Porn & HD - a clarification

[Dr Mordrid]

Sony DID snub the porn producers;

NY Times story....

>
The pornographers’ progress with HD may also be somewhat slowed by Sony, one of the main backers of the Blu-ray high-definition disc format. Sony said last week that, in keeping with a longstanding policy, it would not mass-produce pornographic videos on behalf of the movie makers.

The decision has forced pornographers to use the competing HD-DVD format or, in some cases, to find companies other than Sony that can manufacture copies of Blu-ray movies.

The movie makers assert that it is shortsighted of Sony to snub them, given how pornography helps technologies spread.

“When you’re introducing a new format, it would seem like the adult guys can help,” said Steven Hirsch, co-chief executive officer of Vivid Entertainment Group, a big player in the industry. Mr. Hirsch added that high definition, regardless of format, “is the future.”
>

[schmosef]

That last sentence reminded me of an article I read several years ago.

Some high up at Playboy said that although they were setting up an HD studio they didn't intend to start an HD Playboy channel because the scarring and discolouration of flesh (caused by all the surgeries that women in the adult industry undergo) would be visible in HD and would be a huge turn off.

He said something like, "a lot of these women are not attractive up close".

hehe.

[Dr Mordrid]

Especially if you're a medical person & know what to look for, even at a distance or in SD

I see the same things when doing boudoir shoots. The ones who get ready in the gym are a lot easier than the ones who prepare in a surgical suite. The latter frequently requires 30-60 minutes in makeup covering scars while the former just need some body powder, if that.

I also wish they'd read the d**ned instruction sheets, especially the part about not wearing a bra or elastic overnight and before the appointment

[Apulo]

Sony DID snub the porn producers

That's not what is stated in other news stories, where they also claimed to have interviewed Sony reps.

Maybe they haven't made up their mind yet? In any case, even if Sony rep plants themselves don't reproduce the discs, that doesn't mean other BD reproduction companies can't - it doesn't say Sony leaned on those companies. See also the presence of BD porn in Japan.

Apulo

[Umfriend]

The story here is that when Philips introduced their VCC-2000 video-tape format it was superior to betamax and VHS but it did not go because Philips chose not to stimulate adult content on that format.

[Dr Mordrid]

That's not what is stated in other news stories, where they also claimed to have interviewed Sony reps.

Those other stories were small fry publications. This was the financial pages of the freakin' NY Times

[ND66]

Maybe not......?

Sony Denies Preventing Adult Content On Blu-Ray

Technology analyst is also critical of any similarities to the VHS v. Betamax argument.

By Antone Gonsalves
InformationWeek

Jan 23, 2007 06:24 PM

Sony on Tuesday denied claims that it was preventing the porn industry from using the Blu-ray high-definition format developed by the consumer electronics giant.

Media reports have quoted adult-film directors and producers accusing Sony of pressuring others not to manufacture Blu-ray discs with adult content or share technology with the porn industry. The result, according to reports, has been a migration by adult filmmakers toward HD DVD, a competing format.

Sony dismissed the claims saying it has no control over the licensing of Blu-ray, and has no problem with the adult industry using the format. "There's no prohibition against adult content," Lisa Gephardt, a spokeswoman for Sony Corp. of America, said. "We don't tell people how they can use the licenses they get from the Blu-ray Disc Association."

Indeed, the BDA, which handles all licensing for Blu-ray technology, said in a statement that the group is "an open organization that welcomes the participation of all companies interested in using and supporting the format, including those that represent the full spectrum of genres in the content industry."

The adult industry is seen as a major driver behind the use of technology in the entertainment industry. Hollywood studios, for example, have adopted innovations in Internet video developed by adult filmmakers. Some experts believe that if the adult industry chooses HD DVD over Blu-ray, then the former would get a major boost over its rival in the market. They argue that the porn industry's adoption of VHS in the VCR era helped that format win over Sony-created Betamax.

Other analysts, however, do not agree. "VHS taking off had nothing to do with porn," Jon Peddie of Jon Peddie Research, said. "It was one fourth or one half the price of Betamax. Porn did not propel VHS. No one can prove that."

Sony's troubles with the adult industry apparently stems from its longstanding policy not to manufacture DVDs or videocassettes with adult content. Sony is one of several companies in the United States that replicates media for entertainment companies. "Sony disc manufacturing will not manufacture adult titles," Gephardt said. "We have never done it, and we have no plans to." The policy, however, is Sony's, and has no impact on any other company, the spokeswoman said.

The use of high-definition formats in adult content, along with other movie genres and TV programming, remains at the early stages. Within the adult industry, producers have found that high-definition pictures are so clear and detailed that it actually hurts, rather than enhances, the movies. Skin moles, facial wrinkles and other imperfections are more readily seen on the porn stars.

There's also the higher cost of a high-definition DVD. "I don't expect it to take off," Peddie said. "It's too expensive." That could change once high-definition content becomes mainstream, but that is expected to take a few years.

In the meantime, many Hollywood and consumer electronics manufacturers are taking sides in support of either Blu-ray or HD DVD. Goldwyn-Mayer, 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, and creator Sony are exclusively releasing DVDs in Blu-ray, while Universal Studios is distributing only in HD DVD. Among player manufacturers, Sony, Hitachi and Philips favor Blu-ray, while Toshiba and NEC support HD DVD.

Warner and Paramount Pictures are the only two major studios that are releasing movies in both formats.

http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196903070&cid=RSSfeed_TechWeb

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[schmosef]

The Sony execs must be so pissed that they have to keep addressing this issue.

[Dr Mordrid]

Other analysts, however, do not agree. "VHS taking off had nothing to do with porn," Jon Peddie of Jon Peddie Research, said. "It was one fourth or one half the price of Betamax. Porn did not propel VHS. No one can prove that."

No one under 40 at least. The rest of us don't need "proof" since we were there

[Sasq]

No one under 40 at least. The rest of us don't need "proof" since we were there

make that anyone over 30, we were there stealing or fathers/older brothers tapes

[Jessterw]

Didn't have to steal - step-father handed me a porn "mix-tape" when I turned 14. Sadly that was probably one of the few nice things he did.

Nevermind that I'd already started to become sexually active

[Richh]

The Sony execs must be so pissed that they have to keep addressing this issue.

Yeah, they'd rather just sit down and watch Debbie Does Dallas...


Again.