HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth

Lee Stewart · 07-17-2007, 03:09 PM

HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth

Promotional Group announces record HD DVD hardware and software sales
increases from Q1-Q2 2007

LAS VEGAS, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Entertainment Merchants
Association (EMA) Home Media Expo 2007, the North American HD DVD
Promotional Group today announced that overall HD DVD hardware sales were up 37 percent from Q1 to Q2 2007, while software sales experienced a 20 percent increase in growth. The data is based on NPD reports, Nielsen Net ratings reports and point of sale data from the studios. During the same
time-frame, overall Blu-ray hardware sales saw a 27 percent decline from Q1to Q2, and Blu-ray software sales were down 5 percent.

Driven by major spring marketing efforts which brought standalone HD
DVD players down to an industry first $299, dedicated HD DVD CE players
experienced an astounding 183 percent quarterly increase. There are
currently more than 180,000 dedicated HD DVD CE players in the market.

"The numbers are clear -- HD DVD is steadily gaining momentum and
market share," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic
marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of theHD DVD Promotional Group. "With HD DVD CE players now at MSRP prices starting at $299 and with strong marketing campaigns around new HD DVD titles with web-enabled interactive features, we're continuing to raise the bar for the consumer experience."

Recent studies(1) have shown most consumers are basing their purchasing
decisions on pricing. Benefiting from more than a decade of DVD technology
advancements and improvements, HD DVD hardware pricing has already dropped from $499 to $299 since the first players were introduced last year as aresult of manufacturing efficiencies, while still maintaining a consistent
consumer experience.

"With the total number of titles available for each format differing by
only 20-30 titles at this time, the real-world gap in content between the
two formats is in actuality not as large as many would perceive," said Paul
Erickson, market analyst with IMS Research. "Consumers in the US and Europe continue to show the greatest sensitivity to price, rather than content or branding, in their purchase decision for standalone high-definition
players."

With titles like "300" coming later this month from Warner Home Video
and "Heroes: Season 1" to be released in August from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, HD DVD owners will have close to 1,000 titles worldwide tochoose from by the holidays.

About HD DVD

HD DVD is the next generation, post-DVD standard for high capacity,
high definition optical discs, approved by the DVD Forum, which develops
and defines DVD formats. Its more than 220 strong membership brings
together leaders in movies and entertainment, computing, consumer
electronics and software. HD DVD is fast becoming the primary visual mediumfor the age of high-definition TV. The North American HD DVD PromotionalGroup, Inc. is an organization established to promote the HD DVD format andeducate consumers in North America. For more information and a completelisting of HD DVD launch titles please visit

http://www.TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com.

(1) CEA Market Research Report, June 2007

Stew4HD · 07-17-2007, 03:15 PM

Woot! I know this info wil get crapped on but I like it! We've done our parts in making this happen.. so when is the death of HD DVD going to happen?

unotis · 07-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

Woot! I know this info wil get crapped on but I like it! We've done our parts in making this happen.. so when is the death of HD DVD going to happen?

Don't worry, they will be here in droves and you will hear so much FUD you'll think Elmer has entered the building!

I suspect we will hear some really well written negative counter points to this article very quickly.

It should to be very entertaining!

Stew4HD · 07-17-2007, 04:10 PM

I'll pop some popcorn and sit back and watch

Lee Stewart · 07-17-2007, 04:14 PM

*deep announcer type voice*

Bullshit! - they are not counting the PS3!

WARNING FOR BRD SUPPORTERS:

"The light that burns twice as bright . . . burns half as long."*

*From Blade Runner

HiramAbiff · 07-17-2007, 04:28 PM

How do you know they aren't counting the PS3? Its sales are hardly booming.

MikeRox · 07-17-2007, 04:33 PM

Because the PS3 price drop alone boosted amazons Blu Ray sales by 700%, proving that nobody buys Blu Ray players other than the PS3, of which about 4 in 5 buy that as a games console, not as a movie player. A very clever way of murkying the waters to make it impossible to tell who what and where. Disc sales being 2:1 in favour of Blu Ray is pretty much the only way of telling which format is genuinely ahead at this moment in time.

Installed userbases for Blu Ray will never mean anything with most of them being primarily bought as games consoles. Plus studios are only interested in disc sales anyway. I'd expect with the PS3 price reduction that Blu Ray will definitely gain some disc market share over the coming weeks. If it doesn't, the PS3 trojan horse may well have run it's course.

**PFC5** · 07-17-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRox

Because the PS3 price drop alone boosted amazons Blu Ray sales by 700%, proving that nobody buys Blu Ray players other than the PS3, of which about 4 in 5 buy that as a games console, not as a movie player. A very clever way of murkying the waters to make it impossible to tell who what and where. Disc sales being 2:1 in favour of Blu Ray is pretty much the only way of telling which format is genuinely ahead at this moment in time.

