Blu-ray sales up 700%, edge into a lead over HD-DVD
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jan 12th 2007 at 10:30AM }
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Okay, okay. Ignore for a moment that the original article comes from Blu-ray.com and it's a few days old. What you ought to pay attention to is the idea that Sony's plot to insert a Blu-ray player into the homes to assist in pushing the new format is working. That was a really long sentence, but it's grammatically... acceptable, right? Should be. Anyway, the week of December 24th, sales of Blu-ray gained a lead over the competing HD-DVD format, despite the notion the porn industry has sided with HD-DVD (Mr. Gates must reeeeally want something to watch, huh?). This wasn't a miniscule lead -- Blu-ray claims a 20% higher sales mark than the competition. With that in mind, 20th Century Fox estimates Blu-ray to outsell HD-DVD by a ratio of 3.5:1 by the end of the first quarter of 2007 in the US. You've got to remember, in Japan, Blu-ray holds 96% of the market (we're assuming that number is related solely to the two next-gen formats otherwise the adoption rate in Japan is way fast). Good stuff, Blu-ray. Show them that having porn doesn't necessarily equate to success!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sert @ Jan 12th 2007 10:38AM
Porn Industry ends format wars chooses HD-DVD
http://ps3.qj.net/Porn-Industry-ends-format-wars-chooses-HD-DVD/pg/49/aid/79019
So is this news true or not ?
ndoerr @ Jan 12th 2007 11:14AM
@ Sert -- yeah, that seems to be true. However, you have to read the inane quote: "there are more HD DVD players in homes than there are Blu-ray players, for example in the Xbox 360." First off, that's wrong. Secondly, HD-DVD players aren't IN the 360 -- they're extra. $200 extra. Take it as you will, but to me at least, it's still up in the air and Blu-ray seems to have a more accurate shot.
Joe @ Jan 12th 2007 12:10PM
Well Sert the Porn market really does hold a big part of the market. If it was not for Porn VHS would not have been sold as much as Betamax. See this could happen again. Last time sony did not want Porn on there format and if that is what happens this time HD-DVD could win. So I hope that the reason that the port market wants it on HD-dvd is not because Sony does not want Porn on Blue-Ray.
I am not one who will go out and buy Porn it is not me at all. But I do know that Porn really brings in the money and so at least as of right now the Porn market say BR is better but costs more money to make Porn for.
So if the prices where to be cheaper may be then there would be a greater chance BR would win.
I also think if people have a PS3 they should buy BR movies that way people with a PS3 do not get burned. I payed 600 for my PS3 so I want BR to win so I do not have a paper weight.
Also if I am not wrong I believe there are five movie companys making movies only for BR over the one only for HD and seeing as Disney is only making movies for BR is good news for BR. Because parents will buy there kids lots of movies for them. So having them is a big plus.
So even if Porn goes to HD it might not be as big of a plus as it was last time.
So it will be some time before we see which side wins.
allmodcons @ Jan 12th 2007 12:29PM
Big deal. We are talking about a market in such infancy that sales comparisons are pointless. What will happen when porn comes to HD DVD? Xbox360fanboy will be crowing about how HD DVD sales are up 700%. It seems more likely that the unified disk or player will prevail anyway because of studio support for one format or the othe
Michel @ Jan 12th 2007 12:00PM
Are the numbers you are quoting for playback devices or movie sales?
Michael
OrganicShadow @ Jan 13th 2007 1:05PM
80% of all Blu-Ray players IN CONSUMERS HOMES are PS3's. I think the HD-DVD camp is trying to toy with the numbers and take the 360 install base and use that like the PS3.
As ndoerr pointed out though, not all 360's have HD-DVD drives sitting next to them, and the Japanese market is already at 96% with Blu-Ray. Oh yeah, and did I mention Apple is supporting Blu-Ray and will supposedly have them in their computers by mid 2007?
