HD DVD group: Cheaper PS3 won't help Blu-ray sales

by Chris Powell { Oct 10th 2007 at 2:45PM }

While gamers and retail chains have been mostly praising Sony's new cheaper PS3 (aside from the backward-compatibility issue), the European HD DVD Promotional Group has said the 40GB system won't have much impact on Blu-ray sales in the region.

"The European PS3 price cut will have a minimal impact on the adoption of next generation HD formats. The real battleground is in sales of standalone players and HD DVD is out in front by a massive margin," Co-Chairman of the European HD DVD Promotional Group Ken Graffeo said. According to the group, HD DVD accounts for about 70 percent of the European market, and it expects that number to continue to grow.

However, many believe this year's holiday period will go a long way in deciding which format will reign as king, and we think the HD DVD group may be underestimating the impact of the 40GB PS3.

Tags: 40gb, blu-ray, hd-dvd

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Paul @ Oct 10th 2007 2:50PM

cheaper hd dvd wont help its sales either

lenny0487 @ Oct 10th 2007 2:59PM

ORLY??? can they tell us why they are trailing BD??? im mean before the PS3 released they were leading and and where 6months ahead of BD launch, after the PS3 released, they started trailing... wow...what a PR stunt...

Problums @ Oct 10th 2007 2:59PM

What a waste of time this whole thing is. I could see this back and forth continuing for years with no strong leader in front. Which is pretty annoying since all my favorite movies seem to be exclusives on HD DVD. Yawwwwwwn

Solace @ Oct 10th 2007 3:01PM

breaking news story: "McDonald's says that BurgerKing's burgers aren't delicious and are made from dead babies."

anyone else think that this just makes the HD-DVD camp look a little desperate when stuff like this flies in the face of all the reports that show BluRay outselling HD-DVD monthly 2:1?

Nazim @ Oct 10th 2007 3:06PM

dude that is soo BS.....as soon as i bought a ps3, i started to get blu-ray.......my friends did the same, we have no reason to get an hd-dvd

sonicyouth @ Oct 10th 2007 3:09PM

Blu-Ray is well on it's way to being the clear victor in less than 2 years any way you slice it. It will be a widely used format for the next decade. Just look at DVD and how that format war panned out. History will repeat itself. Even M$ is ready to dish out a Blu-Ray add on to the CrapBox.

KillarClown @ Oct 10th 2007 3:14PM

With Blu going to 100GB HD doesn't really have a leg to stand on storage wise..

proof?

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/blu_ray/hitachi-doubles-blu+ray-storage-to-100gb-308439.php

booyah, grandma!

MetalgearV2 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:15PM

Seems to me that these HD DVD groups are getting desperate and "HD DVD accounts for about 70 percent of the European market" har har somehow i dont trust that info when i read all these repost of blu ray outselling hd dvd constantly.

shase @ Oct 10th 2007 3:28PM

I think they are saying the sales of the players themselves. It is true disc-wise bluray is outselling hd-dvd but raw player-wise hd-dvd may very well be outselling bluray since hd buffs with no interest in a ps3 might go for the cheaper hd player

Random1448 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:34PM

HD-DVD=pwned

Micah Neumark @ Oct 10th 2007 3:43PM

I don't really understand this whole standalone players are the only thing that matters argument. If the PS3 is cheaper than other Bluray players, why wouldn't it count? That was about to be not true, until the price cut. And if it goes down to $400 in the US, it will be cemented in. I mean, they are trying to say a $500 PS3 doesn't matter but a $500 Bluray player without the capability of gaming is? Its just plain STUPID!

Popfrogs @ Oct 10th 2007 3:54PM

Rephrased article:

"If we don't count the millions of PS3s in homes around the world, HD-DVD is winning."

Sora57 @ Oct 10th 2007 3:56PM

This format war will go on for at least 5 years. There will be no clear winner for a long time. Until more HDTVs are in the homes, there is no reason for most folks to buy an HDDVD or BR player. Regular DVDs will rule the roost for quite a while. The vast majority of people still have SDTVs.

Aaron @ Oct 10th 2007 3:58PM

@10

I think you mean Beyowned! :D

Matt @ Oct 10th 2007 4:05PM

@12

The war isn't between players. It's between formats. If those millions of PS3 owners aren't buying and renting Blu-Ray discs, it doesn't matter.

rawd @ Oct 10th 2007 4:07PM

Nah you guys mean, HDDVD is PS3wnnnnnnned!

