ABI Research predicts HD-DVD to keep lead this year.
The latest format war is really starting to heat up with the release of HD-DVD this week. Things are just getting more
and more interesting and everyone is taking sides. Well almost everyone some are
trying to stay neutral. Now a Consumer Electronics Research Service provider; ABI Research is predicting that HD-DVD will atleast win this year. They are predicting that by the end of the year 70% of the High Definition DVD market will belong to HD-DVD because it was the first to market and because it is less expensive. However they also explain that HD-DVD may not be able to keep the lead because of many factors including Blu-Ray's Movie Studio support as well as the PS3. The studio support could shift easily if the studios believe in HD-DVD in the long run.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1mudder @ Apr 20th 2006 6:16PM
BR will be behind till PS3 and because Sony will have to keep its PS3 price tag down will prob be an avg movie plyer. By end of yr Toshiba will have 2nd gen 1080p plyer for 350-400, Xbox will introduce add on and by the time PS3 makes an impact hd dvd will have a large enough user base for studios to find it profitable to realease in that format. I see both formats coexisting w all mjr titles released in both. Small and Adult studios will go primarily hd-dvd because cheaper to produce and hd dvd drives will be more prevalent in PCs after couple yrs.
Dave @ Apr 20th 2006 7:07PM
HD-DVD will win. It doesn't matter who has the better format. The average consumer isn't informed enough to know the difference and, even if they did, there's a good chance they wouldn't care. HD-DVD is a name anyone can remember. Both will do 1080p, and, although Blue-Ray holds more data and is harder to damage--those are NOT advantages from the studio perspective. The more you can fit on one disc, the less you'll be able to charge for that boxset. Also, the blank media for HD-DVD is cheaper, the players are cheaper, and single movies will be cheaper. Oh--and they're first to market. This "war" is over.
emmanuel @ Apr 20th 2006 7:23PM
Godd points but What about the PS3 Dave? In order for HD DVD to win they'd have to convince the millions of potential PS3 buyers into buying an hd dvd player. Why would someone with an upcoming PS3 who is interest in high def movies not buy blu rays?
Kevin M. @ Apr 20th 2006 7:49PM
War is over? I think not.
Sure, anyone can say "HD DVD will it's cheaper and people ain't gunna no teh difference teh!1!1!!!" but that's the glory of the internet. Anyone can say ANYTHING. NOBODY knows how the market will sway in the years to come.
As for this topic, 70% of discs maybe, but of drives? NOOO. If all 6 million PS3s are sold (I think so) then to have 70% of drives would require 14 million HD DVD sets sold. Are there even 14 million people taking advantage of their HDTVs?
All this futurecasting is getting a bit rediculous. Just take a side (or neither, or both) and put your money where your mouth is.
Scott K @ Apr 20th 2006 9:18PM
I'm not on one side or the other, I just want a winner so I can buy a player and have it last with all the movies I want coming out for it....but one thing to keep in mind about the PS3, if 6 million units sell, odds are most of those 6 million wont be hooked up to HDTVs, so those people will probably still buy regular DVDs anyway.
But like Kevin M said, nobody can know for sure yet.
Colonel @ Apr 20th 2006 9:40PM
Remember that UMD players came bundled with every PSP sold, and there's been well over 8 million of them sold. Portables are smaller and easier to make then a full fledged console like the PS3. I HIGHLY doubt the PS3 will have that high of an initial batch even for it's worldwide release. The xbox 360 hasn't even made that much yet so far and it's been well over 6 months. The PS3 could probably produce that many in about a year and a half's time, assuming people actually go for the high price tag that Sony's been reminding us of. Even that's doubtful as of now.
T Vizzl @ Apr 21st 2006 10:40AM
Enough with the PS3 comments.. Yes the PS3 will sell, and yes (according to Sony) it will have a BR drive. This will not determine the end of the war, IMO. Since most of these WILL be hook up to analog TVs, these people won't spend $30 on a movie that they can get for $15 or less or free thru some channels.