OFFCIAL Blu-ray and HD-DVD release dates/titles

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#off

(LATE UPDATE - 1/4/06 - 2 PM PST)

We've gotten additional information from Sony on their initial line-up of Blu-ray Disc titles. Here are the relevant paragraphs on the first titles due to be available in stores this Spring "in conjunction with hardware manufacturers' delivery of the first Blu-ray Disc products at retail" from the studio's press release:

"The first slate of BD titles encompasses a diverse mix of genres including The Fifth Element, in multichannel uncompressed audio Bram Stoker's Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight's Tale, Kung Fu Hustle, The Last Waltz, Legends of the Fall, Resident Evil Apocalypse, Robocop, Sense and Sensibility, Stealth, Species, SWAT and XXX. Black Hawk Down and The Bridge on the River Kwai will also be available on 50 GB, dual-layer Blu-ray Discs Summer 2006."

"In addition to 1920x1080p HD master quality, consumers will benefit from Blu-ray Disc's immense improvements over current DVD technology including enhanced menu navigation, increased added-value and new interactive capabilities."

"Commencing Summer 2006, SPHE will begin adding bonus BD Java games, and other anticipated features, to new release titles including Underworld Evolution that will street day-and-date with DVD. The studio announced it will also deliver four catalog titles per month beginning this Summer, accelerating to 10 titles per month by the fourth quarter 2006. Also being readied for Summer release is the complete television series of sci-fi favorite, Stargate Atlantis, in high-definition."

By the way, we have additional information for you today on the expected street dates for some major upcoming REGULAR DVD releases. You'll find that in The Rumor Mill now. Think Harry Potter, Good Night and Good Luck, etc.

We expect the HD-DVD camp to start announcing their initial format launch titles later tonight or early tomorrow. We'll try to get the details posted before we leave for Vegas (if they're available early enough). If not, definitely when we get back we'll have it all for you.

Stay tuned...

(EARLY UPDATE - 1/4/06 - 12:30 PM PST)

Well... we all knew this was coming. BIG HD format news!

On the eve of the opening of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (tomorrow), Toshiba has revealed that it expects to debut the first commercial HD-DVD players here in the States in March. Two models will be available, the HD-XA1 (expected retail price $799) and the HD-A1 ($499). No kidding - the first generation of HD-DVD players will be priced at WELL under $1,000. You can check our Toshiba's official HD-DVD website here (not much there yet, but stay tuned).

Meanwhile, Sony has yet to make its own official launch announcement (as of Noon Pacific on 1/4), but we're hearing that its first Blu-ray Disc players may be available "as early as March." Samsung has announced their first Blu-ray Disc player for "early spring": the BD-P1000 (SRP $1,000). You can see photos of many prototype 1st generation Blu-ray Disc players here.

On the software front, a number of the Hollywood movie studios have begun announcing initial slates of titles they expect to have ready for release on each format. More than 70 Blu-ray Disc titles are expected initially, with hundreds more planned for release by the end of the year. HD-DVD titles are expected to be announced later today and this week. Here's what we know as of this moment:

Blu-ray Disc

20th Century Fox - 20 titles are expected to be ready for format launch, including Fantastic Four, Behind Enemy Lines, Kiss of the Dragon, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Ice Age and some 15 others. Fox also is preparing "two sci-fi titles to be announced later" for release on 50GB dual-layer discs (I'll bet one of the Alien films, and maybe ID4). Fox is exclusively supporting Blu-ray Disc.

Sony (MGM) - 20+ titles are expected for launch including xXx, Hitch, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Fifth Element, Legends of the Fall, House of Flying Daggers, The Fifth Element, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Desperado, For a Few Dollars More, The Guns of Navarone, A Knight's Tale, Kung Fu Hustle, The Last Waltz, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Robocop, Sense and Sensibility, Stealth, Species and SWAT. All will be 25GB single-layer releases. Black Hawk Down and The Bridge on the River Kwai will be available later in the year (by summer) as 50GB dual-layer releases. It's also been revealed that Underworld Evolution will be released day-and-date with regular DVD later in 2006. Sony is exclusively supporting Blu-ray Disc.

Paramount - Revealed that it will release the same titles on BOTH HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc in 2006. 10 titles are expected for launch under the "Paramount High Definition" banner, including Sahara, Aeon Flux, The Italian Job, Four Brothers, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers and The Manchurian Candidate. It's also been revealed that Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible 2 and Mission: Impossible 3 will all be released by the end of the year. You can bet Star Trek titles are on deck for 2006 as well.