Hovan316 @ Oct 10th 2007 4:16PM

I bought a PS3 in April '07 and I already own 16 Blu-Ray movies!!! My friends have a lot too.

Paul @ Oct 10th 2007 4:17PM

Really, that is such a BS statement it could only come from a promotional group. This is the same thing as stating that total sales of PS3's have had no effect on Blu Ray sales at all. Well, the only reason I am buying Blu Ray is because I own a PS3. It's simple economics that if there are more players in the market (and while the PS3 isn't a "stand alone" player, it's still a player nonetheless)the more media for that player will be sold. Lowering the price of an already sought after item will do nothing but increase the amount of them in the marketplace.

Is HD DVD run by a bunch of monkeys?

JakeC @ Oct 10th 2007 4:55PM

@15

It looks like millions of ps3 owners are buying and renting Blu-Ray discs.
Blu-ray is outselling HD-DVD by a 2:1 margin.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/16/blu-ray-outselling-hd-dvd-2-to-1-this-year/

Ryan @ Oct 10th 2007 4:30PM

Denial is an ugly thing.

navstar @ Oct 10th 2007 4:35PM

Both HD audio disc formats -- dead. Both HD video disc formats -- dead.

DVDs FTW!!

ps3fanboy @ Oct 10th 2007 4:35PM

"What giant pink elephant in the middle of the room?"

"Nope, we can see nothing like that here"

*Very loud elephant call*

"Why is everyone laughing at us??"

sectionz @ Oct 10th 2007 4:41PM

someone give me some of what the HD-DVD group is smoking. the PS2 played a significant roll in the DVD taking over the VHS. they would be diluting themselves to think that the ps3 will not matter.

Justin @ Oct 10th 2007 4:56PM

who are they trying to convince?

James @ Oct 10th 2007 5:06PM

The majority of people buying the PS3 are buying it to play games, not as a Blu-Ray player. The Blu-Ray functionality is just an added bonus for most people. This means there are quite a few people who own a PS3 and will not ever buy a Blu-Ray movie, or if they do, it will only be a select few titles. (I know you are thinking, well hey, that's BS because I bought X amount of Blu-Rays already). And if that's the case, you are not the typical PS3 owner.

Blu-Ray movies outsell HD-DVD's at a ratio of about 2:1 in North America. That's great right? Well, including the PS3, it's thought that the current ratio of Blu-Ray players to HD-DVD players in North American homes is about 5:1. Do you see the problem here? Why aren't Blu-Ray movies pounding HD-DVD's at the same clip of about 5:1 instead of 2:1? Could it be that the true HD Video consumer actually prefers HD-DVD to Blu-Ray? Maybe some of you people should actually do some research. Also, the first stand alone Blu-Ray players are going to be obsolete when Blu-Ray movies move up to the next standard, because the players can't read these new Blu-Ray Discs, and the machines themselves are not upgradeable like the PS3 or all standalone HD-DVD players.

Also, ask yourselves this... If Blu-Ray is so great, why are SONY movies showing up on HD-DVD in foreign markets? Underworld: Evolution (as one example) is available on HD-DVD (not for release in the US). This is not a mockup, photoshop, or coming soon title. It's an actual SONY movie on HD-DVD that you can purchase now.

Just food for thought. I personally don't care which format wins. My preference is that both of them stick around for awhile. There are some things I like about HD-DVD, and some I like about Blu-Ray. At least if we have both formats, I have a choice. Not a single format forced upon me.

Livi70590 @ Oct 10th 2007 5:10PM

@ 25, do i count as a typical owner? I own 2 BDMV discs, and one of those was free...

wonway01 @ Oct 10th 2007 5:18PM

Did I read that right? It boasts that HD DVD players are winning the race if you dont include PS3's? lol

ruibing @ Oct 10th 2007 5:27PM

Blu Ray movies are the first nonpirated films to come into my home since those old Disney films when I was little. And it is all thanks to my PS3.

anthony pittarelli @ Oct 10th 2007 5:31PM

that just means more people are going to be dissapointed than there are already

Solace @ Oct 10th 2007 5:31PM

@29
"marginally better"?
are you blind, stuck on an SD set, or not have a TV that goes up to 1080p?

Tim Parsons @ Oct 10th 2007 5:50PM

HD-DVD can suck my bulls Blu-Ray all the way with or without SONY and the PS3 behind it.

