Culture

Warner Delays Release of HD/Blu-ray Hybrid Disc

Warner Home Video has delayed the release of the hybrid disc that wants to be something for everyone, the Total HD. Originally scheduled to launch the second half of this year, the release has been shoved into 2008. A Total HD movie disc would have the Blu-ray version on one side and the HD DVD […]

Totalhd_2
Warner Home Video has delayed the release of the hybrid disc that wants to be something for everyone, the Total HD. Originally scheduled to launch the second half of this year, the release has been shoved into 2008.

A Total HD movie disc would have the Blu-ray version on one side and the HD DVD version on the other, making it ideal for people who can't make up their minds. Warner's senior VP of marketing, Steve Nickerson, said they wanted to hold off releasing the Total HD format until they had 10 to 20 titles available in it.

Warner execs are concerned that launching with fewer titles might lead to consumer confusion and not enough shelf space in stores. Nickerson's not sweating the delay:

There is no expiration date on the viability of this concept, so we’re not in a rush to do it. We’ll do it when it makes sense and when it's right.

That's fine, Steve, but I need to know: am I going to be able to get Season 1 of Welcome Back, Kotter in Total HD? Well, am I?

Warner's Total HD Delayed Until 2008 [VideoBusiness]