Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - (Page 10) HIGH-DEF www.homemediamagazine.com DEG: Blu-ray Favored Over Downloading By Thomas K. Arnold lu-ray Disc’s prospects for the future appear bright, despite slower-than-expected sales attributed in part to the down economy. An independent study found HDTV owners familiar with Blu-ray favor the format over downloading and streaming by a margin of nearly 10-to-1, with about 70% of respondents citing the fact that there’s a physical disc to keep as a key factor in their decision to buy Blu-ray. The study, conducted this fall by market research firm SmithGeiger on behalf of DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group, surveyed more than 1,100 HDTV owners in the United States and another 500 in Japan and 500 in the United Kingdom. Respondents were asked to share their views on various forms of HD media, including digital downloading, streaming and Blu-ray Disc. The study found 96% of Blu-ray Disc users are familiar with downloading and streaming services, but that two-thirds believe watching a movie on Blu-ray is a better overall entertainment experience. Nearly nine out of 10 Blu-ray users said they would likely recommend the format to potential buyers. The survey also found that 28% of HDTV owners already own at least one Blu-ray Disc player, either standalone or PlayStation 3. By significant margins, these Blu-ray owners say the packaged media format beats both DVD BLU-RAY PLAYERS ON THE MARKET Manufacturer Curtis Mathes Denon Denon Denon Insignia Integra LG LG Magnavox Marantz Marantz Memorex NAD Olevia Onkyo Panasonic Panasonic Philips Models MSRP CMMBX720 $269.99 DVD-3800BD $1,999.99 DVD-2500BT $999.99 DVD-1800BD $749.99 NS-BRDVD $349.99 NS-2BRDVD $600.00 BH200 $649.99 BD300 $349.99 NB500MG9 $298.00 BD8002 $1,999.99 BD7003 $799.99 MVBD-2510 $269.99 T 587 $1,499.99 BD-100 $229.99 DV-BD606 $549.99 DMP-BD55K $399.99 DMP-BD35K $299.99 BDP7200 $399.99 Profile 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 2.0 1.1 2.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 2.0 1.1 1.1 2.0 2.0 1.1 Manufacturer Pioneer Pioneer Elite Pioneer Elite Samsung Samsung Sharp Sharp Sherwood Sherwood Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony Sony ES Sylvania Yamaha Models BDP-51FD BDP-95FD BDP-05FD BD-P2500 BD-P1500 BD-HP50 BD-HP21 BDP-6003 BDP-5003 HES-V1000 PS3 (160GB)* Ps3 (80GB)* BDP-S550 BDP-S350* BDP-S5000ES NB500SL9 BD-S2900 MSRP $599.99 $999.99 $799.99 $499.99 $299.99 $449.99 $299.99 $499.99 $299.99 $2,999.99 $499.99 $399.99 $399.99 $299.99 $2,000.00 $349.99 $1,199.99 Profile 1.1 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 1.1 1.1 2.0 1.1 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.1 1.1 and VOD in picture quality, sound quality and extras. Blu-ray even received high marks for title availability, a testament to the Hollywood studios’ concerted push to release high-profile product on the format. According to The DVD Release Report, there are now more than 1,000 Blu-ray Disc titles either already in stores or in the pipeline. The DEG findings are contained in a white paper report, “HDTV Owners: The Prospects for High Definition Media,” that was presented Nov. 14 to media and analysts in Los Angeles. At that presentation, Chris Lang, SVP of SmithGeiger, said he is surprised at Blu-ray’s strong showing, noting that he had initially expected digital downloading and streaming to fare better. But primarily because of the superior picture and sound of the high-definition packaged-media format, he said, “even younger groups are tending toward Blu-ray.” The DEG’s Amy Jo Smith said Blu-ray Disc software sales are rising fast, and the format just celebrated its 2 million-unit month. She said the DEG projects Blu-ray Disc sales will account for up to 20% of total sales of certain upcoming highprofile titles, including Warner Home Video’s The Dark Knight, the year’s No. 1 movie. Blu-ray Disc has been in the market since June 2006, but adoption was stymied by a format war with HD DVD that ended this past February. * With firmware upgrade Blu-ray a Big Part of Black Friday Continued from page 1 ‘BOURNE’ RUNS TO BLU By John Latchem niversal Studios Home Entertainment will release the “Bourne” films on Blu-ray Disc Jan. 27, 2009, (prebook Dec. 16) at $119.98. The three-disc The Bourne Trilogy includes the action movies The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. The set includes the deleted scenes, interviews, featurettes and commentaries from the DVD versions, plus new interactive