Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending October 5th, 2008
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Oct 11th 2008 at 1:59PM
What a week for Blu-ray where -- according to Nielsen VideoScan data from Home Media Magazine -- revenues were an all time high and over twice as much as any other week, ever. Looking at the top twenty it's very apparent this was due to Iron Man, which sold like 20 times more copies than any other release. Iron Man was also able to steal 17 percent of the sales from DVD, which is the highest we've seen from any other day-and-date non-boxset release, ever. This is a great start to the fourth quarter for Blu-ray and while next week doesn't have any titles anywhere near as popular as Iron Man, it does have a wider array that will appeal to a broader audience. This combined with the historical tread that shows that home media sales are up during poor economic times, should make for a very Blu Christmas.
Filed under: Blu-ray
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 11th 2008 2:26PM
One movie.
Hell, I might even buy it myself to check out the audio some are raving about - and then probably regret doing so cos I'll most likely never watch it again.
Be honest, much as I like RDJ & JB it's a pretty poor & shallow movie - and it's a prime example of the suspicious nature of movies primarily aimed at young men, there are no women in it other than a single 2d woman (and 2d is being generous) - can you say 'a bit gay'?
It (along with Batman) is primarily appeal to all those PS3 owners and it would appear (this time, it doesn't always) to have worked.
However bright some want to see this it is still no basis for embedding a movie format in the a/v mainstream or suggesting the format is about to become adopted widely.
Almost $27 million v $144.5 is still a trouncing
(and that is still taking the figures that flatter Blu-ray the most and underplay DVD's mature market position - DVD might not have the margin nor the appeal at launch that it once had but it is still clearly profitable in at least the 1st year, otherwise they would not be produced).
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 11th 2008 2:53PM
You are the only one who thinks that BluRay should be equaling DVD at this point in its lifespan. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Your comments about the movie and homosexuality are completely out of place here. The homoeroticism of a movie is not going to determine the success of failure of a format it was released on.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 11th 2008 3:45PM
@ why not the LS2LS7?
You're wrong to say that I think "that BluRay should be equaling DVD at this point".
Sure I have grave doubts about Blu-ray's future, not especially because of the numbers selling although if you take Iron Man out of this picture it's really dire, there's precious little sign of any real broad-based appeal at work here at all.
I happen to think their strategy is all wrong for establishing it as 'the' sustainable means of delivering HD movies with any kind of serious future.
Their approach was all right for defeating HD DVD but that is hardly anything like the same thing.
As for homo-eroticism?
Well, again I think this is fair comment and only saying it how it is.
It's precisely what you get when you gear a movie format largely to game console owners (who, despite the a/v enthusiast element are largely that single adolescent male demographic).
I'd dearly love to see Shawshank repeat this kind of performance (and better) but you & I know that that's highly unlikely.
Transformers 2 probably will, which takes us right back to the whole thing about gamers.
Now you might not agree (as is your - or anyone's - right) but it's surely not exactly unreasonable never-mind heresy to actually come right out and say it.
@ Vic
I'm not truthteller or nfinity nor anyone else - do you seriously imagine these views are rare or something? ;)
Mike @ Oct 12th 2008 1:17AM
They make BD porn if you want 3D women. I have not seen Iron Man yet...but when I get my $120 BD player I will buy IM for the explosions...not women.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 12th 2008 8:42AM
Mike @ Oct 12th 2008 1:17AM
"They make BD porn if you want 3D women."
OMG
Vic @ Oct 11th 2008 2:32PM
Why don't u just rent it and save yourself the $ if you don't think you'll watch it again? Makes sense right?
Vic @ Oct 11th 2008 2:41PM
Sorry, that was supposed to be a reply to multiformatmayhem (aka Truth Teller)
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 11th 2008 2:53PM
Seriously. I guess those who longed for his return got their wish. Now we'll see if their hopes that it would be a good thing are true.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 11th 2008 5:34PM
I'm a buyer, not a renter.
Besides there's some young kids that like that kind of thing to consider.
shawnmos @ Oct 11th 2008 2:51PM
Holy shit. Look at those numbers!
jstach500 @ Oct 11th 2008 2:55PM
I love Engadget, but this post has about half a dozen grammatical/typo issues in its 5 sentences. It seems like the proofreading has gone way downhill lately.
Jeff N. @ Oct 11th 2008 3:00PM
It will be interesting how well Batman "The Dark Knight" will do in Blu-ray in December. Certainly the numbers for Iron Man are impressive.
WebDev511 @ Oct 11th 2008 3:19PM
Wow, 13%, that's exactly where I thought it would be. The next 12 weeks will be a rollercoaster to say the least.
Think Sleeping Beauty will help sustain 13%?
Me either.
