That sums up the entire industry. The prices aren't coming down. The
prices have remained the same for the past six months. They pay cheap
laborers in Asia a few cents an hour to manufacture this hardware, and
then turn around and make a 1000% profit. I'd love to see this turned
on them. (e.g. mass produced hardware flood the market via Asia) One
look at the prices they're charging for video cards is all you need to
realize this.
Warner to sell cut-rate DVDs in China
The Associated Press
Updated: 5:00 p.m. ET Feb. 24, 2005
BEIJING - Taking its battle against rampant piracy of films and music
to the front lines, Warner Home Video said Thursday it will sell
cut-rate DVDs in China in a bid to compete on the counterfeiters' home
turf.
Basic DVDs, to be available shortly after a film's theatrical release,
will sell in China for as little as 22 yuan ($2.65), the company
announced. That's still more than the pirated versions readily
available in China for 8 yuan ($1).
"But we think with earlier availability, better quality, assured
quality, more sophisticated retailing and the fact that it's the real
thing, that we can compete," said Jim Cardwell, president of Warner
Home Video, a division of Time Warner Inc.
Warner's basic versions will not carry any DVD extras such as
directors' interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, the company said.
But versions with more features will be available a bit later for 28
yuan ($3.38).
The company hopes its efforts will convince the Chinese government to
do more to stamp out the fakes. "It's very difficult for a government
to pull product from its consumers when the manufacturers don't have a
legitimate alternative," Caldwell said.
Theft in China of copyrights and patents cost Western companies an
estimated $16 billion in lost sales each year. Despite sporadic
arrests, counterfeit books, DVDs and music are easily available on
almost every city street and even in shops.
As for how Warner would justify charging U.S. consumers far more for
DVDs, "I don't that's an issue," Caldwell said. "I think that
historically, prices of entertainment around the world have always
been different country to country."
Warner Home Video said it is distributing its cut-rate DVDs in a joint
venture with the state-owned company China Audio Video, becoming the
first U.S. studio to distribute and market DVDs inside China.
This year, the company plans to offer more than 125 movies to Chinese
consumers.
How much do you pay for a new DVD?
