Sex appeal in high-def
By Tom Paine -- Video Business,04/28/2006
APRIL 28 | In the beginning, there was VHS and Beta. Somewhere along the line, we started carrying Nintendo games. Then came Super Nintendo, and everyone started asking themselves if carrying Super Nintendo was a good idea, and if so, when. That was the first time we had to consider an upgraded format. Some jumped and some waited.
Paine
We have come a long way since then. Several gaming systems have come and gone, as have laserdiscs. DVD has made a huge impact. In the old days, you could be a little late getting into a format as long as your direct competitors were late too.
Enter HD DVD into a changed world.
In the new world, there is only one choice. Get into HD DVD, the first of two high-definition disc formats coming to market—and get in now.
New products are being thrown at the consumer continuously, and loyalties are constantly shifting. Some products catch on and others do not, because no one knows what will happen until the consumer has her say. It sounds like a good case to take a wait and see attitude, but do not be fooled. Things are happening too fast to wait.
Your biggest competitors have HD DVD right now, and they are telling your customers all about it. I’m talking about the Internet subscription companies and sell-through merchants, both online and bricks-and-mortar. They have already taken some of your customers. Do not let them take more.
HD DVDs are currently only being sold at stores that sell the hardware, including online stores. There are only a few titles out so far, but you should have them.
Why now? The answer is because we can no longer count on customers to be loyal enough to wait around for us to adopt something new. Simply put, the average consumer loyalty goes only as far as their pocketbook, or more likely as far as who is offering the next new thing.
A friend of mine in the business mentioned a few months back that video stores are not sexy any more. He might be right. Our business may be getting a little old, but we will look a lot better if we put on a little makeup and lipstick. You have the perfect opportunity to tell movie lovers in your area, and particularly your own customers, that HD DVD is here and you have it. That’s sexy.
When you do get the high-def discs, flaunt them. When your customers decide the time is right to buy that high-def player, they need to know you are right there with them, hand in hand. Otherwise, they might be seduced by the pretty young thing with ads all over the Internet.
So make a big display and don’t forget to educate your employees as well. Make sure they understand the technology, know about the hardware and are up to date on industry news. Of course, they also need to know about Blu-ray, particularly to tell your customer that when it is available, you will have it. Tom Paine is owner of six-store DVD Now, Redmond, Wash.Post a comment Return to article View other article discussions
| Submitted by: | Sam Matos 5/1/2006 4:34:47 AM PT |
| Location: | Piscataway,NJ |
| Occupation: | Cable |
There is a war between HD DVD and Blu-Ray and winner will be who the one who get adult film industry to convert to their technology.<br><br>
The adult film industry quietly and indirectly influenced the home video in the 80's and again with the internet. <br><br>
Anytime there is a major technology improvement in-home entertainment adult film stduio are there pushing their products.<br><br>
So if you are trying to decide on which HD technology to go with, look to the adult film industry
| Submitted by: | Greg Voevodsky 4/28/2006 3:07:48 PM PT |
| Location: | Portola Valley, CA 94028 |
| Occupation: | DVD Producer wanting 1 HD format - Blu-Ray |
Sounds like you want to prolong the format war - and loose half of your shelf space to two HD formats. I'd hope the retailers will be smart and not jump onto HD-DVD. Rather let it die quickly since it is not supported by 5 out of 6 Hollywood studios and is not well supported in 2 bigger industies- namely computers companies: Dell, HP, & Apple, and the game industry with Sony's PS3. They all support Blu-Ray as well they should, its the better format, overwhelmly supported by many bigger companies than HD-DVDs Time Warner and Toshiba. Why waste people's time and money on HD-DVD?<br><br>
Blu-Ray will have millions more players out within a 2007 in home players, computers, and ps3s. Choose Blu-Ray. Giant Retailers like Wallmart, etc, could kill the war faster by boycotting HD-DVD. However, with only 3 titles at launch, it looks like HD-DVD won't even get off the ground. Let's not confuse customers, hurt sales, half shelf space and as video producers double our authoring and inventory costs with 2 formats. Life is better with one VHS player, 1 DVD player and 1 Blu-Ray. So unless you're going to buy my old betamax back along with my HD-DVD player, lets not push this new Betamax of the future, HD-DVD onto anyone.
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