New research looks at Blu-ray awareness across the globe

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 3rd 2008 at 3:28PM

It's something we've all been wondering about, and now we've got the numbers to satisfy our curiosity. Interpret has surveyed groups from a variety of regions around the globe in order to see how high (or low) Blu-ray awareness is now that it stands alone as the sole next-generation HDM format. Unsurprisingly, the UK and US were tops in knowing what's what at 56- and 60-percent, respectively, while Japan checked in at 45-percent; both France and Germany notched percentages that were slightly lower at 49-percent and 30-percent. Also of note, data from the UK and Japan showed that consumers that already own HDM players were still purchasing standard-definition DVDs at a higher rate than HD DVDs / Blu-ray Discs, but the opposite was (just barely) true for the US. Nothing too earth-shattering here, but check out the read link if you're lusting after some fun figures to toss around at the water-cooler.

[Via Audioholics, image courtesy of TheDigitalBits]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Tags: awareness, data, global, interpret, research, study, worldwide

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

DeadPixel @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:32PM

what, do germans not care about 1080p?

Neutral

Peter @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:07PM

Germans like their HD DVDs. I just got my HD DVD of Terminator 2: Ultimate HD-Edition in the mail yesterday, and it is AWESOME!

Low Ranked

Truth Teller @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:51PM

It's not that people don't like high def, it's that they aren't prepared to pay through the nose for something which is not such a big deal to so many.

Ditto high def audio.

Sorry but that's the truth of the matter.

Until Blu-ray finish the spec and get standalones out at sub �100/$200 and less they aren't going anywhere.

But we all know that they will take far too long to do that and they too will end up a dead PS3 format as they get overtaken by events.

Neutral

Truth Teller @ Apr 3rd 2008 3:58PM

Oh dear, you really can't bear to hear the truth about your beloved video format.

FFS grow up, you sad little t!t.

Highly Ranked

JimC @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:52PM

Truth Teller,

How can someone who has been spectacularly wrong about everything HD even have the guts to comment?

Better step up your game...

Highly Ranked

Jove @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:31PM

oh god you again! i tought you would retire after your afterdawn ban! leave engadget alone! do like hd4me and nfinity you dimwitt and get on with your pathetic life!

Neutral

DrXym @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:58PM

JimC, there's a simple answer to that - he's a sore loser and a cry baby.

Neutral

1stGreg @ Apr 3rd 2008 6:59PM

Lie Teller is our resident buffoon. It's always amusing, in an annoying sort of way, to see him post.
It's even more amusing to rub his face in facts when he is proven wrong, which is pretty much all the time ;)

Neutral

ThePremierAssassin @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:13PM

LOL

God this guy is truly pathetic. It would be really sad if not for the fact that its SO FUNNY.

He's been proven wrong so many times yet he still thinks we're going to believe him about anything related to High Def Media?

Neutral

plozen @ Apr 3rd 2008 4:29PM

Did I really read that right that the buy rate for HD media was higher than for standard def? I'm not sure I understand how that number is being used. Is it that a higher percentage of HD hardware owners are buying media compared to SD hardware owners? Anyone?

Neutral

Mr. E @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:13PM

I read that as: Those with HD media playback capability buy more HD than SD media.

I'm surprised that those with HD players would still buy many DVDs, because all of my own purchases have been Blu-ray since I got my PS3. After having 1080p quality, I just can't go back to DVD. I guess it could be explained by the fact that there are still MANY more DVD releases than Blu-ray in any given week. If I were interested in those movies, I'd have no choice but to either buy them on DVD or wait and hope they come to Blu-ray.

I think I'm MOST surprised by the fact that the U.S. and U.K. edged out Japan as far as Blu-ray awareness. I thought for sure Japan would be higher than 90%, the way they fetishize all the latest gadgets. Just goes to show that Japan has their own version of J6P!

Neutral

DrXym @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:03PM

When I got my DVD player I still bought VHS tapes simply because a lot of TV shows weren't on DVD.

I expect with Blu Ray there is going to be an even larger overlap because BD players will happily play DVD too. So consumers will pick and choose the movies they want to see in HD. For TV shows of course, there is little point at all going Blu if the show was in SD to start with so I doubt DVD will disappear entirely for a long time.

