Blu-ray Takes Lead In Available Titles
But the margin over HD DVD is small.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 9, 2007) -- Consumers who are trying to decide whether to buy a Blu-ray or HD DVD player often wonder which format has the most discs available.
Well, according to new numbers from The DVD Release Report, the answer is Blu-ray.
But just barely.
At the beginning of November, there were 332 Blu-ray titles available compared to 328 for HD DVD. Home Media Magazine notes that 66 Blu-ray titles are expected to be released in the coming weeks, compared to 42 new HD DVDs.
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DIRECTV Adds 600,000 HD & DVR Subs
The satcaster began its high-def expansion in the third quarter.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 8, 2007) -- DIRECTV yesterday said it added 600,000 new HD and/or DVR subscribers in the third quarter.
The satcaster said the number represents a 60 percent increase over last year's third quarter.
DIRECTV began its high-def expansion in the third quarter, jumping from 10 HD channels to more than 70 high-def channels by the end of October.
While the company did not break out the HD and DVR sub numbers, the high-def channel addition likely was the significant driver of the "HD and DVR" sub growth.
In an investors call yesterday with Wall Street analysts, DIRECTV compared the 3Q HD & DVR sub numbers with Comcast's recent third quarter report. The cable operator said it added 325,000 HD and DVR subs in the third quarter.
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HD DVD Players Near 500,000 Mark?
Recent $99 promotional push drives sales.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 8, 2007) -- HD DVD supporters say their favorite high-def format will sell 500,000 players by month's end.
That's according to an article by Home Media Magazine.
The publication reports that the recent price cut for the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player has triggered sales of more than 100,000 units over the last week.
Several retailers, including Wal-Mart and Best Buy, last Friday (November 2) dropped the price of the Toshiba HD-A2 to $99 as a special pre-Black Friday offer.
The player has a suggested retail price of $299, but normally now sells for around $199 in most stores.
Home Media writes that roughly 320,000 Toshiba HD DVD players were sold prior to last weekend's promotional push. With the 100,000 units added to that figure, HD DVD supporters say the 500,000 mark should be reached by the end of November.
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HDNet Sues DIRECTV For Programming Switch
The high-def network says DIRECTV is trying to destroy it to benefit its new ownership group.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 7, 2007) -- HDNet has filed a lawsuit against DIRECTV to block its plan to move the channel into a new programming package that will likely have far fewer viewers.
HDNet and its sister network, HDNet Movies, are now available to all DIRECTV high-def owners who pay $9.99 a month.
However, on December 15, the satcaster will move Universal HD and the two HDNet networks to a new programming package called "DIRECTV HD Extra Pack."
The HD Extra Pack, which will also include three recent channel additions (Smithsonian HD, MGM HD and MHD), will cost an extra $4.99 a month. It's uncertain how many subscribers will agree to pay the extra fee, but it's likely to be far less than the entire DIRECTV HD base.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in the 101st District Court in Dallas, HDNet charges that DIRECTV is "embarking on an unlawful campaign to destroy HDNet and to usurp its position in the market."
The high-def network, which was co-founded by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, said DIRECTV's package switch is in "gross violation of their contractual obligations."
"Defendants have decided to effectively kill HDNet's viewership by moving the two broadcast package -- where the channels are distributed to more than 2,000,000 households -- to a newly created obscure and overpriced package that puts the HDNet channels well beyond the reach of the average television viewer," the lawsuit says.
Robert Mercer, a DIRECTV spokesman, today disputed that the satcaster is violating its contract with HDNet.
"We are disappointed that our business partner would ignore the plain language of our agreement and file an unnecessary lawsuit coupled with a request for the unwarranted, extraordinary relief of a temporary restraining order," Mercer said. "They have not provided any concrete evidence to support their claims. We are acting in accord with our agreement with HDNet and we will defend the lawsuit vigorously."
