Trade HD DVDs for Blu-rays with Warner's Red2Blu program

If you aligned yourself with the red team during the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray format war, we wouldn't blame you if you felt a little turned off to the whole idea of high-def discs. Warner's new Red2Blu program is trying to relieve some of the sting for the losers of the format war, giving owners of Warner HD DVD movies the option to trade in their movies for Blu-ray versions of the same movie. The program isn't free--you send in the cover art from your HD DVDs along with $4.95 per movie, plus a $6.95 shipping and handling fee for your entire order--but it's definitely better than having to shell out another $30 bucks for a new Blu-ray. There are some minor restrictions, such as you can only trade in 25 movies per household and only one copy of an individual title, but the biggest restriction is that the offer is only good for Warner titles.

All the home theater editors at CNET already jettisoned their HD DVD collections on eBay, but we're interested in hearing whether any of the HD DVD faithful plan on using this program. Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

(Sources: Warner Red2Blu via Engadget)

[bathswana]

No.

[geekbully]

This article is wrong in that you don't have to get rid of your HD-DVD movies for Blu-Ray. You just send in the sleeve of the original HD-DVD movie with UPC code in tact. I'm one of the faithful HD-DVD owners. I still can't believe there isn't a place for both formats. Would love HD-DVD to remain the inexpensive alternative to Blu-Ray for backup discs.

You know, I have the HD-DVD player for the xbox 360. I'm not 100% sure I'd trade in my 4 WB movies, but I have to give credit to WB for making this program when no other studio has.

I went through the motions, and it would cost me $36 to do the trade. For 3 movies + the ultimate matrix collection, that might be worth it.

[Waam]

To tell you all the TRUTH! I knew, we all knew Blu-Ray was going to win since very very early, and even before Microsoft and Toshiba paid off Dreamworks and Paramount too. I knew it.

So all you foos who bought red and lost, you already had that feeling of possibly getting screwed with your purchase. There is no need for WB to do anything like this at all.

[hastypete]

So glad you knew.
Do you also rub your cat's nose in his poop to feel good about yourself too?

[gsmiller88]

I knew as well that Sony was going to dig very deep into their pocket to buy Warner off so as not to face another Betamax failure.

[hda3ku]

haha Holden Cualfield

[Kenzen01]

The HD DVD feature set and completeness of technology was significantly ahead of Blu-ray during the format war. What was with the whole 2.0 problem, lack of full high-res audio support and no ethernet connectivity, at least these things were lacking when they "won" the format war which HD DVD already had and at a cheaper price. Even though it lost I'm still very happy with my HD DVD purchases the player was fairly inexpensive and it allowed me to view true HD content early on without having to spend $400+ on early Blu-ray players that would have had to be replaced later on for 2.0 support anyways. Now I have both players with about 25 movies for each format and if/when my HD DVD player fails over the next 10 years I'll worry then what to do with my HD DVD titles then. Until then I feel great about having both technologies, its almost a point of pride in my Home Theater set up.

[ZetaZeta_]

I sure am glad my country compares data capacity of its optical media like it compares its *******.

[XiroMisho]

...anyone who buys anything during a format war knows what they are getting into - there's a 50% chance that it'll all go down hill.

In the end, the "Format" Might not even matter - I can stream HD content, legally, via Netflix, to my TV... Why do I need either? I Can also take Movies from my Pc and place them on my PS3's Harddrive. I own about one Blu-Ray disc - they are pricey unfortunately...

I can say though, while Blu-ray is pretty, I never saw a diff between blu and red, red only lost because one producer (warner bros.... actually) just threw their hands up and said, "Oh we're ending this entire silly affair of a format war! We are picking one at complete and total random - they win because we are a Giant." ::ruffles tickets in a hat:: "Oh hey look! It's Sony! Good for them, now lets move on with this and start selling Discs!!" it could have just as easily been HD-DVD, WB just HAPPENED to pick blu... In another world it's yet another reason to regret buying a PS3.... oy what an albatross round my neck.

[grant_osu]

What are the lottery numbers for tommarrow

[viper396]

Waam. Any idiot can claim they knew something after the facts are already publically known.

Tell us next weeks lottery numbers or the next Super Bowl winner and then you might have something to gloat about. Untill then, you are not impressing anyone.

[menssie]

waam, simply put you are a dip ****!

