HD-DVD, Blu-ray, and region codes...

[Carl B]

I feel sorry for Toshiba that it's come to this. Apparently they are mulling over the possibility of removing region coding from the HD-DVD package; something that honestly as a consumer I wholeheartedly support, but also something that must truly indicate dire straights. If they actually went through with that, I'm not sure any Hollywood studios would remain in their camp. And that's a sad irony.

As always, the source is no surprise: http://chipzilla.com/?article=26802

 

[jvd]

I feel sorry for Toshiba that it's come to this. Apparently they are mulling over the possibility of removing region coding from the HD-DVD package; something that honestly as a consumer I wholeheartedly support, but also something that must truly indicate dire straights. If they actually went through with that, I'm not sure any Hollywood studios would remain in their camp. And that's a sad irony.

As always, the source is no surprise: http://chipzilla.com/?article=26802

why is this a bad thing ? This is a smart move . It will allow for a true global market for the goods . The only bad news is the cheap fakes from aisa and other countrys . However that should be a minimum and most people who would get those would hack the hardware / software to do it anyway

 

[Carl B]

why is this a bad thing ? This is a smart move . It will allow for a true global market for the goods . The only bad news is the cheap fakes from aisa and other countrys . However that should be a minimum and most people who would get those would hack the hardware / software to do it anyway

JVD, it's a good thing - as I readily state myself - it's just that it goes against the whole Hollywood 'milk each region for what it's worth' mentality. I just don't see how Hollywood would perceive it to be a good thing, but maybe I'm missing something here.

Certainly though, there was a reason that DVD and Blu-ray and HD-DVD (until now?) had region encoding - and that reason was Hollywood.

 

[Mmmkay]

The original source quote, when taken into context, seems a bit more decisive about the matter. Spinning a story on the use of 'probably'? I guess it was a slow news day for engadget.

Hisashi Yamada

"We’ve gotten a variety of opinions about region controls. Even in the Steering Committee, they are extremely unpopular; we decided to not put them in. HD DVD probably won’t contain any region playback controls."

 

[jvd]

JVD, it's a good thing - as I readily state myself - it's just that it goes against the whole Hollywood 'milk each region for what it's worth' mentality. I just don't see how Hollywood would perceive it to be a good thing, but maybe I'm missing something here.

Certainly though, there was a reason that DVD and Blu-ray and HD-DVD (until now?) had region encoding - and that reason was Hollywood.

I don't believe it was hollywood . Honestly if u look at box office the united states of america (not north america just the usa) makes up over 1/3rd the box office for thier product .

Since hollywood movies are released here first and generaly are now released worldwide of the 3 biggest markets quickly after each other region coding isn't as important as itwas and would relaly only help with piracy which not for nothing is so wide spread in the usa (bb 15$ a month deal with a dvd burner) that it doesn't matter

For hollywood its a good thing . You can sell the same mastered dvd with french , spanish and english voice tracks to many diffrent terriotys with out having to create another master copy or press a new run of movies .

I'm suspecting that bluray may make this move too. Video games have started making this move in the handhelds already (with the gba sp i believe) and its about time everyone follows

 

[Carl B]

Well, the hard quote certainly does seem a bit more definitive. Hmmm... well what can I say? It'd be nice if Blu-ray adopted the same thinking on the issue, but I just don't know if I see that happening. It's worth following this though, if only on the HD-DVD side. Maybe something more 'solid' will come out of Toshiba soon on the issue.

 

[randycat99]

Something tells me that by subverting region coding, you are essentially screwing over your key distributors for each region. If they are not guaranteed the fortunes for the sales in their sector, why should they bother to help the parent company sell more product? Their participation is crucial, in that they essentially hold the keys to mass distribution, supply lines, business networks, etc. to actually get large volumes of product to the masses.

 

[wco81]

Something tells me that by subverting region coding, you are essentially screwing over your key distributors for each region. If they are not guaranteed the fortunes for the sales in their sector, why should they bother to help the parent company sell more product? Their participation is crucial, in that they essentially hold the keys to mass distribution, supply lines, business networks, etc. to actually get large volumes of product to the masses.

If it's anything like music, different entities own the rights to the same content in different countries.

That is why they don't have a global iTunes Music Store, because people want to get paid and they have to negotiate separate deals in each country.

In Europe, a lot of people get region-free players and multi-standard TVs because they can get R1 DVDs, often for less than the R2 releases.

But the other thing they also get is earlier releases of TV box sets in R2. For instance, they had Friends for years before they released the R1 over here. The reason is the studios make syndication deals where the TV stations who pay for syndication get an exclusivity-window.

Plus the other thing is, if the studios didn't want or care about region coding, their DVD releases right NOW could be coded region-free. The fact that they don't do it suggests they want this. I'm pretty sure region coding was put into the DVD format at the behest of the studios.

Oh and Yamada is the guy singularly responsible for this format war. He's the guy won won't let Toshiba compromise.

 

[Acert93]

Oh and Yamada is the guy singularly responsible for this format war. He's the guy won won't let Toshiba compromise.

