what it says there? YTD as of August 5th, 2007 - 107,000 Casino Royale.

Here are the numbers as of October 21st, 2007

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...1031/bd1_3.jpg

Casino Royale - 127,300.

Thanks for playing.