[tcr071]

HD-DVD was the better format for the people and before you go criticizing Toshiba for paying off studios take a step off your horse and try to remember that Sony played the exact same game.

HD-DVD players hit $99 in 2007. Blu-ray players might hit $99 in 2009. If neither company was paying off studios HD-DVD would have won the format war because it was and still is a better format.

[Zen-Masta]

No, I thought the battle was pretty close for a while. Blue could have won sooner but it took them so long to pick up steam. I mean how long have we known about br? It had been talked about for many many years. I was hoping for red but I knew that I wouldn't buy anything for 2 reasons. A) I didn't want to risk having an out dated format and B) they are still way to damn expensive. When we changed from VHS to DVD the price increase was only about 5 bucks I think. with the average vhs price being about 15 this put DVD's at 20. Now the average DVD price is still about 15 but BR/HD were $30? Talk about bending you over. I will rent BR from blockbuster but I sure as hell wont be buying any until the price comes down. And seriously, standard dvd's still look pretty decent on large tv's.

[hastypete]

Yes, this is true. BR has really priced itself badly. I can't see paying more than $10 for a movie. You can blame cheap DVDs, but as you say.... they look just fine esp. with a good Toshiba upconverting player like the HD player I got for $100. I can't see speding money to trade Red for Blue since 1) don't have an overpriced BR player and won't spend more than $100 for one. 2) This is just a way for WB to make more money. They shouldn't be charging for this service at all other than shipping charges. 3) my HD player works great and plays all my HD movies.

[tfaville]

Absolutely plan on taking advantage ofvthe deal. Now if Universal would offer the same thing I would be even happier!

[hotsnowfallsup]

Come on, Universal, pick up my old copies! I want to give you money but I will never buy a full-priced Blu-Ray of a film I already bought. Not after WB did this.
I bought 2 HD-DVD players (a toshiba and the Xbox 360 add-on) to go with my 35 title collection. I felt burned that the studios abandoned it so fast. Most of my titles are Universal, but I have some key WB titles I would like to trade in. I will get Blu-Ray eventually, once the PS3 gives me a video game worthy of me buying their ludicrously designed console. So, knowing at some point I will get a Blu-Ray player in the next 2 years, and that I get to KEEP MY HD-DVD DISCS, I will be making the trade for 300, Ultimate Matrix, Planet Earth, the 5disc Blade Runner, Goodfellas and Batman Begins right now.

[Shinobi2099]

Look here how is the PS3 ludicrously designed? It's the BEST BR player on the market. And you need a game worth buying??? I bet you're a fab of the pre-school shooter Halo. Here's a few:

Killzone 2

Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction

Resistance 2

Metal Gear Solid 4

Little Big Planet

And that's just to name a few. Sony for life!

[CNET editors' note: Personal attacks deleted.]

[robnyack]

I was a fan of HD-DVD. There is no difference in quality between the 2 hi-def formats. But, when Blu-ray won out, I absolutely did not run out and buy a PS3. I already have a Xbox 360 and am perfectly thrilled with it. I have no room for another game console even if it plays Blu-Ray.

And the fact of the matter is the PS3 is NOT, I repeat, is NOT the best BR player out there. As a matter of fact, with the big drop in the price of BR players, the PS3 now should not even be an option if you are just looking for a BR player. There are superior players out there for less money.

[viper396]

@Shinobi2099, Your "Sony for life" comment only confirms that no one should take anything you say seriously since you are obviously too blinded by your fanboy mentality to be objective.

Calling Halo a 'pre-school shooter" then comparing it to pathetic FPS shooters like Resistance 2 or Killzone 2 only makes your comment a joke. Metal Gear Solid 4 or Ratchet &Clank are boring sequels. Little Big Planet is a very good game but that alone doesn't justify anyone on a budget go out and buy a PS3. For bluray movie playerback the PS3 doesn't compare against many dedicated bluray players that are now way cheaper then the PS3.

