Don't fall for the BD Hype

[Johnd]

"Don't fall for the BD Hype" is the title of this article dated 2-11-08 from Europe's HD frontman. An interesting take that we do not hear about here in the US. What is relevant is the number of HD titles is growing, and the cost of HD software and hardware is appreciably less than that of BD.. At the end of the day, it is still just the 1/10 of 1% of us that are concerned about any of this. The masses remain ignorantly elated with SD, or upscaled SD.


http://www.dvd-intelligence.com/main_sections/news_archive/2003_free/2_olivier.htm

 

[aberkowitz]

Wow- doesn't that just smack of desperation!! Thing is- that article should have been written 6 weeks ago when Warners made their announcement and it should have been plastered all over the news. At this point it comes off sounding like sour grapes and too little too late.

 

[Johnd]

Wow- doesn't that just smack of desperation!! Thing is- that article should have been written 6 weeks ago when Warners made their announcement and it should have been plastered all over the news. At this point it comes off sounding like sour grapes and too little too late.

I thought you were above that aber. Did you actually read the article? He is not espousing a sales pitch. He is giving us Europe's take on HD...which is different than the position here in the US.

The fact remains, HD software outsells BD software (movies) by a ratio of 3:1 for units sold. The cold hard fact is the vast majority of BD players are actually PS3's, and they are generally not used for movies, but gaming.

 

[aberkowitz]

I thought you were above that aber. Did you actually read the article? He is not espousing a sales pitch. He is giving us Europe's take on HD...which is different than the position here in the US.

The fact remains, HD software outsells BD software (movies) by a ratio of 3:1 for units sold. The cold hard fact is the vast majority of BD players are actually PS3's, and they are generally not used for movies, but gaming.

I did read the article- twice in fact. It absolutely comes off as a sales pitch... anything that starts with the line "Don't Fall for the BD Hype" reads as a sales pitch in my mind. I understand that he's speaking about the European market- but if this purely factual with no hyperbole, then he should also be talking about how large the European market actually is for HD DVD and BD sales. Compared to the US and Asia, I would guess that Europe comes in 3rd.

Regarding the movie attachment rate of 3.5:1- does this include the DVDs that are given away for free with new purchases of players? I'd have to believe it does b/c every statistic I've seen shows that new BDs outsell new HD DVDs by 62-38 for 2007 (here's one source- http://dvdempire.com/Content/Features/hidef_wars.asp?userid=99366198593395). So what does this 3.5:1 stat actually mean for HD DVD's future? Not a whole heck of a lot!

 

[Johnd]

Well, I'm certainly not as apt to get into a pissing match about it as you are aber.

I like my HD player, and I love the movie prices now being offered. It's really that simple.

As far as ratios, you do have a point though. If you took away the 4 million + PS3's that are overwhelmingly used for games, the ratio for BD players would skyrocket to a number you would smile about. jk

 

[Seth=L]

I really don't understand why people take it personal when their "choice" format or something about it is picked on. I think you should lighten up a bit John. I really don't think Aber is trying to bully you. Unless HD DVD starts getting some of their big time exclusive support back, they don't stand a chance. There isn't any hype that I can see from either side of the battle. Warner dropping HD DVD isn't hype.

 

[aberkowitz]

Well, I'm certainly not as apt to get into a pissing match about it as you are aber.

Not sure how my remarks got interpreted that way- my first response was just my reaction the article- sorry if this got out of control .

 

[Seth=L]

Not sure how my remarks got interpreted that way- my first response was just my reaction the article- sorry if this got out of control .

He was pulling a "you", he assumed you where doing that while you assumed it was a sales pitch. J/K, sorry John, I couldn't resist.

 

[Johnd]

I really don't understand why people take it personal when their "choice" format or something about it is picked on. I think you should lighten up a bit John. I really don't think Aber is trying to bully you. Unless HD DVD starts getting some of their big time exclusive support back, they don't stand a chance. There isn't any hype that I can see from either side of the battle. Warner dropping HD DVD isn't hype.

