Blu-ray recorders outpace DVD in Japan

The market share for Blu-ray disc recorders has finally taken control of more than 50 percent of the consumer market in Japan, according to new recent numbers compiled by GfK Retail and Technology.

In April 2002, DVD recorders had 10 percent of the Japanese market share, and continued to pick up steam up until 2008. Now that the price of Blu-ray recorders has finally started to drop, expect sales numbers to begin to pick in other parts of the world besides Japan.

During the first week of June 2008, the average cost of Blu-ray recorders ranged from $1,100 up to $1,300.  GfK Retail and Technology indicates the average price is now below $1,000. 

The demand for the Blu-ray recorders has accelerated due to the popularity of flat panel TVs, which have seen a higher level of demand as of late.

Blu-ray has had an uphill battle since Sony and company vanquished Toshiba’s HD DVD format earlier in 2008.  Even though Blu-ray has seen success in Japan, it has continued to struggle in the United States and Europe. 

During the Thanksgiving week, including Black Friday, U.S. shoppers purchased almost 150,000 standalone Blu-ray players, spending $30 million.  Video Business said that figure is three times the sales numbers from a week prior to Thanksgiving, when Blu-ray players were still had an average price of $240.

The sales numbers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday were helped when Blu-ray players like the Samsung BD-P1500 and Sony BDP-S350 were available for $199 during the shopping weekend, when both players retail for $249.

Many of you indicated you want prices on Blu-ray players to drop below $200 on average, with the cost of Blu-ray movies competing with DVD prices.