Neutral

1stGreg @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:01PM

The problem for people still buying DVDs when they have a HD player, is that their favorite movies / anime / etc. are not all available in HD.

Just having Uni/Para/Weinstein finally move their collective rear ends would do a lot for that (and according to Bill Hunt, it's for "very soon").

Neutral

DrXym @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:05PM

Several commentators have suggested the biggest hurdle for the late arrivers is not replication but in post production. The post production houses are already busy. That might explain why they're taking their sweet time to get up to speed.

Highly Ranked

Achilles @ Apr 3rd 2008 7:46PM

Blu-Ray prices are still too steep and movie choices in BR are still very few. I've had the patience to hold out for end of the war and now I'm still holding out until a stand-alone BR live player arrives that doesn't have a dozen bugs.

Nothing against BR, I just want my money's worth. I'll buy a BR player but not until they get their HW & SW act together. Movie choices will hopefully come around now that there is only one format.

I'll be waiting!!!!! European & Asian numbers don't mean squat to me! Give me a semi-affordable quality player with better movie choices and I'm sold!!!!

Neutral

FLskydiver @ Apr 3rd 2008 8:40PM

Since getting a PS3 and Hd-A30, I've purchase about 60 hd-dvds or blu-rays and ONE dvd (Firefly: The complete series). Because I liked Serenity so much, and don't figure there's much chance the SD show with effects rendered in SD will look any better in HD. I certainly wouldn't buy any more movies on dvd. I've got enough sitting around as it is.

Neutral

mda20 @ Apr 4th 2008 7:52AM

How can BD sales be exceeding DVD sales? Sounds like more marketing hype. Almost every week we get maybe 2 new tiles on Bd and 2 or 3 old releases(which we've already seen so quit wasting money), compared to over 50 titles a week get released on DVD. I think there are a few people you need to take economics over again. I just don't see how that is possible. Why spend $400 on a player that only get 2 or 3 titles a week. And most of them are crap. Lately the best titles have been on DVD.
And remember, take a pole at work, 80 to 90 percent of the public don't care about BD. They just want to watch a movie. SD or upconverting is good enough for the masses. And that the truth BD needs to understand.

Neutral

Paul Fernandez @ Apr 4th 2008 8:13AM

@mda20

FYI, it's "take a poll at work," unless readers want to do bodily harm to those who disagree with their answers, LOL.

Neutral

jason w @ Apr 4th 2008 10:19AM

Truth is telling the truth. If you dont have a HDTV 1080P means nothing to you. Hdtvs are just not getting down to mass market prices so until BR gets to mass market they will remain a niche. Im just happy im ahead of the curve and can enjoy it now.
So to wrap it up "It sucks to be them" and "ignorance is bliss".

Neutral

daaper @ Apr 4th 2008 5:07PM

That's the honest-to-god truth right there. It's easy to live without it, until you've lived with it...then there's no turning back.

Neutral

minimalist @ Apr 4th 2008 2:26PM

So what constitutes �mass market�? 41% of all US households now have an HDTV (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/26/only-half-of-us-hdtv-owners-subscribe-to-hd-programming/).

Granted, a lot of those 27-40� HDTV�s won�t benefit from 1080p content. But that didn�t stop people from buying a 32� 1080p TV over a better quality 720p TV in the first place so never underestimated the lure of the Big-Ass-Number. Once the prices get low enough, it might just turn out that those �1080p� badges are the best thing marketing tool Blu-ray has.

Neutral

jason w @ Apr 4th 2008 5:45PM

After next August then HDTV will the only tv sold so BR will take off. I bet alot of this will change when people get their tax rebates as well. The extra rebates that start next month will help it as well.
Lets face it guys and gals we are the cream of the crop when it comes to audio video. We most likely have HDtvs with HD sources (alot of HDtv owners dont even have an hd sourse to view hd). Some people even feel 480P is hd when its not.
But once you go hd either hd dish or cable you dont go back to non hd. I tried. It didnt work. The once you go HDDVD or Bluray the cable and dish sources look bland to you. Once you have been to the top of the hill and have seen the future why would you ever go back?

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