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 The High Definition DVD Studio Support Petition Campaign |
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Report says that Warner was paid $500 Million by BDA !? January 4th 2008 Report a lso says Fox was paid off, too ! We have heard today of Warner's shock move to Bluray. And we have heard some gossip in online forums that both HD DVD and Bluray had been courting Warner. But imagine how shocked we were to read a report on Format War Central that appears to give a lot more information! According to this report, Warner has been promised $500 for their support of Bluray and dropping HD DVD! Yes, that's HALF A BILLION DOLLARS!! It says that up to last week, Warner had been set to go over to the HD DVD side, and that Fox was set to go with them. We assume that this also means that MGM would have moved over to HD DVD, but no information has been given yet regarding this assumption. However, at the last moment, it is said, Fox changed their mind and accepted a hefty deal from the BDA. Warner, it is claimed, then decided that they could not go HD DVD without another studio moving with them, and then accepted a HALF BILLION DOLLAR deal from the BDA to go exclusive and drop HD DVD. The report is now appearing on other parts of the web also, like over at EngadgetHD. One poster even says it may have been as much as $620 Million! We are truly amazed and horrified at this, if true. Assuming that memorandums of understanding were in place between the companies and the HD DVD group, to have turned the tables and blindsided the HD DVD group, their supposed partners, at the last moment right before CES, is shocking. Worse, if Fox and Warner truly accepted the sums of money being indicated, then it makes a mockery of ALL of their public statements that "the consumer has chosen Bluray", in our opinion. In fact, if true,then it's our view that this is a disgusting and black day for Home Entertainment in general. A true smirch on what the industry seems to have become. Note: A report has come out tonight stating that Kevin Tsujihara at Warner denies that a "payoff" was taken by Warner. However, the another article is an online discussion Mr. Tsujihara was in, in which he curiously DID NOT deny it. He also avoided denying it to the NY Times. At this point, we find it difficult to know what to believe, as even the Sony boss declined to deny it. We would note that talk of denial appears to be being met with scepticism from those who appear to know more about the deal... Note: Other articles today appear to confirm the bidding for Warner, such as this BusinessWeek article. We suggest you consider that you let Warner know what you think of this, here... You may also choose to complain to competition authorities if these rumours have you concerned. Here is a quote of the article linked: "According to a trusted source that was close to the negotiations, Warner and FOX were working on a deal to go Exclusive to HD DVD as recent as last week. Our source tells us that Warner was only willing to go to HD DVD if FOX would go with them. Their thinking was if they just went to HD DVD by themselves, it would not end the format war. Early this week FOX was paid an undisclosed amount to remain exclusive to Blu-ray. With the FOX deal falling through, Warner had no choice but to accept the BDA’s $500 Million offer to go Blu-ray exclusive. We do wonder if FOX was just playing the HD DVD side, while having no intentions of ever switching." After you're done emailing Warner - Visit YouChoose and place your vote for HD DVD:
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