Blu-ray: 5 to 1 Edge Over HD DVD Players

http://www.tvpredictions.com/bluray062007.htm

"Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2007) --Blu-ray players are in roughly 1.5 million homes -- five times more than its high-def DVD rival, HD-DVD.

That's according to the research firm Digital Entertainment Group, as reported by Video Business.

DEG says the 1.5 million Blu-ray homes include about 100,000 standalone Blu-ray players with the rest PlayStation 3 game consoles, which include Blu-ray players inside.

The research firm says there 300,000 HD DVD homes in the United States -- evenly split between standalone players and HD DVD XBox 360 attachment drives.

The DEG findings were reported this week by Warner Bros. senior vice president Steve Nickerson at an industry panel discussion of entertainment executives in Los Angeles. Warner Bros. is currently releasing high-def DVDs in both the Blu-ray and HD DVD formats.

Nickerson said that consumers are preparing to embrace the new high-def DVD category, according to Video Business.

"Between April and mid-December, it was a warm-up, and since Christmas, it has been a very sustained level of business," said Nickerson. "Really, this year is preparing for further consumer uptake of high-def. It will mirror the year 1999 or 2000 for DVD."

DEG says consumers have spent $55 million on high-def DVD titles to date, with $35 million on Blu-ray movies and $19 million on HD DVDs.

The high-def DVD format war heated up this week when Blockbuster announced that it would carry Blu-ray titles exclusively in 1,450 stores. (It will keep both formats in 250 test stores.)

The decision has been called a tipping point in the war by some industry analysts who monitor the new high-def DVD category.

During the industry panel discussion, executives expressed hope that high-def DVDs will help the industry keep sales rising despite a recent downturn.

"It's in the very, very early days of our forecasts, but we believe that High-Definition discs will help return consumer video spending to growth," said Helen Davis Jayalath, a senior analyst video at the research firm Screen Digest."

Even though most of the Blu-Ray players are PS3s, keep in mind that many people actually did buy a PS3 for a blu-ray player, since at the time of launch it was the cheapest Blu-Ray player out on the market (Sony's first player retailed for about$1000).

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

That attach ratio is almost as bad as the PS3/Game attach ratio in Japan.

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

That attach ratio is almost as bad as the game/ps3 attach ratio in Japan.

m3Boarder32

1) How do you know it is only a 100K software lead? (link?)

2) Blu-ray has come on really strong since the PS3 was released. It was actually getting destroyed by HD-DVD before the PS3 now it has easily surpassed it and is just increasing its lead.

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

m3Boarder32

I think you're confusing two things here. The figures in the article are for players only, not software (movies). So out of the 1.5 million blu-ray players, about 100,000 are stand alone blu-ray players and the rest PS3s.

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

That attach ratio is almost as bad as the PS3/Game attach ratio in Japan.

m3Boarder32

as stated in that article, Blu-ray sales are at $35 million for disc sales, and $19 million for HD-DVD. at an average a $30 a disc, that's about 633,000 more disc sales for blu-ray. where did you get your "100k" figure from?

some day I wish bluray hardware will lead without ps3 help....ngoniko

blu-ray players are more expensive than HD-DVD players. Sony stated that by Christmas, they would be selling blu-ray players for under $400. Sony said that they would start selling them at a loss and rely on disc sales to make up the profit. we should see the actual players sales start to increase then.

some day I wish bluray hardware will lead without ps3 help....ngoniko

Like I said, many people bought PS3s as a blu-ray player, so don't think PS3 figures don't count, they do. Go to blu-ray.com, check out some threads and read people's sigs where they post what equipment they are using - many have PS3 listed as their player, and they are all movie fans.

When the PS2 came out, it was alot of peoples first DVD player. (cheapest at the time), It was not mine because earlier in the year I had spent $399 for a DVD player. But alot of my friends used the PS2 mostly to play DVDs more than games. I believe the PS2 really helped the DVD industry. Now that the PS3 has supported the Blue Ray I believe it is going to be the main reason why that Blue Ray will win. I have both HD-DVD and now Blue Ray. The main reason for my purchase of the PS3 was for Blue ray due to lack of games. But it is the cheapest Blue ray player out ( Besides a Samsung one for $499.) So my point is the PS3 helped the DVD to end VHS and The PS3 will help end DVD, HD-DVD.Army_Veteran

That's right. I used my PS2 as a dvd player for my living room and had a dvd player for the bedroom (why buy 2 dvd players?). And I now use my PS3 for a blu-ray player on the plasma andI have about 14 blu-ray movies right now.

