Blu-ray player prices dropped 12% in Q3, still in just 1.7% of US homes

by Darren Murph, posted Oct 15th 2008 at 1:05AM

Here are a few more numbers to chew on as you try to decipher what's really going on in the world of Blu. During Q3 2008, Blu-ray player prices on the whole slipped 12% to an average of $350. While that may sound pretty good to you, just 1.7% of American homes posses a standalone Blu-ray deck. Of course, that number leaves out the legions of PS3 owners who gleefully enjoy BD flicks on their Sony-branded console, but it still pales in comparison to the 26% of US homes that currently have HDTV from a cable or satellite provider. The figures, which were quoted in a recent Wall Street Journal article, are used to assert that BD still hasn't "arrived" here on US soil, and for most, HD programming or vanilla DVDs are just fine. Our take? Well, we can't argue the numbers, but we're giddy to see how they change after Black Friday 2008 (and the holiday season) takes its toll.

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray, Players

Tags: analyst, analysts, bd, blu-ray, blu-ray adoption, Blu-rayAdoption, business, data, digital downloads, DigitalDownloads, industry, price, price drop, PriceDrop, prices, pricing, report, survey

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Going to sleep @ Oct 15th 2008 1:25AM

That's because only 3.4% of the population have both convinced their wives to buy that 50"+ monitor and care enough to squeeze more definition out of their sets. And only a handful of those folks have heard of EngadgetHD.

I'm keeping my 36" direct view 1080i until I either jump on a Kuro or wait for 50"+ OLED/SED. So no Blu-Ray for me yet. Blu-Ray content is rolling out only a little faster than SACD/DVD-Audio.

Neutral

mikejonas @ Oct 15th 2008 1:37AM

What morons aren't counting (or at least figuring out a formula to fractionally count) the PS3s as Blu-Ray players??? That would probably triple or quadruple the figures right there.

Neutral

worldbfree4me @ Oct 15th 2008 8:09AM

Hmm lets see, If I rent a DVD from Blockbuster I can play it in my car, my home, my laptop, my neighbors home, the in-laws home, on the airplane, the train, hell its endless. But, If I rent or buy a Blu, I can play it at home and maybe at your home because you have a PS3 right? and thats it! I just don't see the numbers ever being able to overtake SD-DVD's until it can do all of the above!!

Neutral

StealthMonkey @ Oct 15th 2008 2:27AM

My HD-A3 works just fine, thank you. Yes, I am bitter.

Neutral

Ed @ Oct 15th 2008 3:29AM

And bitterness loves company.

What's for dinner?

Highly Ranked

DVD4ME @ Oct 15th 2008 3:33AM

Hang on, the BDA & all the blu fans here CONTINUALLY remind us that BR is taking over the world at an amazing pace, this information MUST be incorrect!

Highly Ranked

why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 15th 2008 4:05AM

Why aren't PS3s counted?

I assure you that Iron Man didn't sell 1 in 7 of all movie discs sold on BluRay (the other 6 out of 7 were DVD) by selling to only 1.7% of the population.

Who made these figures? Toshiba?

Neutral

DrXym @ Oct 15th 2008 6:51AM

1.7% equates to about 2 million homes. With PS3 included its 8 million homes. Obviously many PS3 owners may not use them for Blu Ray movies so the true figure of active players is probably between 3 and 5 million. I expect with Christmas approaching and much better prices on players that the number of standalones is likely to double by January.

Highly Ranked

DVD4ME @ Oct 15th 2008 8:37AM

BR to DOUBLE Stand Alone penetration by January, that's 2,000,000 units in the next 3 months..........BIG BIG call Dr.Xym!

Come January, if you are right you can tell me to go get F'D if you are right and I will graciously apologize here , but if you are not I will remind you of this HUGE call big time!
You, and a few others, have made some very big statements in the past regarding the growth of BR by this Christmas, many to the point that this holiday season is 'do or die', I look forward to a little friendly 'banter' in January.