I can't wait till the Blu-Ray burners drop a lil more in price was tempted to pick one up a week ago but the price is a lil steep plus Blu-Ray disc aren't cheap either

never$$hort @ Oct 10th 2007 5:58PM

This staement totally contradicts this statement made by the BDA:

Blu-ray Winning Europe 4-to-1
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=547

-HD-DUD is full of it. Once they actually include the PS3 as HD player sales numbers, they would know they are getting whooped on. According to them and some of you, I own 96+ blu-rays so I am not your typical PS3 owner but I play my PS3 more than I watch movies so again, BS!!!!

ymmv @ Oct 10th 2007 6:11PM

"According to the group, HD DVD accounts for about 70 percent of the European market, and it expects that number to continue to grow."

That's funny. The Blu-Ray group says they have 80% of the European HD market. That was the reason why FRS, the biggest seller of music and movies in the Netherlands has gone Blu-Ray only and dropped HD-DVD from their stores last week.

Break @ Oct 10th 2007 7:09PM

if it wasn't for my ps3 i don't think i'd be in ownership of the 40 some movies i have on blu ray
yes i know im a consumer whore
= (

al thor @ Oct 10th 2007 6:25PM

What nonsense. The HD dvd group better start getting worried if not already. The bd standalones are catching up and with new cheap ps3s it's going to be over by next year.

@ james, you do realise people want to watch one format as a movie. That's why it's important HD dud die already so that HD media can take off

techyted @ Oct 10th 2007 6:22PM

The people over at HD-DVD don't know what is going on, everybody I know that has a PS3 buys Blu-ray movies.

Popfrogs @ Oct 10th 2007 6:37PM

@38: You're totally right. People are sitting on the sidelines waiting for a clear winner before they jump into this whole HD thing. I think it's easy to see at this point, HDMI on a 1080p set with a 5.1 or 7.1 surround receiver and a BR player is the pinnacle of movie watching tech.

I was at a client's doing computer work last weekend and he was asking about 720p vs. 1080p. I broke it down for him but finished with "but none of that matters unless you get a 1080p source" to which he instantly replied, "oh, I'm getting a Blu-ray player also". This is a man that's pretty high up in the McDonald's corporation...and he can already see the winner.

Tim Parsons @ Oct 10th 2007 7:54PM

I've had my PS3 since Feb and i've yet to even rent/buy a Blu-Ray movie,

I even got rid of the 27' TV i had and got a 42' 1080P HDTV just for my PS3 and a new THX 5.1 surround sound system. But ive yet to see a movie i wanted enoug hto fork over the few extra dollars to get the Blu-Ray version I would have for Transformers but not now(obviously),..

Andy @ Oct 10th 2007 8:32PM

I don't think it will help that much either. The people that can afford HDTV's and $600 PS3's can afford to pay more for movies.

But people who have been waiting for the cheaper PS3 may not have the cash to buy brd movies and a tv that can showcase them.

I am not saying these new PS3 will sell no BRD's I am saying it won't make a big a difference as people may think.

John @ Oct 10th 2007 9:18PM

@James, most standalone players, blu-ray and hd-dvd, have upgradeable firmware. So future compatibility is not an issue, for either side.

And James, Underworld:Evolution is of course, also on blu-ray. Sony's picture studios are not going to balk at putting something on an opposing format if it makes money for the studio, which it will. This is just smart business.

I wish you had said what you like about hd-dvd and what you like about blu-ray. It's unclear how some people perceive the quality of these competing formats, and it would be nice to hear what a consumer thinks are the differences.

And JL, someone in the industry, just stated, that from a viewpoint of selling audio/video (not games), JL has seen ps3's outselling stand-alone, and why not? Any audio/video buff researching this is going to see what a great system the ps3 is-- they're also going to see that is has a failure rate of .2%-- that's POINT 2, people-- that reliability factor is better than almost any stand-alone blu-ray player on the market, and as was pointed out by some hi-def mag that did the tests, PS3 passes every test, meets every expectation of any blu-ray player on the market, so it's a no-brainer.

I don't agree with Andy-- there are plenty of people who want a next-gen gaming experience AND a next-gen movie experience. They'll be buying the ps3 for that, and it's the cheapest console/HD movie experience there is-- the cheapest core 360 (with no hard drive) with the added HD-DVD drive is more than the basic 40GB ps3 with blu-ray, AND Wireless.

Sony's move with the 40gb was brilliant, because now all these people who are casual gamers but want next-gen gaming, along with the HD movie experience, they can get a game player AND a movie player for $399.

Done deal.

Extinction @ Oct 11th 2007 1:24AM

"33. @31 No, I'm just not an idiot who wastes my money"

You are, you wasted money on DVD when someone as blind as yourself couldve stuck with VHS.