This is me light Seth.

I do not take it personally. As stated, I love my HD player(s) and all the HD movies I can get for $12.00. Truly.

This report is commentary from someone in the know in Europe. Hyperbole? Spin? Not even close. There's so much he could have stated...but didn't. Either way, I accepted the fact that both formats are doomed before I purchased the A3. Now I'm purchasing the A35. No regrets whatsoever.

The simple fact is BD has nothing that compares to the quality of the XA2. Nothing. All the profiles? What a joke. The lawsuits because some PS3's don't play movies? And when it does, the best it affords is 2 channel analog. Etc., etc., etc. There are many issues with BD, but it is not uplayed here. Why? Because more members have BD over HD. The funny thing is, there is no difference in pq over the formats. Remember all the hype of 50 gig of storage...maybe 100? At the end of the day, the pq and sq is outstanding in both formats as it is.

Personal? No. I did my homework before my purchase Seth, and will be happy whatever the outcome...whenever that is. Why don't you toss that title to aber that shoots down a commentary as "pure hyprebole"? It is commentary rife with fact. Either way, if I am able to amass 50, 100, or maybe even 150 (not a raceor conspicuous consumption, deliberate purchases over time) HD movies over the next year, all at $12.00-$15.00 a piece, I'm a pea in a pod. And that's a fact.

 

[Johnd]

Not sure how my remarks got interpreted that way- my first response was just my reaction the article- sorry if this got out of control .

That's all right aber. No apology necessary. I don't think this is out of control at all. I'm not the author guys, just the messenger. My point was the hyperbole comment leaves little room for discussion, does it not aber? That's all I was referring to. We've now moved passed that.

I thought it might be interesting to insert some Eurpoean commentary here, while the war is still on. As I've already stated, you'll not find me attacking the pq and sq of BD...it's right there with HD. However, their prices, architecture and profiles leave much to be desired. The XA2 is a perfect machine...something BD does not have. Hopefully, the A35 becomes the second perfect machine with firmware. I'm getting my A35 for $224 with seven more movies. I love this hobby! Cheers, John

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, certainly glad I got both HD DVD and BLU-RAY.

Leave nothing to chance.

I like it when I know that my team will win 100% of the time (either HD or BD), unlike those damn stupid sports where my teams keep on losing!

 

[Johnd]

I like it when I know that my team will win 100% of the time!

You purchase a certain winner(s) AceDefTechGuy!

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I thought you were above that aber. Did you actually read the article? He is not espousing a sales pitch. He is giving us Europe's take on HD...which is different than the position here in the US.

The fact remains, HD software outsells BD software (movies) by a ratio of 3:1 for units sold.

LOL....you got it backwards. Blu-ray movies are outselling HD-DVD by 3:1 in Europe. Since the WB announcement, the same also applies in the USA.

 

[Johnd]

LOL....you got it backwards. Blu-ray movies are outselling HD-DVD by 3:1 in Europe. Since the WB announcement, the same also applies in the USA.

No, I don't (peanut gallery). I am discussing all time sales. Sheesh.

 

[aberkowitz]

LOL....you got it backwards. Blu-ray movies are outselling HD-DVD by 3:1 in Europe. Since the WB announcement, the same also applies in the USA.

Buckeye- what John is talking about, and the article references, is the number of DVDs "sold" per unit that is sold- which I think is a screwed up metric because it includes the free DVDs that are being given away with HD DVD players (I touched on that above). If you look at the stats of new sales, which I believe you are quoting, BD is blowing HD DVD out of the water.

I don't totally disagree with John's strategy of using the next year or two to load up on HD DVDs through all the bargain basement deals that should come about. I was thinking about this strategy as well (I have a PS3 and a library of 30-40 BDs right now out of 300+ total DVDs), but there just really aren't that many movies on HD DVD that I really want that I don't already own in SD or that I cannot get on the BD format. I would buy the Bourne Trilogy (already have on SD), Batman Begins, and the Matrix Trilogy right away.. but I'm just not that excited about the rest of the releases right now.

