Oct 25, 2007 by Mushy

Blu-ray Disc Still Leads HD-DVD Titles in Sales

The format war goes on!

In a story from The Hollywood Reporter, "Blu-ray Disc titles outsold rival HD-DVD titles by almost 2-to-1 in the first nine months of the year, but analysts expect additional HD-DVD support and new hit releases to "transform" the high-definition DVD battle score in the fourth quarter."

According to Home Media Research "U.S. sales of Blu-ray discs, using a Sony Corp.-backed technology, totaled 2.6 million units from Jan. 1-Sept. 30, versus 1.4 million HD-DVD discs sold."

The playing field got leveled "in August when Paramount and DreamWorks Animation SKG signed exclusivity deals to distribute their next-generation discs on HD-DVD format for the next 18 months."

According to "Gerry Kaufhold, analyst with In-Stat research firm... newly released HD-DVD titles with new advanced Web-enabled features, such as Paramount's Transformers will help the HD-DVD camp in the fourth quarter."

Also, "Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, also said the 18-month period of exclusivity for HD-DVDs by Paramount and DreamWorks should strengthen HD-DVD's hand this quarter."

Despite this, "Adams predicts that for 2007 overall, consumers will spend $186 million purchasing Blu-ray discs, versus $91 million for HD-DVD."


Sources: The Hollywood Reporter

Do you like this story?

Comments (27)

  1. Aaron

    uh oh, looks like kaya's got friends. run mark, run for your life

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  2. MaViNx

    I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance!

    4 years agoby @mavinxFlag

  3. Kaya Savas

    Took you that long to learn how to write? Sad. I learned masterscene format in like middle school. I self distribute and my student films have had over 150 copies requested across the country from various readers of my reviews over the past 5 years I've been a critic.

    My last film also played for an exclusive engagement at the AFI Silver. And my buddy Aaron and I just won $500 through a Discovery Channel competition for a short film. I've also bumped elbows with people like Lawrence Bender, Harvey Weinstein and Trevor Rabin at the various world premieres I attend at the Uptown theater in DC since I also work for AMC as a Crew Lead/Projection Booth Operator.

    Oh yeah, I'm only a Junior in college. It's okay, some people need to get their engine warmed up before they can drive. I have faith in you though, since clearly you're moving in the right direction.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  4. Christine

    "The second job is even more reassure."

    HAHAHAHAHA I MISSED THE BEST ONE! Keep typing, bucko...we're laughing with you, seriously.

    4 years agoby @indianajaneFlag

  5. Christine

    You are such a great writer.

    "You think I just stated writing yesterday?" -Yeah, you did, actually. State. That you wrote things. Yesterday.

    "I can keep paying my morgage..." It's actually mortgage.

    You would think, being a brilliant writer for ten years that you would know how to spell. Crawl back into your hole, you pretentious *sshole, and come up with a better insult than "nerdy freak."

    4 years agoby @indianajaneFlag

  6. markdchapman

    NO. I am saying: HD-DVD isn't going anywhere. That is all I have been saying. That's all.

    If it does go away - it's a long enough way off that you should buy a HD-DVD player.

    Blu-ray may very well be the caviar of HD formats - but most people eat hamburgers and Tosiba knows it.

    LOL

    You think I just stated writing yesterday?

    I have been writing scripts and not being paid for it for 10 years (it takes that long to get good enough at it) I know the score.

    If I can keep paying my morgage doing what I love rather than some job I hate (and I've had many) then I'm a happy camper.

    - and the simple fact a producer has optioned it for development means it has reached someone important - and the second job to adapt something is even more reassure - so your guarantee means little to me

    - i hope whatever studio makes it, it's released on Blu-ray - that way you can watch it in 1080p : )

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  7. Kaya Savas

    Here is what you are saying:
    "Since only a minor percentage have 1080p then it's not worth investing in; it's not important".

