Sluggish economy blamed for lowered Blu-ray sales expectations
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Nov 17th 2008 at 10:00AM }
The sluggish global economy is being blamed for the lowered expectations for Blu-ray. With recessions hitting most economies in the world, consumers may be reluctant to purchase a high-definition entertainment system. "The only dark cloud is the economy," David Bishop, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, told a panel. However, he added the consumer products side of Sony Corp. is "showing no slowdown in the adoption of the PlayStation 3."
To help spur sales, Blu-ray players have been going on sale, and players can be found for less than $200. Sony is also confident it will be able to sell 4-5 million PS3s from now until March. "We remain pretty confident that we'll meet our targets for the fiscal year," said Julie Han, spokeswoman for Sony Computer Entertainment America.
[Via Edge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PS3Lee @ Nov 17th 2008 10:20AM
It probably doesn't help with the price of Blu-ray's being extortionate in the UK (£17 - £25). Why bother with a Blu-ray when you can buy the same film on DVD for half the price and let your PS3/DVD player upscale it (if your player does that).
xystos @ Nov 17th 2008 10:35AM
The reason why people don't just but the DVD version of a movie is because audio tracks on Blu-ray are far better then DVD. It's not only about the upscaled video guys.
Ruxpin @ Nov 17th 2008 12:19PM
I have to agree with both you and Xystos here.
As for upscaling, I don't see a significant difference between Blu-ray versus DVD upscaled on most of my televisions (some movies do not fit this mold, of course)... especially when it comes to those movie classics that you might own for nostalgia sake that really don't get tremendous visual benefit from the Blu-Ray. As such, the draw to pay more for Blu-Ray might not be there...
Where I do see *tremendous* benefit is the sound quality. One of the first Blu-Ray movies we watched was Mr. Brooks... granted, it's not a great movie (similar to most Kevin Costner movies... Prince of Thieves excluded), but the fact that the sound was so oddly-crisp made it a much more enjoyable experience.
My policy with Blu-ray now is that I'll only buy those truly epic films -- the rest and wait for the remainder on DVD for $5 to $6.99 which most DVDs eventually hit on sale. As for Disney (with the first child on the way)... I'll buy Blu as long as they continue to include the regular DVD similar to what they just did with Sleeping Beauty.
PS3Lee @ Nov 17th 2008 1:33PM
@xystos & Ruxpin
I do agree that the audio is alot better, but my beef was really about the over-inflated price. I have a 'few' blu-rays that I watch through my PS3 onto my 1080p TV via HDMI and I do appreciate that the quality is excellent, but I still refuse to pay full price. I will only pick them up at a reduced/bargain price as I feel that the 'retail' price tag in my opinion is greedy.
Apologies for the rant....i'm done...
Dookie @ Nov 17th 2008 1:35PM
I dont know where you shop there are loads of blu-ray's at great prices.
2 disk special edition Dark Knight £14.99
2 disk special edition Hellboy 2 £13.99
The Matrix trilogy £29.99
need I go on?
I think you need to shop around more
PS3Lee @ Nov 17th 2008 1:47PM
@Dookie
No offense, but we have said we will buy at reduced/bargain prices already. Our point is that the everyday average price is too much, I am aware that if I shopped around online or travelled miles out of my way to get it, it would probably be cheaper. BUT why should we need to....
bish @ Nov 17th 2008 4:00PM
The cost will come down eventually, and it actually has since it's release, however the issue is that because Blu-ray discs are made differently then DVD's the manufacturing cost is in the price of the Blu-ray discs. Once the cost of setting up to make the Blu-ray discs has been covered you should see the retail price drop dramatically. The problem though is reaching that point.
Popfrogs @ Nov 17th 2008 6:32PM
Basically to summarize, people expect Blu-ray quality at DVD prices. Ain't gonna happen unless the studios feel like subsidizing until the format is really thoroughly entrenched.
