The Case of the disappearing movies, reply from Sky

[zAndy1]

I've been pushing Sky to explain why films like Batman Begins, Alexander and Be Cool didn't premiere on the HD channels this month like the SD versions are. Also why King Kong and several other movies have been pulled from the HD box office schedule. All I've managed to get out of Sky is the following comment...

'Unfortunately, the studios are not planning at present to provide us with
these movies in HD format, however, I am not in a position to discuss the
reasons behind this.

Sky Movies HD is a new service and we currently building up inventory every
month. As I am sure you can appreciate, some titles are simply not available
in HD. However, the percentage of the month's premiers showing on the HD
channels increases significantly in August & September. Also the number of
different titles on the HD channels in these months is 10% higher than July'

Doesn't sound promising does it! I have pushed quite hard to get a proper explanation but they aren't budging and that's as much as they're saying at the moment, obviously it's political, I just hope it can be resolved as it doesn't bode well for the future of the HD movie channels if this doesn't get sorted out asap

Cheers
Andy

[mr_yogi]

This is a bit suprising as I would have through they would have contracts in place with the studios/ distributors to ensure plenty of HD content (that people want to see) for their premium service

[hysys]

this "issue" plus the issue with HDMI (maybe only for Pioneer) but Not sure that £300+ 10 a month is worth it....

[loz]

Originally Posted by zAndy1

I've been pushing Sky to explain why films like Batman Begins, Alexander and Be Cool didn't premiere on the HD channels this month like the SD versions are. Also why King Kong and several other movies have been pulled from the HD box office schedule. All I've managed to get out of Sky is the following comment...

'Unfortunately, the studios are not planning at present to provide us with
these movies in HD format, however, I am not in a position to discuss the
reasons behind this.

Seeing as you are already in dialog with them, why not ask for a reduction in your £10 HD sub on the basis that your reasonable assumption was that the sub would cover major new films such as these being shown in HD.

If only a limited amount of material is going to be HD, then surely only a limited amount of that HD sub is due? Worth a try...

[richard plumb]

are these movies available in HD for broadcast in the US?

[zAndy1]

loz.. I've already asked , surprisingly they refused!

[loz]

Originally Posted by richard plumb

are these movies available in HD for broadcast in the US?

Well yes, they have been broadcast in HD in the US AFAIK. Though I have no idea if the studios have also pulled the plug there (presumably to bolster sales of HD-DVD)

[eternaldark]

What a carry on, so glad i didn't take the plunge, will wait till sky sort themselves out.

[Knyght_byte]

Originally Posted by loz

Well yes, they have been broadcast in HD in the US AFAIK. Though I have no idea if the studios have also pulled the plug there (presumably to bolster sales of HD-DVD)

this was my guess as to why, they dont want to show them on SBO HD as they want to release them with the HD-DVD players in the autumn/winter......

[Wabe]

Dear Sky,

Unfortunately, I'm not planning at present to provide you with
the £10 HD subscription, however, I am not in a position to discuss the
reasons behind this.

Sky Movies HD is a new service and I'm currently mainly watching SD every
month. As I am sure you can appreciate, most titles are simply not available
in HD. However, as I'm watching some HD content I'm prepared to pay £4. If the service improves next month I will pay £4.40, this is 10% higher than July.

[contraste]

Originally Posted by Wabe

Dear Sky,

Unfortunately, I'm not planning at present to provide you with
the £10 HD subscription, however, I am not in a position to discuss the
reasons behind this.

Sky Movies HD is a new service and I'm currently mainly watching SD every
month. As I am sure you can appreciate, most titles are simply not available
in HD. However, as I'm watching some HD content I'm prepared to pay £4. If the service improves next month I will pay £4.40, this is 10% higher than July.

Love it!!!!!

[AidenL]

Originally Posted by Wabe

Dear Sky,

Unfortunately, I'm not planning at present to provide you with
the £10 HD subscription, however, I am not in a position to discuss the
reasons behind this.

Sky Movies HD is a new service and I'm currently mainly watching SD every
month. As I am sure you can appreciate, most titles are simply not available
in HD. However, as I'm watching some HD content I'm prepared to pay £4. If the service improves next month I will pay £4.40, this is 10% higher than July.

That is funny !

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by Knyght_byte

this was my guess as to why, they dont want to show them on SBO HD as they want to release them with the HD-DVD players in the autumn/winter......

but they don't pull SBO movies so they sell better on normal DVD. Just doesn't compute. They are separate income streams for the studios. If they haven't considered them competing before, why now?

lets face it, some of us will buy a movie on HD disc and watch on box office/movies to compare.

[zAndy1]

HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are new products and more importantly competing products, supporters of each format will want the best ammunition possible in order to persuade the public to invest in either format. Personally there'll be no particular incentive for me to buy a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player if the movies released on those formats are being shown in HD on Sky. The likes of Batman Begins and King Kong are the sorts of movies that will sway people and make them more likely to buy into the new formats. Let's not forget this is pure speculation as to it being the reason though, could equally well be the fact the current box has analogue component outputs with no HDCP protection. Only Sky and the Studios know the real reason for this fiasco and neither are likely to tell us...

[shaithis]

Perhaps you should ask them if the reason why they cannot procure them is because the studios do not want to see their HD transfers rubbished by Skys poor bitrate?