Blu-ray report card: Analysts predict record breaking sales
By Mike Ferro
It has been nearly two years since the launch of Blu-ray and many consumers may be wondering how this next generation format is doing in the marketplace. According to analysts, Blu-ray movie sales are up as much as 396% and player sales are set to triple this year.
Many feared that with the global financial crisis and rise in the unemployment rate, that the entertainment sector would be heavily affected. However, according to Hollywood Reporter, the British Video Association (BVA) recently indicated that both DVD and Blu-ray movie sales have seen an increase compared to the same time last year.
The BVA has indicated that Blu-ray movie sales saw an increase of 396% from the same time last year, which is phenomenal. This proves that the demand for HD content is on the rise and will most likely continue to do so.
According to Video Business, Park Associates analyst, Kurt Scherf, estimates that Blu-ray player sales will jump eightfold within four years. He estimates that by 2012, nearly 40 million players will have been sold.
He also estimates that the HDTV uptake will jump by 60%, totaling 82 million units. Scherf may be spot on considering the switch to HD will happen in the US by 2009. Once the number of HDTV sets increases, the demand for HD quality movies should follow.
It looks like the Blu-ray format is off to a healthy start as long as it can continue its momentum. With the continuous release of blockbuster action titles such as Iron Man, Blu-ray movie sales should see an increase in demand.
The Blu-ray version of Iron Man took about 17% of the total sold, including DVD sales. If you consider how many people actually own DVD players, selling almost a quarter of its sales in Blu-ray is phenomenal. One thing is for sure, there is a definite increase in demand. However, how long it can sustain the increase is yet to be seen.
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Stumble It!
October 18th, 2008
No wait, bloggers say Blu-ray is dead! And Xbox360 fanboys say so too. Wait wait, these analysts just can’t know what they are talking about. No way they are smarter than bloggers or blog commentors!?!?!
October 19th, 2008
I don’t know anyone who has Blu-ray or is even interested in Blu-ray. The reason being is the high cost of the player and DVDs work quite good.
Maybe when Blu-ray drops in price to almost that of a good DVD player, then more will be interested.
Believe me, there are more important things than Blu-ray in this economy. In fact I’m still using my “antique” VCR which still works quite nicely.
I think this hype article for Blu-ray is just that…hype.
October 19th, 2008
Obviously this was written before we knew about the financial crash, the end of cheap credit and the coming recession.
Sales are down & consumer confidence is shattered.
No matter what the PS3 kiddies say a new & expensive video format stands no chance.
The grown-ups will spend on their home entertainment during a recession (expect sales of big TVs top hold up a while longer) but they won’t go out & spend on something like Blu-ray.
Bad luck Blu.
October 19th, 2008
Blu-ray is picking up steam and as analysts predict will triple in sales by next year.
I work at an IT company and everyone including my boss has jumped on the Blu-ray band wagon. Its quickly turning into the easy Christmas gift this coming holiday.
Blu-ray sales will pick up steam in parallel to HD TV sales. The majority of the consumers are moving to HD quickly.
Just the other day I went to Walmart and I noticed they were only selling 1 tube based TV, they were all LCD, or Plasma TVs.
Its really inevitable that DVD consumers will move onto Blu-ray once they see the difference between HD and DVD.
October 20th, 2008
“saw an increase of 396%” ….. yeah, right, so they sold 4 blu ray disks instead of 1 … ” I don`t believe any study that I haven`t forged myself “…
Blu ray is a flop ….. they havn`t even got 2% of the market, another Sony DRM doomed format …..
October 20th, 2008
The Blu-ray version of Iron Man took about 17% of the total sold, including DVD sales. If you consider how many people actually own DVD players, selling almost a quarter of its sales in Blu-ray is phenomenal.”
This makes no sense. How does the number of people who own DVD players have to do with sales of the Iron Man movie? This only tells me that the movie didn’t sell very well.
October 21st, 2008
OOOHH I spent $800 on bluray so now i can see every wrinkle in the actors face in the dull movie!!! YAY BLURAY!