I think there is enough blame to go around to all the mega corperations involved in this. The tift started years ago when certain companies left the DVD group and it has snow balled as everyone in the industry has taken sides. While I am sympathetic to [X position] I think the conclusion is a forgone conclusion. If [X position] had players and media on the market this fall they may have been able to push the issue. Now? Well, regardless of the merits of either technology I think the eventual winner between the two formats is pretty clear. The question in my mind is whether it will excel and if the consumer base is there for adoption.

Time answers all these questions. Until then we can blame everyone for this mess

 

[Bad_Boy]

kinda OT: but, i always wondered why sony allowed region free umd games (really up to the devs, but i havent seen any problems), but doesnt allow region free umd movies/music.

 

[threepac3]

I don't believe it was hollywood . Honestly if u look at box office the united states of america (not north america just the usa) makes up over 1/3rd the box office for thier product .

I'm sure it was Hollywood that ask for region coding in the first place, just like they did for most of the other movie protection schemes. This is what the origional poster mean't when he said that Hollywood would be disappointed enough to leave the [DVD] group.

 

[Mefisutoferesu]

Man this is OLD news guys, even slashdot old ;p

My only hope is that this move pushes blu-ray to do the same and we see an end to region coding all together. I really really fear next gen gaming with the way things are... if they drop region coding I can save some money and it'll be easier for me to buy various regioned movies. Besides, the world economy is coming sooner or later, may as well prepare, no? Especially in lieu of the internet.

 

[PC-Engine]

Considering that TW and Disney is on the steering committee, I don't think this is a desparate move on behalf of HD DVD supporters. I really don't know why some are saying this was Toshiba's sole idea when they only have one vote and the steering committee is made of 20 votes. Here are the SC members:

http://www.dvdforum.org/about-steering.htm

Don't know how some can spin HD DVD being region free into something horrible.

 

[JF_Aidan_Pryde]

Anyone know if Bluray will be region free?

 

[threepac3]

Anyone know if Bluray will be region free?

As of now it is region codedl...

 

[London Geezer]

Anyone know if Bluray will be region free?

It's region coded and it will be a bitch to override (like we do today with DVDs), having seen all the kinds of security blocks and internet updates the players will supposedly be using.
Still, HDDVD being region free will hardly help it with Hollywood. The consumers will love it, but if half the movies are released for it, it can be region free all you want, people will still buy the format with ALL the movies available for it (or close enough). At the moment that's Bluray.
Now Hollywood might not like the region-free idea at all (they were the ones pushing for it in the first place, for obvious reasons), so what if they just decide to abandon it altogether? So HDDVD is region free, but it's also movies-free!
People put up with DVD region coding because they could get thousands of movies on it (people buying imports are hardly relevant compared to the people buying their own region versions, even in the UK).

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Who's decision is it to drop region encoding from HDDVD? I'd have thought Toshiba would be following the requirements of their movie partners. I agree with LB's evaluation of what RE means to the business and don't see this as a good thing for HDDVD, but I'm confused as to how this can happen and be contrary to the wishes of the film studios supporting HDDVD.

 

[PC-Engine]

people will still buy the format with ALL the movies available for it (or close enough). At the moment that's Bluray.

Not too sure about people NOT buying HD DVD because it "only" has 3 studios supporting it. If the players/burners/blank media become cheap enough, people will buy it regardless. Also if you have read the AVS Forum thread, HD DVD seems to have a lot of advantages over BR now like 30GB movies using VC-1/MPEG4 vs 25GB BR movies using MPEG2. Read the AVS thread if you think HD DVD won't have a strong showing next year. I've been reading the threads here on B3D about BR/HD DVD and it's amazing the amount of half truths some individuals are posting here compared to what they post at AVS. I guess at AVS they get called on it by the experts vs here where FUD runs rampant. Oh btw ALL but ONE of the studios favored iHD over BD-J. iHD has better capabilites period.

but I'm confused as to how this can happen and be contrary to the wishes of the film studios supporting HDDVD.

Contrary to the wishes? Do you know something we don't?

 

[Powderkeg]

I'm sure it was Hollywood that ask for region coding in the first place, just like they did for most of the other movie protection schemes. This is what the origional poster mean't when he said that Hollywood would be disappointed enough to leave the [DVD] group.

Yes, Hollywood was one of the major reasons region encoding exists, but Hollywood has had to radically re-think their distribution processes lately. Box Office income is way way down, and DVD sales are slumping pretty badly, Hollywood is hurting (Mostly due to releasing crappy movies IMO) They are considering releasing future movies in the theaters, on cable/satellite, and on DVD all at the same time, or within weeks of each other instead of months. Getting rid of region encoding may very well be their idea, in hopes that it helps boost the sales of optical movie media.

 

[PC-Engine]

Yes, Hollywood was one of the major reasons region encoding exists, but Hollywood has had to radically re-think their distribution processes lately. Box Office income is way way down, and DVD sales are slumping pretty badly, Hollywood is hurting (Mostly due to releasing crappy movies IMO) They are considering releasing future movies in the theaters, on cable/satellite, and on DVD all at the same time, or within weeks of each other instead of months. Getting rid of region encoding may very well be their idea, in hopes that it helps boost the sales of optical movie media.

Ba..ba..bingo...