A new report by the NPD Group indicates that Blu-ray video technology has moved “further into the mainstream.” Indeed, first quarter (Q1) sales of stand-alone Blu-ray players in the US increased by 72 percent to over 400,000 units.
Meanwhile, the average selling price (ASP) for a stand-alone BD player decreased by 34 percent – from $393 in Q1 2008 to $261 in Q1 2009.
“The rising penetration of high-definition televisions and lower Blu-ray player prices are broadening the format’s market opportunity,” said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD. “Even as options expand for accessing movies digitally, Blu-ray is carrying forward the widespread appeal of DVD into the high-definition marketplace.”
“Blu-ray’s superiority used to be difficult for many consumers to grasp, but when friends rave about it, or demonstrate Blu-ray in their homes, they are selling the benefits in a way that is far more effective than simply viewing an advertisement or seeing it demonstrated at a retail store,” added Crupnick.
Sales of Blu-ray movies, which were rather slugglish during 2008, also registered a significant increase in 2009.
I know a lot of people who recently bought Blu Ray drives. I just bought one two weeks ago. I was expecting to be underwhelmed by the quality, but its really nice. I rip all the movies I buy to my file server as video files so I don’t have to bother with all the HDCP BS.
Digital downloads just aren’t viable yet with my slow cable connection. I don’t think Blu Ray is going to die in the near future.
I have a Sharp 1080p TV, connected to a PS3 by HDMI cable. I bought the PS3 because it was highly recommended as the best Blu-ray player, as well as one of the best up-converting DVD players. It also happens to play games.
That up-converting feature may be too good. I have 100s of DVDs and exactly 2 Blu-ray movies.
After watching T2 on Blu-Ray, then comparing the picture to the DVD, I can’t see any significant difference. There is some improvement in the Blu-ray picture, but not enough (for me) to make it worth re-purchasing any of my existing DVDs on Blu-ray.
And, since new DVDs are cheaper and just as available as new Blu-ray movies, I continue to buy movies on DVD.
Cheap Blu-ray players will hit U.S. store shelves (AfterDawn) http://bit.ly/uljZa
Blu-ray is for losers.
Stream that shit.
If you can’t stream it, download it.
HD DVD is better. Oops! Damn, they lost the war. Good upconverting too.
Are we supposed to be impressed by 400k per quarter?
Sounds rather pathetic. I wonder how many DVD players or even vcrs were sold last quarter.
The only reason “Blu-ray is not dead yet!” is because the competition was bought out. Yes, a legitimate move, but I don’t have to like it.
I was an early adopter, and still have my HD-DVD drive for my 360 (on which I still watch my most favorite movie ever: Good Night, and Good Luck). Of course high-definition discs are going to get more popular as HDTVs and more interestingly 1080p (with HDMI) monitors start coming into play.
I have a 40″ 1080P Samsung LCD TV and a PS3. Blu-ray looks fantastic on it. Never mind the stuff that naturally looks good, like Wall-E. Put something you wouldn’t think needs it, like Super Troopers in and you notice little details that you can’t see on DVD.
And screw HD-DVD. It was the inferior format from the start. 10GB less per layer, could only handle 3 layers (blu-ray can handle up to 8), and its sole reason to exist was to create a format war.
Now try putting a Blu-ray on a small portable player for the kids.
RBG
#9: You’re saying that like DVD didn’t take several years to miniaturize like that…
The Blu-ray disc very likely cost about the same to make as regular def DVDs. Maybe a few cents more. But they charge dollars more for them! Now if the players are getting cheaper, why are the Blu-Ray discs getting priced the same as other DVDs? So it seems to me that it’s more about gouging those that bought the higher def players. And I’ll bet Blu-Ray discs have harder to crack security. And that’s why they want it to survive.
I agree with #11. It was interesting that when we had two formats for HD, that the HD-DVD, and BluRay disks cost the same as DVD. But now we have one format, they cost more… for no good reason.
If you have a really big screen(50 inches or bigger), this high end stuff is necessary to look good. But I have a small 30″ HDTV (Sony Bravia), and an upscaling regular dvd player with HDMI looks just as good as blu-ray would.
Other things to note: On a small HDTV screen there is no discernible difference between standard definition TV and movies on Apple TV and the Hi-Def ones.
I once tried spinning a blu ray disc in its little box, couldn’t see or hear anything….I don’t think they will catch on.
Cost is a big factor here for people. And it looks like it’s another opportunity for the companies to rip us off.
I remember when CD’s came in during the 80’s. At the time in the UK a cassette tape album cost between £5.99-7.99 . A CD was £12.
They told us- Dont worry, as more people start buying CD’s, the price will come down. But they never did. They stayed at £12 until, years later the price started to go up.
I expect the same again with BluRay
yeah, Blu Ray is not dead yet,
and Elvis is still alive too