Die Bombe ist geplatzt: noch vor dem Start der CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas hat Warner in den USA bekanntgegeben, dass sie ab sofort nur noch exklusiv auf die Blu-Ray Disc setzen und (vorerst) nur noch bis Mai 2008 HD-DVD Scheiben produzieren werden.
Ohne die Unterstützung des wohl mit größten Filmstudios Hollywoods ist die Zukunft der HD-DVD damit wohl so gut wie besiegelt.
Nur Paramount und Universal setzen zur Zeit noch exklusiv auf HD-DVD. Bisher sind noch keine weiteren Reaktionen dieser Studios bzw. auch der Hardware-Industrie erfolgt. Mit dieser Entscheidung dürfte Warner wohl aber das entscheidende Zünglein an der Waage spielen.
UPDATE: Die HD-DVD-Group und Toshiba haben den für Sonntag geplanten HD-DVD Großevent auf der CES abgesagt, um auf die Ankündigung von Warner zu reagieren. Man untersucht vor allem, ob Warner damit einen Vertragsbruch begeht. Weitere Reaktionen sind bisher nicht bekannt. Es ist aber anzunehmen, dass die HD-DVD-Group schnell auf die Situation reagieren wird/muss.
Hier ist der offizielle Text von Warner:
WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE ITS HIGH-DEFINITION DVD TITLES EXCLUSIVELY IN THE BLU-RAY DISC FORMAT BEGINNING LATER THIS YEAR
Decision Made in Response to Strong Consumer Preference for Format
(January 4, 2008 - Burbank, CA) - In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.
"Warner Bros.' move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want," said Meyer. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers."
Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008.
"Warner Bros. has produced in both high-definition formats in an effort to provide consumer choice, foster mainstream adoption and drive down hardware prices," said Jeff Bewkes, President and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc., the parent company of Warner Bros. Entertainment. "Today's decision by Warner Bros. to distribute in a single format comes at the right time and is the best decision both for consumers and Time Warner."
"A two-format landscape has led to consumer confusion and indifference toward high definition, which has kept the technology from reaching mass adoption and becoming the important revenue stream that it can be for the industry," said Tsujihara. "Consumers have clearly chosen Blu-ray, and we believe that recognizing this preference is the right step in making this great home entertainment experience accessible to the widest possible audience. Warner Bros. has worked very closely with the Toshiba Corporation in promoting high definition media and we have enormous respect for their efforts. We look forward to working with them on other projects in the future."
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