AfterDawn: Tech news

Blu-ray discs sold hit 9 million milestone

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Mar 2008 4:18 User comments (28)

Blu-ray discs sold hit 9 million milestone

Citing strong sales of 'No Country for Old Men,', the Blu-ray camp has now topped 9 million discs sold since its launch.
BD sales for the first 11 weeks of 2008 is about 3 million units, adding to the 6 million that the format had sold since its inception in Q2 2006. The sales are clearly stronger than past years and analysts predict 16 million sold total for 2008.

For the week ended March 16th, sales jumped to 319,000, buoyed by Disney's 'No Country for Old Men.' The movie moved 68,000 Blu-ray copies in its first week, and destroyed all competitors for the week including the healthy selling new Blu-ray release "Hitman".

In related news, HD DVD titles, now to be found for under $20 USD at most retailers continue to sell out and move at a vigorous pace after the format's demise last month.








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28 user comments

127.3.2008 17:16
vinny13
Inactive

Nice to see that it's growing :)

227.3.2008 17:26

Big deal! A standard dvd does that with just 1 title. I'll just settle for upconverted SD DVD and not have to repurchase my movie library again.

327.3.2008 20:05

haha. What Competitor the only reason there doing so well is because there is no compatition.

427.3.2008 20:43

Originally posted by iluvendo:
Big deal! A standard dvd does that with just 1 title. I'll just settle for upconverted SD DVD and not have to repurchase my movie library again.
I agree that DVD does indeed show much larger sales figures. That is expected given the time it has been on the market. I would be worried (as would the entire industry) if DVD wasn't outselling Blu-ray by massive quantities.

Nobody is suggesting that you should purchase your entire movie library again (if you did indeed purchase it in the first place :-P). However, I think if given the choice to purchase a new movie on either SD DVD or Blu-ray... I know what my choice would be.

I don't think Blu-ray offers enough incentive to re-purchase your entire library all over again, especially considering the quality up-conversion brings. I do however think that Blu-ray offers more than enough reason to consider a purchase of Blu-ray over SD DVD if you had a Blu-ray player and was adding a new movie to your collection. I personally would opt for the increased quality Blu-ray offers any given day. I would also consider purchasing some of "my favourites" on Blu-ray if they are released.

One thing to consider, there is very big difference when comparing the VHS-->DVD transition to the DVD-->Blu-ray transition. VHS-->DVD meant you had to replace your movie collection for obvious reasons. DVD-->Blu-ray doesn't require that at all. It makes the transition an easy and smooth process with full compatibility with your existing collection. Actually if you don't already own an up-convert DVD player, by choosing to move onto Blu-ray technology will add a new lease of life to your existing DVD collection (up-conversion). :-)
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 27 Mar 2008 @ 9:00

527.3.2008 20:49

Quote:
Big deal! A standard dvd does that with just 1 title. I'll just settle for upconverted SD DVD and not have to repurchase my movie library again.

Ya I'm the same way. I think the format war ending has actually discouraged a lot of people from jumping to high def. Also as
almost everyone here at AD has said before, until you have $100 or cheaper players and discount bins full of what ever media, then the general public is not going to jump. A movie is still just a movie no matter what the clarity. I'll watch a good comedy in any format as long as it's funny. The shift to high-def should have been a standard upgrade once the technology made it possible. Not some investment to trick customers into paying more for a slightly better version of something they already have. I don't think I should have to pay more for HD broadcast once I have all ready purchased the hardware to view it. So for all of the Blue-ray owners out there, buy the crap out of the media, force Sony to up the production (thus lowering prices), and
hopefully we can all enjoy a dependable cheap high-def media.

627.3.2008 21:54

Quote:
Ya I'm the same way. I think the format war ending has actually discouraged a lot of people from jumping to high def.
try as hard as I might, I can't find any logic to back up that assumption - please explain ;) - getting rid of all competition and focussing on one format therefore removing the doubt and worry in potential consumers' minds has actually discouraged a move to high definition ? is that what you are saying ?

727.3.2008 22:47

I don't think to many people are going to replace their old SD-DVDs unless it is a great action movie. I'm not going to rush out and buy Airplane on Blu-Ray. But, new movies that I want to keep will be on Blu-Ray....epecially if they are action movies.

The only two movies I may repurchase are Black Hawk Down, and Saving Private Ryan...when it finally comes out.

Maybe in the future...when Blu-Ray's are a $10's each....I'll re-buy the Matrix Trilogy...

