Blu-ray players grab 93 percent of market after Warner went Blu

[wraggster]

http://www.engadgethd.com/media/2008/01/hdmarketsdjan081st2weeks.jpg

According to the latest NPD group report, during the month of December Blu-ray players held 60 percent of the HD media player market -- despite the fact that HD DVD players were considerably cheaper. While that might've helped Warner in its decision to go Blu, the move has definitely had a dramatic effect on player sales since. According to the same study the week after the announcement, Blu-ray players were able to grab 93 percent of the market, which puts the year to date (short, we know) share for Blu-ray players at 70 percent. Granted, it's hard to put too much stock in just a week or two of data, but if this and the recent media sales numbers (85 percent) becomes a trend, maybe this won't be such a slow death for HD DVD after all.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/22/blu-ray-players-grab-93-percent-of-market-after-warner-went-blu/

[JKKDARK]

We expected it, but 2 or 3 weeks mean nothing. Soon there will be a change, with new supports and plans by Microsoft.

[F9zDark]

Hah yeah right. Microsoft has already become "on the fence" about the format war (saying they could easily put a Blu-Ray player addon out for the 360) so I doubt they will do anything that will help HD-DVD.

And besides, Blu-Ray is, the undisputed winner of last year. Like anything HD-DVD does now will change the market dominance that Blu-Ray has held for the past year.

[Gizmo356]

We expected it, but 2 or 3 weeks mean nothing. Soon there will be a change, with new supports and plans by Microsoft.

HD-DVD am cry :)

[Elven6]

Don't beleive that bull shit about Ms and Blu RAY. Think of it from a profit perspective, Microsoft would be paying Sony for a Xbox 360 accesorie, something that is a direct compeitor.

Sony makes PC's that run Windows, thats true, but Sony dosen't make OS systems so don't bother using this excuse, since someone always does in this debate.

[freitax]

We expected it, but 2 or 3 weeks mean nothing. Soon there will be a change, with new supports and plans by Microsoft.

the separations plans haven't even started and the market has already reacted, so "2 or 3 weeks mean nothing." are you crazy? HD DVD is dead

[F9zDark]

Don't beleive that bull shit about Ms and Blu RAY. Think of it from a profit perspective, Microsoft would be paying Sony for a Xbox 360 accesorie, something that is a direct compeitor.

Sony makes PC's that run Windows, thats true, but Sony dosen't make OS systems so don't bother using this excuse, since someone always does in this debate.

Actually, that really doesn't mean a thing, since Blu-Ray uses Microsoft's VC1 compression technology. Them adopting Blu-Ray wouldn't be so hurtful to them after all (since they are getting money from the BR camp to use VC1...)

[Elven6]

But VC-1 isn't used for games, so its not directly used for the PS3. A Blu Ray drive would be directly used for the 360.

[DCergo]

Don't beleive that bull shit about Ms and Blu RAY. Think of it from a profit perspective, Microsoft would be paying Sony for a Xbox 360 accesorie, something that is a direct compeitor.

Sony isn't the majority patent holder in Blu-ray technology, and cannot make the sole decisions over Blu-ray. The BDA also has 18 companies at the board which make decisions, and I'd bet they (including Sony) wouldn't have a problem with MS using the tech. DVD was so prevalent, MS used it. Just as when Blu-ray becomes pervasive, they'll have no problem electing to use it for a 360 addon or their next console. MS had no problem allowing VC-1 to be licenced to the Blu-team. The BDA had no problem allowing AVC (Sony owns half) to be licensed to HDDVD.

It's straight up business, not the irrational passions of fanboyism that dictate how things progress.

[Elven6]

But DVD was created by Toshiba with the DVD Forum, and Microsoft was on the commity before a winner was choosen, Sony had backed a different format at that time which lost to DVD. Then Sony and Toshiba, etc collaborated on the final DVD specs.

[F9zDark]

But VC-1 isn't used for games, so its not directly used for the PS3. A Blu Ray drive would be directly used for the 360.

But Blu-Ray movie sales is what this topic concerns itself with. As well, the PS3, at the time of launch, being the cheapest and best Blu-Ray movie player available, has helped Blu-Ray massively.

The point? Microsoft has earned money off the back of Sony (since any PS3 owner who bought a Blu-Ray movie, contributed to Microsoft's earnings through licensing). It wouldn't be all that hard to swallow for the BD Association to earn some money off the back of Microsoft.

[jdnation]

Games that use pre-rendered HD cutscenes would require a codec though... so VC-1 would be an option.

[Elven6]

Mabye only 5% of games actaully use pre rendered cut scenes any more, and if they do I think they would have different compression techniques, to make it compatible with the engine.