Installed userbases for Blu Ray will never mean anything with most of them being primarily bought as games consoles. Plus studios are only interested in disc sales anyway. I'd expect with the PS3 price reduction that Blu Ray will definitely gain some disc market share over the coming weeks. If it doesn't, the PS3 trojan horse may well have run it's course.

I think it could add to BD movie sales, but why would someone buy the PS3 for BD movies if they can buy a standalone BD player for slightly less on sale?

I know the PS3 is probably still the best BD player out there just because it has the best chance to be upgradeable to Profile 1.1 at some point, but the average consumer does not know this. They want standalone players for the most part unless they do "some" gaming also.

I also think that the people buying it now want the PS3 with the much more complete backward compatibility while they still can get it and the price goes up. The average non-gamer or very casual gamer probably doesn't even know about that part either though.

We will have to wait and see about what effect this temporary price drop will mean to the HD movie sales though.

Anamorphic_DVD · 07-17-2007, 05:29 PM

I got my 5 free HD DVD's today... takes about 2 months!

Stew4HD · 07-17-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anamorphic_DVD

I just got my 5 free HD DVDs today... it takes about 2 months...

Congrats! I am glad to hear they have arrived. Have you purchased many in the meantime?

Anamorphic_DVD · 07-17-2007, 05:44 PM

I bought 8!

I'm formerly Buford.... new screen name!

HD VHS · 07-17-2007, 06:05 PM

GO HD DVD!

They really are getting into gear, I think once they start marketing hard, they will bring the rain!

mshulman · 07-17-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I think it could add to BD movie sales, but why would someone buy the PS3 for BD movies if they can buy a standalone BD player for slightly less on sale?

I know the PS3 is probably still the best BD player out there just because it has the best chance to be upgradeable to Profile 1.1 at some point, but the average consumer does not know this. They want standalone players for the most part unless they do "some" gaming also.

I think because its arguable the best at that price point and for the potential of games.

It also has other features that someone interested in HD might be interested in that a regular blu-ray player can't do, such as the media sharing.

neal77 · 07-17-2007, 06:14 PM

Can you hook up a PS3 to a non HDTV? If yes how can you include it in HD player sales and if you did include them how many would you include? Only 30% of households have upgraded to HDTV. Even Amazon.com reconizes the PS3 as a video game system.

Lee Stewart · 07-17-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anamorphic_DVD

I bought 8!

I'm formerly Buford.... new screen name!

Hi Buford!

I admire you. To go to the trouble of changing your screen name because you feel so strongly in Anamorphic DVD's.

Kudo's to you!

07-17-2007, 03:09 PM	#1
Lee Stewart Behold - the future! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 58 Posts: 25,190	HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth Promotional Group announces record HD DVD hardware and software sales increases from Q1-Q2 2007 LAS VEGAS, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) Home Media Expo 2007, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group today announced that overall HD DVD hardware sales were up 37 percent from Q1 to Q2 2007, while software sales experienced a 20 percent increase in growth. The data is based on NPD reports, Nielsen Net ratings reports and point of sale data from the studios. During the same time-frame, overall Blu-ray hardware sales saw a 27 percent decline from Q1to Q2, and Blu-ray software sales were down 5 percent. Driven by major spring marketing efforts which brought standalone HD DVD players down to an industry first $299, dedicated HD DVD CE players experienced an astounding 183 percent quarterly increase. There are currently more than 180,000 dedicated HD DVD CE players in the market. "The numbers are clear -- HD DVD is steadily gaining momentum and market share," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of theHD DVD Promotional Group. "With HD DVD CE players now at MSRP prices starting at $299 and with strong marketing campaigns around new HD DVD titles with web-enabled interactive features, we're continuing to raise the bar for the consumer experience." Recent studies(1) have shown most consumers are basing their purchasing decisions on pricing. Benefiting from more than a decade of DVD technology advancements and improvements, HD DVD hardware pricing has already dropped from $499 to $299 since the first players were introduced last year as aresult of manufacturing efficiencies, while still maintaining a consistent consumer experience. "With the total number of titles available for each format differing by only 20-30 titles at this time, the real-world gap in content between the two formats is in actuality not as large as many would perceive," said Paul Erickson, market analyst with IMS Research. "Consumers in the US and Europe continue to show the greatest sensitivity to price, rather than content or branding, in their purchase decision for standalone high-definition players." With titles like "300" coming later this month from Warner Home Video and "Heroes: Season 1" to be released in August from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, HD DVD owners will have close to 1,000 titles worldwide tochoose from by the holidays. About HD DVD HD DVD is the next generation, post-DVD standard for high capacity, high definition optical discs, approved by the DVD Forum, which develops and defines DVD formats. Its more than 220 strong membership brings together leaders in movies and entertainment, computing, consumer electronics and software. HD DVD is fast becoming the primary visual mediumfor the age of high-definition TV. The North American HD DVD PromotionalGroup, Inc. is an organization established to promote the HD DVD format andeducate consumers in North America. For more information and a completelisting of HD DVD launch titles please visit http://www.TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com. (1) CEA Market Research Report, June 2007 Last edited by Lee Stewart; 07-17-2007 at 03:16 PM.