Oh, and as far as pr0n goes, they are making a bad move by even sticking(no punn) with optical media at all. Shouldn't there be a PornTunes app out by now? They should just stick with cheap DVD's and anything HD or "special" should be digitally distributed. It's not like they don't have the money to pay software companies to develop an iTunes clone exclusively for pr0n....
ndoerr @ Jan 12th 2007 12:05PM
@ Michael -- the numbers are for movie sales. Thanks!
erac3rx @ Jan 12th 2007 1:11PM
We don't need dual-format players, trust me. Blu-ray has NO SHOT of losing this war. HD-DVD is backed by Microsoft, Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Intel, and Universal. BluRay is backed by (deep breath), Apple, Dell, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Walt Disney, Paramount, TDK, Hitachi, LG, Lionsgate, Buena Vista, Fox, MGM, HP, the list goes on and on.
It's far more supported by computer hardware manufacturers (the ones that make the drives, note they are all on that blu-ray list and NOT on the hd-dvd list) because it holds much more data, and happens to be in every PS3 sold.
Don't let Intel and Microsoft fool you, HD-DVD is the betamax this time.
nicomcm @ Jan 12th 2007 1:26PM
Porn is on the internet now... or VoD...
YourMom @ Jan 12th 2007 2:19PM
I own both players and so far, from a content perspective I am leaning towards HD-DVD. The IME is actually much cooler than the JavaBD as well - at least as far as their use at this point.
That said, I'm pretty tired of comparisons this early in the game.
Labman11 @ Jan 12th 2007 1:55PM
Remember the internet wasnt around when the porn studios chose VHS over The Betamax,so i doubt the effect will be as great.
Ethan @ Jan 12th 2007 2:08PM
ok guys, no one cares. dual format is going to win this Blue-ray or hd-dvd are neither going to die off. I'm just happy there is Hd disc.
(Ps. why do sony fanboy side with blue-ray? if it wasn't in the ps3 they wouldnt be talking about this so much. The ps3 wont get hurt if blue-ray format loses, they'll produce games on the drive then.)
Dual format will bring this stupid argument to a stand still. Maybe even the dual format disc. so stop with the data. data doesnt prove anything. everytime you hear data that is bigger someone always says that that's the won that will win. Let time take its course! god, you guys act as like this is going to kill you.
Curt @ Jan 12th 2007 5:11PM
IME is pimpalicious....
HA @ Jan 12th 2007 2:37PM
Maybe you should change the site name to bluerayfanboy.com because thats all you talk about. There is never anything worth talking about in reguards to games for the ps3, dude admit to yourself the ps3 is a joke!
Fred @ Jan 12th 2007 3:06PM
@7 I don't think you see the point,I believe it's not how many HD-DVD 360s there are but how it will affect the sale of HD-DVD and Blu ray independent players,the majority of people who buy porn are properly not interested or know nothing of the PS3 or the 360 drives so the market will be on the independent players,after all how many people really used the PS2 or Xbox1 as their main DVD player?not many I know for sure.
SuicideNinja @ Jan 12th 2007 3:46PM
"the Japanese market is already at 96% with Blu-Ray."
Some places still use Mini-disc.
Some places still use Betamax.
Neither was considered a main-stream format.
In other parts of Asia, isn't EVD the format of choice? You know, Red Laser, 10 layer 50GB discs that support everything important that HD-DVD and Blu-ray do but they're cheaper? $150 player? Think about that.
PFFF....screw this format war. The consumer is getting screwed.
Willie @ Jan 12th 2007 4:19PM
I hope they factor the HD-DVD add on for the 360 won't sell like hotcakes. Many people are waiting to see which format will win the war. Thus, hurting the HD-DVD because every PS3 has their Blu-ray. So, people who have a PS3 and HD TV will have to try a Blu-ray movie. I will admit, after watching a few Blu-ray movies, I am hooked with high definition.
Which format do you want to win?
I hope Blu-ray for one simple reason. It has a larger storage space. Thus, the additional room should not be filled completely for many more years to come. I would hate to see in another 6 years, another format competition because we need more space. I just feel Blu-ray can adapt to more in the future because they will be able to hold more than HD-DVD. Bigger is Better!
Mick @ Jan 12th 2007 5:27PM
I always heard Sony didn't want porn on betamax, and always respected them for it. It would be nice if it paid off this time instead of hurting them. Of course the porn industry will jump ship anyway if Blu-Ray sells the most.
Azorean @ Jan 12th 2007 9:30PM
HP has announced that they support HD-DVD thanks bye
Azorean @ Jan 12th 2007 9:34PM
#18 it won't jump ship because Sony won't allow Porn on BD! If any company allows porn on BD their license to manufacture BD will be tooken away.
