AfterDawn: News

Disney tries to give Blu-ray a headstart

Disney has announced that the animated hit Bolt will be released on Blu-ray two days before the standard DVD release, hopefully giving the HD version a jump start in sales.

The studio has not given official release dates for either version, but many believe it will be March 22nd and the 24th, respectively.



“This should give some incentive to Blu-ray fans,” added a studio exec, “this is not a strategy that will happen with every title.”

Another studio source added that the decision may cause confusion among consumers who still do not understand Blu-ray for the most part.

“Disney’s thought process is that, if we let the Blu-ray out a few days early, people will buy the Blu-ray instead of the DVD,” noted that source. “It gives Blu-ray a headstart. But there will be retailers who don’t know what’s coming out when. [Some] will probably break street date on the standard DVD.”

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Jan 2009 10:04

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• 19 comments

• MightyOne

  "Money talks and Bullsh*t walks"...i wonder how much Sony paid Disney for this "head start".
  
  Maybe its just that someone is "servicing" someone else in lieu of $$$. Either way...its a all BS. It makes me want to go download the BlueRay version for Nothing.....just because. Unfairness can be delt many ways.

  26.1.2009 10:32 #1

• Hopium

  cant wait till all the grandma's who buy this for their grandchildren start shoving blu-rays into their dvd/vcr combo players that we all got em for christmas

  26.1.2009 11:19 #2

• Ragnarok8

  Oh yay, 2 days earlier. I think I can afford to wait 2 days and save myself the difference in price.

  26.1.2009 11:19 #3

• Hunt720

  Are people really that bummed about .... BOLT??
  
  Really??
  
  Its two days... and who said Sony had anything to do with this directly? DISNEY is a BD backer too. This is their movie so they can push it on thier backed format without Sony being the culprit. People need to look up who the BD supporters are.
  
  If you really need a kids move two days earlier THAT BAD, feel free to purchas Walt Disney's Tinkerbell which is already out on DVD and should hold you over.
  
  .. Amazon has it for 23.45 and same day shipping available. ;-)

  26.1.2009 11:34 #4

• emugamer

  Quote:“This should give some incentive to Blu-ray fans,” added a studio exec, “this is not a strategy that will happen with every title.” I would need to see a price incentive. Blurays are just too much. I stopped into Circuit City last week to check on how much of a reduction in price they were starting off with for their liquidation. I checked out the Bluray section, which is a section I've never bothered to look at in B&M stores. The cheapest was $25 and the most expensive was $35. For people who don't shop online, these prices are pretty steep.
  
  Quote:“Disney’s thought process is that, if we let the Blu-ray out a few days early, people will buy the Blu-ray instead of the DVD,” noted that source. “It gives Blu-ray a headstart. But there will be retailers who don’t know what’s coming out when. [Some] will probably break street date on the standard DVD.” Yeah, if people have blu ray players. Obviously, if someone only has a DVD player, they will pass on this magnificent opportunity that the brilliant minds at Disney are bestowing upon us. Some of the people who already already have a blu ray player (and I can't speak for everyone), have already invested in HD content, so probably won't get the DVD....and won't buy the blu ray until the price comes down.
  
  Just my opinion. I personally don't upscale DVD's.

  26.1.2009 12:16 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Man as marketing tactics go that's hella week...try waiting a few months....

  26.1.2009 13:19 #6

• windsong

  People just dont care about Blu-Ray anymore. In this market, people are realizing that paying off their debts (including their mortgage) are mor important than buying expensive items. Dvd is apparently good enough.
  
  Suck it up, Disney!

  26.1.2009 13:45 #7

• bljcamel1

  I work for dis and I can assure that this is not a ploy, etc. I am sure that the co is not expecting everyone to run out and buy a bluray player or ps3 just because this mov is coming out 2 days earlier on bluray than dvd. I am sure the ps3/bluray owners won't mind, of course. Everything else ever has come out on dvd first. Not exactly breaking news type material even. :)

  26.1.2009 13:46 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by windsong: People just dont care about Blu-Ray anymore. In this market, people are realizing that paying off their debts (including their mortgage) are mor important than buying expensive items. Dvd is apparently good enough.
  
  Suck it up, Disney!BLu ray is passing DVD sales tho 0-o so BR is getting there its already passing were LD was....