[drva]

I have to agree with viper on this one... if you honestly believe that the PS3 is the best BR player out there you really need to do some homework. There are many far superior BR players on the market. Unfortunately however all BR players have three huge flaws. 1) Retail prices on BR players are still very high, especially high performing units. 2) Even if you buy refurbished or if money is no concern to you, BR players are all very slow. 3) In my humble opinion the requirement of DHCP on all hi-def content is a ridiculous requirement. This requirement that is supposedly in place to stop people from copying disks is a ludicrous concept. What, do they think people are going to use recorders to record from one unit to another (they can use other types of protection if that was really their concern)... The DHCP requirement was a despicable requirement put in by electronics manufacturers to force consumers to buy their newer tvs and HDTV sets. If a consumer has a high def set that is five years or more old (one without HDMI and HDCP support) that consumer is forced to buy a new set if they want to experience HD-DVD or Blu-ray. I think that is just a travesty. It would be like the FCC requiring a switch to Digital TV because they wanted to sell the bandwidth of analog TV stations and sticking consumers with the bill... o, I guess they did that too. O well... I guess the government isn't interested in protecting us, just ensuring "big money" keeps making it. What's next... the car companies forcing consumers to buy hydrogen and hybrid cars if they want to use the interstate.

[hotsnowfallsup]

Come on, Universal, pick up my old copies! I want to give you money but I will never buy a full-priced Blu-Ray of a film I already bought. Not after WB did this.
I bought 2 HD-DVD players (a toshiba and the Xbox 360 add-on) to go with my 35 title collection. I felt burned that the studios abandoned it so fast. Most of my titles are Universal, but I have some key WB titles I would like to trade in. I will get Blu-Ray eventually, once the PS3 gives me a video game worthy of me buying their ludicrously designed console. So, knowing at some point I will get a Blu-Ray player in the next 2 years, and that I get to KEEP MY HD-DVD DISCS, I will be making the trade for 300, Ultimate Matrix, Planet Earth, the 5disc Blade Runner, Goodfellas and Batman Begins right now.

[ucrfl]

Hey, hotsnowfallsup,

Planet Earth is not one of the 126 options, even though it was released by BBC Warner. Don't do it!

[macksumum]

i do not see why anyone would need to trade a HD movie for the same HD movie just because it is on a different format plus to pay more money to see the same thing in the same video quality.if they want to do people a favor then why don't they just allow people to trade a standard DVD for a blu-ray DVD.from the looks of things everything is being done to promote blu-ray ,everything except lowering the price of the disc.

[Shinobi2099]

Fact: BR is a higher quality than HDDVD. That is all.

[aduljr]

This is not a fact. Blueray and HDDVD had the same 1080P content. What is a fact is that the first slew of bleuray titles where horrid in picture quality, used mpeg2 instead of mpeg4. Just look at the fifth element, stargate, or even terminator 3(or was it 2) was not even done at a full 1080P for whatever stupid reason. The only fact you show is that you are ignorant.

[tylercramer73]

Aduljr, the fact that you spelled it Blueray, not Blu-Ray, renders you the ignorant one.

[robnyack]

There is no difference whatsoever in picture quality between HD-DVD and BR.......NONE.

fanboys.......drive ya nuts.

[manosteele]

It's a very generous offer and a smart marketing move. Question: Are customers mailing back only cover art or the HD DVD as well? I might exchange a few. I didn't choose sides; I bought both. I liked HD DVD better initially, but Blu Ray has certainly improved in the past year.

[mnogrady]

I Just ordered over 26 discs. Even though they limit it to 25 discs, they count the Boxed sets as one disk. Only the Cover art and in some cases they need other pieces for the Boxed sets (i.e. for "The Ultimate Matrix" box set you have to send the paper glued to the back, etc.). You do get to keep all the discs.

[AnthonyNYC]

Hmm, I guess Warner is trying to get those early HD adapters who got burned to go out and buy a bluray player now thinking at least they will save some money on discs.
I have both, an HD Player which I got for $99 on amazon with five free HD-DVD's and I use it everyday to upconvert my regular DVD's on. And a BluRay player which I got cheap at bestbuy because someone else returned it and it was open box special. But I've yet to buy any BluRay disc's in over a year that I've had it. Price is still too high for them.
I continue to buy regular (RED) DVD's.
PS. HD-DVD's also use a blue laser only the old DVD style uses red so tis is incorrect promo title.

Until BluRay discs are less than DVD discs, i will keep renting and buying DVD instead. Actually I love Netflix streaming quality personally. So that's just me, I am happy with compressed mp4.
:)

[hda3ku]

the redrefers to the hddvd plastic case which is RED

[lorax1284]

Kudoes to Warner for doing this. I can trade the "Ultimate Matrix Collection" on HD-DVD + $17 for the Blu version and keep the discs? That's a fair price for the Blu disc of Animatrix, which is really the only difference. But the HD-DVD version already has the "In Movie Experience" Picture in Picture: does the Blu have that? I'm not sure, since it took them TWO YEARS to catch up with HD-DVD functionality (I have to get my last dig in for those Blu-ed up Sony fanboys!)

