Wal-Mart 'Quitting UMD Movies'

[wraggster]

Source - NextGen

Reuters reports Hollywood sources saying that Wal-Mart is pulling out of UMD. The reports adds that UMD sections at retail are shrinking fast.

One unnamed president of a major studio is quoted as saying, "No one's watching movies on PSP. It's a game player, period."

Universal Studios Home Entertainment has ceased UMD production. One exec told Reuters, "Sales are near zilch. It's another Sony bomb."

Paramount is also considering its future with PSP's format. An exec said, "We are on hiatus with UMD. Releasing titles on UMD is the exception rather than the rule. No one's even breaking even on them."

Image Entertainment has moved out of UMD while 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Buena Vista Home Entertainment have reduced commitment.

[mgillespie]

Plenty of people watching movies on PSP, just not on UMD!!!

[Elsid]

i would blame them!!!

[jwilds73]

As I said in another thread umd's are a one system format. DVD's are multi system just in my household there are over 5 devices that can play dvd's 6 if you count the one in the suburban. What do you bet the PS3 doesn't come with umd support right off the shelf? If Sony wants umd's to succeed as a medium they need to license it out and make it available in other forms.

[sroon]

If there were better movies then it would probably sell more.

[Cosmic3K]

The main problem for me at least is the cost. I can buy a DVD for around £10, whereas a UMD will set be back for around £20. Surely the discs can't cost that much to produce? As it stands they offer very little in the way of value for money. They have less content with DVDs, can't currently be used in anything other than a PSP and yet they cost twice as much! If they were the same price as DVDs I and many others would certainly be less hesitant to buy them. It's just a case of Sony being greedy once again.

[DraconumPB]

I own cowboy bebop, that's it...

mostly only attractive when bundled with DVD, or if sony had included TV-out support out of the friggin box. that would make sense.

[Poem58]

Seems weird to me that they say they cant break even...I read somewhere once that the cost of UMD manufacture was somewhere around $.50 to $1 and Charging 14.99USD to 29.99USD...hello studio's. Lower the price and you will make far more than you dreamed....UMD movies at $5USD would be flying off shelves for a portable fix and providing plenty of profit. Greedy little Bassturds. You deserve to make no money cause thats all you care about.

[iniquitous_beast]

When watching a movie, would you like to get a cramp from sitting for 2 hours holding the psp up to your face; or would you rather sprawl out on a couch with a pretty girl and comfortably watch your movie on a large television?

My point is that the psp's small screen makes movie viewing a solo experience. Movie watching is more fun in the company of other people, and the psp can't easily connect to a tv without quality loss.

Besides, unless you have a psp stand of some sort, you will soil your psp if you try to eat popcorn (or BBQ Ribs) while watching a movie on it.

[d3v1l]

When watching a movie, would you like to get a cramp from sitting for 2 hours holding the psp up to your face; or would you rather sprawl out on a couch with a pretty girl and comfortably watch your movie on a large television?

My point is that the psp's small screen makes movie viewing a solo experience. Movie watching is more fun in the company of other people, and the psp can't easily connect to a tv without quality loss.

Besides, unless you have a psp stand of some sort, you will soil your psp if you try to eat popcorn (or BBQ Ribs) while watching a movie on it.

i totally agree, the movie watchin is a solo experience,

AND its too expensive.

thats why i only convert my movies from dvds instead of buyin em..too expensive n its only for myself.