Jan 29, 2008 by Brian Gallagher

Blu-Ray Format War Victory Inevitable?

Blu-Ray victorious? One firm believes it's only a matter of time.

According to a story from Home Media Magazine, the technology research and advisory firm Gartner believes that the format war between Blu-Ray and HD DVD will be over by the end of the year, with Blu-Ray emerging victorious.

Gartner analyst Hiroyuki Shimizu wrote in the Gartner's Semiconducter DQ Monday Report that Toshiba's price cuts won't overcome the majority of studio support that Blu-Ray has.

"While officially announced as price cuts, this move from Toshiba is an attempt to back up the HD DVD format after the loss [of Warner]," Shimizu wrote. "Warner's shift from producing in both formats to Blu-ray alone has left HD DVD with just Paramount Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment as its major Hollywood supporters, both of which account for only 30% of all high-def movies.

"The movement was sufficiently damaging as to force the HD DVD Promotional Group to postpone, and then ultimately cancel, its CES keynote session. There is still a lot of support for HD DVD as the de facto standard, from companies such as Paramount, Universal Studios and even Microsoft. However, Gartner believes that Toshiba's price-cutting may prolong HD DVD's life a little, but the limited lineup of film titles will inflict fatal damage on the format. Gartner expects that, by the end of 2008, Blu-ray will be the winning format in the consumer market, and the war will be over."


Sources: Home Media Magazine

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Comments (14)

  1. Aaron

    just as long as I get my copy of The Great Mouse Detective in HD, im fine with whatever format it is.

    4 years agoby @bansheeFlag

  2. Kaya Savas

    I just had to post this video. They took the idea of whoever did the Downfall clip with subtitles showing Hitler as a Cowboys fan and changed it so that he was an HD-DVD fan. This is pretty hilarious.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB2e7pfZmGA&NR=1

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  3. Kaya Savas

    Blu-ray won't replace DVD's for awhile. I mean VHS was still in production like only a few years ago. I forget which movie was the officially last one to be on VHS but it wasn't too long ago. Blu-ray has all the studio support it needs to be the final choice in HD Home Video. It all depends on the market. When DVD was introduced to replace VHS people didn't need new equipment. If a person doesn't have a 1080p TV I find it less likely for them to go Blu since not even HDTV Broadcasting is in 1080p.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  4. They call me ITCHY BALLS

    "Nevertheless, earlier this year, Circuit City claimed that almost 90,000 Divx-enhanced DVD players were sold in the first three months of national availability, with 60,000 sold during December of 1998.

    This compares to approximately 1.2 million DVD players sold in 1998, according to data released from marketing research firm InfoTech Research at that time--or an average three-month rate of about 300,000 units."

    Excerpt from www.news.com/2100-1040-227194.html

    4 years agoby @danbrchFlag

  5. They call me ITCHY BALLS

    Remember when DivX (disposable DVDs) succ*mbed to DVD?

    ARTICLE FROM CNET NEWS . COM (June 16, 1999)
    "[Though] sales at participating Divx retailers reflect strong consumer interest in the Divx feature...unfortunately, we have been unable to obtain adequate support from studios and other retailers. Despite the significant consumer enthusiasm, we cannot create a viable business without support in these essential areas," said Richard L. Sharp, chief executive officer of Digital Video Express and of Circuit City, the majority partner in the Digital Video Express venture in a statement."

    4 years agoby @danbrchFlag

  6. They call me ITCHY BALLS

    The question is....will bluray take over regular DVDs?

    4 years agoby @danbrchFlag

  7. Space101

    Over here (in Canada), I've probably seen the prices drop once since they've release HD players. It was a 200$ price drop but the HD players are still around at 400$ a piece. Alot depends on HDTV's too. If they sell alot of HDTV's, then HD players will surely follow. There's alot to play in this game and like I said befor, the greedy comporations win at the end. HDTV hasn't kicked in enough, so the majority of people are still holding back for lower prices with bigger options. After the Superbowl, there probably good chances that HDTV prices will lower since X-mas and the Superbowl are two major HDTV purchase times.

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  8. Kaya Savas

    I'm actually surprised at how quickly the prices are falling. It's been what, 2 years? I remember the $700 DVD players and how they floated at $200 and $300 for quite a while.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  9. Space101

    Well it's obvious about the winning...now to fix the prices and problems...thats another struggle.

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  10. markdchapman

    LOL

    It only took the firms crack team three weeks to come to this conclusion? I hope Gartner doesn't actually pay these people.

    Gartner also reported on Monday that someday people will carry around with them a mobile phone called a "cell phone"(which stands for cellular telephone) and these "cell phone" devices may also be able to take pictures and play music.

    4 years agoby @markdchapmanFlag

  11. Solid_Paul

    I'd say more like by June 1st 2008, once Warner Brothers no longer releases anything in HD-DVD. When you consider that one studio produces nearly 35% of the entire home video market, it's a big piece of pie to lose. So long HD-DVD!

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

  12. PUNISHER

    God willing.

    4 years agoby @cerealkillerFlag

  13. Kaya Savas

    wow, ya think?!

    Mr. Shimizu thank you for your insight; we would be lost without you.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  14. Phatlightning

    were goin blue

    4 years agoby @sxers2k1Flag

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