828.3.2008 00:28

Originally posted by iluvendo:
Big deal! A standard dvd does that with just 1 title. I'll just settle for upconverted SD DVD and not have to repurchase my movie library again.
People said the same thing when DVD came out & in due time they replaced there VHS because it was a upgrade over what they had & people are going to do the same thing when Blu-Ray become the standard.Because Blu-Ray is a upgrade over SD-DVD.

928.3.2008 04:23
nobrainer
Inactive

Originally posted by iluvendo:
Big deal! A standard dvd does that with just 1 title. I'll just settle for upconverted SD DVD and not have to repurchase my movie library again.

Ah and ppl wonder why format shifting is illegal.

Originally posted by Prof Peter Gutmann:
In addition since the media rights can't be backed up, if you experience a disk crash you get another opportunity to re-purchase the content all over again. This is by design: as Jack Valenti, former head of the MPAA, put it, “If you buy a DVD you have a copy. If you want a backup copy you buy another one”). It's obvious why this type of business model makes the pain of pushing content protection onto consumers so worthwhile, since it practically constitutes a license to print money.

Originally posted by nextgen76:
People said the same thing when DVD came out & in due time they replaced there VHS because it was a upgrade over what they had & people are going to do the same thing when Blu-Ray become the standard.Because Blu-Ray is a upgrade over SD-DVD.

that's utter nonsense as ppl were impressed that there would by no more chewed up tapes and having to rewind and forward with a media format, that we were told didn't degrade.

comparing DRM-Ray vs DVD to DVD vs VHS is no comparison. DRM-Ray offers little to the average consumer over DVD other than a few extra pixels.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 28 Mar 2008 @ 4:30

1028.3.2008 05:46

What ever everyone says now, In 5 years (max) all of you will have a BD player to your living room, and you know that.
In 5 years BD players will be under 150euros
DRM BD+ will be cracked for sure.
BD-Recorders will be enough cheap for everyone, and who dosent want a 25-50gb (or even more till then) un-scratchable backup media?

For some...just spare us with the DRM blah blah drama, it is starting to getting stupid.

1128.3.2008 07:46

Originally posted by SDF_GR:
What ever everyone says now, In 5 years (max) all of you will have a BD player to your living room, and you know that.
In 5 years BD players will be under 150euros
DRM BD+ will be cracked for sure.
BD-Recorders will be enough cheap for everyone, and who dosent want a 25-50gb (or even more till then) un-scratchable backup media?

For some...just spare us with the DRM blah blah drama, it is starting to getting stupid.

Heh, I'll agree with that for sure.

1228.3.2008 08:38

Quote:
For some...just spare us with the DRM blah blah drama, it is starting to getting stupid.


Ain't that the truth....

1328.3.2008 12:00
emugamer
Inactive

Originally posted by SDF_GR:
What ever everyone says now, In 5 years (max) all of you will have a BD player to your living room,
Unless in 5 years, HD streaming becomes the norm. Seems like blu ray has to compete with DVD and media distribution services. It will be interesting to see how many people actually want to own physical media when so much content can be available at the click of a button.

1428.3.2008 12:29

Some great comments. I agree that I would not replace the majority of my DVD collection with Blu-Ray. There are exceptions to the rule, such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings or other blockbuster movies, depending on your taste. (That "Airplane" comment sums it up... I won't be purchasing "What About Bob?" in an HD format either!)

Price is the ultimate consideration for me. Sure, if given the choice, I would rather buy the Blu-Ray version, but if it costs DOUBLE the DVD version, than maybe not.

Sure, it took DVD awhile to come into its own and it eventually smashed VHS, but that was for many reasons. One, you didn't have to rewind or worry about a damaged tape. Retailers can fit more DVD's on shelves (and so can consumers in their own homes.) The quality is better, offered better sound and you could skip chapters and get deleted scenes without having to wait 5 minutes to fast forward a tape! Also the price of DVD was comparable to VHS or even cheaper as time went on. The archaic movie rental business was getting choked by VHS, and now could buy cheaper DVD's. Consumers could rent or buy the movie on the SAME street date.

There's so many different factors comparing DVD to VHS. However, with Blu-Ray, all you are really getting is a High Definition DVD that costs more and can only be played in (maybe) one room of the house right now. Blu-Ray still has a long way to go!

