Europe sees Blu-Ray sales boosted by PS3
by Peter Vrabel 
{ May 21st 2007 at 8:30PM }
How well is Blu-Ray doing in other markets, compared to HD-DVD? In Japan, the figures are a lot higher, with Blu-Ray pwning 96% of the entire HD market. If Blu-Ray sales continue to beat out HD-DVD with additional market share, the next gen format war may have a clear victor. Now lets make quick with that Matrix Blu-Ray set already!
[Via Blu-Ray.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Luke @ May 21st 2007 8:33PM
96%... Holy mother of christ.
kingofwale @ May 21st 2007 8:45PM
I hate the word "pwns" but at 96%, that's major Pwn-age right there.
Let's hope the data is real, if it is, kiss HD-DVD goodbye.
massive_98 @ May 21st 2007 8:48PM
Japan held a huge market with Betamax as well...but this time around Sony has the PS3. Game over.
lenny0487 @ May 21st 2007 9:18PM
yea, I asked a blockbuster clerk about whats being rented the most, she said Blu-ray and that they might clear the HD-DVD out of their store, since the HD discs have a column shared amongst itselves, they are clearing HD-DVD out because its not being rented like Blu-ray, also in sales. so yea HD-DVD is the next betamax, seriously this war should of been over long before it started
Gamble20 @ May 21st 2007 10:13PM
I love Blu-Ray over HD-DVD and have since the beginning, but it really wasn't fair for HD-DVD to have to face Sony.
Maybe if they were backed by another MAJOR film company. THey had Microsoft who screwed them voer by not making HD-DVD standard in the 360 so that didnt help.
Without Sony they lost Sony Pictures, Columbia, Tri-Star, and MGM. Then they lose Disney. On top of that Blu-Ray comes standard with PS3 and has all of the hardware support Sony can give which is alot.
If it wasn't for freaking Universal this would have been over in February. HD-DVD needs to just give up and try and make a deal with Sony or something, nobody likes this "war" it just makes both sides lose money.
Welshbloke @ May 22nd 2007 5:39AM
Anybody hear a fat lady sing?
I think not, maybe we should wait see what happens when the sub $100 HD-DVD players come out after all it will be the folks with players under this value that will be the big buyers of HD content.
I would humbly suggest that whoever gets large numbers of cheap players to market will win.
Build em cheap and the studios will come (Even Universal or Disney depending on your winner).
Luke @ May 22nd 2007 6:50AM
Gah who cares, Heroes season1 is coming out on HD-DVD but not Blu-Ray :(
I cried.
Mike @ May 22nd 2007 7:43AM
It is as if you are saying Blu-ray (Yes, remember that ir is a small 'r' and not a captal 'R'), is the only factor in making the PS3 successful.
Galley @ May 22nd 2007 8:38AM
Perhaps this is "the final countdown" to HD DVD's demise.
justincoool @ May 22nd 2007 12:06PM
that's right...u know how many Lion Kings and Beauty and the Beasts were sold on dvd when they were first released?..(11 million in one week each) please look it up!)...Finding Nemo has sold 28 million dvds (biggest of all time)....please look it up...when Disney releases blu ray discs (those titles will be released this fall 2007 (exclusively) it will sell millions in weeks...I want Beauty and the Beast myself and Nemo and Lion King! Blu ray will win..easily...it is no lie..just plain truth!
antistar @ May 22nd 2007 12:22PM
marvin,
I agree with you that the picture improvement between upconverting dvd players and blu-ray is not a significant jump (this of course depends on the scaler in the upconverting dvd player). The biggerst difference thou is the sound. Running uncompressed PCM audio sounds significantly better than anything in dolby or dts (it's about the same jump as going from standard tv to hdtv). The sound is what makes blu-ray worth the money.
James @ May 22nd 2007 4:39PM
Don't count HD-DVD out just yet. Walmart is the largest and most important retailer in the world, and they are going to sell HD-DVD players and HD-DVD movies exclusively. All the PS3 owners are starved for content for their machine. Once a steady stream of games starts to come in for the system, I can easily see the demand for blu-ray movies diminish substantially.
Personally, I prefer HD-DVD. I have compared side by side a few movies that are on both, which is why I choose HD-DVD. So as long as they sell them, I will buy them. But I do have cash to burn, so I can easily switch to Blu-Ray if they end up the final victor. Walmart will be a major player in all this when all is said and done. Mark my words.
kingofwale @ May 22nd 2007 8:43PM
>, and they are going to sell HD-DVD players and HD-DVD movies exclusively.
Feel free to show me the news that had walmart CONFIMRED they will carry HD-DVD exclusively
no, I don't mean the one where some idiot Chinese company claimed that after walmart asked their capacity level. I'm sure that company made a cool few mil in the market. but heck, that's what you get for trusting the Chinese. ;)
massive_98 @ May 22nd 2007 9:46PM
Lets not get rascist. Bad drivers.
Anyways, if there were 1 million blu-ray players and 1 million HD DVD players...If you were a studio which format would you choose?
Personally I would go with HD DVD, cheaper to make and the extra Blu-ray space is only relevant for television series.
But Blu-ray will win, but given the choice it shouldn't.