Everyone involved in Blu-ray is enjoying a pretty nice 2008 so far, and it’s only through just about three months.
The latest numbers from HMR Research show that sales of the high-def DVDs in the United States recently passed the 9 million mark, and that a third of those sales have come this year alone. The great pace puts Blu-ray on track for over 15 million sales this year, the research estimates.
It’s been a little more than a month since the HD DVD camp waved the white surrender flag, and first-week sales of Oscar-winner “No Country For Old Men” topped 68,000 to help Blu-ray jump the 9 mil figure.
So how much is having a clear singular high-def DVD choice, as well as perhaps a resurgent interest in the good movies making their way to the Blu-ray format affecting consumers? Previously, the best first-week sales averaged between 10,000 and 30,000 copies, but the Coen’ brothers’ flick definitely drummed up some excitement. Blu-ray reviews have also been very favorable in terms of audio and video transfer, which perhaps is helping lead folks to see what the high-def fuss is about.
This comes as costs for Blu-ray hardware continue to hover around $400 while good deals on the software seem to abound.
Do you think prices on players will soon drop a little? Have you been more inclined to budget a Blu-ray player into your spending now that you know it’s the format of choice? Are you intrigued by the increasing selection of titles available? Let us know your thoughts on Blu-ray now that it has a virtual competition-free month under its belt.
Via: High-Def Digest
“Posted by Soundzilla on 04/01 at 03:32 PM
Probably because Blu-ray is a high definition digital video disc format. “
Thanks. But thats like calling an HD DVD a Blu Ray because it is a high definition digital video disc format.
Coulda just called them all the same thing and avoid a painful format war.
As to no one caring about 10 yr old movies…...how did BLADE RUNNER do last XMAS?
For many to jump onboard the Blu train, it’s the availablility of catalog titles that will get them. But it’s the new “blockbusters” that sell to the kids right away.
For Blu to REPLACE DVD, it has to have everything - title wise - that the existing format has.
To merely co-exist, Blu can have holes in it’s lineup. But the holes will keep it niche (albeit a possibly big niche)
“And no one cares about getting the ten yr old movie on BD.”
You might not, but plenty of other people do.
Buy the way how to you get 3 million in sales on only 2 - 3 NEW titles a week? Over 50 a week on DVD. And no one cares about getting the ten yr old movie on BD. If this is gonna work they need the good titles. The last few weeks the best titles have been on DVD
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Rocky, Maybe I can suggest some glasses for you. Blu Ray will always look and… 
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BluBoy,
You are so right. If a unified HD disc format had been the case from the get-go (almost was), we’d likely see much greater adoption @ this point.