Tyler @ Jan 12th 2007 10:55PM
@19 Welcome to 2005, old news is oooooold
Not to mention, they're supporting both formats, not just HD-DVD exclusively
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/7165.cfm
iHD...Windows Vista.. LOL
Frankie @ Jan 13th 2007 12:17AM
Oh god, all this sanctimonious crap about not buying porn or "respecting them for it for not allowing it" makes me sicker than the seething fanboyism.
Jesus Horny Christ.
Next-Gen-Gamer @ Jan 13th 2007 4:40AM
"We don't need dual-format players, trust me. Blu-ray has NO SHOT of losing this war. HD-DVD is backed by Microsoft, Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Intel, and Universal. BluRay is backed by (deep breath), Apple, Dell, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sharp, Walt Disney, Paramount, TDK, Hitachi, LG, Lionsgate, Buena Vista, Fox, MGM, HP, the list goes on and on."
And you tried to tell us not to let Microsoft fool us? Not only did you leave the HD-DVD list incomplete, but companies like Paramount support both formats. Where's Warner Bros., New Line, Weinstein, and HBO (and even I'm missing names)? I'm surprised you can even count Samsung and LG, considering they're working on dual-format players. Or how about listing the fact that Walt Disney is looking into HD-DVD.
It's sad that you have to be this ignorant this early. DVD will last AT LEAST until 2010. Not only that, but HDTVs still aren't common. There's no reason to purchase either, and if it comes down to a battle of attrition, the high costs of BD and Blu-ray players will cause the format (as a whole) to collapse.
P.S. There are currently 51GB HD-DVDs being created.
Nick James @ Jan 13th 2007 9:21AM
The triple-layer HD-DVDs will not work in current HD-DVD players. The 51GB HD-DVDs are just a prototype that will probably only see fruition as distribution of data or backup.
As for video, I don't think so... unless everyone wants to buy another $200 addon for their Xbox 360? Well.. I guess if they are releasing that new HDMI-equipped 360...
...
Damn.
And here's the way it is: The only reason people piss all over Blu-ray is because the first few releases were pretty poor transfers. BUT READ CURRENT REVIEWS. Blu-ray Discs have great picture quality...
And there's a shitload of movies.
Plus, anyone ever seen Pirates of the Caribbean? Or its sequel? You know, that movie that is essentially a license for Disney to print gold?
Yeah. Blu-ray exclusivity.
HIllsht @ Jan 13th 2007 11:08AM
700% percent of 1 is 7 ... before the holdiays and such they had nearly NO Blu-Ray players out, now there have been a few early adopters, mostly 1,000,000 or so PS3 buyers. They spin it like its amazing news, but big percentages will come out of small numbers in regards to growth. It's like earnings per share in the stock market, when public companies make that jump to profitablility sometimes it it will go from $.01 earnings per share to like $.03 or something, and they scream 300% earnings growth. Even though in real terms they aren't earning all that much.
Naaiif @ Jan 13th 2007 7:01PM
P.S. There are currently 51GB HD-DVDs being created.
Yeh they're JUST starting to experiment with triple layer 51gb, while BD's dual layer is already 50gb and they've been experimenting with quad layered 200gb BD discs, for some time...
Spit out some more inferior specs to make HD-DVD look worse why don't you.
Josh V @ Jan 13th 2007 8:48PM
yeah really the porn industry doesn't hold any near as much power this time around as they did before becuase of the internet.
1. Most porn is gathered through the net now
2. VHS was the first time porn was able to be brought into your own home so that was the big thing there.
And the ones saying Sony wont allow porn on Blu-ray is wrong. Sony has no say in who uses blu-ray or not, they only own part of the blu-ray company/backing, its shared with several companys including Fox, Disney and so on. Sony developed Betamax, they didn't develope Blu-ray.
Zed @ Jan 13th 2007 9:46PM
Ya pervs can get there porn on-line.