Asterra @ Oct 11th 2008 6:26PM
Haha. "Due all in part." I'll file that one under "Engrish." Nobody will know the difference.
NoAndThen @ Oct 11th 2008 7:06PM
Iron Man on BD kicks ass. Can't wait for Dark Knight.
MI @ Oct 12th 2008 1:26AM
Well, it was nice for a couple of days.
Gustavo @ Oct 12th 2008 10:09AM
That's a great bump comparing to some previous weekends. The numbers were lying around 10~11 million U$ dollars spent on BD.
Larry @ Oct 12th 2008 12:03PM
Three movies do not make a sustainable industry. Blu-Ray still seems to be a format in a lot of trouble. Dark Knight may get these numbers, but what else will come out to spike the numbers. The base is the telling story.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 12th 2008 1:28PM
Prepare for all sorts of criticism for just stating what ought to be plain & obvious Larry.
It seems it's heresy to point that out (for some) around here and there'll hints that you should be banned for saying it (as seems to be the case with a couple of others who were here & said stuff that was contrary to the constant positive spin & disliked).
WebDev511 @ Oct 12th 2008 2:36PM
How DARE you attempt to use real world analysis! If one discards the top and bottom three sellers, the results may not portray the positive growth that IS happening.
Go take your statistical best practices and logic some place else.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 12th 2008 4:23PM
It isn't analysis that is the problem. The problem is the made up "info" and the consistent insistence that since DVD still outsells BluRay over 7:1, BluRay is a failure and will never rise past the niche level.
It's the ridiculous negativity that declares something a failure for not having become #1 in 15 months that becomes tiresome.
DrXym @ Oct 12th 2008 4:39PM
It's not about 3 titles. Certainly the blockbusters will produce unsustainable spikes in sales, Next week is bound to be a slump. But blockbusters are indicative of the growing maturity of the platform. For every blockbuster there are 30 or so other new or catalogue releases in the same week which presumably will make a profit in time. Studios wouldn't even bother putting titles out on the platform if they didn't think it worth the effort.
WebDev511 @ Oct 12th 2008 7:00PM
@why not the LS2LS7?
True, only time will tell if it's niche or not, but if the only place we see big spikes is for films like Transformers, Iron Man, Dark Knight, etc, it sure doesn't help sell case that it Blu-Ray can deliver big sales across genres.
DrXym @ Oct 12th 2008 4:49PM
Multi-format-mayhem, I am only aware of a single person called Nfinity who was banned on EngadgetHD and that was because he was an obnoxious troll. He was an idiot, a hypocrite and basically just appeared to stink up all blu ray stories with some longwinded blather about digital downloads or similar. Truth Teller was equally childish and contrary and may have been banned but I'm not aware of any evidence to say he actually was.
If you wish to separate yourself from those fools, you might start by making constructive criticism rather than rehashing the same nonsense (e.g. claiming PS3 demographics to account for sales of Iron Man etc.). Iron Man is selling well because it was a wildly popular and critically acclaimed movie. If there really is such a large intersection between PS3 owners and movie goers I'll be interested to hear why you think that is a bad thing for the format.
Multi-format-Mayhem @ Oct 12th 2008 8:42PM
Actually I don't have to associate or disassociate myself from anyone on yours or anyone else's say-so, thanks.
When Shawshank's 6 - 12 month Blu sales numbers are (eventually) in (and The Godfather, Boondock etc etc) & they stand as tiny fractions of shiny adolescent shallow pap like Spiderman, Iron Man, Transformers or even Batman then you can continue to claim the PS3 demographic is meaningless if you like - while I will stand completely vindicated.
The reason why the addition of the PS3 demographic is a bad thing ought to be obvious to anyone interested in quality cinema.
It's more pressure for the sort of crap there's already too much of.
It's already bad enough that adolescent males are the main segment actually going to cinemas (thereby creating a demand for the kind of imagination-free and formulaic garbage Hollywood largely pumps out).
That sort of dross crowds out the quality and ought to be discouraged, not encouraged.
I'm not even saying there's no place for that kind of thing (I'm not an elitist) but it is given far too much priority at the expense of intelligent, thought-provoking and engaging cinema and which there is far too little of.
DrXym @ Oct 13th 2008 8:13AM
There you go with your arbitrary demands and your ridiculous "PS3 demographic" again. You might hate it but the reality is that blockbusters sell a lot better than arthouse. Movies that do well in the cinema will generally do well on DVD and Blu Ray.
If you don't like certain movies then don't buy them. Go buy the indie titles instead, go support the likes of Criterion with your patronage. There are enough non-"PS demographic" titles to choose from and more every week. No one is even forcing you to buy Blu Ray disks. Go buy your "quality cinema" on DVD if its not on Blu yet. While you're there you can reflect that DVD was absolutely no different in its day for releases. Early releases like Starship Troopers, The Matrix and other blockbusters were what drove the format while the number of titles was bulked up with back catalogue titles.
