HD DVD set-top players top 100K sold

Blu-ray has edge with PlayStation 3s consoles in market

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 4/17/2007

APRIL 17 | Consumers have bought more than 100,000 HD DVD set-top players in the U.S. since the format’s introduction a year ago, the HD DVD Promotional Group said today.

That doesn’t include sales of HD DVD PC drives or the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive.

HD DVD is the first high-definition format to surpass the 100,000 milestone on set-top players. However, there are substantially more Blu-ray Disc players in the market because of the PlayStation 3. Blu-ray players weren’t introduced until late June, giving HD DVD a head start.

The PlayStation 3 edge has given Blu-ray movie sales a more than two-to-one sales lead during the first few months of the year. But HD DVD sales continue to grow, and more manufacturers plan to produce players on the format.

Toshiba was the first manufacturer to release HD DVD players. Earlier this year, LG Electronics released a dual HD DVD/Blu-ray player, and Samsung has announced plans to release its own dual-format player later this year.

Chinese manufacturers are expected to begin producing lower-cost HD DVD players later this year.

Starting at $599, HD DVD set-top players cost about half of most Blu-ray stand-alone players. Toshiba reduced the price of its bottom-line HD DVD player to $499 on April 1 to spur more sales.

“Toshiba remains committed to drive sales with strategic pricing and marketing to complement the rapid market adoption of HDTVs,” said Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. “Retailers are showing a significant increase in sales volume this month so far. On Amazon.com, our HD DVD players continue to rank among the Top 10 bestsellers of all DVD players, which says a lot about how consumers relate to price.”

With such titles as The Complete Matrix Trilogy coming in May from Warner Home Video and more than 70 new titles expected to be released before the end of July, HD DVD owners will have more than 300 titles worldwide to choose from this summer, with more to come in the fall and holiday seasons. (See a full list of titles coming to HD DVD and Blu-ray.)

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