[alpharm]

I'm excited too. I can upgrade my Planet Earth Complete Series to Blu for $10.

Y'know, I don't understand why manufactuers did not make a unit that plays both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs and let the buying public at large decide what to buy instead of taking the "There can be only one!" Highlander business model.

[moviegeek65]

They already did,LG and Samsung made a dual player but it didn't sell very well.

[Weudel]

So, let's see here... I can buy everyone's HD DVDs for $5 each on eBay.... PAy five more bucks each to swap to an unopened Blu-Ray.... then turn around and sell that for $15-$20, undercutting the competition... Man, I need to make an infomercial and sell this scheme to the masses! :D

[ITSecGuy]

LOVE IT! As much as I will ALWAYS hate that the inferior Blu-ray format won the war, at least we have a way to lick out wounds with ease?

[ramintop]

what about those who bought a laptop with an HD-DVD driver? is there nothing to help us poor people? :p I bought an HP with an HD-DVD driver just before HD-DVD lost to blu-ray by a month! :(

[Kenzen01]

The HD DVD feature set and completeness of technology was significantly ahead of Blu-ray during the format war. What was with the whole 2.0 problem, lack of full high-res audio support and no ethernet connectivity, at least these things were lacking when they "won" the format war which HD DVD already had and at a cheaper price. Even though it lost I'm still very happy with my HD DVD purchases the player was fairly inexpensive and it allowed me to view true HD content early on without having to spend $400+ on early Blu-ray players that would have had to be replaced later on for 2.0 support anyways. Now I have both players with about 25 movies for each format and if/when my HD DVD player fails over the next 10 years I'll worry then what to do with my HD DVD titles then. Until then I feel great about having both technologies, its almost a point of pride in my Home Theater set up.

[jaffreywali]

This is an excellent program by Warner. Unfortunately, looks like it's taking place only because sales for these titles on Blu Ray are very low and they have tons of excess inventory. So why not make a couple of bucks!

The format war and how it was conducted in the end probably is a reason why Sony is in the bad shape their in today. They built their entire hardware strategy around Blu Ray, while around them the world was changing. Sony could have built excellent products that supported Amazon, Netflix and their own streaming products in addition to Blu Ray for both mobile and set top boxes. They totally missed the boat with the bigger change that was taking place with digital content delivery.

Blu Ray isn't a bad business, but from what I know it's doing around 10-20M a week in business total revenue. So if you include all the companies that share in this $10-20M a week business we're talking peanuts compared to the investments that they have had to make in Blu Ray.

My opinion is that it is and was OK to have lots of formats and let users pick and choose what they want.

[sapper6]

Not to bash those that adopted HD-DVD, but people should be aware when they are the early adopters of new technology. Like people who rushed to buy the new plasmas who are upset over having a 720p instead of a 1080p for like less than half of what they paid. Even new game systems, give them a year to work the bugs out before getting one--look at the xbox 360. I think it's great that a company is willing to let you trade in HD-DVD for Blu-Ray, but to be honest you would probably get more money by selling privately. But again, buyer beware on new technology--I'm still stuck with a 2G I Phone, I was really steamed when the better 3g came out for cheaper, but that's what I get for being an early-adopter.

[viper396]

Early adpotion is always necessary in order for any new technology to move forwars. Those "bugs" and problem will never be worked out if everyone sat around waiting and didn't purchase.

If you did some research the average used HD-DVD movie doesn't sell for much these days. In fact, for some of these movies you can go to the clearance rack, pick up the HD-DVD movie for cheap, trade it up thru the Red2Blu program, and end up with the Bluray version for less then what it would cost to buy outright.

I picked up the Matrix collection on HD-DVD, clearance at Fry's for $19.95
Do the Math:
Matrix collection on Blu ray ==> Averages $65.00 at many stores.

Matrix collection on HD-DVD ==> Clearance $19.95 at Fry's + $14.95 thru Red2Blu ==> Total $35

[george_liquor]

Too bad there's not a trade-in program like this for the HD-DVD players.