    Also, 98% of screenwriters fail and congrats since you will be in that 98%. Your movie will not get made, guaranteed. You may get past a few people, but someone will toss it in the trash pile before it ever reaches anyone important.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  8. markdchapman

    You keep arguing in circles. You keep bring up 1080p and giving me your resume. Everybody and their dog writes movie reviews for a web-site.

    And HD-DVD does make a 1080p player. I have it. But they also make the cheaper 1080i.

    HD-DVD has out sold Blu-ray in players (for this very reason) and X Box 360 has sold more consoles than the PS3. The reason Blu-ray has sold more discs (2:1) is because they have released more titles. (yes, more studios)

    And Blu-ray has also refused to support the porn industry (just like Beta) Beta also lost the war because Sony had a patent on it and other companies could only manufacture VHS. (flooding the market) Of course, you knew already that because you're a:

    Theatrical/DVD/Blu-ray/Virgin/Internet Porn critic for movieweb (wow)

    Here is a valid point:

    Less than 14% of U.S. households even have a HDTV.

    Here is an article from last month-

    http://www.rtoonline.com/Content/article/Oct07/Nielson_HDTV_Household_DMA_Estimates7975789103007.asp

    --that states that only 13.7% of people in the U.S. have a HDTV and out of them only 11.3% have a HD tuner.

    And since 1080p TV's have only started to really come out this past year how many of those people have a TV that is only 1080i capable?

    There is a whole generation of people who don't know what HDTV, 1080p, or an ipod is. It's our parents generation, and they have big dollars. It's why studios still support full screen format; a VALID point I made and you failed to address.

    These are the people who are buying the cheap 1080i HD-DVD players at Wal-Mart and Best Buy and the reason why the format will survive...because there's a market for it.

    See, you are one of these people who thinks just because you know or you care about something - so do most other people. That is what makes you a nerdy freak.

    And Aaron: f*ck you too.

    I'm sooo scared I might get banned from the Movieweb forum that I peed my pants.

    What would I ever do if I could make fun of Kaya.

    And since you guys think it's so awesome to be Movieweb reviews - and post your excellent writing experience on your profiles here is mine:

    I'm a screenwriter who has just had a my latest script "Garden of Eve" optioned and am currently adapting the book "Holy War" into a screenplay...and being paid well for it, I might add.

    But writing theatrical reviews is good too. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, criticize.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  9. Aaron

    markdchapm, shut the f*ck up. You lost the argument...let it go and stop insulting Kaya like a little kid. If you wanna keep arguing, then argue, but if you start making immature personal remarks, i may decide to shut u up. think before you reply.

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  10. Kaya Savas

    What the consumer buys? Check the article above you idiot . Blu-ray is outselling HD-DVD 2:1. The only reason VHS won was because of the porn industry siding with the format since you can fit more on a VHS than a Beta. Why don't you make an argument that is actually saying something. You are arguing against Blu-ray but you are pointing out all the reasons why Blu-ray is winning.

    Is 1080p important? YES! They don't make HD TV's specifically so you can watch SD programming. They don't make PS3's and 360's to play old games from the past consoles. Are you forgetting the fact that these two dueling formats are trying to replace the current format? Are you forgetting that eventually the FCC will mandate all stations to stop analog broadcasting. Right now TV is only as high as 1080i, but when 1080p is the future and your format's resolution why in the hell would you manufacture HD-DVD players that output less than that. Anyone can buy an upconverting DVD player and watch movies in 1080i. I invested in Blu-ray to watch 1080p. That's why all the studios side with Blu-ray why all the major filmmakers side with it, why Spielberg won't allow his films on HD-DVD but allowed Sony to release 3rd Encounters on Blu-ray.

    I enjoy a good argument, but it sucks when the other person doesn't make any valid points and just results to name calling. I am a theatrical/DVD/Blu-ray critic for MovieWeb and you know what one of the categories I have to review is? VIDEO QUALITY! People care about resolution and consumers who were the first to invest in Blu-ray/HD-DVD cared about 1 major thing and that was 1080p.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  11. markdchapman

    How many times I gotta say it Kaya, you nerdy freak. Unless you have a 50" - 70" TV (which I do) you won't be able to tell the difference anyway.

