[opendtv] Sony's Blu-ray 'leads US hi-def DVD sales'

http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2386

Sony's Blu-ray 'leads US hi-def DVD sales'

Sony's Blu-ray next-generation DVD format reportedly accounted for 70% of 
high-definition disc sales in the US in the first three months of 2007. That 
left the rival Toshiba-backed HD-DVD standard with just 30% of sales, according 
to Home Media Magazine's market research arm.

The magazine said Blu-ray took the lead in February, and by March accounted for 
nearly three out of every four high-definition discs sold. When given a choice 
of formats for the same movie, consumers are going with Blu-ray, said the 
magazine, citing the example of Warner Home Video's The Departed which launched 
in February in both formats.

By the end of March consumers had bought 53,640 copies of the movie on Blu-ray 
discs, and 31,590 on HD-DVD discs, according to Home Media Magazine's market 
research, which is based on studio estimates and point-of-sale data.

"All this data points to the irrefutable facts that the consumers are voting 
with their dollars and adopting the revolutionary technology of the Blu-ray 
Disc," Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment, told Home Media 
Magazine.

Earlier this month an analysis by the Financial Times suggested the HD-DVD 
standard was gaining the upper hand in Europe as 35 European movies were now 
available in the format, compared with fewer than 10 for Blu-ray.

Lovelace Consulting 24.04.2007

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http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=0&id=2359

Toshiba's next-gen DVD format 'leads Europe'

The Toshiba-backed HD-DVD standard for next-generation DVDs appears to be 
gaining the upper hand over the rival Sony-backed Blu-ray format in Europe, 
according to an analysis by the Financial Times.

The FT said that while Blu-ray discs are outselling HD-DVDs in the US by as 
much as two to one, in Europe HD-DVD is taking the lead as 35 European movies 
are now available in the format, compared with less than 10 for Blu-ray.

According to the FT, larger European studios such as Studio Canal and Pathé in 
France, Filmax and DeAPlaneta in Spain, and Imagion and Nixbu in Germany have 
all announced plans to use the HD-DVD technology.

Rodolphe Buet, head of business and marketing at Studio Canal, told the FT: "I 
have met much more commitment from partners involved with HD-DVD than Blu-Ray. 
I met Sony in mid-2006 but the support was far below what was offered by the 
HD-DVD partners."

Toshiba and Sony attempted to collaborate in 2005 on a unified standard, but 
talks broke down when each party insisted that their format was the only 
reasonable way forward.

Industry analysts suggest that the popularity of next-generation DVDs will not 
take off until the issue of a standard format is resolved, ending confusion 
among consumers similar to that caused by the VHS/Betamax war of the 1980s.

Lovelace Consulting 11.04.2007
 
 
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