Warner’s announcement at CES 2008 regarding its high-definition
allegiance appears to have an immediate effect on the buying tendencies of
the consumer market.
Throughout 2007, Blu-ray Disc sales have consistently
outsold HD DVD by a factor of around double; but starting the week coinciding
with CES 2008 up to January 13, those numbers shifted noticeably further in Blu-ray
Disc’s favor.
According to numbers from Nielsen, reported by Home
Media Magazine, Blu-ray Disc sales were 85 percent of the
high-definition split. The 85/15 split between the two rival formats represented
the largest gulf yet, according historical data charted in the High-Def Digest forums.
Of the top ten best-selling high-definition movies for the
week, all were Blu-ray Disc. For the major new releases on each format, 3:10 To Yuma on Blu-ray Disc and The Kingdom on HD DVD, the former
outsold the later by ten-fold.
Although Warner will continue to release HD DVD product
through May, the movie company has already put into action its separation
plans.
The Invasion (Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig) was originally
slated for a January 29 release on both formats, but now the HD DVD version has
been pushed back three weeks to February 19. The Blu-ray Disc version retains
the original January 29 date.
An even bigger delta will hit The Assassination of Jesse
James (Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck), which will release on HD DVD on March 19,
while the Blu-ray Disc will street on February 5.
Even older movies from Warner’s catalog will see a staggered
release. Twister (Helen Hunt, Bill
Paxton) will touch down on Blu-ray Disc on May 6, with the HD DVD version on
May 27. The late May release for Twister
could grant it with the trivia of being the first DVD pressed and last HD DVD
released from Warner Bros.