Warner to change Combo pricing policy?

[Pecker]

A thread has opened at 'another place', stating that 'Harry Potter V' is going to be a combo, and priced the same as the BD.

Now that's interesting.

I don't think it makes a difference on an individual, title-by-title basis.

But when someone goes scouting and sees HD DVD after HD DVD priced higher than the same title on BD, it's off-putting for the format as a whole.

Steve W

[Noggin1980]

It would definatly be very good news, most dual format owners would chose the blu-ray version over the HD-DVD version if the HD-DVD version was a combo due to cost, this would nutralise that and quite possibly turn combos into an advantage rather than a disadvantage for the majority.

[Adam_uk]

Even if the combo were cheaper I'd not buy it.

It will be interesting to see if film V is a combo, will the release 1-4 as combo's to or as non combo's. If I were buying a set I'd want them all the same.

[cobbler]

I still don't see the point of combo discs unless they stopped releasing the standard DVD version. I want the HD version not the DVD version and I don't know anyone without an HD DVD player that is buying up combo discs in preparation for the day they actually buy a player.

I've had Smallville season 6 on order for HD DVD (not a combo I know but just for an example) due it region free nature. If it had been a combo and the same price as the blu ray version then I would have waited to see if the blu ray version was all regions and then bought that.

The combo discs are not an advantage to warner unless they stop releasing the standard DVDs but then they are forcing the majority of people to pay for something that they don't want.

I would be more happy to see just a HD DVD disc (no DVD side) and sell it for a few $$$ less then the blu ray version

[DMT]

Originally Posted by cobbler

I still don't see the point of combo discs unless they stopped releasing the standard DVD version. I want the HD version not the DVD version and I don't know anyone without an HD DVD player that is buying up combo discs in preparation for the day they actually buy a player.

:

Very simple.

HD gets played in the home cinema but the DVD side can play in daughters bedroom or watched by the wife in bed.
Last week my wife asked for Alpha Dogs (BD) and was annoyed when I told her it would not play in the bedroom (should have bought the HD-DVD Combo).
Harry Potter is the perfect example as there will be many children who want to watch this repeatedly.

[SeedyR]

Originally Posted by DMT

Very simple.

HD gets played in the home cinema but the DVD side can play in daughters bedroom or watched by the wife in bed.
Last week my wife asked for Alpha Dogs (BD) and was annoyed when I told her it would not play in the bedroom (should have bought the HD-DVD Combo).
Harry Potter is the perfect example as there will be many children who want to watch this repeatedly.

Very simple.

Buy a blu-ray player for every room with a TV

Are the normal dvd versions coming out much cheaper than hd dvd combo discs? As would it not be worth it for one big release such as Harry Potter (I know it's warner), and scrapping the standard dvd release, and Toshiba/Universal taking a hit on the price of combo? This would mean you would start getting HD DVDs into more homes, and I know if I was a consumer, already with about 5 HD DVD combos, when it came to buying a next gen disc player, I'd go with a HD DVD player. Stupidity on my part or are the studios missing a trick?

[gazzared_typer]

Harry Potter pricing (US$) now confirmed via press release:

Combo price identical to BD, and only $1 more than the SD 2-disc version.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...85&newsLang=en

regards

[MI55ION]

The effect of Combo discs on HD DVD sales was recently highlighted with the release of 300. I believe most dual format owners went for the Blu-ray version. It may be that Warner makes a little extra with the combos to offset lower sales of the HD DVD version but I suspect, due to the studio's strength in making or breaking a format, HD DVD must comply with their requests whether they like it or not. Personally I feel combos have put a lot of dual format owners off HD DVD and this will show with lower sales figures. I think the sooner they get rid of combos the better it is for the format as a whole.

[JAGUAR1977]

Originally Posted by MI55ION

The effect of Combo discs on HD DVD sales was recently highlighted with the release of 300. I believe most dual format owners went for the Blu-ray version.

Not sure about that, the 2-1 ratio is pretty consitent over a number of dual format titles, combo or not.

Wouldn't most dual format owners go for the HD-DVD version with it's fancy extras, unless PIP extras aren 't worth a dolar or two more, which would be suprising considering the fuss made about it by the HD-DVD Group/owners?

[Jeff]

There is no evidence that combos have any impact on sales, positive or negative. Personaly I like them because it can be played on other regular DVD players around the house so it gets more use. They are family friendly. Also if you like to rip the movie to watch on Ipods and the likes thats another reason.

[Adam_uk]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Not sure about that, the 2-1 ratio is pretty consitent over a number of dual format titles, combo or not.

Wouldn't most dual format owners go for the HD-DVD version with it's fancy extras, unless PIP extras aren 't worth a dolar or two more, which would be suprising considering the fuss made about it by the HD-DVD Group/owners?

nope I have both and went for Blu Ray- because of the combo

[MI55ION]

Originally Posted by Jeff

There is no evidence that combos have any impact on sales, positive or negative.

I don't know about any hard facts, just speculating. If anything, I think the effect of higher priced combos compared to the Blu-ray version should not be underestimated.

[dbs2]

Would that stop the HD-DVD being cheaper to produce than the same Blu-ray Title.... i thought that was a major point of HD-DVD ....... Why would warner take a hit for Toshiba or am i missing Something......

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by dean1474

Would that stop the HD-DVD being cheaper to produce than the same Blu-ray Title.... i thought that was a major point of HD-DVD ....... Why would warner take a hit for Toshiba or am i missing Something......

Dean, you raise a point that's been bugging me for a while.

HD DVDs are cheaper to produce than BDs - no-one's ever seriously disputed that.

And a combo is a hell of a lot cheaper than a BD50. The two-sided nature of the disc is no more expensive than an SD DVD flipper.

Perhaps the question isn't why Warner are taking a hit for HD DVD now, so much as why were they inflating the price of a flipper to a level more expensive than a BD in the first place.

Either way you want to look at it, it's a puzzle.

Steve W

[MI55ION]

Originally Posted by dean1474

Would that stop the HD-DVD being cheaper to produce than the same Blu-ray Title.... i thought that was a major point of HD-DVD ....... Why would warner take a hit for Toshiba or am i missing Something......

I'm not sure what you mean by Warner taking a hit for Toshiba, to me it seems the other way round i.e. to keep Warner happy, the HD DVD group is allowing the continuation of combo discs. I figure this based on the understanding that the combo format is owned by Warner and as such they take a bigger cut from the sale of a combo than a single sided HD DVD disc. If it isn't then feel free to disregard the above.