 

[dobyblue]

I thought you were above that aber. Did you actually read the article? He is not espousing a sales pitch. He is giving us Europe's take on HD...which is different than the position here in the US.

The fact remains, HD software outsells BD software (movies) by a ratio of 3:1 for units sold. The cold hard fact is the vast majority of BD players are actually PS3's, and they are generally not used for movies, but gaming.

Sorry, but "attach rates" are not at all in the same realm of importance as "software units sold"

Blu-ray software has 79% of the market in Europe currently and that number has increased from 70% before Christmas.

That is ALL TIME software sales.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3if908f8e7990b7157065a14eacddd44ae

According to research done by GfK International, a total of 2.4M Blu-ray discs have been sold across Europe since the format launched. This equates to 79% of the high definition market.

In December alone, a half million Blu-ray discs were sold during the important holiday season. The biggest seller during this time was 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' which sold nearly 100,000 units. Coming in second was 'The Simpsons Movie' followed by 'Casino Royale'. During this time, Blu-ray sold at a 3-to-1 ratio over rival high definition formats.

When comparing this success to DVD, the results are even more impressive. The second year of DVD resulted in 230,000 players and 2M discs sold. For Blu-ray, it has resulted in 3.5M players (3.2M PS3s and 34,000 standalone players) and 2.3M Blu-ray discs sold.

HD DVD is an afterthought in Europe.

 

[Johnd]

Buckeye- what John is talking about, and the article references, is the number of DVDs "sold" per unit that is sold- which I think is a screwed up metric because it includes the free DVDs that are being given away with HD DVD players (I touched on that above). If you look at the stats of new sales, which I believe you are quoting, BD is blowing HD DVD out of the water.

I don't totally disagree with John's strategy of using the next year or two to load up on HD DVDs through all the bargain basement deals that should come about. I was thinking about this strategy as well (I have a PS3 and a library of 30-40 BDs right now out of 300+ total DVDs), but there just really aren't that many movies on HD DVD that I really want that I don't already own in SD or that I cannot get on the BD format. I would buy the Bourne Trilogy (already have on SD), Batman Begins, and the Matrix Trilogy right away.. but I'm just not that excited about the rest of the releases right now.

Yes, aber, you get it thanks. If one saw 1080p on 100" of HD glory, they'd understand. It's really that simple.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Buckeye- what John is talking about, and the article references, is the number of DVDs "sold" per unit that is sold- which I think is a screwed up metric

The HD-Association and their using attachment rates to make their case for success is Bourne from desperation. (pun intended)....

I totally agree..... The only number that means anything to a formats survival is sales ### & $$$$$. As it stands now, HD-DVD's are getting killed in sales regardless of how they choose to spin their continued butt whippings at the cash register.

BD-ASSOCIATION: "Hey, BD may be killing us in sales by a 3:1 margin, but look at our attachment rate!!"

....it makes no sense at all.

 

[Seth=L]

The HD-Association and their using attachment rates to make their case for success is Bourne from desperation. (pun intended)....

I totally agree..... The only number that means anything to a formats survival is sales ### & $$$$$. As it stands now, HD-DVD's are getting killed in sales regardless of how they choose to spin their continued butt whippings at the cash register.

*nods*

I agree completely.

 

[Johnd]

Sorry, but "attach rates" are not at all in the same realm of importance as "software units sold"

Blu-ray software has 79% of the market in Europe currently and that number has increased from 70% before Christmas.

That is ALL TIME software sales.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/international/news/e3if908f8e7990b7157065a14eacddd44ae



HD DVD is an afterthought in Europe.

Apologize to yourself doby. According to you that's what is important. Anyone here could extrapolate ten other statitics. Who cares? None of them undoes the commentary, or the point that HD hardware and software is a fraction of the price of BD. That is what caused me to jump on the bandwagon. And, of course, 100" of 1080p glory! It's really quite a simple message coming from me, and aberkowitz nailed it.