07-17-2007, 03:15 PM	#2
Stew4HD High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9,068	Woot! I know this info wil get crapped on but I like it! We've done our parts in making this happen.. so when is the death of HD DVD going to happen? __________________ ___________________________________

07-17-2007, 04:10 PM	#4
Stew4HD High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9,068	I'll pop some popcorn and sit back and watch __________________ ___________________________________

07-17-2007, 04:28 PM	#6
HiramAbiff HD-DVD--for movie lovers Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA Age: 27 Posts: 1,390	How do you know they aren't counting the PS3? Its sales are hardly booming. __________________ My HD DVD and DVD collection. My favorite movies. Mitsubishi WS-55315

07-17-2007, 04:33 PM	#7
MikeRox Blu Blu Skies! :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huddersfield, United Kingdom Posts: 12,416	Because the PS3 price drop alone boosted amazons Blu Ray sales by 700%, proving that nobody buys Blu Ray players other than the PS3, of which about 4 in 5 buy that as a games console, not as a movie player. A very clever way of murkying the waters to make it impossible to tell who what and where. Disc sales being 2:1 in favour of Blu Ray is pretty much the only way of telling which format is genuinely ahead at this moment in time. Installed userbases for Blu Ray will never mean anything with most of them being primarily bought as games consoles. Plus studios are only interested in disc sales anyway. I'd expect with the PS3 price reduction that Blu Ray will definitely gain some disc market share over the coming weeks. If it doesn't, the PS3 trojan horse may well have run it's course. Last edited by MikeRox; 07-17-2007 at 04:35 PM.

07-17-2007, 04:14 PM	#5
Lee Stewart Behold - the future! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Albuquerque, NM Age: 58 Posts: 25,190	deep announcer type voice Bullshit! - they are not counting the PS3! WARNING FOR BRD SUPPORTERS: "The light that burns twice as bright . . . burns half as long."* *From Blade Runner

07-17-2007, 05:29 PM	#9
Anamorphic_DVD Anamorphic is winning! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 210	I got my 5 free HD DVD's today... takes about 2 months! Last edited by Anamorphic_DVD; 07-17-2007 at 05:44 PM.

07-17-2007, 05:44 PM	#11
Anamorphic_DVD Anamorphic is winning! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 210	I bought 8! I'm formerly Buford.... new screen name! __________________ Sony KDL40S3000 Toshiba XA2 HD DVD Sharp Aquos LC-42D62U 42 Toshiba XA2 HD DVD HD DVD 16 Enhanced DVDs 47 http://dvdinhdq.4t.com/ Learn about DVD HD upconversion (save money buying Enhanced DVD). http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/Misc/anamorphic_dvd.htm 1 format for all players = Anamorphic Cleaner & More Smooth than HD DVD & Blu Ray! The #1 selling format! Last edited by Anamorphic_DVD; 07-17-2007 at 05:46 PM.

07-17-2007, 06:05 PM	#12
HD VHS High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 987	GO HD DVD! They really are getting into gear, I think once they start marketing hard, they will bring the rain!

07-17-2007, 06:14 PM	#14
neal77 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L.A. California Posts: 495	Can you hook up a PS3 to a non HDTV? If yes how can you include it in HD player sales and if you did include them how many would you include? Only 30% of households have upgraded to HDTV. Even Amazon.com reconizes the PS3 as a video game system. __________________ HD-DVDS: 155 DVD's: 1,800 SHARP 52" 52d92u LCD TV XBOX360 ELITE HD-DVD ADD ON Toshiba A30

Similar Threads to HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Article on HD DVD vs. Blu-ray	numbskully	Blu-Ray Players	11	09-10-2009 12:11 PM
Why I think HD DVD will win, and why Bluray sucks.	HD VHS	High Definition Media	243	05-11-2008 10:57 PM
HD DVD Outpacing All Next-Gen Formats in Sales Growth	neal77	High Definition News & Informative Articles	4	07-18-2007 11:17 AM
Amir M. weighs in on Blockbuster decision	bruceames	High Definition Media	172	07-03-2007 06:49 PM
HD DVD off to running start	eHDMI	High Definition News & Informative Articles	3	05-02-2006 09:12 PM