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Blu-ray destroying HD DVD in sales; consider the war over
I hate to break it to you early adopters who gambled on HD DVD as your choice in the HD disc format war, but it looks like Blu-ray won. After Warner Bros announced that it was going exclusively with Blu-ray, everyone pretty much decided that the war was over, and it looks like consumers listened.
That's because in the week after Warner's announcement, it looks like almost 93% of all HD players sold were of the Blu-ray variety. It doesn't get much more lopsided than that. So if you've been waiting for a clear sign that it's safe to jump in on the side of Blu-ray, it doesn't get much clearer than this. Consider the format war, at long last, over.
Via Electronista
By John Seymore at 8:32 AM ON 01/23/08
The week earlier, sales were tied at 50/50. The week after countless blogs were spreading innuendo and FUD about Paramount, Universal, and the Adult industry jumping ship, so it wasn't at all surprizing that sales dropped.
I'm curious, though -- when updated sales figures come in showing Toshiba's new initiative to push HD-DVD to 80%+, will the blu fanboys concede defeat and declare the war over?
By Me at 8:39 AM ON 01/23/08
Hey John, denial is not just a river that runs through Egypt. Let it go man. Let it go.
By Red at 11:51 AM ON 01/23/08
Once the sales figures with the price cut kick in things should look a little better for HD DVD. The deal was so good I went out and bought 2 at best buy. At these prices you could hook one up to your old standard tv just to get some movies you might not own yet. I don't expect 80% HD, but I also expect better than 7%. If enough people buy HD players it will be very hard for studios to ignore the demand.
By BDALamb at 1:04 PM ON 01/23/08
The war is not over yet. We saw this same thing with Sony and its d#$% BETA. The war will be over with the first one that has a player available at Wal-Mart for under $100. The format that crosses that barrier first will win, no matter what the Studios think!!!
By Jon at 2:24 PM ON 01/23/08
BDALAMB, prices will not be the deciding factor in this war, it's the studios' support of the format. $100 HD DVD player won't get you Disney HD's contents.
By LOL... at 5:23 PM ON 01/23/08
LOL... THE WAR IS OVER... LOL. LAST TIME I LOOKED BLU RAY HAS NO PLAYERS IN THE TOP 50... LOL.. I JUST PICK UP AN HD-DVD PLAYER AS WELL... FIRE THE GUY WHO WROTE THAT..NO WAIT.. HE BOUGHT A PS3.. SO HE SAYS THE WAR IS.. IT MUST BE THEN..LOL
By murc at 7:07 PM ON 01/23/08
Blu-Ray Won, HD-DVD lost.
I have seen that headline everywhere in the past couple weeks. one thing I have noticed at all the blogs I go to...is that the guy reporting the news is incorporating his views waaaay to much into the article. I want all these blog sites to just say the news, not give their opinion.
it seems like all these "jounalists" were all in a big room, and decided that THEY will end this war by all choosing one side to win, and the other to loose.
I personally am wait for the war to be really over...and not just cause someone says it is.
until that day comes (which is probably still a year off) I will continue to be rockin the bluray.
By Patton at 12:45 AM ON 01/24/08
The war may not be over, but the outcome is decided. Blu has 5 of the top 7 studios exclusive. The sooner everyone comes to terms with that the sooner all movies will be available in high definition Blu-ray. Give it up.
By jedichef22 at 3:53 AM ON 01/24/08
The war was over long ago, and guess what - they both lost. Consumers don't understand HD video, most of what they think they know is misconceptions and lies, and there's nothing in either format that make it must-have technology.
By Crispin at 3:24 PM ON 01/25/08
It's not over yet! I'll bet you 100 bucks BetaMax is going to make a come back! I'll be waiting!!!
By PeteS at 8:19 PM ON 01/25/08
Even Microsoft has left HD DVD behind. It's over. The article is right.
By jimBOB at 9:47 PM ON 01/25/08
By next year's holiday season you won't be able to find any more HD DVD players. By this time next year the last of the HD DVD content will go on clearance, and that'll be the end of the format.
Blu-Ray's real competition now isn't HD DVD; it's regular DVD's. The question will be whether the qualitative advantage in HD content will be enough to compensate for higher prices and less selection. Given that a well-made DVD looks pretty good upconverted, it's not a foregone conclusion that the HD format will win mass acceptance. (Think LaserDiscs vs. VHS.)
I do think it's a good thing we've apparently settled on an HD format. IMHO there never should have been a format war - it was the result of really stupid greed, and has likely held back consumer acceptance of HD content generally by at least a year.
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