    Is Blu-ray better? YES. Is VHS is crap compared to Beta? YES. And we all know how that war turned out. Quality is not what wins the day. It's what the consumer buys that wins. Who lost out the war with Beta again? Oh, that's right - IT WAS SONY! Who is losing the colsole war? Why it's SONY again. 1080i or not, those players will sell like hotcakes. The average consumer is dumb. Look at all the people who still want to watch movies in FULL SCREEN format for god sake! And the studios pander to them -- because they're the masses. And for someone who cares SO MUCH about 1080p you won't be able to watch Transformers upconverted forever. Just go out and buy the HD-DVD player already and cry a little. (you're probably the guy who kept his Beta and watched 'Howard the Duck' over and over and over again)

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  12. Kaya Savas

    HD-DVD aint going nowhere, you got that right, it's sitting in its own filthy bath water.

    WB is going to watch 4th Q sales and is almost certain to drop HD-DVD. The $99 player is a strategy of desperation, and everyone who purchased one is an idiot because they don't output in 1080p, only 1080i. Every HD-DVD is mastered in 1080p, explain the logic please? This war is going to be over within the next 2 years, and if it isn't it'll just be HD-DVD hanging on by that last thread. The whole point of next-gen home video is 1080p full HD, so why make 1080i players and trick consumers into buying them with low prices? Oh yeah, cause HD-DVD is a sh*t format so they play "we have the lowest priced players" card to death.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  13. Michael5

    Blu-ray is way better !!!!!

    4 years agoby @michael5Flag

  14. markdchapman

    Well, for the next 5 to 10 years we're all stuck with a 2 disc format -- so you may as well go out and buy the stupid HD-DVD player while it's cheap.

    It appears Apple is, in fact planning to support both formats equally.

    And we all know who Microsoft is backing.

    HD-DVD ain't going nowhere.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  15. CUPID

    f*ck all of this next 5 to 10 years nobody well be using either.

    4 years agoby @cupidFlag

  16. markdchapman

    HD DVD Players Going for $100

    In what appears to be a new strategy in the high-definition DVD wars, Best Buy and Wal-Mart have announced that they are dropping the price of HD DVD players below $100. In-store sales of the players were expected to begin today (Friday). They are listed as sold-out on the stores' websites.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  17. Brian

    Bring on the end of the war! Blu-ray's gotta take this sucker down.

    4 years agoby @brianFlag

  18. markdchapman

    Hey, a new picture, huh? Come on, Kaya, don't hide you light under a bushel.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  19. Kaya Savas

    Enjoy your HD-DVD and the two studios worth of titles you can play on it.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  20. markdchapman

    PS3 is known for being the worst quality Blue-Ray. (hence the piss poor comment) I have a 50" Panasonic plasma, a HD DVD player and a (full) surround sound system all which I got at close to cost (my brother works in retail) and as the Blue-Ray players drop in price (which they already have) I'll buy one of those too. But this stupid arguing about one format being better than the other is boring. And no one is winning the format war anytime soon. So what do you care who Paramount supports...really? Because you bought a PS3 you have to convince everybody else that HD sucks and Blue-Ray rules? Or are you really just that big of a tech nerd? Oh, wait, here's your picture. Um...okay. Yeah. Now it all makes sense.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  21. Kaya Savas

    I wasn't arguing about Transformers, I'm saying that if a company introduces a next-gen format that is supposed to replace a current format then all these things matter. Yes, it's a big deal that they initially had more things planned that could fit. The format is competing, it hasn't won. So right now this is making Blu-ray substantially better for the consumer and the studios. Also, don't get pissed because you can't afford a home theater. All my gear is top brand, just because I know where to shop and get them for cheap doesn't mean they're piss-poor. DLP also has the best picture resolution IMO, why do you think theaters only use DLP projectors for their digital prints.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  22. markdchapman