Cuban declined to comment today on the lawsuit. However, the suit charges that DIRECTV wants to move HDNet so it can "feature their own programming and that of their favorite partners, Liberty Media Corporation and entities controlled by Liberty's Chairman, John C. Malone."
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HD DVD: 90,000 Sold In 3 Days
Special price drives sales, says report.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 7, 2007) -- Retailers sold an estimated 90,000 Toshiba HD DVD players last weekend thanks to a special $99 promotion.
That's according to an article by Video Business.
The HD DVD format has enjoyed a small lead over its rival Blu-ray in sales of standalone high-def disc players. But the weekend sale could give HD DVD a lead of 150,000 units sold to date.
(However, there are still more Blu-ray players in homes thanks to the sale of millions of Play Station 3 video game consoles, which have Blu-ray inside.)
Several retailers, including Wal-Mart and Best Buy, last Friday (November 2) dropped the price of the Toshiba HD-A2 to $99 as a special pre-Black Friday offer.
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Which HDTV Needs the Most Repairs?
Consumer Reports issues a new study.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 6, 2007) -- Rear-projection HDTVs are more likely to need repairs in the first three years than flat-screen LCD and Plasma sets.
That's the conclusion of a new study from Consumer Reports magazine.
In its December issue, Consumer Reports has published a study on brand repair rates for flat-panel and rear-projection TVs. According to CR, flat-panel LCD and Plasma TVs require few repairs during the first years of use.
However, rear-projection sets were much more "repair prone," the magazine said.
The study was based on the magazine's National Research Center's Annual Product Reliability Survey which covered almost 93,000 sets bought between 2004 and 2007.
The magazine found that Plasma and LCD HDTVs each had just a three percent repair rate, more evidence, it said, that consumers should bypass extended warranty offers.
In other findings, Consumer Reports found that Panasonic's 50-inch TH-50PZ700U Plasma set had only a two percent average repair rate. (The magazine also named the set the best flat-panel TV it had ever tested.)
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Warner: Endorse Blu-ray? Not Us
One studio executive says another exec's statement was misinterpreted.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2007) -- Warner Home Video is denying an earlier report that it's considering endorsing Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war.
Dan Silverberg, Warner's vice president of High-Definition media, seemed to hint last week that the studio might soon back Blu-ray exclusively in its format war against HD DVD.
Warner is now the only major studio that releases movies in both formats; two support HD DVD exclusively while four have endorsed Blu-ray.
“One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” Silverberg said, according to Home Media Magazine. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”
He added: “We can definitely talk Blu-ray. We are committed to the format.”
But according to the web site, High Def Digest, Jim Noonan, senior vice president of strategic promotion for the Warner Home Entertainment Group, now says the studio's position has not changed.
"I can tell you that Warner's position has not changed, and I know that Dan did not intend to suggest that wasn't the case. We support both formats and we have made no decision to alter that policy, nor are there any such announcements coming, or being planned," he told the web site.
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Why Doesn't Sony Lower Blu-ray Prices?
It's another edition of Ask Swanni!
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2007) -- I get scores of e-mails every week from readers asking everything from whether they should buy a new HDTV to when will their TV provider add new high-def channels.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this new column called, "Ask Swanni!" If you would like to submit a question for a future column, send it to: swann@tvpredictions.com
Now, here's Ask Swanni!
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Why Doesn't Sony Lower Blu-ray Prices?
It's another edition of Ask Swanni!
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2007) -- I get scores of e-mails every week from readers asking everything from whether they should buy a new HDTV to when will their TV provider add new high-def channels.
So, from time to time, I will publish my responses here in this new column called, "Ask Swanni!" If you would like to submit a question for a future column, send it to: swann@tvpredictions.com
Now, here's Ask Swanni!
| Read Full Article
Kmart: We're Backing Blu-ray, Too
The company denies that it's supporting HD DVD exclusively.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2007) -- Kmart has contradicted a reported statement from Toshiba that it will support HD DVD exclusively in the high-def disc format war.