I, and those with actually good vision/TVs, can see the night/day difference in quality between DVD and HDDVD/Bluray

ryano @ Oct 11th 2007 2:48AM

@45

DVD is a significant improvement to VHS. whearas the leap to HD/Blu-Ray is not so much.

Clearer picture and the ability to fit seasons 1-7 onto one disc aside, i don't think there is an immediate need to replace the DVD.

in short i agree it is a waste of money for something that is preeety much the same.

so until the masses rise up and force me to go HD (ie. obliterating my Netflix of DVDs) i'll stick to what is dependable and affordable.

MGSteve @ Oct 11th 2007 4:32AM

@46 - Sorry, if you are saying that the difference between DVDs and HD/BR isn't significant, I can only guess you need to get your eyes looked at.

Hell, even on my old 720p set, the difference was bloody obvious. How many HD/BR films have you watched? Admitidly, some of the early BR films used the MPEG2 codec and didn't really make the most of the HD experience, but the more recent ones which use MPEG4 are far better.

FWIW, I have a PS3 and about 5 Blu Ray films. The only problem (and it effects both formats) is the lack of films to buy. But when the films in the UK are under £20 on BluRay, its a cheap buy for fantastic film quality.

If you really think the quality is no different. Stick a DVD on a 50" TV and then compare a BR/HD on the same set and if you are still in denial, then I suggest you move to Egypt as you like Denial so much. ;)

Back on topic - the HD Consortium have to shout BS like this as loud as they can to compete with the news that HD is failing as a format. Sure the paramount switch to HD-DVD only has only served to lengthen the format war, but really, there can and will be only one winner - unless studios start releasing films on both formats and then I can't see one winning outright and in that case, who cares anyway. As long as they put the effort into making the most of each format, the consumer is the winner. Naturally, the studios probably won't do this and they'll just develop the discs to the standard of the lowest common denominator (HDDVD).

But you only have to look in the shops to see which format is winning - my local rental shop has 2 whole wall units full of Blu Ray and only 2 shelves of HD-DVD!

finalfan @ Oct 11th 2007 4:56AM

" Looks like the BluRay/PS3 cheerleaders are at it here again.
Man some of you guys crack me up. I cant blame you too much. I mean with crap games to play on the PS3, the best you can really do is go on the internet and live in denial here on PS3fanboy. Have fun boys "

Ok people, just ignore the little flamer and you'll do fine!

Seriously dude, haven't you got nothing better to do than flame PS3F?

Oh and BTW, YOU are the one living in denial. I mean, you did read the links on this topic before you posted right? Look around you, the world is changing, M$ supremacy over the computer market is fading away slowly, bit by bit, little by little.

People starts to like linux better, SONY is taking It's revenge on the format war, PS3 is climbing up again... and you start to realize you made a mistake in supporting M$ which relies on industrial spying to creates things.

Just think about it, and make the right choice...

p.s. Our games will rock your little Halo's asshole.

Have a nice day!

ryano @ Oct 11th 2007 11:27AM

@47

did i say that HD/Blu-ray wasn't clearer than DVD? No.

i said it is unnecessary at this moment in time. i can still get the same information and enjoy the same content as an HD disc.

i don't think that qualifies "living in Egypt". it's an opinion based on real world standards that many people share with me.

tho, i have to admit your hardware IS bigger than mine. ;)

Sammy @ Oct 11th 2007 1:26PM

I want to go to Egypt.

CertifiedHater @ Oct 13th 2007 4:55AM

The people who are backing up HD-DVD swear by everything that the PS3 doesn't have a Blu-Ray drive and plays Blu-Ray movies. I mean, it plays the game and it plays the movie (Blu-Ray disc) and if you already have the player (PS3) why would you even think of buying an HD-DVD player or the disc (HD-DVD) let alone. I'm hearing silence in the offices of HD-DVD supporters.

sofocado @ Oct 13th 2007 5:01PM

I went to when I checked for blue-ray players online I don't see PS3 listed. I see it listed as a game console. When I bought my Xbox 360 I did not get it to play DVD, I got it because I want to play games. So I don't see Xbox 360 or PS3 on bestbuy.com as DVD players. Oh sure they can play dvds but they are game consoles that have the capabilities of playing movies. I did have the HD DVD add on but that was month after I got my 360 I did not know about this war between blue ray and HD DVD. For me playing HD DVD is an extra. HD DVD all the way.