    Oh no! Transformers had to cut some extended or deleted scenes for the HD-DVD! (what a shame) I bet they're really crying about the ($100 million) HD-DVD decision now. And the reason you bought a 1080p DLP TV is because you couldn't afford a LCD or PLASMA in the same size. Not to mention the fact that the PS3 Blue-Ray is piss poor quality (not that you'd even notice the difference because it's marginal at best) So you basically have a projection TV, a playstation and some dinky all-in-one home theater system - and you're worried you may have to watch a movie in 1080i? Wow. (and don't worry - I'm sure the Transformers outtakes of the annoying, fat, black guy will turn up somewhere)

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  23. Kaya Savas

    Hey markdchapm, Paramount released a statement that they ran out of space on the Transformers release and had to cut features. If they kept Blu-ray then they would have had enough space. Check The Digital Bits for that story. Also, my 57inch 1080p DLP was $1400, PS3 was $600, and 6.1 surround set was $350. Do a little research before you try and counter an argument with stupid facts.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  24. markdchapman

    The 30GB vs. 50GB is the stupidist arguement I have ever heard since none of these titles and extras use more than the 30 GB anyway. And for anyone with a TV 42 inches or smaller you will never notice the difference between 1080i and 1080p. So how is Blue-ray better? Because the discs have 20GB of empty space and a higher pixel format that can't be seen by the human eye? I'm sure you all have 70" TV's and weep at the notion that you have to watch Transformers upcoverted because you refuse to buy the cheaper HD player...because you slaves to the 1080p marketing ploy and bought a $4000 TV & $1400 Blue-ray 6 months ago - now both half the price. (losers)

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  25. Azotiq

    I don't know why Toshiba even bothered to release an inferior medium and possibly think the world was dumb enough to pay the same amount of money for something that is inferior. Evidently, 1/3 if the world/US still are dumb enough is to spend ~$90 million on the HD-DVDs and the movie companies who keep giving them exclusives are smoking crack too. They should just quit the finances of the HD-DVD and put more funds into Blu-ray technology since it is more promising. I actually like Toshiba's products too, but there HD-DVD move makes me reconsider buying their other products.

    4 years agoby @azotiqFlag

  26. Kaya Savas

    It's sad that HD-DVD needs its supporters to bribe people to try and level the playing field. Blu-ray is a 100 times better than HD-DVD and Toshiba is just prolonging the inevitable.

    HD-DVD cons:
    only 30GB of space.
    Cheapest players only output 1080i (why?)
    HD/DVD Combo Discs (huge problems being reported by consumers with those crappy flippers)
    Only 2 studios back the format exclusively (Universal & Paramount after being bribed).
    Including WB that means only 3 studios are releasing on HD-DVD.

    Blu-ray Pros:
    50GB of space.
    Cheaper software (a Blu-ray runs cheaper than an HD-DVD on Amazon)
    Better hardware, all run at same specifications, no 1080i crap.
    Backed exclusively by Sony, Disney, Lionsgate, 20th Century Fox (includes MGM), and currently New Line is releasing in Blu-ray only until HD-DVD gets its act together with region coding.
    Counting WB that's 7 major studio names that back Blu-ray versus a whopping 3 for HD-DVD.

    Universal and Paramount need to fold, they are investing money they will regret later.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  27. Moviemaniack1993

    Doesn't matter. Blu-ray still has yet to release Spider-Man 3, Pirates 3, Die Hard movies, Superbad, Disney/Pixar titles, etc. HD-DVD really only has Shrek 3 and The Bourne Ultimatum.

    4 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag

(More)Latest News
Little Fockers vs. X-Men: First Class Little Fockers vs. X-Men: First Class
(More)Recent Activity
(More)Most Commented Stories
(More)Top Rated Stories