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Sony Calls Current Blu-ray/HD DVD Format War a 'Stalemate

Posted by Zonk on from the feeling-a-touch-insecure dept.

unger814 writes "Sony CEO Howard Stringer says that Blu-ray and HD DVD are currently in a 'stalemate' and is 'playing down the importance of the battle.' Stringer addressed a crowd at Manhattan's 92nd Street Y cultural center Thursday, where he said that 'it was a matter of prestige' which format wins. Stringer pointed to the switch by Paramount from producing movies in both formats to only HD DVD as a turning point. 'We were trying to win on the merits, which we were doing for a while, until Paramount changed sides,' Stringer said."

6 of 547 comments (clear)

  1. If Sony's calling it a stalemate... by TFer_Atvar · · Score: 5, Informative

    If Sony's calling it a stalemate, then HD-DVD is already ahead. If all Sony can manage with it's PR department is to call the situation a "stalemate," then HD-DVD likely ahead in real terms. Incidentally, I just conducted an informal, non-scientific poll here in the office. Of 20+ people, only two had heard of Blu-Ray. Half had heard of HD-DVD, but almost all were able to figure out what it was by the name alone. It makes me think that HD-DVD has an advantage just because of its name.

  2. Re:Chess by mgblst · · Score: 4, Informative

    In chess, if you know you're going to win (which is often the case, sometimes several moves before it happens), it's customary to offer a draw out of courtesy, rather than to drag out the inevitable.


    What a load of drivel. If this was true, then nobody would ever win a game of chess...yes, that would be exciting, wouldn't it.
  3. Re:Not sure what he means. by mgblst · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wow, didn't really think this was even in question, I thought everybody new this.

    http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/high-definition/news/toshiba-welcomes-paramount-hd-dvd-deal?articleid=734466306

    First link that came up in google for "toshiba paramount deal"

    This is just the cost of doing business.

  4. The Blu-ray Advantage by essinger · · Score: 5, Informative

    Blu-ray has, right now, a 50gb to 30gb advantage. That's pretty significant. Blu-ray has the potential for 100gb and hd-dvd might be able to get 50gb. Those extra gigs could be put towards quailty or quanity. Consumers might care, or they might not.

    But if you want to point to something that blu-ray has that consumers will care about, it's the Sony catalog. It is huge. And the crown jewel is the entire James Bond collection. Joe Six-pack WILL want to see those on his player.

  5. Re:It's actually worse than that by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Who modded this insightful?

    The laser diodes are identical for both BluRay and HD-DVD.

    Too bad there isn't a (-1, Wrong)...

  6. 1920x1080 video does fit on a DVD9... by trdrstv · · Score: 4, Informative

    Of course it can't be because a movie with six times (1920x1080 as opposed to 720x480) as many pixels can't fit on 8.5GB.

    Actually it can. The issue is (using the VC-1 Codec) it can only contain ~83 minutes of it, which discounts most "non-animated made for TV movies".