Home Media Magazine last week quoted Toshiba spokeswoman Jody Sally as saying that Kmart had decided to carry HD DVD instead of Blu-ray because of its lower price.
The Toshiba entry-level HD DVD player retails for $299, but is now available for $198 at several stores including Circuit City and Wal-Mart.
A standalone Blu-ray player (HD DVD's rival in the format war) starts at $499, although the Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside, is now available for $399.
Kmart issued a statement on Friday from Jonathan Magasanik, a vice president at Sears, which owns Kmart, that says the Home Media Magazine report is not true.
"There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD-DVD format in Kmart stores. These statements are false," the statement said. "Kmart intends to support both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively."
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HDNet Movies Debuts Redacted On Nov.14
The new Iraqi war movie has generated praise and controversy.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 4, 2007) -- Redacted, the controversial new film about the rape of an Iraqi girl by U.S. soldiers, will premiere next week on HDNet Movies, the 24-hour high-def TV network.
The movie, directed by Brian De Palma, will air on HDNet Movies on November 14 at 10:15 p.m. ET, which is two days before its theatrical release in Landmark Theaters. (An encore showing will be broadcast at midnight ET.)
Mark Cuban is the co-owner of both Landmark Theaters and the two high-def TV networks, HDNet and HDNet Movies. And Cuban's Magnolia Pictures produced the movie, which is why HDNet viewers will get the first peek.
However, the film will only air on HDNet Movies on November 14.
Redacted, which was shot on HD video, is sure to generate enormous controversy in the U.S. The film is based on the real-life rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl by four American soldiers, three of whom have been convicted by military tribunals.
When the movie was shown this summer at the Venice Film Festival, Reuters reports that some viewers were deeply disturbed by its graphic and violent images.
De Palma, who's no stranger to controversy having helmed such violent films as Dressed to Kill, Carrie and Casualties of War, says the movie is aimed at stopping the U.S. involvement in Iraq.
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Best Buy Sells $99 HD DVD Player
But supplies may be near the end.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 2, 2007) -- Without fanfare, Best Buy stores yesterday began selling the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $99.
However, there were reports late yesterday that the retailer had already run out of supplies. The company's web site said the $99 player was out of stock late Thursday night.
Best Buy's surprise price cut followed an announcement by Wal-Mart that it would sell the HD DVD player for $99 today as a special pre "Black Friday" sale.
Normally, stores hold their Black Friday sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
But the discount retailer is promoting five products (including the $99 Toshiba HD DVD player.) at 'Black Friday' prices today to generate early interest from shoppers.
HD DVD is battling with the Blu-ray format for the new high-def disc audience. The lowest price Blu-ray player is now $499 (Sony's BDP-S300).
Amazon.com, Circuit City and Wal-Mart revealed late last month that they would sell the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $198 during non-promotional periods.
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Sony: $399 Blu-ray Player; That's It, Folks
Company executive dismisses calls for lower prices.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2007) -- Sony Electronics President Stan Glasgow says Blu-ray player prices will likely not fall under $399 this holiday season.
“(The player will be) in the $399 range...I don’t expect it to go much lower than that," Glasgow said today, according to TWICE Magazine.
Glasgow made his comment today following an announcement from Wal-Mart that it will sell the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $98 as a special pre "Black Friday" sale starting tomorrow.
Blu-ray and HD DVD are rival formats competing for the new high-def disc audience.
Amazon.com, Circuit City and Wal-Mart revealed late last month that they would sell the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $198 during non-promotional periods.
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Verizon: 150 HD Channels In 2008
The telco answers charges that it's been slow on high-def.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2007) -- Verizon today said it would increase its FiOS High-Definition lineup by fivefold in 2008 to 150 channels.
In addition, the telco said it would expand its HD VOD service and launch a "major expansion" of sports and multicultural programming next year.
