Washington, D.C.
(April 20, 2007) -- Sales of Blu-ray HDTV DVDs once again
trounced rival HD DVD in March and the Sony-backed format now
has a 69-31 percent sales lead in the first three months of
2007.
That's according to Nielsen Video Scan, which tracks the sale of the new high-def DVDs.
Blu-ray supporters say the widening lead is evidence that the format is pulling away from HD DVD in the high-def DVD format war. The two formats are competing for the new high-def DVD audience.
That's according to Nielsen Video Scan, which tracks the sale of the new high-def DVDs.
Blu-ray supporters say the widening lead is evidence that the format is pulling away from HD DVD in the high-def DVD format war. The two formats are competing for the new high-def DVD audience.
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However, HD DVD backers tell Video Business that its format will rebound due to lower player prices and the release of 70 new HD DVD titles between now and summer. Toshiba, the biggest supporter of the HD DVD format, recently introduced a $399 player.
Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of marketing for Universal, the only studio to exclusively support HD DVD, conceded that Blu-ray would keep its lead until the fourth quarter. But he said HD DVD should perform well then.
“Fourth quarter is really going to be a telling time,” he said.
HD DVD supporters credit Blu-ray's sales dominance to the release of several big titles in the spring, including Sony's Casino Royale, which has been the top high-def DVD seller.
But Blu-ray backers say retailers will start to act accordingly after seeing the sales numbers.
“We think retailers will start to dedicate more space to Blu-ray, rather than split it half and half,” Sony worldwide president David Bishop told Video Business. “That will further send a signal to consumers that it is the dominant format.”
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However, HD DVD backers tell Video Business that its format will rebound due to lower player prices and the release of 70 new HD DVD titles between now and summer. Toshiba, the biggest supporter of the HD DVD format, recently introduced a $399 player.
Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of marketing for Universal, the only studio to exclusively support HD DVD, conceded that Blu-ray would keep its lead until the fourth quarter. But he said HD DVD should perform well then.
“Fourth quarter is really going to be a telling time,” he said.
HD DVD supporters credit Blu-ray's sales dominance to the release of several big titles in the spring, including Sony's Casino Royale, which has been the top high-def DVD seller.
But Blu-ray backers say retailers will start to act accordingly after seeing the sales numbers.
“We think retailers will start to dedicate more space to Blu-ray, rather than split it half and half,” Sony worldwide president David Bishop told Video Business. “That will further send a signal to consumers that it is the dominant format.”
Comment on this article!
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
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Phillip Swann is
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News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The
Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The
Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com
or at 703-505-3064.
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