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Blu-ray Disc nearly triples HD DVD numbers during Thanksgiving shopping

While the HD DVD group was happily selling its players at new low prices, the Blu-ray Disc camp managed to sell more movies in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Early data shows Blu-ray Disc sales outpacing HD DVD by an even greater margin than usual.

Tracking firm Nielsen VideoScan has released information showing that 72.6 percent of high-definition discs purchased by consumers were Blu-ray Disc, and just 27.4 percent were HD DVD, reports Home Media Magazine.

A report released last month from Home Media Research indicated that between January 1 and September 30, Blu-ray Disc sold 2.6 million units versus 1.4 million for HD DVD – closely supporting a steady ratio of two Blu-ray Discs sold for every HD DVD.

Nevertheless, the data showing Blu-ray Disc’s commanding lead during Black Friday is slightly surprising given the recent surge in HD DVD sales thanks to rock-bottom prices. Retailers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy sold Toshiba HD DVD players for less than $100, though prices have since gone back up. Throughout the weekend of the sale prices, Toshiba sold 90,000 players.

Those buyers, however, appeared to be less enthusiastic about buying HD DVD movies during the Thanksgiving holiday, with Blu-ray Disc sales outdoing HD DVD by nearly three-fold. The data from Nielsen VideoScan is not the complete picture, though, as the numbers do not include sales from Wal-Mart, which generally represents about 40 percent of standard DVD sales.

Another possible explanation for Blu-ray Disc’s comparatively stronger showing is the timing of studio-exclusive titles Live Free or Die Hard, Hairspray and Ratatouille. HD DVD had no comparable blockbuster releases for the month of November.

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The end of HD-DVD
By dl429 on 11/30/2007 2:18:03 PM , Rating: 5
If blu-ray can out sell hd-dvd 3 to 1 over the biggest shopping week of the year despite the fact that the players cost 3x as much what hope is there really for hd-dvd. Walmart and others were practically giving away hd-dvd players at $99 and the still lost in disc sales 3 to 1. It's not looking too promising for the hd-dvd guys, but they will never admit to that.




RE: The end of HD-DVD
By littlebitstrouds on 11/30/2007 2:31:12 PM , Rating: 2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast
OMG look how cheap I can get that... it has to outlast the superior PS2 cause it's that cheap right?

We're talking the same generation of consumers here.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Adsski on 12/10/2007 5:51:20 AM , Rating: 2
I think sometimes it's actually the retailers who also help the consumers decide.

Here in Britain it feels like we already have a winner, and it's blu-ray.

This is due to two factors really, firstly we always get ripped off on price for electrical goods compared to the US, so there aren't any cheap HD-DVD players. It's £199 for the basic Toshiba vs £299 for the PS3, and most consumers find that a no brainer considering all the other stuff the PS3 can do + the kids desperatly want one!

Secondly and more telling is a quick walk around the high street shops, Virging, HMV, Woolworths etc. In every shop i have been in the blu-ray stock on the shelves outnumbers HD-DVD by about 10-1 (If you can even find the HD-DVD!) and this gives a clear message to people considerring moving to high def. What content can i buy for it?


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By SavagePotato on 11/30/2007 3:13:35 PM , Rating: 3
It's called having hd-dvd blinders on. There is always another thing to wait for for hd-dvd supporters. Transformers, $200 players, $99 players, all these things would be the trump card that turned things around quickly in favor of hd-dvd. Yet, blu-ray continues to pull ahead.

Now were told to wait till after Christmas and we will see the true effect of the magic of hd-dvd. Theres always yet another thing to wait for, and every single time it passes, blu-ray increases it's lead.

Welcome to the wonderful world of denial. You need some strong denial in the first place to convince yourself that less is more.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Spuke on 11/30/07, Rating: -1
RE: The end of HD-DVD
By SavagePotato on 11/30/2007 4:51:33 PM , Rating: 2
I honestly think it is really amusing at this point to see the creativity and denial going on. Theres always another excuse as to why blu-ray is doomed even as the numbers grow and grow in it's favor.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Locutus465 on 11/30/2007 5:12:49 PM , Rating: 2
actually you missed (and then proved) his point right there with this post. He wasn't supporting hd dvd at all, just pointing out how... enthusiastic bd camp is about evangalizing their fav product


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By SavagePotato on 11/30/2007 5:18:20 PM , Rating: 2
If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is.

In my opinion, touting superiority with inferior specs, touting inevitable victory with a continual downward sales ratio despite constantly plummeting costs far beyond selling players at a loss, would be the definition about being enthusiastic about evangelizing a product.