"Once more, Verizon leads the way," Shawn Strickland, Verizon's vice president of video solutions, said in a statement. We launched FiOS TV in 2005 with more HD than most cable and satellite companies, and we know that our HD customers expect us to continue that lead. We're planning a major initiative in 2008 that will give our customers an unprecedented choice of HD and other programming."
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News Analysis
Blu-ray Begging For a Beating
Toshiba's low prices makes the rival format an easy buy.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2007) -- Let's be clear about something. Despite all the protestations from HD DVD supporters, Blu-ray is currently winning the high-def disc format war.
Over the last year, Blu-ray disc sales have outpaced HD DVD by a 2-1 margin. And thanks to the Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside, Blu-ray has a sizable lead in home penetration.
If this was a boxing match, it would be the beginning of the seventh round with Blu-ray up four rounds to two. No knockdowns yet, but a clear lead for the Sony-supported format.
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Wal-Mart: $98 HD DVD Player On Friday
The store will hold a pre-Black Friday sale.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (November 1, 2007) -- Wal-Mart this Friday will sell the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $98 as a special pre "Black Friday" sale.
Normally, stores hold their Black Friday sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving, the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
But the discount retailer is promoting five products at 'Black Friday' prices this Friday to generate early interest from shoppers.
In addition to the $98 Toshiba HD DVD player, which Wal-Mart usually sells for $198, the store is promoting:
* Sanyo 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $998,
* Individual HD DVDs for $14.96
* An Acer laptop for $348
* And a Fischer-Price NASCAR Ride-On for $144.
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Toshiba: Kmart to Carry HD DVD Exclusively
The Sears-owned retailer says the price is right.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2007) -- Toshiba says discount retailer Kmart has decided to exclusively carry Toshiba HD DVD players.
That's according to an article by Home Media Magazine.
Toshiba spokeswoman Jody Sally tells the publication that Kmart has decided to carry HD DVD instead of Blu-ray because of the lower price.
The Toshiba entry-level HD DVD player retails for $299, but is now available for $198 at several stores including Circuit City and Wal-Mart.
The lowest-price Blu-ray player retails for $499, although Sony will launch a $399 Play Station 3 next month; the PS3 has a Blu-ray player inside.
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DIRECTV Adds NHL Network HD
The satcaster says it now offers more than 75 HD channels.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2007) -- DIRECTV today added NHL Network HD to its high-def lineup.
The new channel, a simulcast of the standard-definition feed, will air 50 NHL regular season games in high-def as well as news and information programs about the league.
DIRECTV also added the standard-definition version of NHL Network today. Both the HD and SD versions are available on channel 215.
On Friday night, DIRECTV aired the NHL Network HD's broadcast of the Buffalo Sabres-Florida Panthers game as a sneak preview on channel 215.
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Disney Prez Blasts HD DVD Backers
Blu-ray supporter says rival format is prolonging the war.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 31, 2007) -- Bob Chapek, president of Disney Studios Home Entertainment, said yesterday that Blu-ray's victory in the high-def disc format war is "inevitable."
The Hollywood Reporter writes that Chapek blames supporters of Blu-ray's rival, HD DVD, for prolonging the format war. Disney is an exclusive backer of Blu-ray.
"Blu-ray's competition's attempts to sell less than the best will inevitably be trumped by what we stated from the very beginning: That the Blu-ray technology is not a half-step format that will sell consumers short, but rather it is a revolutionary technology that will change the way we view movies for the long term," Chapek said at a Blu-ray promotional event.
Chapek's remarks reflect the growing tension between the two sides as they enter what could be a critical holiday shopping season.
While Blu-ray discs have outsold HD DVD by a 2-1 margin this year, neither format has yet to generate significant sales of discs or players. Consumers have been turned off by the format war and high player prices.
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Will Warner Bros. Endorse Blu-ray?
Studio executive hints that dual-format policy may be changing.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 30, 2007) -- Warner Bros. has been neutral in the Blu-ray-HD DVD format war, releasing movies in both formats.
