Blu-ray sales hit record in Japan

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26 Mar 08 21:00 by Timmie in category Uncategorized To news archive

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Japan is known as a country were a product or a gadget reaches a huge group of people in a very short time. The Japanese write books on their mobile phones and use mobile internet like it’s been there for a century. So, if Blu-ray sales hit a record, than that must be in Japan. The Blu-ray Disc Association claims that the format has gained 18.2% share in the total video market sales in Japan last month.

GfK Japan obtained the data that makes the BDA believe that their format is sold more and more on the Asian island. After a period of decline in December and January, February showed a 18.2% share. DVD remains to be the dominant optical storage medium for entertainment with a 80.5% share. Blu-ray’s former competitor HD DVD still represents 2-3% of the total sales, claims the Blu-ray Disc Association.

Back in September Blu-ray’s share was a mere 1.3%… What a few months can do to a format, it can die, or it can grow.

3 Comments

koba: Posts: 1066; Posted on: 27 Mar 08 03:32

Well many users over here where waiting for the war to end and then buy either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. You will see the market share of Blu-Ray rise even more with the coming Olympics in Beijing. Another big factor is that starting in 2011 normal analog TV will be totally replaced by Digital TV and by then all analog HDD/DVD recorders and normal TVs will be of no use anymore. So people are now starting to buy HDTV sets and recorders which are able to record digital TV in high-def. This will boost sales of Blu-ray even more. Also the two biggest video rental chains have announced to start renting Blu-ray titles.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 31 Mar 08 02:42

Do you honestly think people will record to Blu-ray media ? Not whilst hard-disks are getting faster and cheaper. Who in their right mind would spend 47 pence per gigabyte ($1) when they can be spending 12p (25 cents) per gigabyte on a hard disk, which is also more environmentally friendly. Optical media really is on a slippery slope downwards, and I am shocked as to how fast it is happening myself.

guest: Posts: 15288; Posted on: 27 May 08 18:16

Unlike cost-conscious American consumers, Japanese are going forward with DVD-to-BD transition as if it is a natural phenomenon. The latest market figures (April) shows BD recorder are selling 32% against DVD, and it will, the report says, most likely reach 50% by the end of 2008.

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