An article at Financial Times points out something that many active HD DVD enthusiasts have known for quite a while now: despite its official death in February, there are still a lot of people buying a lot of HD DVDs. The statement is validated by Jeff Wisot, vice-president of marketing at Buy.com, and Ryan Kugler, president of Distribution Video & Audio, an excess inventory liquidator.
Here’s the scoop on the article highlights:
- Demand for the format is fueled by discs going for less than $10 a piece, and players available for under $60.
- “HD DVD sales are still very strong,” says Jeff Wisot, VP of marketing at Buy.com
- “Cheap entertainment always does well in a recession or depression,” says Ryan Kugler, president of Distribution Video & Audio.
He is no doubt recalling their recent sale on $60 Venturer HD DVD players.
Kugler’s company has bought millions of unsold HD DVDs, who, having already sold 1 million discs, expects to sell another 2 or 3 million by Christmas.
In the spirit of good journalism and equal coverage, the article also includes a disclaimer by Andy Parsons of the Blu-ray Disc Association pointing out that their format is not dead and they’ve had some good sales figures too.
- HD DVD slashed prices drive sales up article at FT.com
September 30th, 2008 at 7:09 am
This Format needs to be revived! They should make some kind of deal with the studios to let the new movies come out on Blu-Ray first then HD DVD I would wait for the new stuff or even release new movies but HD DVD is strictly online sale only that would be cool but it’s wishful thinking i guess.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Wishfull thinking, I don’t think we’ll see it come back, but I would like to know the first week sales numbers for Transformers release on BLU RAY format as compared to when it released for HDDVD. I just don’t see the throngs of converts buying blu ray, we either scoop up remaining HDDVDs or go without.
I’m not buying one of those ridiculously overpriced players to then have to feed it overpriced discs. I’ll get what HDDVD content I can, and stick with my chinees upconverter DVD player giving me 1080P upconverted over analog high def all day long. (Yes all movies).
Congrats Sony, you Won! (I think it’s still bleeding you financially…)
September 30th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Warner said they would still release movies in HD DVD if they saw demand for it. Maybe we should begin trying to get WB’s attention? Maybe i’m grasping at straws here. But i’ll send them an email or two.
“There may be isolated instances that an HD DVD title will be created, but as a general rule our titles will be out in SD and BD only after May 31,” said Ronnee Sass, vice president of publicity and promotion, in an interview with DVDTown web-site.
And the link to this article is:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20080214125009_Warner_Bros_Talks_About_HD_DVD_Releases_After_Mid_2008.html
September 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I would like to see hidef player manufacturers to start rolling out better multi platform players that can play both HD DVD and BD without sacrificing each others best selling points and quality. Up to now, there is none out there that can play both formats without sacrificing the others quality such as performance, etc. I remember when DVD+R and DVD-R first came out that the early generation DVD players does not support one or the other. Nowadays, most (if not all) DVD players can play pretty much almost anything (VCDs, MP3s, DVD+-Rs, etc.). I guess its just a matter of time until a player can play all formats (BD/HDDVD/etc.).
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Actually ogscorpion, both the Samsung BD-UP5000 and LG BH200 are quite capable players with their latest firmware revisions. I’m not sure what “sacrifices” you’re referring to, but I’m very happy with my Samsung combo player.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:49 am
HD still outselling BD on amazon germany:
http://www.amazon.de/Highdefintion-HD-DVDs-Blu-ray/b/ref=amb_link_35054765_4?ie=UTF8&node=146792011&pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=browse&pf_rd_r=1W9SJ9N8SEWAZ70KKE8A&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=195523791&pf_rd_i=514450