In summary, moaning about blockbusters or shifting goalposts as a way to put down the format is bizarre to say the least.
Mitch @ Oct 13th 2008 11:43AM
I've been saying this for months (and others have probably said it before that), BD needs to put out movies and TV shows in SD. Put the entire season of Lost on one disc so that the folks who don't have HD will have a reason to buy BD over a regular DVD player. Everyone would love not having to change discs during their 24 hour lost-a-thon.
MadDog @ Oct 14th 2008 8:43AM
Wow, I haven't laughed this much in a while. So, Blu-Ray is awful because the arthouse movies only sell a small percentage of the blockbusters. Hmmm. Sounds a lot like that other format(s) we know, what was it? Based on this logic, VHS, DVD and the theaters should have died years ago.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 13th 2008 7:58PM
Not half as almost amusing as you determinedly missing the point.
I was talking about the additional pressure a largely still game console based movie format places on an already often dire set of circumstances.
But I expect you understood that anyways but pretended not to.
Who said anything about "arthouse movies" anyways?
Is Shawshank "arthouse"? Was Blow? Are The Godfather movies? Is Once upon a time in America? The Pianist? Perhaps you meant Dr Starngelove? How about Schindlers List?
No?
Quell surprise.
Don't be so silly & make sure to enjoy Spiderman 4 - but don't worry if you miss it, there will sadly be a hell of a lot more like it soon enough.
DrXym @ Oct 14th 2008 7:58AM
Multi-format-mayhem, as usual you invent the most stupid argument to hate on Blu Ray. None of those movies you cite would ever outsell a blockbuster no matter what format. That's just the fact of the matter. They might be great movies, they might be thought provoking, must-have titles for any collector but they would never, ever in a month of Sundays outsell a Transformers or a Batman no matter if we're talking cinema, Blu, HD DVD, download, DVD or VHS. That is just the way it is.
Studios still put them out of course because they are prestigious titles that have a long shelf life and are long term investments. The smarter studios ensure to digital remaster them or even do a full restoration to increase their collectability. The lazier / greedier studios shove out an inferior transfer then produce a "collectors edition" later to enjoy some double dipping.
You are pouring irrational hate on Blu Ray for reasons which don't even make sense. Even more hypocritically, many of the titles you cite (of the ones available from 1998 onwards) didn't appear on DVD until years later. The Godfather didn't appear in any form until 3 years after DVD launched, and only recently in restored form. Once Upon a time in America didn't appear for five years. Schindler's List six years. It's a good job too since some of the early transfers were atrocious - Dr Strangelove (one of the few actually around at the start and one which I happen to own) has an awful single layer transfer with unskippable trailers and an interlaced image.
I see absolutely nothing different in the way Blu Ray is progressing as compared to DVD. Hardware prices are dropping in a similar fashion and the mix of titles is similar too. The major difference is that catalogue titles are getting a lot better treatment this time around. There have been dreadful transfers of course (e.g. Gangs of New York) but generally the standard is much higher than it was for DVD. You are hating on Blu Ray for reasons that simply don't make any sense.
MadDog @ Oct 14th 2008 10:42AM
So, Blu-ray sales are the indicating factor for what movies get made? Nice. I really can't fathom your logic, but DrXym has already answered you in a very reasonable way.
If you happen to look at the sales of your mentioned movies on DVD (also a gaming console based format), you'll notice rather quickly, that they all pale in comparison to the blockbusters, selling only a fraction. Strong sales of blockbuster movies in general do not make or break a movie format. I am in agreement with DrXym. I was a fairly early adopter of DVD (1998) and am an early adopter of both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. So far, the Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD markets to a lesser extent, have been generously supported by the movie studios with catalogue titles that took years to see the light of day on DVD.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 14th 2008 1:09PM
Actually DVD was never launched nor so reliant on a game console (PS2 came out long after DVD launched).
As for DrXym?
He/she/they talk about 'hate' & 'love' for CE products.
There's no point even entering into debate with that kind of fanboy lunacy.
MadDog @ Oct 14th 2008 4:26PM
Dvd launch: Early 1997
PS2: Late 2000
Dvd Rentals exceed VHS: June 2003
Although the PS2 launched a few years after the standalone DVD market started, it can still be attributed to the success of the Dvd format. Stand alone Dvd players were selling at the same price, or slightly more expensive than the PS2 when it premiered. Dvd was still a very niche market, less than 2 million units sold prior to the launch of the PS2.
It took Dvd six years to overtake VHS and the market didn't require the purchase of a new TV set to garner the benefits of Dvd and yet, you expect Blu-ray, to exceed Dvd in less than 3 years. Good grief.