|
|
Paramount's Switch Failed To Turn Market Published by wes213 on Sunday, December 23, 2007
Tagged: Hardware, Xbox 360,
Research/analyst firm Understanding & Solutions has issued a report today saying that Paramount's switch to go exclusive HD DVD has failed to turn the market in favor of that format and that Blu-ray continues to dominate the market with stronger studio support and sales volumes.
If they can't get it done with the cheapest players and three of the biggest movies of the year in "Transformers" and "Shrek the Third" from Paramount/DreamWorks and "Bourne Ultimatum from Universal," it's hard to see how them improving their chances.
 I wonder how Microsoft/Toshiba are feeling about that $150 million investment, especially since Toshiba's earnings have taken such a hit.
Here is the U&S report in full:
The fast-approaching holiday season is a key milestone in the success of High Definition disc formats in the USA, according to a timely market report by Understanding & Solutions.
Performance of both Blu-ray and HD DVD during this second holiday season is crucial in establishing the new generation of optical discs, and may bring the market a step closer to resolving the war between the competing formats.
“Blu-ray and HD DVD player prices have been falling since the summer, culminating in Toshiba’s loss leading sub-$100 HD DVD player, available in the USA last month for a limited time,” says Jeremy Wills, Consultant at Understanding & Solutions. “Price reductions in the USA have continued into December, with Blu-ray players dropping below $300 for the first time, and HD DVD players below $200.”
Understanding & Solutions’ Senior Technology Consultant, Bill Foster adds, “Drive, chipset and other system components are now benefiting from economies of scale. In early 2008 we’re going to see the Bill of Materials for a basic High Definition player, in either format, weighing in at less than $150, and that’s going to impact the high street very soon, providing the consumer with a choice of low price players that allow CE companies a margin for profit.”
In Western Europe by the end of 2008, Understanding & Solutions predicts average player prices (as opposed to entry level model pricing), for HD DVD and Blu-ray of $275 and $475 respectively, with the yet-to-be-launched European 80GB PS3 retailing at just over $500.
Furthermore, by 2011, if both formats still remain, HD DVD and Blu-ray players will both retail at below $100.
“Crucially,” says Wills, “Blu-ray benefits from stronger Hollywood Studio support and represents a greater proportion of High Definition disc production volumes and disc sales. To date, Paramount’s move to sole support of HD DVD has failed to turn the market, despite the HD DVD exclusivity of key titles ‘Transformers’ and ‘Shrek the Third’. Notably, Blu-ray still represented over 70% of High Definition video sales in the USA during the week ‘Transformers’ was released on HD DVD.
“As demand grows and manufacturing volumes build, we’re going to see the costs of releasing on two different formats really start to bite. There may be surprises just around the corner, and we could see a lot more format clarity in 2008.”
Despite all this action in the disc market, consumer confusion still persists. The importance of providing a coherent message through strong retailer support is essential, as many buyers still don’t know what additional inputs are required in order to view High Definition content on a High Definition TV. That said, consumer interest in displays continues unabated. By the end of this year, 34% of US homes will own a Hi Def display, rising to 90% by 2011. In Europe, uptake is slower, with 20% ownership by the end of this year, rising to 66% by 2011.
Broadcasters continue to play their part in driving demand, with almost 100 HD channels now available in the US. However, European operators in countries like France and the UK are still playing catch up, hampered by the fact that there is not enough HD content for original programming 24 hours a day.
News-Source: hollywoodinhidef.com
( Subscribe via    
)
|
|
| |
 
 Shroom Siege announced for Xbox Series, PS4|5, Switch and PC (Steam)
Upside Down Bird's team-based arcade action platformer Shroom Siege has been announced for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4|5, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game is schedule to release in 2025.T..Award-Winning Sci-Fi Builder 'IXION' Lands on X.. ANTRO: Sync to the Beat on Xbox Series, PS5, an.. Luto is coming soon for Xbox, PlayStation, and .. 'StarKeeper' Announced for Xbox Series, PS5, Sw.. |
|
Xbox 360 News | Submit News
|
|
Monday, January 13 | |  'Love Eternal' is coming to Xbox, PlayStation |
Monday, January 06 | | 'Saborus' to launch simultaneously on Xbox, P |
Friday, November 01 | | Yooka-Replaylee: High-Def Remake of Yooka-Lay |
Monday, September 30 | | Take to the skies with Microsoft Flight Simul |
Monday, September 09 | | Extinction Rifts unleashes cross-platform cha |
Thursday, September 05 | | Whimsical RPG Necro Story launches on all maj |
Wednesday, September 04 | | Lady Death: Demonicron is coming to Xbox Seri |
Monday, September 02 | | DevGAMM Game Industry Conference returns to P |
Thursday, August 29 | | Magical Bakery Set To Cast A Spell On Xbox Se |
Wednesday, August 28 | | The Precinct Launches for Xbox Series, PS5, a |
Tuesday, August 27 | | Lost in Tropics debuts on PC, with console re |
Monday, August 26 | | Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II set for relea |
Friday, August 23 | | Magical RPG Garden Witch Life set for console |
Wednesday, August 21 | | Deathbound Launches Simultaneously Across Xbo |
Tuesday, August 20 | | Undisputed brings authentic boxing to console |
| 'Big Helmet Heroes' To Launch This Year For X |
Monday, August 19 | | Crime Simulator announced for XBOX X/S, XB1, |
Thursday, August 15 | | 2025 release for Promise Mascot Agency on Xbo |
Wednesday, August 14 | | Designated Demigod launches in 2025 for Conso |
| Nekki and Story Kitchen to bring SPINE to lif |
Tuesday, August 13 | | Steel Seed Delivers New Gameplay Ahead Of 202 |
Monday, August 12 | | Action Adventure 'Island of Winds' Is Coming |
Wednesday, August 07 | | Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Announced For Xbo |
Tuesday, August 06 | | “Wardens Rising” arrives later this year on X |
| Detective Sim 'Shadows of Doubt' confirmed fo |
Monday, August 05 | | First Dwarf coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, S |
Friday, August 02 | | Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror Hits Xbox |
Wednesday, July 31 | | Co-op Action Rogue-Like SWORN launches on Xbo |
Friday, May 24 | | Simon The Sorcerer Origins: Trailer features |
Thursday, May 23 | | BECK Interactive Aims To Boost Early-Stage Vi |
See All Xbox 360 News | Xbox 360 News Archive
|
| |
HQ Network: 8,014 | 
Guests: 3558 |
Members: 0
