Tech Titans Prepare to Battle Over Next DVD Format

securitas writes "The New York Times Technology has an excellent feature by Ken Belson about the coming battle over the next-generation DVD format that consumer electronics and technology giants are already preparing for. The article covers the (high-definition) HD DVD group, led by Toshiba and NEC, and the Blu-ray Group, led by Sony and Matsushita (Panasonic/JVC). Mass production is expected to begin in 2005, but both sides are expected to show prototypes and aggresively pursue partners at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. Add to the mix a nine-company Chinese faction that says it will develop its own DVD format because - fearing their technology could be used by Chinese rivals - the Japanese manufacturers haven't shared much information, even within the DVD Forum. Finally, Disney, Microsoft, IBM and Intel have yet to weigh in. The worst thing that could happen would be another Betamax/VHS-type war. In that case, 'Everyone is a loser, particularly Hollywood studios, the retailer community and, most importantly, the consumer,' says Warren N. Lieberfarb, developer of the original DVD format."

Comments

How About

[PakProtector]

Instead of choosing a format for the discs, we all agree on a common method of storing the data instead of the medium so I can plug my XYZ Toilet Paper Tube Reader into my computer and read off the 10 gigs of data it holds with the same codec as I use for that latest game release on the 'Finger in the Nose' reader?

*sigh*

[Jugalator]

Isn't this why organizations with a commercial interest shouldn't be involved in deciding upon standards? Because they will obviously want to get what they want, and there's usually more than one will involved. It isn't a constructive battle for a format either, and the best format isn't necessarily victorious.

I wonder what the purpose of the DVD Forum was again?

1. To establish a single format for each DVD application product, including revisions, improvements and enhancements for the benefit of consumers and users

2. To promote broad acceptance of DVD products on a worldwide basis, including the entertainment, consumer electronics and IT industries as well as the general public.

Ooh, I see... :-P

Re:How are the media companies losers

[saden1]

Everyone is a loser ass the article said, especially the studios. Not only do they have to pay royalties to both factions but they bare the cost of supporting two format (3 if you add the chines). I mean, they'll be looking at having three difference partners producing different types of media disks instead of one.

In reality the big problem is the fact that all these factions want to make money on royalties so they have not incentive to work together. All these companies see is their bottom line and they definitely want their format adopted. I really would love to see royalty free DVDs and it seems the Chinese want the same thing to. If I was a studio executive or a some manufacturer I'd support the Chinese.

Re:How are the media companies losers

[squiggleslash]

Region encoding on current DVDs is optional. If the media companies thought it was in their best interests to press just one DVD, they'd do it.

Unfortunately, they don't think it's in the best interests. Now, to me, that's plain idiotic because leaving aside any stuff about just pressing one DVD (which isn't actually that practical as someone else points out - you'd want slightly different DVDs for different markets because of language and censorship differences), there's the not-insignificant issue that region encoding promotes piracy: because someone can't get the movie they want, or version of the movie they want, in their region, they're more likely to get a pirate copy that's region-free.

But MPAA, etc, members have never been terribly bright on the issue. Given the choice between screwing their own customers, and reducing piracy, they'd rather go for the former.

My family sent me a BBC DVD of "Have I got News for You" this Christmas, which I watched on my de-regioned PowerBook. I'm still trying to work out the logic of region encoding it - this is a disc of no interest whatsoever to people outside of Britain other than ex-pats, and ex-pats are not a large enough market to make it remotely likely a foreign publisher would see any value in buying their region's rights. So instead of the BBC making money from ex-pat sales, they're basicly ensuring that, beyond a few technically orientated people like me, nobody will be able to watch the DVD who wasn't able to see it on TV in the first place.

Mindless. Utterly stunningly mindless.

What this will come down to...

[Chordonblue]

Will be something like this:

- A more technologically advanced format (and more expensive). I deem this to be Blu-Ray since the discs need casing and it needs a dual head assembly for compatability.

Versus

- A less technologically advanced standard (but less expensive). This would probably be HD-DVD.

You've seen this movie before haven't you? I know I have. Guess who usually wins? I would bet on HD-DVD at this point. Blu-Ray might find a niche in data backups and the like however.

At any rate, you Slashdotters out there, for one reason or another, will probably champion one of these formats. It's kind of like that +R/-R DVD argument (tastes great/less filling), except that there are far less differences between those formats than these new HD DVDs.

Re:Next Gen DVD specs to stop/slow copying...

[mabhatter654]

I never understood why they didn't simply build decoding circiutry in to PC dvd players to start with! Then the drive could "show" the movie to the PC as a firewire video input? [obviously downsampled!] and be "remote controlled" by the PC without the actual movie data ever being "in" the PC. I never understood why consumer electronics wasn't more PC friendly in that department...if I could control my DVD player as a firewire or USB device and simply patch the video directly into my monitor most users that simply want to watch movies on a computer would be more than happy...and much of the "piracy" issues would be convienently "forgotten" about!

On another note, a similar idea is the BIOS level CD/DVD players some media PCs shiped with earlier this year...great idea to let consumers watch movies and music, but keep it "seperate" from the actual PC! And very Linux friendly for both sides!

Re:How are the media companies losers

[squiggleslash]

The reason most DVD's are region encoded is that companies (like the BBC) have distribution agreements in place for the whole world with various companies or subsidiaries.

I'm well aware of that.

Just because the program in question is unlikely to be of interest outside the UK doesn't automatically allow the BBC to shirk their contractual obligations.

If you're saying the BBC has a contractual arrangement that includes programmes they haven't made yet (ie "Everything we ever make you can sell exclusively in Region 1"), then I repeat my comment that the BBC is completely, totally, and utterly nuts. By agreeing to this type of contract, they've ensured that they cannot gain revenue for products that will not sell to a substantial market outside of the UK.

If you're saying the BBC made a contractual arrangement for HIGNFY, then my comment stands without needing further clarification.

Very few companies sign away global distribution rights on anuthing, so region coding plays right into that structure.

Most companies issue regional rights on a product-by-product basis. I'd like to see WB, Fox, Universal, et al sign a contract with a third party whereby that third-party can sell anything whatsoever they want in another region. If this is truly the agreement the BBC is made, they're a bigger bunch of arses than I gave them credit for.