Some studios say they are having trouble finding replicators willing to stamp adult DVDs on Blu-ray format, while others are making their high-definition decisions based on production costs and customer demand.
Adella O’Neal of Digital Playground said the company would like to release its high-def content on both formats, but has not yet located a Blu-ray replicator willing to work with it.
“For now, HD [DVD] has our full support … until Sony comes around,” O’Neal told XBIZ.
Media reports have said Sony threatened to pull licenses from Blu-ray replicators stamping adult content, but Lisa Gephardt of Sony Corp. of America denied the claim.
“We don’t tell people how they can use the licenses they get from the Blu-ray Disc Association,” Gephardt previously told XBIZ.
Jackie Ramos of Wicked Pictures said he went with HD DVD after meeting with Blu-ray representatives because it appeared to be an easier route. Ramos said he was told at the time that it was nearly impossible for Sony to OK replicating adult on Blu-ray.
“The [Blu-ray] disc capacity is incredible. We’d love to do something with Blu-ray, but the numbers have to add up. It’s very expensive,” Ramos told XBIZ.
Because Blu-ray discs cost more to make, since replicators must purchase new and expensive equipment to do so, many studios feel it’s more cost effective to wait and see which format will end up gaining the most market share.
“It’ll be easier [to choose a format] if one falls out,” Allison Vivas of Pink Visual said. She said HD DVD is in the lead so far and that, in the end, her high-def choice will come down to cost and whether Pink Visual’s customers prefer one format over the other.
Howard Levine at Vivid Entertainment takes a similar stand and said he doesn’t want to exclude anyone by using one format exclusively.
Evil Angel Public Relations Director Karen Stagliano said she is still doing customer research, though production-wise, the company is a “huge backer” of Sony. She wants as many fans as possible to view Evil Angel titles and knows releasing on both formats will allow that. Regardless, she said the company will likely pick one over the other.
“We don’t want to put titles out there [in one format] and then see the format lose the battle,” Stagliano told XBIZ.
Hustler Creative Director Drew Rosenfeld said he believes Blu-ray will be more successful than HD DVD, but that making a choice is not profitable at the moment. He said he plans to wait and see if Blu-ray is the better choice.
Gay studio Raging Stallion is looking into Warner Bros.’ Total Hi Def (THD) dual-format discs, which were officially unveiled at International CES, so content can be available on both formats — but customers only have to purchase one disc. Chris Ward, president of the company, said that because the technology is still new, he will use HD DVD until THD’s kinks are worked out.