content exclusive U to the Blu-ray version. Universal’s U-Control takes viewers beyond the movie with picture-in-picture content and a series of interactive dossiers filled with information about Jason Bourne’s mysterious past and the people in pursuit of him. Fans can download more extras through Universal’s BD Live Center, as well as share favorite scenes with friends and play an online strategy combat game. a BD player, according to reported leaks of its Black Friday pricing. Wal-Mart back in 2003 created an infamous Black Friday stampede at select stores when it offered a Chinese-made DVD player for $29. Close behind, Meijer said it would offer a Sylvania Blu-ray player for $149.99 from Japanese-based Funai Electric Co., the same OEM manufacturer of BD players for Best Buy (Insignia) and Magnavox. The Midwest-based retail chain is slated to sell Bluray movies from $9.99, including From Hell, Transporter 2, 28 Days Later, Behind Enemy Lines, Reign on Me, Click, Edward Scissorhands, The Devil Wears Prada, Speed and The Fantastic Four. Standard DVDs are priced from $1.99. A representative from Best Buy at Home Media Magazine’s recent HD-3 conference said it wouldn’t surprise him to see his store offer a Profile 1.1 player priced near $130 on Black Friday. Sears, Roebuck and Co. also plans to slash prices on select Blu-ray players, movies and standard DVDs. Among the 685 consumer items Sears is offering Nov. 28: the Samsung Profile 1.1 BD-P1500 player for $199.99, down 22% from $249.99; the Sony Profile 1.1 BDP-S350 for $179.99, from $299.99; and the Sharp Blu-ray Disc player for $179.99, from $299.99. DVDs and Blu-ray titles, which include Sleeping Beauty, 300, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, 3:10 to Yuma and You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, among others, range in price from $3.99 to $18.99. Bankrupt Circuit City will have assorted DVD titles from $2.99, and Blu-ray titles from $8.99. Titles include Trading Places, The Untouchables and Flags of Our Fathers, among others. Electronics markdowns include the Sylvania 42-inch LCD HDTV for $699.99 and Sharp 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $899.99. The retailer is also selling a Samsung 1080p upconverting DVD player for $49.99, down nearly 38% from its online price of $79.99. Independent analyst Rob Enderle said retailers are going to make substantial efforts to cut prices, provide incentives and improve store traffic, which he said would negatively impact gross margins. “Right now, the consumer is way too nervous,” Enderle said. “A lot of us are calling it Red Friday, for red ink. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the year.” B LU- R AY D I S C CO M I NG U P STREETING Fred Claus Warner Hancock Sony Pictures Jarhead Universal The Kingdom Universal Meet Dave Fox 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TOP 10 HIGH-DEF BLU-R AY D ISC Week ended November 16, 2008 LABEL INDEX* TOP 10 HIGH-DEF B D M A R K E T S HA R E Percentage of Sales Per Title vs DVD Week ended November 16, 2008 LABEL PERCENT TITLE TITLE Street Date: 11/25 Street Date: 11/25 Street Date: 11/25 Street Date: 11/25 Street Date: 11/25 Hellboy II: The Golden Army Kung Fu Panda Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Incredible Hulk Iron Man Band of Brothers Get Smart Journey to the Center of the Earth I Am Legend 300 Universal 100.00 Para./DreamWorks 70.97 Warner 30.54 Universal 18.72 Paramount 18.22 Warner 17.57 Warner 14.09 Warner 12.22 Warner 11.80 Warner 11.49 Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hancock Troy: Director’s Cut Band of Brothers Firefly: The Complete Series Pan’s Labyrinth The Departed Batman Begins 300 Planet Earth: The Complete Series I Am Legend Sony Pictures Warner Warner Fox Warner Warner Warner Warner BBC Video Warner 98.90% 89.77% 75.99% 75.43% 66.28% 62.99% 50.66% 49.21% 33.12% 32.60% *Units sold compared to No. 1 title Source: Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data Home Media Magazine November 23–29, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 Contents News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News Commentary Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Contents (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Contents (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Commentary (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Commentary (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - November 23-29, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.