1528.3.2008 15:04
r0b0t3ch
Inactive

I agree with one of the big-wig execs from a post just a couple days ago. "spinning disc" formats are just played out. Lame technology and TOTALLY unnecessary in light of what's available now. Apple's got 32GB flash for their Ipods and I'd much rather carry around a 100, 200 or higher flash drive. I just don't think Blu-ray 'discs' are going to take off like everybody, especially Sony thinks or wants. I'd bet my bottom dollar that companies start producting heavy hitting, large capacity flash drives like Mexicans producing babies and in the next 3 years discs will have another more viable alternative to fight against and this time.....................FEAR.

1628.3.2008 15:44

Originally posted by DXR88:
haha. What Competitor the only reason there doing so well is because there is no compatition.
These kinds of statements simply make no sense.

DVD didn't have any competing format.

Not unless you count DVD+R and DVD-R for blank media.

You could stretch and say Laserdisc was a competitor, but it (much like HD-DVD) died early into the next generation media adoption process. Once DVD hit the streets, it was game over and no "competition" other than the natural next generation format transition from VHS to DVD.

1728.3.2008 15:47

Originally posted by r0b0t3ch:
I agree with one of the big-wig execs from a post just a couple days ago. "spinning disc" formats are just played out. Lame technology and TOTALLY unnecessary in light of what's available now. Apple's got 32GB flash for their Ipods and I'd much rather carry around a 100, 200 or higher flash drive. I just don't think Blu-ray 'discs' are going to take off like everybody, especially Sony thinks or wants. I'd bet my bottom dollar that companies start producting heavy hitting, large capacity flash drives like Mexicans producing babies and in the next 3 years discs will have another more viable alternative to fight against and this time.....................FEAR.


I disagree on that While it would be nice 200Gig Flash it wont happen. they claim in the next 5 years that will be a harddrive replacement Medium.

im sorry it's just is not going To happen Holografic Discs Will replace harddrive technology before flash ever will.

on a disc based medium par i dont think flash will Suffice flash will have its drawbacks at about 120gig flash memory will heat to quickly and cool to quikly, witch will cause memory degradation.

Now mabey in 20 years this will be the Defacto but not in 5 or even 10 years.

1828.3.2008 15:50

i dont believe that flash drives will replace disc media in less than 10years.
and lets say that it will,
flash drives issue now is "price to capacity",
By having that in mind, which psychical media you think will be the last to stay alive?
DVD or BD?....My vote is to BD.
and something else, till i see giant companies like TDK, Verbatim, etc start produce flash/thumb drives, i dont think that disc have anything to worry about.

1928.3.2008 15:52

Quote:
Originally posted by DXR88:
haha. What Competitor the only reason there doing so well is because there is no compatition.
These kinds of statements simply make no sense.

DVD didn't have any competing format.

Not unless you count DVD+R and DVD-R for blank media.

You could stretch and say Laserdisc was a competitor, but it (much like HD-DVD) died early into the next generation media adoption process. Once DVD hit the streets, it was game over and no "competition" other than the natural next generation format transition from VHS to DVD.
I know. They dont have a hi def format to compette with So there doing really well.

those are good numbers for a format that took awhile to catch on to A mainstream Audience.

2028.3.2008 16:39
r0b0t3ch
Inactive

Quote:
Originally posted by r0b0t3ch:
I agree with one of the big-wig execs from a post just a couple days ago. "spinning disc" formats are just played out. Lame technology and TOTALLY unnecessary in light of what's available now. Apple's got 32GB flash for their Ipods and I'd much rather carry around a 100, 200 or higher flash drive. I just don't think Blu-ray 'discs' are going to take off like everybody, especially Sony thinks or wants. I'd bet my bottom dollar that companies start producting heavy hitting, large capacity flash drives like Mexicans producing babies and in the next 3 years discs will have another more viable alternative to fight against and this time.....................FEAR.


I disagree on that While it would be nice 200Gig Flash it wont happen. they claim in the next 5 years that will be a harddrive replacement Medium.

im sorry it's just is not going To happen Holografic Discs Will replace harddrive technology before flash ever will.

----------------I rather agree on this. Holographic technology is not far off and will be implemented into processors first. 15 years until that is "officially" becoming adopted I think. 100GB flash loooooong before that is my guess. Actually.......I'm confident that flash will dominate on high capacity media within 5-7 years. Remember........Look at the Ipod. They are breaking the serious GB storage markers and that is a trend that will not just vanish. [R0b0t3ch]

on a disc based medium par i dont think flash will Suffice flash will have its drawbacks at about 120gig flash memory will heat to quickly and cool to quikly, witch will cause memory degradation.

-----------------This mi amigo is easily countered............WAY EASILY. 300 GB is a piece of cake in flash..............and not theoretically either. [R0b0t3ch]

Now mabey in 20 years this will be the Defacto but not in 5 or even 10 years.


