Topic: Will Price Drop change the outcome of the format war ?

[lovemunkey187]

Actually, instead of lowering prices, they are trying a different tactic to force people to BR...

Paramounts tactic there, to me, seems as though it's going to help increase piracy.
I work with at least 4 people who provide snide copies of pretty much any film or tv shows in quality varying from DVD rips to ones that have had someone in the theatre with a camcorder.

and they do a roaring trade.

[Touti]

I only read a little bit, but I got that they want to increase rentals rather than sales for DVD and hope to increase Blu-ray sales by releasing them before the DVD...?

No exactly Achim.  All that matters for them is sales because they don't do rentals themselves.  They aim to increase Blu-Ray sales.  They will release an unrated Blu-Ray version packed with features both for sale and rental along with a rated rental only DVD version which will only have the movie.  Four to eight weeks later they will release a street DVD version with some bonus material.

If they do that on all their future movies it may help push collectors to move to Blu-Ray but frankly I don't see their reasoning for rentals.  I don't think anyone who rent his movies will buy a BR player just because the DVD version is a barebone.

As for Canadian prices............I think it's time our governments look into it because it's ridiculous.  With a dollar currently at 93.50 we're paying the same as when it was under 70 cents.  It doesn't hurt much on a 15$ DVD but it's quite a rip when you pay a car 25% more than in the states knowing that the Canadian dealer paid the same price as his U.S counterpart.

[richierich]

Do the studios have some ownership in rental operations, a commission on each rental, or plans to take ownership in this area?

Blu-ray - example retail price to consumer £15

Studio Sales
One off sale to a retailer probably realises studio £2? (I bet its much less than this as distributor, retailer and tax incomes are large part of price)
Income 1 disc = £2

Rental - £2 every 3 days, approx £4 per week
3 months of disc in demand minimum = £52
Plus future less in demand rentals, say 2 per month = £36
Disc sold off after 1 year = £2
Income 1 disc = £90 (minus costs of service)

So for one disc sold the seller can get £2 maximum.
For rental in a year they could get £80 or £90 return (minus cost of service)

The figures are clearly not 100% accurate, but as a business model it is obvious the rental return (plus future online subscribed screenings) are much more favourable for a company to focus on

[Touti]

I'm waiting for the BR release of LOTR

November 3  

http://ca.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=5174

[Tom]

Wait for another year and you will get the extended editions on Blu-Ray.

[Touti]

Yes after posting I realized that it's the theatrical release 

[lyonsden5]

Agree - 

[Najemikon]

That is outrageous. Is this finalised? We are still 3 months away. 

[Touti]

It appears to be Jon........and even worst............some say that the EE won't come out before The Hobbit which put it another 2 years down the road.

[Najemikon]

I wonder if Europe might get a better deal. You never know. Different distributors, different ideas.

[Touti]

Honestly I doubt it.  Europe could get different features but I would be very surprised if the studio wanted to force North-America to double-dip on the EE's but not Europe.

There doesn't seem to be a UK version announced, there's a German version to be released on Nov. 27 but the audio details are TBA.

http://uk.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=5363

[Touti]

Looks like Amadeus Director's cut will be released in Blu-Ray in September.......if the transfer is good I'm probably gonna double-dip and get my 3rd copy of that movie.

http://ca.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=6603

[RossRoy]

LoTR on the way and the PS3 dropping to 299$? Bad omen.... for my wallet!

[Touti]

You don't have a BR player yet Seb ?

[RossRoy]

Nope. I keep refusing to take the plunge. I don't want to have to buy a new TV, new sound system, new player, new movies, ....