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Blu-ray Boost Attributed to HD DVD Death
Posted on 3/28/2008
As we reported earlier, the Blu-ray format has seen a sizable increase in sales since the death of HD DVD, indicating that many consumers were waiting out the format war before fulfilling their high definition needs. When that report was posted, we knew that sales were increasing, but we did not know specifically by how much. Luckily, new data has been issued that provides a clearer picture to recent Blu-ray boost.
| Title |
Release Date |
% BD |
| Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End |
12/04/07 |
3.7 |
| Simpsons Movie |
12/18/07 |
2.8 |
| Michael Clayton |
02/19/08 |
5.5 |
| 30 Days of Night |
02/26/08 |
8.9 |
| No Country for Old Men |
03/11/08 |
9.8 |
| Hitman |
03/11/08 |
12.6 |
As you can see, blockbuster day-and-date films released prior to the end of the format war were consistently selling between 1-5% of total sales on the Blu-ray format. But since the end, such titles have been selling between 10-15% on Blu-ray, a huge boost for the Blu-ray format that must now compete with DVD for home media domination.
In Japan, a similar trend can be seen. Analyst GfK Japan has released data that in February, Blu-ray maintained a 18.2% share of the home media market. Considering this share was in the single digits only a few months prior, one could rightly assume that many Japanese consumers were also weary of the format war and were awaiting a victor to emerge. Now that Blu-ray has won, they are adopting the high definition format.
Studios are also enjoying the increase in sales. Warner Brothers, whose decision to support Blu-ray exclusively is now seen as the death blow for the HD DVD format, has seen their justification for exclusivity realized. Now that only one high definition format exists, and there is no longer consumer confusion, Blu-ray is thriving and making its play to become the leading home media format.
Steve Feldstein, Fox Senior VP Marketing and Corporate Communications commented, "Consumers in the high-def marketplace are now purchasing with confidence. The confusion in the marketplace that you saw when there were two formats continues to work itself out, and once education campaigns begin and the retail presence (of Blu-ray) expands, we should start to see the numbers soar even higher."
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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3
BD-Live update for PS3
Posted on 3/20/2008
Sony announced the next PS3 update for the end of the month. This update will include the BD-LIVE wich will give the console the ability to download extra video content, ringtones, games, and more.
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1
Two new recorders from Mitsubishi
Posted on 3/18/2008
Mitsubishi will release two Blu-Ray recorders on May 24. These recorders will store high definition video on Blu-ray discs, DVD or on hard drive.
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2
Corel WinDVD 9 plays Blu-Ray discs
Posted on 3/18/2008
Corel has announdes the release of their new version of WinDVD. For about 100$ wou will be able to watch Blu-Ray disk on your computer.
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