LETTER TO THE EDITOR: HD DVD vs. Blu-ray

By Steve Bliss -- Video Business, 1/11/2008

JAN. 11 | I was a little surprised by Warner’s decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray Disc, but there is no question about its motives.

Ten years ago, WHV led the charge to launch the DVD format, advancing an aggressive release schedule while its other major studio counterparts were dragging their heels and hedging their bets.

Fast-forward to 2007, and it’s the same story, as Warner is releasing the most titles on both Blu-ray and HD DVD while its competition once again shuffles its feet and spends most of its time bickering in the trade press.

WHV even went so far as to begin development on a “Total HD” format that would work on all players, in the process so horrifying boosters in both high-def DVD camps that they convinced major retailers to shun this notion.

Finally, Warner threw up its hands and said OK, we’ll go exclusive with Blu-ray if that’s what it takes to keep both formats from becoming the next laserdisc.

So let’s review the history of this “format war”:

1. HD DVD players have been cheaper than Blu-ray players since launch, by a wide margin until recently.
2. All HD DVD discs have worked on all HD DVD players since launch, in stark contrast to a dismal record of bugginess and incompatibility with Blu-ray discs.
3. Only HD DVD offers the benefit of HD DVD on one side of a disc and standard DVD on the other side, meaning consumers can play the same DVD on different DVD players in their homes without having to purchase the same movie twice.
4. HD DVD has offered picture-in-picture special features and Web-enabled special features since launch, while Blu-ray owners who wish to enjoy these features on future Blu-ray discs will have to scrap the player they already own and buy a new one.
5. HD DVD is far less expensive to produce than Blu-ray, making it economically feasible for smaller and independent labels to release on HD DVD and ensuring a wider variety and selection of titles.

Gosh, it seems pretty obvious that the big winner for consumers is . . . BLU-RAY???

Our industry better be careful about ignoring the needs of its consumers.

That can get to be a bad habit.

We might want to ask our friends in the recorded music industry how that worked out for them.

Steve Bliss

Microcinema DVD, Albuquerque, N.M.