With all the company's that are producing blu-ray and a company like warner developing a hybrid disk so there movies will be on blu-ray, why would it fail. BD movies will take over becasue anyone who watches one is pretty much hooked. All I keep thinking is why anyone would think that 1080i is better, when almost everyone I know changed ther DVD player to a progressive scan a few years back(480i to 480p you know). Why even bother with interlacing when it seems most people prefer progressive scan. Also all this talk about triple layer HD-DVD's and quad BD. That is the next gen stuff what ya seen now is what you get. There has been a HDV disk that has been rumored for a year that is 200 gb, but that is for 10 years from now. So if you want to wait ten to twelve years to jump into the HI-def world that's your choice, but bashing ppl for something that there system has that they are talking about seems ignorant.
Duscrom @ Jan 15th 2007 6:25AM
All of you's wrong. DVD will continue to dominate the mass market. The niceh, home theater enthusiest will be the target for High Def Optical media. Irony is.. so Apple supports Blu-Ray and puts em in computers.... That's like 1% of the PC market. The rest runs on Windows computers and MS is pushing HD DVD... wait.. no they aren't They are just supporting it because the HD DVD group was able to get managed copy into the format before the Blu Ray group.
But Vista will never run Blu Ray.. oh crap, that's wrong too.. seeing as Blu Ray will be in Sony's Vio computers... which... will run Vista....
And as I think of Blu Ray drives in Macs.. i have to marvel in more Ways Apple can jack up the prices even higher on their stuff.. I mean, a good Core Duo Mac already costs $2,500 and that's with a dated GPU and a normal DVD Drive. Throw a blu ray laser into that, your talking $3k computers and laptops.
So in the HD DVD vs Blu Ray war, who looses? Well, the consumer of course. So.. you guys get Disney and you'll get Pirates... Well Weinstien is on HD DVD, and we've got Sin City locked down. We also got Lord Of The Rings as well..
As for the porn thing.. here's how it goes. Sony says.. " He then went on to explain that he had in fact wanted to publish his movies on Blu-ray Disc, but that all Blu-ray Disc copying facilities in the United States had refused to cooperate. The companies had unanimously declared that Sony had threatened to withdraw their Blu-ray licenses should they stoop to making HD copies of pornographic films, Joone said" Sony does have a say.
Is porn that important.. No, not anymore. Is Blu Ray have the upper hand in the HD optical race> IMHO, yes.. despite the fact that I am a happy owner of an Xbox 360 HD DVD player. But for me, the movies aren't why i owned the box. I've owned it and loved it for the last year. So Tossing $200 bucks away to get a high Def player was a bonus. I mean, a $200 HD DVD player that also works on my PC? Where are the downsides. But the funny thing is The 360 isn't shoehorend or stuck on the format. I've got HD movies on demand on the 360, and in a year, i'll have IPTV through the 360. MS is not throwing all it's support at HD DVD in a bid to pit it against Sony's blu ray. Hell, as far as we know, Sony may have denied MS the licence to make an add on Blu Ray drive. That would make a good buiesness decision. I mean, heck, the Blu Ray player is the only thing that's got me considering a 20 GB PS3. If i could spend $200 and get an add on for my Xbox 360, what would be the point?
In the HD format war, Blu ray is supirior. But VoD is comming in and IPTV looms on the horizon.
Grimpuppy @ Jan 23rd 2007 1:14PM
You all need to stop with the VHS/BETA thing. Why? I'll tell you why... because back then you could not download and find more Porn online then anywhere else. Porn is not going to be a huge factor this time.
ILikePorn @ Feb 14th 2007 6:19AM
In the past, porn could only be sold on tapes and since it was only available on VHS, it helped, but wasn't the only deciding factor. VHS 'HAD' bigger capacity over BetaMax.
Talking about now, it is actually still possible to download porn online so anyone wanting some porn could download it unlike in the past. Most ppl watch porn on computer anyway, in their own room. 2ndly Blu-Ray HAS bigger capacity over HD-DVD, just like VHS had over Beta-Max. In fact the HD-DVD's capacity for long movies are already being maxxed out so they have to cut back on lossless audio options.
Blu-ray Discs are also becoming much cheaper and the PQ has become normal rather than dodgy due to the initial batch released in MPEG2 format. Now it is at the minimum on par with VC1 of HD-DVD, if not better because it could hold more data for extra features and menus and better audio format.
Anyway right now the momentum is with Blu-Ray already. However that's not to say it will win for sure. Because HD-DVD has its pros too. But Blu-Ray is just much stronger with PS3 sales and likely computer sales later.