Research firm still predicts Blu-ray high-def winner
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business,08/22/2007
AUG. 22 | BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Research firm Understanding & Solutions reiterated its stance that Blu-ray Disc will prove victorious in the high-definition format war, despite Paramount Home Entertainment’s and DreamWorks Animation’s move to back rival HD DVD exclusively.
During a breakfast update on consumer downloading and high-definition issues here Wednesday, U&S director Jim Bottoms cited as reason the larger number of studio titles produced exclusively for Blu-ray. Also, the Paramount/DreamWorks move to HD DVD exclusivity did not add any new titles to that side, he noted, since the studios until this week supported both formats.
“The weight of industry support is still very much behind Blu-ray,” said Bottoms, preceding his arguments by noting that U&S remains a private entity, not financially benefiting from either side. He said that studios representing 58% market share overall, based on first quarter video shipments, back Blu-ray.
“We have gone on record before that BD format is most likely to succeed, and we don’t believe [the Paramount/DreamWorks decision] will change that outcome,” said Bottoms.
Another major driver for Blu-ray will be the PlayStation 3, which currently continues to sell below expectations but can still make an impact over the next few years, Bottoms said. He estimates 15 million to 20 million consoles will be in U.S. homes by that time.
Prolonging war
The main consequence of Paramount and DreamWorks’ move to HD DVD is the prolonging of the format war, which U&S previously projected would be decided by first-quarter 2008.
Only a fraction of home entertainment business today, high-def business will be significant by 2011, U&S predicts. The company reports that by then, 40 million HD DVD and Blu-ray set-top players will be sold, representing 36% of U.S. households; 25 million Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles combined, representing 22% of households; and 20 million PC drives, representing 17% of homes.
There will be 8.7 million software units sold among the two formats in 2007, and 59 million units sold in 2008, U&S predicts.
Although there is growth on the horizon, Bottoms warned that high-def companies need to improve their messages to consumers to maximize revenue.
“There is a lot of confusion with consumers over high-def in general,” Bottoms said. “I heard from a consumer, ‘I was going to buy an HDTV screen, but now I’m going to buy a Blu-ray screen. That is quite typical of the confusion that exists. But the important take away is that there is great opportunity [with high-def], but there still needs to be some work done to turn this all into a reality.”
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| Submitted by: | chuck meister (chuckmeister@supervideo.com) 12/17/2007 8:57:45 AM PT |
| Location: | Waikiki |
| Occupation: | Guru |
I have seen many formats both Come and unfortunately Go and the sad part of this story, many times it was the Superior format that Lost. Sad to say. Bottom line folks... bottom line... PRICE $ That Simple. You put a BD Burner in the Playstation Now and not some date I may not live to see... You take that great little burner drawer out of my Sony FZ into a 3 pound wonder like the TX, SX, Type C and even the 'G' that you have failed to export now for over a year and half now! I want to be able to go into any CCity, BestB, Comp, Fry, MicroC & etc and see a $999 BD burner laptop. Now and not Later. I want to see that 100GB BD-RE and more articles on the 200GB, 400GB and even TeraBit disc... stop dragg'n your feet. This is how you lost BetaMax. Can't anyone learn from the mistakes of the past? Wake the Hell Up. Step back and Take a deep breath and make a Little Plan Stan... Where are the Collections, the 24's, the Concert Series? Make BD's of NON existant DVD's like Neil Diamond's Hot August Night, Pay ZZ top, Eric C, Fleetwood, Ventures and other classic groups for a 1 time In Concert BluRay performance. That is where you want to put your ad $. I really think you need to listen to your Blu Base; REALLY!
Aloha
| Submitted by: | darkpoet25 10/17/2007 7:25:56 PM PT |
| Location: | IN |
Micheal Bay, nice try claiming that you are the director instead of some M$ fanboy in disguise. And yes Blu Ray is winning the High Def format war thus far with a 4-1 ratio over Hd Dvd. Too bad you guys can''t accept the fact that the BDA has far more support than Toshiba and M$ combined. Every week there is an announcement of another CE company showing Blu Ray support as well as rental and retail. Blockbuster is renting Blu Ray only in store and now Meijer is only selling Blu Ray online due to the 4-1 lead that Blu Ray has. Facts are facts, and if you cannot deal with them don''t waste anyone else''s time spreading your FUD around.
| Submitted by: | richard lichtenfelt (richard_lichtenfelt@yahoo.com) 8/27/2007 5:12:28 AM PT |
| Location: | Texas |
| Occupation: | Self employed |
Sony studios had 7 of the top 15 movies of 2006. Paramount only held the 10 and 13 spots. Universal didn''t make the top 15. Paramount and Universal are the only hd-dvd exclusives. Blu-ray exclusive studios had 11 of the top 15.
Blu-ray exclusive studios are Sony, Disney/Buena Vista, MGM, Lionsgate, and 20th Century Fox.
| Submitted by: | I am me (jayd2_574@hotmail.com) 8/25/2007 9:15:17 AM PT |
| Location: | UK |
| Occupation: | Blu-Ray analyst. |
Hey, Micheal Bay wanna be. Stop talking crap. HD-DVD is a dying format. Go with a future proof format, and stop spreading crap along with your other HD-DUD mates. Blu-ray will be the eventual winner, it could be now, if it was not for Microsoft paying off Universal and Paramount/Dreamworks. Open your eyes, and see that you are being fobbed off with a pile of junk.
| Submitted by: | Micheal Bay 8/23/2007 9:34:35 AM PT |
| Location: | Hollywood |
| Occupation: | Film Producer |
Please let us all know how much Sony is paying you?
Clearly Blu-Ray is nowhere near winning anything. The Hi Definition market is less then 5% and the regular DVD market is about 85%. So, you are telling everybody that Blu-Ray is winning? What are they winning 5% LOL, get your facts straight because people are reading this stuff. HD hasn’t even tapped into the market yet.
Blu-Ray is a flawed technology, HD DVD is already established working technology. Sony keeps changing Blu-Ray spec’s which is driving support away.
Thank goodness Paramount & DreamWorks went HD DVD exclusive, lets see how Disney & FOX like it. They too are exclusive to Blu-Ray are they not?
Take Care,
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