Legit Reviews

(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA) - In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.


"Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."

Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.


"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today’s decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."

"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future."

Apoptosis wrote:that sucks...

top wrote:BUMP! I'm confused on the deal with people's disappointment on WB's decision!

FZ1 wrote:New Line is following Warner as well. Speculation is the Universal will do the same before long and then it's bye bye HD-DVD. Damn, I hate Sony. The only good news is that we finally be getting to one format.

camaroguy1998 wrote:No. 2. BluRay players are Anti Piracy upgradeable through the internet.(IMHO DRM Sucks!)

Apoptosis wrote:Because I have 2 HD DVD players and a small collection going, so all these companies mean I picked the wrong player to invest in. I bought my first HD DVD player nearly 9 months ago though.

top wrote:

camaroguy1998 wrote:No. 2. BluRay players are Anti Piracy upgradeable through the internet.(IMHO DRM Sucks!)

The firmware has a DRM? Does this install when you plug the drive into your system? Is the player supposed to be hack free with this?

Apoptosis wrote:Because I have 2 HD DVD players and a small collection going, so all these companies mean I picked the wrong player to invest in. I bought my first HD DVD player nearly 9 months ago though.

I understand.

I'll also point out that Blue Ray holds 66% more data than an HD DVD. I thought the choice would of been obvious!

Apoptosis wrote:Well, since most americans buy the cheapest stuff out there and go to walmart I figured HD DVD would win and to be honest they have. HD DVD has out sold Blu-Ray 3 to 1 when it comes to stand alone players.... I only have about 12 HD DVD's, so I'm not that far in the hole, but it still sucks. I think dual-format players will be out and affordable in the years to come, so hopefully I don't have 12 discs that will do nothing in a few years.