BDA unsurprisingly bullish for holiday season
Given that Iron Man just crushed every other Blu-ray sales record set before it, not to mention the fact that sub-$200 BD decks are finally upon us, we can't say we're flabbergasted by the Blu-ray Disc Association's most recent comments. Victor Matsuda, Chairman of the BDA Global Promotions Committee, was recently quoted as saying that "[the BDA] has good reason to predict that this Q4 sales period will see the Blu-ray Disc revolution take hold in US mainstream markets and [that it] will witness strong sales performance in every other geographical region." Comically enough, he also stated that "the availability of affordable players is an important factor," which contrasts pretty starkly with comments made by the BDA just weeks ago. Not that we're complaining about lower prices or anything...[Via Pocket-lint, image courtesy of Photobucket]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
adam @ Oct 10th 2008 12:04PM
A Blu-Ray Xbox 360 add-on is all that is needed. I mean look at what the HD-DVD add-on did for the format... wait a second... oops, maybe that's not a good example.
MJ @ Oct 10th 2008 12:09PM
^XBox 360 will probably happen per this article posted today on AVSForum and Electronic House.
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/xbox_360_blu_ray_drive_rumors_persist/C175
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 10th 2008 12:13PM
MJ:
MS already denied those again. They're just internet rumors. People just keep tweaking the old rumors over and over.
I don't think add-ons will amount to anything anyway. The dropping prices of standalone players will make add-ons unviable.
squiggleslash @ Oct 10th 2008 12:32PM
MS believes downloads are the future. It kinda backed HD DVD (though not to the same extent as Sony did Blu-ray) because HD DVD was designed to fit into and be a hub for a downloads ecosystem, but BD really doesn't and it's improbable MS gives a crap about it.
Indeed, I'd go further and say they'd really like it to fail. Trying to get Hollywood on board for HD DVD meant they had to go overboard in locking down certain aspects of Vista, and much of what makes Vista a mess is because of the attempts to implement "secure path" and all of its evils. With HD DVD no longer in the picture, Microsoft has two choices - they can carry on with secure path in an attempt to shore up a format they have no interest in, or they can quietly loosen the collar a little and make Windows 7 a little less restrictive.
I strongly suspect they'll do the latter, especially as Hollywood seems less concerned with "secure path" for online HD downloads - neither Hulu HD nor iTS seem to require it, for example.
LiqwidZero @ Oct 10th 2008 2:05PM
Downloads aren't the future for permanently purchased movies, but I follow the belief that downloads are the future for rentals.
JimC @ Oct 10th 2008 2:22PM
squiggleslash, Microsoft would whore out anything to push market dominance in any market. It is all about what makes them money and gives them market edge. Once blu-ray drives become more prolific in PC market, expect that to weigh heavily on MS to consider that for their game platform.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 10th 2008 4:06PM
squiggleslash:
The "secure path" is used to protect all HD content, including downloaded, DRMed HD movies.
Someone sold Hollywood on this secure path crap and so they will not allow their content to be displayed on equipment that doesn't support it, regardless of delivery media.
squiggleslash @ Oct 14th 2008 3:24PM
Why not: Nope, Mac OS X doesn't have secure path, and Hulu.com is based on Flash technology which is also not secure-path based.
At this point, so far as I can tell, none of the online download HD systems do "secure path".
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 10th 2008 12:14PM
I do believe BluRay will have a "good Christmas", meaning more quarters of percentage market growth. Especially with HDTVs so affordable now and BluRay players dropping in price.
But on an absolute level, everyone will get hurt this Xmas, and of course BluRay will still remain significantly behind DVD on revenues/profits delivered to the content makers.
jsn @ Oct 10th 2008 12:37PM
blu-ray is a novelty to the average consumer. With all the financial doom and gloom being constantly forced down our throats, $200 players for $30 movies aren't going to matter much.
Mike @ Oct 10th 2008 1:02PM
Comically enough, he also stated that "the availability of affordable players is an important factor,"
Are $100 players coming? Thats what they need to really move players.
mitchelljd @ Oct 10th 2008 2:14PM
I agree Blu-Ray has a decent future in the works, BUT it would be alot better if studios stopped the higher priced discs.
instead of offering digital copies and and a link to your itunes account on a film. why not LOWER the darn price??
I think the sweet price is $30 and under (list price), not the $35-40 that alot of titles have been.
Allow consumers to get good deals and we will buy more. that is how BD will grow.
DVD4ME @ Oct 11th 2008 7:08AM
"Matsuda, Chairman of the BDA Global Promotions Committee, was recently quoted as saying that "[the BDA] has good reason to predict that this Q4 sales period will see the Blu-ray Disc revolution take hold in US MAINSTREAM markets and [that it] will witness strong sales performance in every other geographical regions"
Now there is a quote to keep for future reference, he has just whacked a his huge set of big blu balls on the table for all to see, "Blu ray will be Mainstream Q4 this year"...........Right, and there is no looming recession, unemployment is going down and the stock market is currently a great investment.
DEEZNUTZ @ Oct 10th 2008 2:27PM
Player prices are at the right point, it's movie prices they need to work on. If they want to charge $25+, then it should include a DVD version. If not, then $20 at most for new releases. Keep those lame ass digital copies, I don't need them.
DVD4ME @ Oct 11th 2008 7:14AM
I cant see any reason why the studios would want to reduce the price of movies, if they are going to be price competitive with DVD why would they bother with BR in the first place?
They may just as well stick with DVD as produce a new, more expensive disc, and sell it at the same margins.
The entire point of blu ray is so the movie studios and CE manufacturers can make lots more money, not so we get hi def, blu ray has to remain significantly more expensive than DVD
WebDev511 @ Oct 10th 2008 2:46PM
I can't blame them for talking it up, but with more and more people scrutinizing every single expense you've got to wonder if this is going to be a bad Q4 for every product.
Deadhouseplants @ Oct 10th 2008 4:23PM
I wouldn't say Xmas is going to be the reason why Blu-Ray sales will increase. I will say it has more to do with the same reason why more kids are born in July, August, and September than any other month. Winters force people to stay inside, which leaves people very few options of what they can do. So people stay home and watch movies and so on. That is why you see an increase in Blu-Ray movie sales and rentals.
Mike @ Oct 11th 2008 1:37AM
If you were born in July...mom got prego in Sept
daaper @ Oct 13th 2008 4:03PM
@mike,
Just FYI, a pregnancy term is generally 9 months, not 10 - 10 1/2 months...
reddawn @ Oct 10th 2008 8:15PM
Someone should remove or change the "image courtesy of Photobucket" link because currently its a frame of a video where a fat chick slams her gut on some guys back.
DVD4ME @ Oct 11th 2008 7:18PM
LOL,well spotted, that photos a pisser!!!
squiggleslash @ Oct 14th 2008 3:25PM
Why not: Nope, Mac OS X doesn't have secure path, and Hulu is based on Flash technology which is also not secure-path based.
At this point, so far as I can tell, none of the online download HD systems do "secure path".
LonnieDvD @ Nov 2nd 2008 11:23AM
What are those BDA people smoking? There is NO way Blu-Ray will hit mainstream this year, us mainstream people don't have the money for Blu-Ray.