BananaBoat @ Nov 18th 2008 1:39AM
People seem to forget that there is an entirely different authoring process involved for Blu-Ray than for DVD, and there are extra costs associated with it. Granted, those costs shouldn't make a movie cost over 30-40 dollars at retail, but I thinks it's silly when people look at the DVD release and the Blu-Ray release side-by-side and scoff at the extra couple of dollars for the BR release.
As for the picture quality of Blu-Ray, it all depends on the transfer. There is an undeniable fact that Blu-Ray allows for a higher resolution, and a higher bitrate (for both audio and video) than DVD. Does your TV allow you to take advantage of the enhanced audio and video? From a videophile (and a slight audiophile) perspective, the difference between upscaling (which adds junk data that was never there in the first place) and actual HD content is enormous. For some people, it may not matter, because their TV is either too small, their eyesight is too poor, etc.
That's my rant for the day. I still have friends that swear to me they can't tell the difference between SD and HD. I'll flip between HD football (crisp, clear, you can see the sweat on the players faces) and SD football (blurry, fuzzy, you can't even read the name of the player on his jersey) and they'll still swear up and down that there is no difference. It makes me wonder if some people are just born with terrible eyes.
Lars @ Nov 18th 2008 3:54PM
The upscaler on the PS3 is stellar. So, I feel no need to re-buy my movies on BD... except for certain gems that I must have in the best possible format. Oh and anything filmed with IMAX cameras.
But I'm not one to buy a new movie every week, or even month. Not enough good movies are released to justify wasting my time and money (mostly my time).
Ghaleon @ Nov 17th 2008 10:27AM
Well they can't just say "It isn't selling because nobody really cares"
vahdyx @ Nov 17th 2008 10:39AM
I still buy DVD's Blu-ray isn't worth it for me at $29-$39 or higher for some.
I'd rather pay $5-17 for a movie.
Honestly blu-ray's real competitor is DVD not HD DVD
rickjamess @ Nov 17th 2008 11:33AM
You must not pay attention to prices much. There are several great titles for under $20 now--some as low as $14. Also, if you check out Amazon deals, you can get the newer titles for cheap.
vahdyx @ Nov 17th 2008 12:34PM
Rick, I don't buy online very often.
Best buy will have sales and stuff, but for the most part they don't so I will just get the dvd version when they come out or I can wait a few months but why do that?
Jon Acheson @ Nov 17th 2008 3:46PM
The Wal-Mart near me now has Blu-Ray discs in their aisle kiosk starting at $14.95.
Prices are definitely following the price trajectory of DVD.
deaftly @ Nov 17th 2008 10:39AM
The only blurays I have are the free ones that came with my ps3. They are just not worth the price vs upscaling dvd's.
Puli @ Nov 17th 2008 10:43AM
I don't buy Blu-rays, but I don't buy dvds either. I'd rather just buy video games and watch movies online. Although I usually ask for blu-rays from my family for x-mas and birthdays. That's how I've gotten my whole (small) collection.
Popfrogs @ Nov 17th 2008 12:26PM
"I'd rather just buy video games and watch movies online."
Translation: I'd rather just download all my movies for free from Bittorrent.
Neon @ Nov 17th 2008 10:46AM
I have to agree. I would love to have more Blu-Ray movies but I am not going to pay practically double for something when upscaling (though not as fantastic as blu-ray) will do me for $15. When there are sales, that's when I buy Blu-Ray. Costs have to come down to the equivalent price of the DVD.
Herman @ Nov 17th 2008 11:15AM
I don't know, it's easy to blame the economy for low blu-ray sales. For me, nothing good has come out for almost a whole month that is worth buying. On DVD or Blu-ray for that matter. There's a couple things coming up that I'm going to get, but for the most part, everything that is being released on any format for the rest of the year is just downright boring and not worth purchasing. Aside from December 9th. Lots of good things that week. :)
Thomas @ Nov 17th 2008 11:10AM
No one wants to pay 29.99 for a movie.. No one wants to pay 17.99 for a movie. The least the movie companies could do is release the blu ray version of a movie a week or two early. Providing the mere product at FULL price is NOT enough to make people spend extra, you have to give some incentives. Buy 2 get 1 free, 10 dollars off the movie for the first week of sales. Make the players cheaper as well, The world is ready for a 150.00 blu ray player. I just find it so hard to believe that these companies (especially Sony) can be so Incompetent in regards to utilizing incentives to get their inproved sales on their products.