Buena Vista/Disney - No specific announcements made yet. Buena Vista/Disney is exclusively supporting Blu-ray Disc.

Warner Bros. - No specific announcements made yet. Warner Bros has announced plans to support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc, but may favor HD-DVD at least initially.

New Line - No specific announcements made yet. New Line is likely to support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc, but may favor HD-DVD at least initially.

HBO - No specific announcements made yet. HBO is likely to support both HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc, but may favor HD-DVD at least initially.

Lionsgate - 10 titles are expected for launch including Lord of War, The Punisher, The Devil's Rejects, Saw, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Frank Herbert's Dune and Rambo: First Blood. See No Evil will be the studio's first day-and-date title later in 2006. Lionsgate is exclusively supporting Blu-ray Disc.

HD-DVD

Warner Bros. - Titles are expected to be announced late Wednesday, but should include Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Batman Begins and Friends. Warner is likely to support Blu-ray Disc as well with at least some titles.

New Line - Announcements expected soon, but MAY include The Lord of the Rings (all three films) and Se7en. New Line is likely to support Blu-ray Disc as well with at least some titles.

Paramount - Revealed that it will release the same titles on BOTH HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc in 2006. 10 titles are expected for launch under the "Paramount High Definition" banner, including Sahara, Aeon Flux, The Italian Job, Four Brothers, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, U2: Rattle and Hum, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, We Were Soldiers and The Manchurian Candidate. It's also been revealed that Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible 2 and Mission: Impossible 3 will all be released by the end of the year. You can bet Star Trek titles are on deck for 2006 as well.

HBO - Band of Brothers and From the Earth to the Moon are among the titles expected. HBO is likely to support Blu-ray Disc as well with at least some titles.

Universal - Peter Jackson's King Kong is almost certain to be among the initial offerings. Look for The Bourne Supremacy and several others to be announced as well. Universal has not announced plans to support Blu-ray Disc.

As you can see, these lists are still very incomplete, as announcements are still being made and the news is pouring in. I'll be leaving for CES tonight, and will be there both tomorrow and Friday, so when I get back I'll bring you all the final announced details, along with lots of photographs of hardware, etc. In the meantime, you can read more here (via Yahoo and The Hollywood Reporter), here (via DVD Exclusive) and here (via InternetNews).

Obviously, since I'll be at CES tomorrow and Friday, odds are The Bits will be dark (although I MIGHT try to make a remote update from the show floor if the opportunity permits - it's unlikely given how busy I'll be, but you never know). However, as soon as I get back from the show, I'll work diligently to get our coverage posted ASAP, along with my thoughts on what I've seen. So DEFINITELY watch this space.

Stay tuned...

Both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will be able to play regular dvds. Stop sweating.

UPDATE

Okay... this is going to be my last post until I get back from CES this weekend. As I said, I may check in on Friday with a few thoughts if I can find the time to do so, but otherwise, watch for my full CES report on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

That said, we've got some MAJOR stuff in THIS update, so pour yourself some coffee and let's have at it.

First of all, we have now learned that Sony is planning on launching their Blu-ray Disc format in "early Summer." We've been hearing rumors that May '06 is currently the targeted time-frame for the launch of Sony's PS3, which will be a Blu-ray Disc based device. Pioneer's first Blu-ray Disc player is expected to arrive in stores in June (the BDP-HD1, for a whopping $1,800 - click here), while Philips has announced that its first Blu-ray Disc player will arrive "in the second half of 2006" (click here). Word is there will be no official PS3 announcement at the show, but we do expect to learn more Blu-ray launch details from Sony. I'm meeting with Sony reps on Friday, so we'll see.

So based on Toshiba's announcements earlier today, it appears that the HD-DVD format will get out of the gate first starting in March, several months ahead of Blu-Ray Disc (which has become, in the eyes of many industry analysts, the odds-on favorite of the two competing formats).

