BDA gives European update: Blu-ray lookin' good across the pond

by Darren Murph posted Nov 26th 2008 at 5:50PM

Despite the general lameness of the economy at large, Blu-ray seems to be faring at least decently well overseas. We already heard that Blu-ray Disc sales were up 396% in the UK year-to-date, and we're getting even more positive vibes from a BDA European Promotions Group seminar held in Amsterdam this month. According to Frank Simonis, chairman of the aforesaid group, [Blu-ray] is "experiencing strong and solid growth in every national territory [in Europe]," even with the economic situation taken into consideration. Also in attendance was FutureSource Consulting's Jim Bottoms, who boldly predicted that "in Europe, by 2012, about one-quarter of homes will have a standalone Blu-ray Disc player." 'Course, that's just wild speculation at this point, but at least we've a target to look back on and see just how accurate this fellow was / wasn't. [Warning: PDF read link]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Tags: 2012, adoption, analysis, BDA, blu-ray, blu-ray adoption, Blu-rayAdoption, europe, futuresource, global, growth, research, sales, uk

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Gus @ Nov 26th 2008 6:05PM

Forgive me for not believing the BDA (BSA) when they are using percentages and not raw data, 396% means nothing without supporting information.
In a recent Australian article, blu ray is reported to be struggling at 1% of the total market, and that is fact, not BDA snake oil.
It would be nice, just once, if they could present the facts for a change and forget the continual lies and deception.

Highly Ranked

Spiza @ Nov 26th 2008 7:07PM

Oh the irony of your post.

Neutral

Gus @ Nov 26th 2008 7:56PM

Spiza, I fail to see any irony in my post at all, however having been on the receiving end of some of your bitter vitriol before, I'm sure you'll have a sarcastic and negative response.

Neutral

Liquid @ Nov 26th 2008 11:23PM

You really don't see the irony?

Neutral

Gus @ Nov 27th 2008 1:07AM

Liquid,........two's a party, three's a crowd!

Neutral

Blake @ Nov 27th 2008 5:02AM

...and 4 is a party!!! Lets join the dots for you, pay attention now Gus!

It's ironic because you moan about the BDA touting percentages and then backup your whine by touting another percentage and proudly proclaim it as fact!

Highly Ranked

DVD4ME @ Nov 27th 2008 5:52AM

Bit hard when your not allowed to post links anymore!

Highest Ranked

DVD4ME @ Nov 27th 2008 6:07AM

Google is your friend, I have found an article Gus I presume is the one you are talking about, problem is your wrong, turns out blu ray is actually 1.35% of the total market down under, so stop exaggerating OK!
From the article...."In the second quarter of 2008, 207,841 HD movies were sold, up 7.2 per cent on the first quarter but still only 1.35 per cent of the total DVD movie market".

I'm a thrill junkie too, so stuff the danger, I'll post the link !!

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24522714-5014239,00.html

Highly Ranked

Multi-format-mayhem @ Nov 27th 2008 8:05AM

The BDA live in a daydream.

All across Europe (just like the rest of the world) the economy is taking a serious dive.

Only the nutters of the BDA, their paid optimist (sorry, marketing analysts), their unhinged press buddies (desperate to avoid the recession themselves & not pi$$-off the BDA advertising budget) & their fanclub continue to delude themselves and talk-up ludicrous stupidity which tries to convince that in the current climate Blu-ray will sell strongly.

Nevermind record drops in consumer spending, major unemployment hikes or the car & housing markets completely flat on their backs.
Oh no, they prefer to spout BS about a video format.

Wise up.
TBH in the current climate it's becoming more than a sick joke.

All the serious commentators say this coming recession (still not at it's height yet) will see economic activity to continue to fall until the end of next year, at least, with little prospect for a recovery to pre-recession activity for a several years.

The idea that a new and relatively expensive video system will somehow manage to side-step this reality is plainly idiotic.

Neutral

Pete @ Nov 27th 2008 5:52PM

I feel I should point out Australia is not in Europe, perhaps you are confusing it with Austria. I don't remember any roos in The Sound of Music, nor any Alps down under.

Neutral

Gus @ Nov 27th 2008 6:02PM

Thanks dvd4me, that is the article, apologies about the missing .35% and you are correct, i did not supply the link as i thought that was no longer allowed.
On that subject thouigh, surely as long as the link is about the topic it should be OK, deliberate sales and spam links etc, I agree should be banned.

Neutral

Gus @ Nov 27th 2008 6:05PM

Pete, LOL, I'll pay that one! :)

Neutral

Spiza @ Nov 28th 2008 12:17PM

I always look to Australia when I want to know what is going on with Consumer Electronics due to their long history of being a leader in that field.

Neutral

LonnieDvD @ Nov 26th 2008 8:15PM

They only expect one-quarter of homes will have a Blu-ray player by 2012? By the time Blu-Ray finally overtakes DVD, digital downloads might be really taking off.

Neutral

Go Blu! @ Nov 27th 2008 9:57AM

Gus should accept HDDVD death!

Go Blu!

Neutral

DrXym @ Nov 29th 2008 5:07PM

Wow the HD DVD crybaby contingent have leapt on this thread. Fact is that if you go to *any* Zavvi or HMV you will find a sizable blu-ray section. Other places too including supermarket chains are carrying titles. And it's only increasing. Better yet for consumers, the prices for software and hardware are noticeably coming down.

Highly Ranked

kiwijaws @ Nov 30th 2008 5:33PM

Yes everything the BDA says is accurate LOL
despite this:
"Sony says it expects Blu-ray players to be one of the holiday season's top sellers, but that sales will still fall short of earlier forecasts.
Earlier this year, electronics giant Sony had forecast sales of some 5 million Blu-ray disc players by the end of 2008, and while the company still expects Blu-ray devices to be top sellers during the end-of-year holiday season, the company now expects to miss that mark by as much as 10 percent"

and these Engadgethd threads
Cheap Blu-ray players a rare commodity in Europe
Analyst predicts"dramatic" drop in blurays sales during Q4

Before everyone calls me a redboy or other some juvenile title, I own a HD-A30, LG SATA Bluray/HD combo and a DMP-BD35
I want to watch HD movies no matter what the format, but I'm a realist (paying low for technology $120 for the A30, $80 after CB on the LG and $149 on the DMP-BD35) if the BDA wants BD to take off worldwhile any time some they need to follow the advice of Sony's own Stan Glasgow "Glasgow indicated he would like to see studios lower prices on Blu-ray content as a way to spur consumers to buy Blu-ray technology."

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