Sony to Market PS3 As Blu-Ray Player
Sony to Market PS3 As Blu-Ray Player
The company looks to improve sales of both products.
By Swanni
Washington, D.C. (September 21, 2007) -- Sony is planning to refocus its PlayStation 3 marketing campaign by emphasizing that the console includes a Blu-ray player.
That's according to a Financial Times article.
The publication reports that Sony is aiming to improve sales of both the PS3 game console and the new high-def disc format.
However, the company's decision to emphasize the Blu-ray player was not easily reached, says the Financial Times. Kaz Hirai, president of Sony's games division, told the newspaper that it was a delicate "balancing act."
"The PS3 is first and foremost a video games machine but we want to say – by the way, it’s a great Blu-ray player as well,” Hirai said.
Hirai said Sony's PS3 marketing campaign would emphasize the Blu-ray player in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
The previous Sony PS3 marketing focus was on the game aspect of the console, allowing word-of-mouth to spread the word about the Blu-ray player.
However, Blu-ray is in a fierce competition with rival high-def disc format HD DVD and it appears that Sony now believes that more is needed to increase awareness of Blu-ray.
Hirai also told reporters yesterday Sony was not ruling out a price cut on the PS3, but doesn't plan one in the near future. Instead, the company wants to focus on building its software lineup to woo buyers by acquiring game software companies.
“Going aggressive only on price without being able to back it up with content doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me,” he said.
Sony is planning to ship 11 million PS3s worldwide in its current fiscal year, which ends in March.
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