Neutral

DrXym @ Oct 15th 2008 8:42AM

DVD4ME, you can do what you like I don't care. Perhaps you can strut around back and forth like some miniature Caesar loudly proclaiming how this other guy on a website made a guess which was wrong and how its so funny.

Sales of 2 million over the holiday season isn't especially outlandish, given most sales of consumer electronics happen in the few months before Christmas. If I'm wrong, so what.

Highest Ranked

DVD4ME @ Oct 15th 2008 5:50PM

Your always making outlandish and exaggerated statements, I'm calling you on this one!

Highest Ranked

zargon @ Oct 15th 2008 7:32AM

I am starting to wonder if this whole HD DVD/BD is going to wind up like laser disc, were only us, the home theater junkies are going to participate. I suppose there still is time, but it would be interesting to see market penetration at this time verses at the same point DVD.

Highly Ranked

Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 15th 2008 12:10PM

I think that's been very obvious for quite some time.

The only part open to question is how small a partner to the much bigger DVD share it ever becomes.

The looming economic disaster is not helping one bit either.

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Oct 15th 2008 4:05PM

Why are you suddenly wondering this?

Because BluRay players are now $250?

I paid $800 for my last LaserDisc player, and LaserDisc had been out for over 10 years at the time.

I don't think there's any evidence at this time that BluRay is doomed to remain a niche player. But we'll know in time, won't we?

Highest Ranked

Fred @ Oct 15th 2008 4:30PM

HDDVD had a shot to work because of the combo format. But Blu-ray’s problem is that it is expensive and just putting out the same crap than normal DVD’s with better visual and audio. The difference between VHS to DVD is not equal but less than DVD to Blu-ray.

Neutral

David S @ Oct 15th 2008 7:58AM

My enjoyment of High Definition isn't dependent on the whims of the unwashed masses. I say, let them eat cake.

Neutral

daaper @ Oct 15th 2008 10:20AM

Amen, man. That sums up exactly how I feel about all these people fighting about whether it's going to fail or not. I'll enjoy it for as long as it's around and if it fails, hopefully we move onto something better. Why is this such a source of hostility for people? It's the same crap that goes on in the 360/PS3 fights...my format is better than yours! who cares!?!?

I'll enjoy mine, you enjoy yours...world keeps going 'round

Highest Ranked

jsn @ Oct 15th 2008 8:07AM

That's because the average comsumer doesn't care about blu-ray. Blu-ray just isn't "better enough" for most people to care, much less pay a premium for movies/players. The public is repaying those movie studios who decided they know what we want more than we do with complete indifference.

Highly Ranked

DVD4ME @ Oct 15th 2008 8:27AM

Right on!

Highest Ranked

steve @ Oct 15th 2008 8:49AM

Most people can not understand the difference between 1080p up-convert and Blu-ray.

They they look at the $30 price for a movie and say its 2x the price of a DVD. They they say "I have to buy the movies again", remembering the conversion from vhs to LD, to DVD. OK the LD step was just a few of us.

They don't see the benefit.

Neutral

Galley @ Oct 15th 2008 9:54AM

I'm looking forward to the day when everyone learns to spell Blu-ray properly.

Highest Ranked

squiggleslash @ Oct 15th 2008 11:11AM

You meant "Blu-ray Disc", right? ;-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Blu-ray_Disc.svg

Neutral

Kyle @ Oct 15th 2008 9:23PM

They need to drop the price of the discs and you will get more people--$30 for a single movie at the retail stores is awful--these things should be under $20!

Neutral

LonnieDVD @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:39PM

Before I even consider buying Blu-Ray, one of two things must happen.

1: Blu-Ray players fall to $100

2: The film industry begins to release movies in Blu-Ray format only.

Until then, my money is going to Standard DVD.

Neutral

garybing @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:19PM

Bulky surround system: $5000+ Laser Disc player: $800 plus uncalcuable amount for media.DVD player and IPOD: $25 and $60--PRICELESS! Didn't bite on the rear projection TV(junk), and Blu-ray; no way.If you have leftover HD players which you allready found out it went by way of the Beta, sorry, the pawn shops of the word are allready full

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