Warner’s decision to go exclusive Blu was not related to the alleged superiority of Blu-ray technology. Rather, Warner’s move was motivitated by rising gas prices and the lack of impuse sales. Via DailyTech:

Speaking to Reuters, a top executive said that Warner’s decision to “go Blu” was fuelled by fears of a deteriorating U.S. economy, falling DVD sales and even rising gas prices.

“We’ve typically been recession proof,” Warner Bros Entertainment Group President Kevin Tsujihara said. “But the thing that we saw in the fourth quarter…was gas prices beginning to affect sales. And since we’re considered an impulse purchase, it’s beginning to impact us.”

Tsujihara added that Warner’s decision to support Blu-ray Disc was to help end the customer and retailer confusion over high-definition home video formats before economic conditions worsened. (emphasis added)

This confirms is exactly what I have suspected since the announcement was made. Specifically, that Blu-ray’s purported technological superiority played no part in Warner’s decision. In fact Warner chose a technically inferior product (half-finished overpriced) with an oppressive DRM scheme. If Warner is concerned about a drop in impulse sales that it is equally concerned about a rise in pirated media. Blu-ray is is locked down tighter than Azkaban. HD DVD is notoriously less secure, lacking any muscle in its DRM scheme. Moving to a more secure format prevents limits illegal copies and keep the coin purses filled.

I have no idea how this ends customer confusion. Blu-ray is the most confusing spec to buy: which players can utilize all features? Whatever. According to Sony, however, just buy a PS3 (of course …)

DailyTech

Reuters

(UPdate: Do not search google for “WTF” with safe search turned off)

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