Well I know there was some deciding factors when it came to purchasing a blue ray player. There is one for $499 Samsung on Newegg.com. It i a stand alone player that will play DVD to. But with the PS3 you get the Blue ray player and DVD player as well as CD player. You also get a gaming console that pl ayes 3 different formats. PS1, PS2, PS3. You also get computer interface capabilities, IE, Internet web browser and ability to stream pictures, videos, and music from a device or computer. Also you get the ability to download somethings as well. All That is included in a price of $599. SO why not pay an extra $100 for all that? So I see why people would chose a PS3 over a stand alone player, plus it is alot cheaper than other players. WIth the PS3 your getting more bang for your buck.

[QUOTE="m3Boarder32"]

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

That attach ratio is almost as bad as the PS3/Game attach ratio in Japan.

eclipsed4utoo

as stated in that article, Blu-ray sales are at $35 million for disc sales, and $19 million for HD-DVD. at an average a $30 a disc, that's about 633,000 more disc sales for blu-ray. where did you get your "100k" figure from?

Actualley, its more like 200K, not 100K. I got my numbers from the Neison Videoscan numbers...

BD holds the software lead since inception, 59:41.

According to this article BD players hold a 83/17 ratio lead.

59:41 software, when you dominate 83:17 hardware is pretty bad

blu-ray players are more expensive than HD-DVD players. Sony stated that by Christmas, they would be selling blu-ray players for under $400. Sony said that they would start selling them at a loss and rely on disc sales to make up the profit. we should see the actual players sales start to increase then.

eclipsed4utoo

There was no mention of selling at a loss, in fact what I read is that they would maintain a slim margin of profitability on the hardware.

59:41 software, when you dominate 83:17 hardware is pretty pathetic..

m3Boarder32

Well its hard to quantify the PS3's effect on Blu-Ray sales just because there are so many unknowns about adoption of the format by owners and the average amount purchased by owners, etc.

[QUOTE="eclipsed4utoo"][QUOTE="m3Boarder32"]

So Blu-ray has a 1.2 million player lead, and a 100K software lead??

That attach ratio is almost as bad as the PS3/Game attach ratio in Japan.

m3Boarder32

as stated in that article, Blu-ray sales are at $35 million for disc sales, and $19 million for HD-DVD. at an average a $30 a disc, that's about 633,000 more disc sales for blu-ray. where did you get your "100k" figure from?

Actualley, its more like 200K, not 100K. I got my numbers from the Neison Videoscan numbers...

BD holds the software lead since inception, 59:41.

According to this article BD players hold a 83/17 ratio lead.

59:41 software, when you dominate 83:17 hardware is pretty pathetic..

I guess we can both look at numbers that support our thinking. You are looking at "Since Inception" numbers, which HD-DVD had what, a 6 month headstart. I am looking at numbers starting from this year, giving both formats the same opportunity at sales.

for this year, Nielson Videoscan gives blu-ray the 67% to 33% advantage over HD-DVD.

Until stand alone blu-ray players start outselling HD-DVD players and that add-on significantly ..... the battle will rage on.

When the PS2 came out, it was alot of peoples first DVD player. (cheapest at the time), It was not mine because earlier in the year I had spent $399 for a DVD player. But alot of my friends used the PS2 mostly to play DVDs more than games. I believe the PS2 really helped the DVD industry. Now that the PS3 has supported the Blue Ray I believe it is going to be the main reason why that Blue Ray will win. I have both HD-DVD and now Blue Ray. The main reason for my purchase of the PS3 was for Blue ray due to lack of games. But it is the cheapest Blue ray player out ( Besides a Samsung one for $499.) So my point is the PS3 helped the DVD to end VHS and The PS3 will help end DVD, HD-DVD.Army_Veteran

The only difference was that DVDs didn't have competition.

It's not over until Toshiba throws in the towel.

However, keep in mind that Toshiba's stand-alone HD-DVD players are significantly less expensive than most all of the Blu-Ray stand-alone players on the market. That, however, is looking to change soon, as more manufacturers are either dropping the prices on their existing hardware or release more price-conscious hardware. Sony plans to have a $500 BDP soon, Panasonic just dropped their player to $599, and Samsung's new player will clock in at a cool $499. All of these units are also 1080p, whereas Toshiba's budget-friendly units are 720p, with their higher priced ($599 & $799) units are 1080p.

There went the price advantage for the HD-DVD camp.

Also, with the great games on the horizon for the PS3 and the holidays quickly approaching, I imagine to see Blu-Ray take an even greater lead over HD-DVD.

I get the updates on this, as I work for a video store, the lead is only increasing.

Also, Hollywood Video is going blu-ray, they just want to wait for the winner to be a bit more clear.

The end is near.

Can I steal the "Things I learned from Gamespot" sig? I love it.