However, that policy may be changing, says a top Warner executive.
Dan Silverberg, Warner's vice president of High-Definition media, hinted Monday at a Blu-ray briefing for the media that the studio might soon endorse Blu-ray.
Warner is now the only major studio that releases movies in both format; two support HD DVD exclusively while four have endorsed Blu-ray.
But Home Media Magazine reports that Silverberg believes that Blu-ray may be winning the format war and, consequently, it may be time for the studio to pick one over the another.
“One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”
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Blu-ray: The Price of Promotion
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2007) -- Do you do Blu?
Well, you might if the price was lower.
Several CE companies and studios that back Blu-ray yesterday launched a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the high-def disc format.
Using the tagline, "I do Blu," the campaign began last night with a commercial during the final game of baseball's World Series.
Featuring scenes from Spider-man and Harry Potter, the commercial shows a high-def set holding hands with a Blu-ray player via an electrical cord.
“Some people believe you can plug a DVD player into a high-def TV and that’s the best you can get,” Dan Silverberg, vice president of Warner Home Video, which supports Blu-ray and HD DVD. He said the campaign will "marry the concept of Blu-ray discs and TV.”
While I agree that Blu-ray supporters -- and backers of its rival, HD DVD -- need to improve their educational efforts, this promotion will fall on deaf ears unless Blu-ray manufacturers reduce the price of their players.
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Jupiter: Blu-ray-HD DVD War Is 'Futile'
The research group says most people will be loyal to the standard-def DVD.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2007) -- Jupiter Research says most Americans may not embrace either Blu-ray or HD DVD in the high-def disc format war.
However, despite what some analysts are saying, Jupiter says the war itself is not the overwhelming obstacle, Consumers may be content to use 'upconverting' DVD players to make their standard-def DVDs look better.
"The real competitor that both these formats face is not each other, but rather low cost DVD players with up-scaling capabilities that pass the ‘good enough’ test for most consumers," says Michael Gartenberg, Jupiter's vice president and the lead author of a new report on high-def discs.
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Note: DIRECTV has just added NBA TV HD on channel 601. More details later.
News
DIRECTV 'Sneaks' NHL Network HD
The satcaster says the channel is coming soon.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2007) -- DIRECTV on Friday aired a 'sneak peek' at the NHL Network HD, alerting subscribers that the channel is "coming soon."
The new channel, a simulcast of a standard-definition feed, will air 50 NHL regular season games in high-def as well as news and information programs about the league.
On Friday night, DIRECTV showed the NHL Network HD's broadcast of the Buffalo Sabres-Florida Panthers game on channel 215.
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Circuit City Sells $197 HD DVD Player
The retailer follows a similar price cut by Wal-Mart.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 28, 2007) -- CircuitCity, one of the nation's leading electronics retailers, is now selling the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $197.99.
The price cut follows a similar decision by Wal-Mart to offer the HD DVD player for $198 at selected stores.
The high-def DVD player normally retails for $299, although it can be found for as low as $227 at e-commerce sites.
HD DVD supporters are hopeful that the lower price will generate more sales as HD DVD battles the Blu-ray format in the high-def disc war.
Circuit City's decision to offer the Toshiba player for under $200 increases the pressure on Blu-ray manufacturers to lower their prices.
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Wal-Mart Sells $198 HD DVD Player
The retailer cuts the price this week.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (October 26, 2007) -- Wal-Mart has begun selling a Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $198 at selected stores.
That's according to Fortune Magazine's web site.
The high-def DVD player normally retails for $299, although it can be found for as low as $227 at e-commerce sites.
HD DVD supporters are hopeful that the lower price will generate more sales as HD DVD battles the Blu-ray format in the high-def disc war. The lowest price Blu-ray player (Sony) retails for $499, although most stores and web sites are carrying it for around $449 or less.
The web site reports that Wal-Mart says it believes that both HD DVD and Blu-ray players will be popular items this holiday season.
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