I didn't catch any real numbers but I don't think there is any dispute that BD is growing fast. This article certainly didn't challenge that notion.
The point is - (according to some sources) disc media is going to peak in 2013.
On the editorial side, IMHO it's a tragedy people buy into downloads and/or Video On Demand because:
1/ The quality is crap.
2/ Ownership of downloaded media is questionable with DRM.
I support disc media!
As an owner of a PS3, mainly for Blu-ray, since release day, and with nearly 100 BDs I've always been a huge supporter and proponent of the Blu-ray format.
For all regards, I believe that disc based media has seen it's peak already. Overall, we are seeing a decline in the sale of disc based media, but we have the beauty of a new HD format which most likely is the last we will see forever, yet it hasn't reached it's peak. So, as an industry, regardless of Wal-Mart backing off of their two cent products, which really never included much Blu-ray, it doesn't matter and certainly isn't causing Blu-ray to 'FALL' as the title proclaims. Which is just one of the complaints I've regularly had, despite my respect, with Audioholics in that there are several small, and extremely unwarranted jabs which have been consistently made against the BD technology for the past few years.
BD is doing very well considering the lousy economy, Wal-Mart or not, BD is on track to see in excess of 100% growth this year and players seem to have become the new standard of purchase.
According to most analysts, BD is on track to outsell DVD by 2011/2012 and at that point, we may have a clearer picture of where digital downloads stand in all of this.
No doubt though, we could see BD having a 20+ year life as a viable product, which sure as heck doesn't warrant the title of the article.
Fall? My right foot!