This creative analysis is amusing to me. As well as what hd supporters are able to convince themselves of.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Locutus465 on 11/30/2007 5:32:48 PM , Rating: 2
I like HD-DVD because it is approching mass market adoption much more quickly than blu ray, with apparent (referencing other such threads here) $30 per player BD royalties, it doesn't seem possible that we'll ever see $50 BD players like we did with DVD (this truely spurred DVD adoption).

What I want is for "HD" to become the standard, I see HD-DVD as making this happen and BD delaying this needlessly. I also am having trouble seeing the clear advanatages BD offers my Home Theater. I think you'll find most HD-DVD supporters feel the same way. I'm also confident that if BD group releases an actually affordable BD player that most of us will run out and buy BD players, and the movies we've been missing out on thus far in HD... I know I would. But here I sit waiting, for an affordable BD player that seems unlikely to arrive any time soon.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By SavagePotato on 11/30/2007 5:48:48 PM , Rating: 1
Keep telling yourself that I guess.

It's achieving mass market adoption faster despite the fact that its consistently outsold and falling even further behind?

That is some unusual logic, but if it floats your boat.


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Keeir on 11/30/2007 6:15:04 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
What I want is for "HD" to become the standard, I see HD-DVD as making this happen and BD delaying this needlessly.


But despite having cheaper players (100-300 dollars cheaper)
Promotions
Some good exclusives (Transformers and 300 special features)
"Cheaper" Discs
More options discs (HD DVD+DVD)

etc

Its Blu-Ray thats getting the HD content into homes at a 2-1 or a 3-1 ratio right now. Which is why the HD DVD people are pretty funny.... "Just wait, next year HD DVD is going to sell!!!"

I don't think HD DVD is going to sell well unless Blu-ray goes away... since Blu-Ray is not going to go away...


RE: The end of HD-DVD
By Hawkido on 11/30/07, Rating: 0
RE: The end of HD-DVD
By maverick85wd on 12/2/2007 7:21:48 AM , Rating: 2
I find that funny at least...

vista apparently drove a few of their executives insane lol


I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By deeznuts on 11/30/2007 1:31:42 PM , Rating: 2
I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum, but if you like to keep track of such things, here ya go:

http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=8608

They do link to Home Media Magazine (which is the "source" so I'm told).




RE: I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By jamdunc on 11/30/2007 4:57:10 PM , Rating: 2
Well using that site we can stipulate that:

Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending April 8th
WE: BD-62.4% HDD-37.6% YTD: BD-69.4% HDD-30.6%

Nielsen/VideoScan Numbers ending November 25th
WE: BD-72% HDD-28% YTD: BD-65% HDD-35%

So HD-DVD, even though it's always behind in sales, somehow has a bigger market share in the YTD. Can anyone explain how this has occured?


RE: I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By SavagePotato on 11/30/2007 5:08:23 PM , Rating: 3
The year to date conceivably is an average of the highs and lows to that point.

Since inception for april 8th was 57:43.

Since inception for november 25th 62:38

If you take the year to date and average it on the fourth month of the year it is going to be a less accurate average than on the 12th month of the year.

If you look at the since inception figures, you see steady decline for hd-dvd in the full scope of things.


RE: I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By jamdunc on 12/1/2007 5:01:58 AM , Rating: 2
But that still doesn't answer my question (although it does explain to me what SI stood for :p).

So if as you say on average, which is as accurate for 4 month's as it is for 11, just for a shorter period, HD-DVD has gained Market Share from around 30% upto 35%.

Just because it was 4 months doesn't mean that you can just ignore it as not being accurate. For rhose 4 months they had just over 30% of the YTD market.

So after 11 months they had 35% of the YTD market which in my eyes means they gained market share.

But the since inception figures say they lost market share. Which doesn't agree with the YTD figures.

So am I just being really thick here or is there something i'm missing?


RE: I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By deeznuts on 11/30/2007 5:35:34 PM , Rating: 2
You have to remember, at the beginning of this year, HD DVD was getting killed because of the PS3 launch. I mean slaughtered. If you follow through the summer and through the end of they year, HD DVD had some good weeks, and looked like it was clawing its way back. The last two weeks however it essentially reversed course, which wouldn't be notable (i.e. just normal fluctuation) however it coincided with the cheap HD DVD player and the massive numbers sold.


RE: I know it's a Blu-Ray Forum ...
By timmiser on 11/30/2007 8:59:40 PM , Rating: 2
So where did the VHS/Beta numbers come from? IIRC, Beta had an early lead over VHS in the '70s, not the other way around. Those numbers look made up.


Myths
By Chaser on 11/30/2007 1:47:53 PM , Rating: 2
So much for the HD DVD 750,000 number hype as that story also claimed that stand alone Blue Ray players only accounted for like half that number?

How many times on this forum have a I read something to the effect that "most PS3 buyers don't care or know it also plays Blue Ray movies?"

Um I think PS3 owners are buying and renting Blue Ray movies.




RE: Myths