Of the announcements made so far, what's most interesting to me is Toshiba's apparent loss-leader pricing strategy for HD-DVD hardware, with their initial players expected to sell for $799 and $499 respectively (see our first post yesterday for more on that). The $799 price point seems rather aggressive, given that the first DVD players back in 1997 were priced at around $1,000 (and that the first high-end Blu-ray Disc players are currently expected to be priced at $1,000 and above). The $499 price point is VERY surprising, and seems to be a clear attempt to counter Sony's anticipated PS3 advantage (the PlayStation 3, which will be a Blu-ray Disc player in addition to its gaming functions, is almost certain to be priced at around $499). What's more, Microsoft has just announced that, later in 2006, it will offer an HD-DVD upgrade drive as an accessory to its new Xbox 360 game system. This would seem to indicate that Toshiba and the HD-DVD camp aren't simply going to concede the format war to Blu-ray without a major fight. Still, with ALL of the major Hollywood studios save Universal already committed to supporting Blu-ray, and with ONLY Universal, Paramount, Warner, HBO and New Line in the HD-DVD camp, HD-DVD is going to have a very tough row to hoe.

We should remind you that most (if not all) HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc players are expected to be backwards-compatible with current, standard DVD-Video discs, so there's no need to worry about your entire video libraries suddenly becoming vaporware. You can be thankful for that at least. And we expect current DVD to be the defacto standard for home video viewing for at least the next several years. After all, most consumers have only really gotten on-board regular DVD fully in the last 3-5 years or so. They're not going to be eager to upgrade again right away. What we anticipate is that regular DVD will coexist with HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc in much the same way that VHS coexisted with Laserdisc. One or both of the high-def discs (we think Blu-ray) will become the cinephile/videophile format(s) of choice, while the vast majority of average consumers will be quite happy to stick with regular DVD for years to come. Keep in mind that as most of these consumers upgrade to new widescreen/anamorphic HDTVs and multi-channel surround sound systems over the next few years, the regular DVDs they already enjoy are going to keep looking and sounding better and better. So there's no need to fear that regular DVD is going away anytime soon. It's just not going happen. Not for quite a few years yet, at least.

Ultimately, like it or not, our bet is that the home video future will be broadband, video-on-demand-style downloading of high-definition film and TV programming right to your DVR-enabled TVs, TiVos and cable boxes. I don't think pre-packaged media is going to go away completely, but I'm afraid it will eventually be the exception and not the rule. Just some thoughts, but they're worth keeping in mind amid all this talk of Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

By the way, those of you interested in getting a look at what representative Blu-ray Disc packaging is going to look like need wait no further. Here's the artwork for Sony's Hitch and House of Flying Daggers in Blu-ray format:



We expect pricing details on Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD software to emerge soon, but look for the discs to definitely carry some kind of premium over regular DVD SRPs.

Now then... we've got some last bits of HD format news for you today, and they're MAJOR. First, Warner has officially announced that it will debut an initial slate of some 24 HD-DVD releases, with the first titles arriving in stores on March 28th (meaning you can look for HD-DVD hardware to be available around then as well). Here's the complete initial HD-DVD release slate from Warner, along with their announced street dates:

3/28 - Batman Begins, Constantine, Million Dollar Baby, Phantom of the Opera, Twister

4/11 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Last Samurai, Lethal Weapon, Training Day, Unforgiven

4/25 - Goodfellas, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Matrix, Swordfish, Syriana (day and date with regular DVD)

5/9 - Blazing Saddles, Dukes of Hazzard, Full Metal Jacket, Rumor Has It (day and date), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

5/16 - Charlie & Chocolate Factory, The Green Mile: Special Edition, Ocean's Twelve, Troy

Warner has also announced that additional titles they expect to release in 2006 will include Superman Returns and Poseidon (both day and date with standard DVD), as well as TV titles, additional catalog films and more new releases throughout the year.

As part of this announcement, HBO confirmed that The Sopranos and Deadwood are among the TV offerings they expect to debut on HD-DVD later in 2006.

Also, Universal has announced that their initial March '06 slate will include 10 HD-DVD titles, among them The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Jarhead, Doom, Cinderella Man, Apollo 13, Serenity, The Chronicles of Riddick, U-571, Van Helsing and The Bourne Supremacy. The exact street dates are still TBA.

We expect that New Line will make an HD-DVD release announcement in the next few days as well. If they do, we'll post all the details as soon as we get back.

Okay, that's it for today. As I said, if I have the opportunity to make a post from the CES show floor, I'll drop in on Friday with that. Otherwise, check back Saturday night or Sunday morning for our complete CES report, with lots of pictures and more.

Stay tuned!

