Another research firm asserts that BDs will overtake DVDs in 2012
[Via US News]
Posts with tag industry
We're obviously biased, but we'd argue that HDTV was game-changing long before 2008. Nevertheless, we have all ideas the technology will happily accept any and all praise bestowed upon it, including the most recent pat on the rump from Knowledge Networks. Said outfit has just named HDTV the game-changing media technology of 2008 after it noticed that HDTV set ownership has doubled every two years since 2000. According to its figures, 28% of households are now equipped with at least one HDTV, and it's predicting that number to rise to 39% in 2009. HDTV will be hanging at your local big box retailer taking requests and signing autographs for the foreseeable future.
Given that Sharp will obviously be needing a few high-power laser diodes to go into its forthcoming 8x Blu-ray burners, it's good to see Mitsubishi Chemical hopping in the fabrication game in order to lower costs and keep consumers smiling. A new report asserts that the previously mentioned company will be dedicating at least some of its efforts to producing high-power (200 to 300mW) laser diodes, which are currently in short supply and used in the pick-up heads of BD writers. As it stands, just Sony, Nichia and Sharp are producing these things in volume, though a fourth wheel will certainly be welcome. There's no word on when exactly Mitsu Chemical plans to ramp up production, but the sooner the better, we say.
DISH Network's Q1 wasn't anything to be proud of, and unfortunately for the satcaster, it seems that Q2 isn't much better. After suffering a 90% drop in subscriber growth during the first of the year, DISH's Q2 earnings report highlights an approximate loss of 25,000 net subscribers during the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Granted, it still has just south of 14 million customers hanging tight, so don't go crying over its misfortunes or anything. Furthermore, it still managed to increase total revenue by 5.6% (from $2.76 billion to $2.91 billion) year-over-year. The real question is what will happen in the second half of the year now that both it and DirecTV are clearly aiming to one-up each other at every possible turn. Ah, satellite drama.
Here's an interesting one. Australia's AUSTAR (a pay-TV provider, for those not in the know) is seemingly not in any hurry whatsoever to do as staunch rival Foxtel did and begin offering HD to its customers. Rather than catching up to the competition (and splurging on an investment), AUSTAR is pinching its pennies. According to the company's chief executive, he doesn't feel "a huge amount of pressure" to embrace high-def, suggesting that the increase in customers from the addition of high-definition isn't worth the steep cost. Of course, he did admit that HD would likely be in the carrier's future, but probably not until "mid-2010" or later. C'mon people, how many times do the experts have to tell you? Build it (first), and they will come.
So Sony didn't do so hot this quarter, but that's not to say someone else can't have fun at its expense. Matsushita Electric just posted its most recent quarterly earnings, and needless to say, it's probably pretty stoked about the 86% rise in profit. According to reports, the majority of the credit goes to digital camera and flat-panel television sales, and even though sales actually decreased 4%, operating profit still rose 48% from a year prior. Good to see someone's making sure that flat-panels rule the consumer electronics roost in 2008.


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