Warner Expects Huge High-Def DVD Sales

[Dmon4u]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188256,00.html

Highlights:

LOS ANGELES — Warner Home Video on Thursday said it expects motion picture industry sales of next-generation DVDs to reach as much as $750 million in the last quarter of this year, which will include their first holiday sales season.

"From October to December, we expect at least $250 million to possibly as much as $750 million in sales industrywide," said Steve Nickerson, senior vice president of market management for Warner Home Video, which plans to release its first three titles on April 18 in HD DVD format, championed by Toshiba Corp.

Warner Home Video is a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX).
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Nickerson said Warner Home Video was forecasting industry-wide sales of next-generation DVDs of $35 million to $40 million in April to September, as electronics makers and studios begin to release the next-generation DVD players and movies.

In disclosing Warner's forecast for the fourth quarter, Nickerson attributed the wide range to uncertainty regarding home penetration of Sony's PlayStation 3, which is expected to launch in November with a Blu-ray drive, and Microsoft Corp's (MSFT) Xbox 360 game console, which he said is expected eventually to have an HD DVD add-on drive.

"This is a new format and we're using a lot of new technologies. We wanted to make sure that with all of these new things that the product is right," he said.

[bferr1]

From DVD file:
http://dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5364

You’ll recall that Warner has declared that it will publish in both formats, so we also have confirmation that the studio will introduce it first Blu-ray Disc titles on May 23rd, which is Sony’s target date for its first releases, and Samsung’s target date for its BD-1000 Blu-ray Disc player.

I thought I read somewhere that Warner expected to release BDs starting in July. Has this changed?

[dialog_gvf]

I don't understand why Warner would release BD titles into such a small launch. Even they say only 150K standalones through the end of the year. It seems to contradict their reasons for choosing to support BD to begin with, that is, the feeling the PS/3 forced them to.

While there is no PS/3 Warner is free to hold off and be consistent with their strategies.

It would be telling if they do go to the trouble and expense of getting titles out for May 23.

Gary

[bferr1]

If it's true, then they would be ahead of schedule for BD titles and behind schedule for HD DVD. Very telling, indeed... if it's true.

[nyg]

Yeah, when exactly will be see the first Warner BDs? ;)

[Grubert]

[QUOTE=n2blu]Yeah, when exactly will be see the first Warner BDs? ;)[/QUOTE]


[...]
You’ll recall that Warner has declared that it will publish in both formats, so we also have confirmation that the studio will introduce its first Blu-ray Disc titles on May 23rd, which is Sony’s target date for its first releases, and Samsung’s target date for its BD-1000 Blu-ray Disc player. Alas, the $1,000 Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player won’t be available until July. But despite the significant lead times, both Sony Style and Amazon have begun to accept pre-orders for the Sony player.
[...]



http://dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5364

[Earz]

If this gets confirmed and the Warner titles are released on 5-23-06, it would be the equivalent of Warner not only sticking a knife in hd dvd's back, but also twisting that knife at least 180 degrees.
I had also read July for the Blu Ray Warner titles before this.

[dialog_gvf]

I'll believe it when I see the SKUs go up. Not a moment before.

Fool me 42 times, shame on ... ???

Gary

[Brent Madden]

$750 million in sales. They need to put down the pipe.

[Jonathan Teller]

I believe the quote was "250-750 million industry wide " which I take to mean as ALL HD-DVD and Blu-ray sales, not just WB's. That number could happen if there is enough content available for the holiday season.

Jon