Sure it would be a lot cooler... it'd also be cooler if I got a killer blow job from Scarlett Johanssen. Guess what? Both scenarios will only ever exist in the mind.

New technology is inevitable, so it's nonsense to cry about it. Try to look at the glass as half full. It's always expensive at the beginning, obviously, everything new is. And you don't have to adopt right away. Wait a year or two, then as prices become more reasonable, both on new players and larger HDTVs, then adopt. My guess is, within two years, you'll be able to purchase a new player and 34inch or larger HDTV for under 1,000 bucks.

And I've heard you CAN tell the difference between dvd and HD-DVD/Blu-ray on smaller sets. Of course if you have a 19-24 inch set, you probably wouldn't be able to tell (unless you were a technophile), but this technology is obviously not geared toward people with smaller sets. Isn't the whole point of MORE resolution to make larger sets not seem like you're looking through the kitchen blinds? Of course you need a larger set to appreciate the difference, that's what it's intended to do. The whole point is to replicate the theater experience at home. Large, clear image, great sound, etc... So guess what? You gotta get the larger set if you wanna take advantage. Not right away, but eventually, cause eventually dvd goes the way of the dodo.

I think people are way too bend outta shape so soon... give this stuff time.

UPDATE

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Morning, Bits-ers! So how was YOUR weekend? As interesting and exhausting as mine, I wonder? You know Vegas... tough little town. It's been known to kick a few butts, and it whopped mine but good. CES is a fun but brutal experience. If you've never been to the Consumer Electronics Show, let me just tell you that it's SO big and so spread out, you couldn't see the whole thing in a week's time, much less two days. Thankfully, I was only there to check out Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD... and check them out I did.

We've got lots of coverage on the way for you, starting with pictures from the show. As often happens, it took me a little longer than expected to go through all of the pics I took at CES. I literally filled up my camera's memory card during the two days I was at the show, so it took a while to select the best images for you - the stuff I knew all of you were dying to see. Then I had to format them all for web viewing and get them uploaded to the site. You know the drill, it's a lot of work.

But it's finally done. Just as the clock strikes twelve here on the Pacific shore, I've uploaded our CES 2006 image gallery for your viewing pleasure. There are more than 50 images from the show floor to feast your eyes upon, including pictures of the Blu-ray Disc Association and HD-DVD booths, as well as shots of forthcoming gear from Sony, Pioneer, Toshiba, Panasonic and lots more. We've got images of Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD players coming out our ears, along with your first look at actual disc packaging for both formats. There's plenty to see, and it all comes complete with commentary from yours truly.

I'll be back later this afternoon (and I'm talking Monday now) with more comments about what I saw at the show, including my editorial thoughts on both high-definition formats. Plus, I even had the chance to sit down with Andy Parsons, senior vice president at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc, for a one-on-one discussion on all things Blu (as in -ray Disc). So watch for that in the next day or two as well.

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures and we'll see you back here later today. Stay tuned...!

1/8/06

Okay... I'm back from CES, I've had some time to rest and recover, and now I've got lots of stuff to start sharing with all of you. A full report on the show is coming, along with lots of pictures and even an interview. I'm going to start with the pictures first. I've begun formatting them all and I expect to start posting them later this afternoon. Some good stuff - lots of hardware, final HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc packaging, and plenty of shots from the show floor. Check back in a couple hours for those.

I'll have lots more to say later this evening and tomorrow, but let me just tell you this much now: the buzz at CES 2006 was all about Blu-ray Disc. For virtually everyone I spoke with, from hardware reps to studio execs to random, run-of-the-mill attendees on the convention floor, Blu-ray had people talking. I have to tell you this as well: Having seen all the displays, talked the tech and kicked the tires a little bit, Blu-ray Disc has me genuinely excited again - more than I've been in a long while, since back in the early days of DVD, when Divx finally threw in the towel and our current favorite home video format really took off. That was when we first started to see the first of those really great, in-depth DVD special editions, when all of the studios were targeting their releases towards serious film enthusiasts, and so were going out of their way to make each of their discs special. Now of course, most of the discs we get are cookie-cutter, marketing committee produced editions, designed to maximize profit and minimize the fun.

Well... I'm betting that Blu-ray Disc is going to bring a little of that fun back again.

But more on that later. For now, it's back to work for me on getting those pictures posted. So check back in a few hours for that.

See you then!

IMAGE GALLERY

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