-----------------You very well could be correct on this. [R0b0t3ch]
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 28 Mar 2008 @ 4:44

2128.3.2008 21:08

Quote:
try as hard as I might, I can't find any logic to back up that assumption - please explain ;) - getting rid of all competition and focussing on one format therefore removing the doubt and worry in potential consumers' minds has actually discouraged a move to high definition ? is that what you are saying ?

Lol, think of all the guys out there trying to convince their wives that you need a whole new, even more expensive platform to watch movies in hi-def, after they disagreed with the justification for purchasing the first one. For some reason the ladies aren't as gun ho about hi-def as us men.

2228.3.2008 22:07

True Club42, but are you forgeting the Tech savy woman. scary as it might sound there out there. I would know iv seen them and it ain't pretty,Not pretty at all.

2329.3.2008 06:43
nobrainer
Inactive

@ r0b0t3ch

even Phil Harrison stated this! and it was sony's reason for all the job losses, as sony were moving towards online distribution away from physical media.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152746

Originally posted by link:
Pardon the hyperbole, but with senior Sony executives speculating that the PS4 (yes, you read that right) may not use a disc format as the company is at the cusp of rolling out future proof technology, it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the proprietary disc format's staying power.

Phil Harrison told Wired that he would be "amazed if the PS4 has a physical disk drive." In fairness, Harrison was talking about the emergence of electronic distribution (something Sony's mastermind Ken Kutaragi has championed previously), but that doesn't change the back-handed slap to the Blu-ray format.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-04-18-sony-jobs_N.htm

Originally posted by link:
SCE's Fukuoka said the potential job cuts are not the result of the PS3's slow start, but a response to changes in the game industry, including a shift to online distribution of software from packaged software sales.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 29 Mar 2008 @ 6:44

2429.3.2008 08:33
emugamer
Inactive

Quote:
Lol, think of all the guys out there trying to convince their wives that you need a whole new, even more expensive platform to watch movies in hi-def, after they disagreed with the justification for purchasing the first one. For some reason the ladies aren't as gun ho about hi-def as us men.
Yeah, I had some hard convincing to do. I was able to squeeze in a 26" HDTV and the cheaper PS3 and somehow get a new 22" monitor with HDMI. It was rough though.....we want tech and they want jewelry, and stuff like clothes and food. I can do without food for a day at a time. And I don't mind sitting in my underwear for a coupe days gaming. But the Mrs. would leave me :(

2529.3.2008 12:12

I would want to know how Blu ray sales compare to that of Laserdisc back in the day. I still watch my LD movies all the time. The video isn't all that bad, and not all that great, but the sound will kick DVD any day, especially those full bitrate DTS LD discs. As far as video goes, Bluray vs Laserdisc, I can see how Bluray is a ton better. But I have a good point here. Older movies (LD era) look better in that quality. Bluray looks too damn Clean and Perfect. The film grain and quality 20 years ago adds to the movie experience that you are watching. Does anyone else see what I am saying?

2629.3.2008 14:48

Quote:
@ r0b0t3ch

even Phil Harrison stated this! and it was sony's reason for all the job losses, as sony were moving towards online distribution away from physical media.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152746

Originally posted by link:
Pardon the hyperbole, but with senior Sony executives speculating that the PS4 (yes, you read that right) may not use a disc format as the company is at the cusp of rolling out future proof technology, it's not exactly a ringing endorsement of the proprietary disc format's staying power.

Phil Harrison told Wired that he would be "amazed if the PS4 has a physical disk drive." In fairness, Harrison was talking about the emergence of electronic distribution (something Sony's mastermind Ken Kutaragi has championed previously), but that doesn't change the back-handed slap to the Blu-ray format.
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-04-18-sony-jobs_N.htm

Originally posted by link:
SCE's Fukuoka said the potential job cuts are not the result of the PS3's slow start, but a response to changes in the game industry, including a shift to online distribution of software from packaged software sales.


And if they do that Sony will Dig there own grave. i have unlimited internet connecion,No Caps. Moreover Most people do no have this option available to them. another reason is that not everybody has a T1 or Fiber Connection running to there door.

2730.3.2008 06:37

Originally posted by vinny13:
Nice to see that it's growing :)

yeah it is nice

2830.3.2008 16:10

Well lets see once there is no competition how much the discs are and how well they sell then compared to DVDs.
There was already a price rise on stand alone players after HD-DVD threw in the towel.

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