Thomas @ Nov 17th 2008 11:17AM
I meant to say no one wants to pay 24.99, (not 17.99) for a movie. 17.99 is not so bad for a blu ray;
one more point - customers I believe like Blu ray and appreciate the product, but its not in their budget.
PS3Lee @ Nov 17th 2008 2:21PM
"customers I believe like Blu ray and appreciate the product, but its not in their budget."
I agree, very well put.
Invisible Robot Meat @ Nov 17th 2008 11:26AM
I've never been big into buying movies period, renting is better. Besides when you can watch hi-def over the air for free it gives me my HD fix. I know its not 1080p but my tv only does 720p/1080i anyway.
Dan Rabot @ Nov 17th 2008 11:31AM
I buy quite a few blu-rays, but mostly cheap on ebay, they are far too expensive in the shops.
Devin @ Nov 17th 2008 11:40AM
I rent HD movies off of my cable provider and they look stupendous for the price. I still would take a Blu-ray over them any day....
Dan Rabot @ Nov 17th 2008 11:46AM
Yeah i would love to get them digitally, but no joy from my provider.
I do rent a lot of blu-rays from blockbuster, they have quite a lame selection but we get the odd new one.
ScottishPrik @ Nov 17th 2008 12:06PM
Yay, blu-ray players for less than $200. Now there is no good reason to buy a PS3.
Popfrogs @ Nov 17th 2008 12:20PM
Right, since all the games suck. Or is it because there are no games?
Xbot trolls must get a forced lobotomy or something, I swear.
ScottishPrik @ Nov 17th 2008 12:35PM
I win.
Jack Tretton @ Nov 17th 2008 12:27PM
"Sony is also confident it will be able to sell 4-5 million PS3s from now until March."
In the U.S., huh? "Confident" isn't the adjective you want here; try "delusional."
Popfrogs @ Nov 17th 2008 6:34PM
Where did it say anything about the US? Sony corporate types always talk about worldwide sales.
Jack Tretton @ Nov 18th 2008 10:16PM
@Popfrogs
FTFA: "'We remain pretty confident that we'll meet our targets for the fiscal year,' said Julie Han, spokeswoman for Sony Computer Entertainment AMERICA."
Emphasis mine.
rgoff31 @ Nov 17th 2008 12:38PM
People don't understand/see a difference between blu-ray and DVD.
If they want to sell units they need to lower Blu-ray disc prices. Even I have bought a few things on DVDs because it was available and cheaper on DVD.
Devin @ Nov 17th 2008 2:12PM
They don't see the difference unless they own a decently priced HD display and a (at the least) 5.1 surround sound system with a brand name. If you own the off-brand crap then yeah, DVD's will look/sound just as good....
ryan @ Nov 17th 2008 12:55PM
I like the idea of Blu-ray and the capacity it has for content, but call me old fashioned, movies are still pretty decent on DVD and the jump to Blu-ray isn't as big a difference like VHS to DVD was. :/
maxpontiac @ Nov 17th 2008 1:00PM
Lower the price, and everything will be solved.
If Blu-Rays were as cheap as DVD's, there would not be an issue..
Omni_Noesis @ Nov 17th 2008 4:54PM
The Digital Bits Reports that Blu Ray is surpassing DVD in its second year, compared to when DVD was out in its second year.
http://n4g.com/industrynews/News-231739.aspx
Vcize @ Nov 17th 2008 4:47PM
So the economy is stopping people from buying these ~$200 blu-ray players, but having no effect on people buying more expensive game machines with more expensive games to seel them on and accessories that add up to almost the price of the blu-ray player all on their own?
mmmkay...