  26.1.2009 13:48 #9

• bryston

  Hi,
  
  
  I am confused. Just a short while ago, accolades were that BD was just doing smashingly better that SD DVD did (the intro years). sales wer growing by leaps and bounds.
  
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/738675
  
  
  So with everything going swimmingly well, why the need to jump start sales ?
  Did I miss something ?
  
  
  Jo
  

  Life is Grand !
  
  

  26.1.2009 13:51 #10

• Tecbot

  disney is on the board of directors for blu-ray mightyone...
  
  blu-rays are cheap everywhere...a $30 new dvd vs a $35 new blu-ray ill take the clear picture vs the blurry mess they call poor mans tv now thanks.

  26.1.2009 20:10 #11

• HDNow

  Originally posted by Tecbot: disney is on the board of directors for blu-ray mightyone...
  
  blu-rays are cheap everywhere...a $30 new dvd vs a $35 new blu-ray ill take the clear picture vs the blurry mess they call poor mans tv now thanks.amazon:
  
  BluRay + SD DVD + Digital Copy - $27.99
  http://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Three-Disc-St...33020480&sr=1-1
  
  BluRay + Digital Copy - $22.99
  http://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Two-Disc-Digi...33020480&sr=1-2
  
  SD DVD Only - $20.99
  http://www.amazon.com/Bolt-Single-Disc-D...33020480&sr=1-3
  
  So for $7 more you have BOTH SD DVD AND BluRay Plus the Digital Copy. BluRay version is only $2 more than the SD DVD.

  26.1.2009 20:48 #12

• Oner

  Originally posted by bryston: Hi,
  
  
  I am confused. Just a short while ago, accolades were that BD was just doing smashingly better that SD DVD did (the intro years). sales wer growing by leaps and bounds.
  
  http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/738675
  
  
  So with everything going swimmingly well, why the need to jump start sales ?
  Did I miss something ?
  
  
  JoNo you didn't miss anything. It's just the same old Media doom & gloom rhetoric to gain hits...
  

  
  
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  26.1.2009 21:11 #13

• bryston

  Oner,
  
  thank you. Ahhh, media spin
  
  
  Jo
  

  Life is Grand !
  
  

  26.1.2009 21:17 #14

• DVDBack23

  No media spin, just an article.

  26.1.2009 21:24 #15

• Oner

  Actually you are right DVDback as this is info coming from Disney themselves. But since Bryston linked to an article here just a few 2 weeks ago or so showing the sustained increase year over year as well as BD's outpacing of DVD launch years vs launch years it seems confusing...
  
  Especially when the title used for this article on aD states "jumpstart" whereas the actual article itself says "headstart" that is quite a difference that can confuse people in itself. Even the information within the article posted here says "headstart" in it & not "jumpstart".
  
  Quote:Disney’s thought process is that, if we let the Blu-ray out a few days early, people will buy the Blu-ray instead of the DVD,” noted that source. “It gives Blu-ray a headstart. But there will be retailers who don’t know what’s coming out when. [Some] will probably break street date on the standard DVD.”
  

  
  
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  26.1.2009 21:45 #16

• DVDBack23

  Yeah I see that Oner, to me headstart and jumpstart meant the same thing...but I will edit it to avoid future confusion. We both know Blu-ray does not need a jumpstart, it is well on its way :)

  26.1.2009 22:10 #17

• Oner

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Yeah I see that Oner, to me headstart and jumpstart meant the same thing...but I will edit it to avoid future confusion. We both know Blu-ray does not need a jumpstart, it is well on its way :)I would say that it's set in stone as anything can happen (especially in these financial times). But I don't see it "failing" so to say; the worst I can see is DVD & BD holding a nice share to offer the public more options. But that is obviously opinion & not fact even if I love the clarity and audio BD provides me over DVD ;).
  

  
  
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  26.1.2009 22:18 #18

• crosseye

  People do care about BD, it's all I buy. I rent regular dvd's from netflix, but when I buy, it's strictly Blu-Ray!!
  
  Every time I come to A.D. all I see is a bunch of whiners that have an axe to grind against Sony. If you don't like Sony products don't buy them. I have all three gaming consoles, the wii for the family friendly games, xbox for Halo and ps3 for resistance and most especially for the Blu- Ray capability. I like all three so I bought all three!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3.2.2009 10:13 #19