The name of the future CEO will appear on the listClearly leaving adolescence to adulthoodThe exchanges were extraordinarily rewardingSo in Ovalie all is not well in the best worldsFear of new social plansIt is a big questionIn compliance with Community rules of course This trilogy does not resolve the difficulty60 dollar as in spring 2008 and was on a return to 1The crisis has certainly stretched budgetsHowever the France 2010 budget to devote that 0They must save Hollywood piracy would video editing market, and offer to lovers of the images of a quality never seen. However, five months after their appearance on American soil, new DVD players high definition are still well shy. A few cables Studios, a small walk in specialty San Francisco stores is sufficient to discourage the more techie consumers. CompUSA, one of two large surfaces electronics and computer science from the city centre, offers no drive. And when the aircraft is at CircuitCity, vendors who disappointed by their lack of knowledge of the formats in the presence, HD DVD and Blu - ray. On the Amazon site, the comments of consumers reveal a general sense: still wait before investing.
The main uncertainty is the strategy followed by the studios and consumer electronics manufacturers. Instead of starting all together, as they had done at the time of the DVD, the major players have failed to agree on a single technology and formed two distinct camps and, for the time being, incompatible.
On the one hand, the HD DVD format combines including Toshiba, Universal and Microsoft. On the other, the Blu - ray format among other brings Sony, MGM and 20th Century Fox. Two enemy formats, but the same promise: "these new formats are net benefits for the consumer, in particular a better resolution of the image and sound and greater data storage capacity," explains Sean Wargo, Director of industry research for the Consumer Electronics Association.
"Fatal error".
For the studios, the arrival of the DVD high-definition is a duty. After ten years of uninterrupted growth, the current DVD shows signs of weakening. In the United States, DVD and VHS sales and rentals fell last year by 1.1, 23,84 billion even if the DVD has continued to grow 4.5. In France, in the first half, consumers spent EUR 684 million in purchases of recorded video, representing a decrease of 11.1. The film industry thus has any interest to find a growth relay to the DVD. And, at the time where viewers have invested in the first TV high definition and discover the first programs, recorded video market should follow the movement.
In the United States as in Europe, where the first plates should arrive towards the end of the month, the launch of these new media nevertheless evokes enthusiasm moderate on the part of editors. "At present, it is very difficult to position themselves to any one of two formats, Pierre Brossard, TF1 video, which will emerge no disk high definition this year." It is a fatal error to leave with two formats, for manufacturers, but also for publishers. Because consumers do not know how to do, so they will postpone the decision to purchase. This confrontation will slow the penetration of the high-definition DVD.
Even for Studio Canal, who announced 30 titles on HD DVD by the end of the year, the situation is not so clear as that. "We have not chosen one format over another," explains Rodolphe Buet, General Manager Assistant, commercial and marketing, Studio Canal. In fact, we have not sought actively by the proponents of the Blu - ray, which focus on the American studios. The war of the formats does not concern us.
Hollywood movies
In early times, regardless of the format, the offer will essentially consist of American films. Universal, for example, to launch nine titles in HD DVD format on 5 December, from Hollywood. A strategy that allows to be present in all European countries, and therefore limit the risks. "We expect an implementation of the order of best 20,000 for all nine titles," explains Pauline Grimaldi of Esdra, General Director of Universal Pictures video France. It is unlikely, but it is to forecast sales of HD DVD players. "By way of comparison, the same editor expects to sell more than 700,000 video DVD of"King Kong ".
Warner, who has chosen to support both HD DVD and Blu - ray will feature 18 films before the end of the year. "Most will be available in two formats, explains Philippe Bastard de Crisnay, Director General of Warner Home Video France." Startup will be probably less rapid than at the time of the DVD, since to enjoy high definition, you need to equip (...) a TV that allows.
The PS3, weapon expected
And, as a first step, it will also require finding readers. Toshiba, main proponent of HD DVD, announces launch in early November on the France, the United Kingdom and the Germany, and expects to sell initially pattern 10,000 per month on these three countries combined. Side Blu - Ray, the first available drive will come from Panasonic, to the market later this month. Sold 1,600 euros, it will be a device for high-end, although more expensive than the first group DVD readers, marketed in 1997 less than 1,000 euros. "We believe selling 5,000 by the end of the year," said Laurent Abadie, CEO of Panasonic France. Samsung should follow in early November, with a player sold about 1,200 euros.
But the most anticipated Blu - ray product is not a fair player. It is Sony's PlayStation3 game console. The machine sold from 500 euros, will incorporate DVD Blu - ray player, making it the least expensive product in the market. Because, in-game video, manufacturers sell to loss their console for then to catch up on the sale of games. But the Japanese group comes to postpone the release of his machine in Europe. Originally scheduled for the month of November, PS3 arrives on the Continent in next March.
A delay does not prevent the Fox studios to announce the release of eight titles at the global level for the month of November. All Blu - ray format. "We consider the HD DVD as a format of transition, while the storage capacity of Blu - ray discs in fact a format for the future, said Vincent Marcais, Vice President of marketing for Fox Home Entertainment International." In this war of formats, the launch of the PlayStation3 will be very important. "Because the Japanese and American markets will play a decisive role. "Our devices are released in priority in the United States, because, in contrast to Europe, it is a country where the screens are very large and very poor image quality," said Hubert Boüan du Chef du Bos, marketing director of Philips Consumer Electronics France. The Dutch manufacturer will emerge a salon Blu - ray player in the United States in October, but does not plan to launch in Europe before the beginning of next year. In the meantime, the Blu - ray offer is limited to a Media Center PC.
Victory or coexistence
Some analysts looking for the victory of this format. This is the case of Ted Schadler, Vice President of analyst firm Forrester Research: "I still predict a success of the Blu - ray to HD DVD, as I anticipated a year ago." Certainly, competition has become more sophisticated, and changes have taken place. But our premises remain valid: Blu - ray has the support of electronic producers, studios, and is characterized by better protection technology. "Others build on a temporary coexistence"until solutions compatible with the formats appear at an affordable price", said Helen Davis Jayalath, firm Screen Digest (see next page).
For the time being, no manufacturer has announced model able to read both HD DVD and Blu - ray. This complex environment, and the risk of having to re-equip for victory of one format on the other, the viewers could turn to video on demand or satellite HD bouquets. According to the firm iSuppli, 800,000 readers or recorders high definition should be marketed in 2006 in the world, and 6.2 million in 2007. A drop of water to the classical DVD turntables, which should elapse to 162,3 million units in 2006.