Evan @ Nov 17th 2008 5:28PM
I blame lack of movies. There are many movies that are available in 720p or 1080p on Bittorrent, legitimate download services, and HD cable, that are not available on Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray has fallen behind particularily with animated movies and anime. It's pathetic when a pirated download is better quality than the best available disc copy (DVD).
davedrastic @ Nov 18th 2008 4:04AM
Couple of things...
1) In Australia the price of Blu-Ray players have come down significantly. 2 years ago, probably 18 months ago, they were all a minimum of $999, in line with the cost of the PS3 at the time. Now the pricing for a Samsung is $350, or $399 for a Sony. Not sure on the price drop of the discs.
2) To the audiophiles, from a non-audiophile, what do you need to get the best out of the audio. When I say "the best" I don't literally mean that. What's a good setup for a mum and dad user? Just a standard Home Theatre setup?
3) In regards to the price of DVDs, I've hardly bought any DVDs due to cost and have only bought the must haves and the significantly reduced in price. With the advent of Netflix and co, the internet and Blockbusters monthly subscriptions, the cost of renting DVDs were far cheaper than buying them. But now you can buy 2 year old movies on DVD for the same cost as renting a New Release. I would have thought that the main reason why DVD pricing went on a slippery slope is because of people illegally downloading movies, and not because of any reduced cost in manufacturing. Wether or not illegal downloading and reduced DVD sales is the cause of lower DVD pricing, I think the mere fact that DVD prices have tumbled over the last couple of years that that will put alot of pressure on Blu-Ray disk prices to fall. I agree with several of the above that if I want to build a movie collection I'm likely to do that with DVDs that can be upscaled, and not Blu-Rays for anything other than my top 10 movies or such. I don't think that the Blu-Ray improved audio is likely to be a big selling point to myself or many others as afterall we're all now used to listening to Mp3s' from dodgy players of various sorts which hardly matches the quality of CDs' or other improved technologies. We've been audiolly dumbed-down.
koehler83 @ Nov 18th 2008 8:37AM
I think blu ray is doing just fine, there is just a general lack of interest in buying through normal retail chains. Those are the numbers we see the most. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and the like are all likely seeing poor sales in comparison to amazon where all the same movies are at least 25% cheaper including shipping.
As far as players themselves are concerned, despite some having a lower price tag, I wouldnt buy a stand alone blu ray player when for a very reasonable $400 I can get a PS3 and get so much more media capability, a big HDD, WiFi and Bluetooth.
I got my mother a PS3 last christmas as a BD player and she loves it. She is also a big fan of Guitar Hero and enjoys the various PSN games I share with her. She just bought herself LBP last week. I thought that was funny.
This year I'll be getting my father a PS3 for the same reason. He was an HD-DVD supporter (in theory) and needs a wake up call. He'll be buying himself Rock Band on the cheap in no time.
Lars @ Nov 18th 2008 6:12PM
If it's not the economy then it's piracy, if it's not piracy then it's the less-than-stellar PS3 sales, if that's not it then blame digital downloads, or consumer awareness, or maybe Netflix, or how about alien brainwashing?
Seriously, the list of excuses they've used is so long that I'm thinking they're just randomly pulling them out their ass at this point.
Menchi @ Nov 18th 2008 8:00PM
Blu Ray sales have been sluggish? if anything i see it exploding.
Yes a brand new hot off the press bockbuster title costs more then its dvd counterpart. Good things come to those who wait however.
I picked up iron man for 15 bucs new, both bond collections for 50 bucs total, entire tv seasons for 25 bucs. You just need to watch sales and specials and you will find great deals. I owned 3 blue ray movies going into September i now own like 20. Prices will keep falling people jut need to get over their internet stigma.
Shopping in local stores is outdated.