A new report from Screen Digest indicates the high-definition Blu-ray Disc video format has struggled to gain marketshare outside of the United States, even with the worldwide popularity of Avatar.
Important European markets, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have reported lower than expected Blu-ray player and movie sales. Assuming a customer purchases a Blu-ray player, a disappointing average of just 1.5 Blu-ray movies are purchased per year by owners.
The lack of sales are due to down economies and higher prices of Blu-ray goods, as there hasn’t been much work done to help lower the price of players or movies. Furthermore, the picture quality of DVDs is still considered “good enough” for most EU viewers.
Screen Digest believes DVD and Blu-ray sales will drop 3.5% each year through 2015. Streaming content continues to grow in popularity, with set-top boxes, game consoles, and some HDTVs already supporting streaming functionality.
Avatar has led to a drastic increase in Blu-ray interest in the U.S. — which has since returned to normal — but the Blu-ray Avatar version costs significantly more than the DVD version.
In the U.S., manufacturers, movie studios and retailers have drastically reduced Blu-ray prices in an effort to get consumers to upgrade from DVD. It’s possible to find numerous standalone Blu-ray players for $149 and less — and that price tag continues to fall. Warner Bros. also has a DVD to Blu-ray upgrade program, helping DVD enthusiasts switch to the high def format. Analysts believe DVD sales will decline further in North America in the coming years.
The top motivation for purchasing a Sony PlayStation 3 is still the Blu-ray feature, which could be a boon for the Blu-ray industry as more and more users purchase the Sony game console.
I wonder if manufacturers will try to slash prices and launch a marketing push in Europe, or shift focus away from the struggling region. Blu-ray market penetration is growing in the United States, and another strong marketing push could be beneficial.
37 Comments on Blu-ray sales outside the U.S. a disappointment
I wouldn't describe Blu ray adoption in the US a great success either even if it is growing (at a glacial pace). Prices for the commercial movies, players, blank media and computer drives remain too high during this extended downturn in the economy.
Even blu ray rentals are more expensive than dvds. Keeping an eye on my local Hastings, they have yet to expand the blu ray section for rentals. There simply isn't much demand for them, and that section has remained at less than 10% of the shelf space.
Blu ray is in real danger of becoming an also-ran to streaming video, both here in the US and in Europe.
Even blu ray rentals are more expensive than dvds. Keeping an eye on my local Hastings, they have yet to expand the blu ray section for rentals. There simply isn't much demand for them, and that section has remained at less than 10% of the shelf space.
Blu ray is in real danger of becoming an also-ran to streaming video, both here in the US and in Europe.
Why do they always assume the reason for poor sales is the economy or prices. Maybe people aren't buying into Blu-Ray because they don't see enough advantage to warrant spending the money, and therefore they just don't buy it?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by BradWright
Why do they always assume the reason for poor sales is the economy or prices. Maybe people aren't buying into Blu-Ray because they don't see enough advantage to warrant spending the money, and therefore they just don't buy it?
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by BradWright
Why do they always assume the reason for poor sales is the economy or prices. Maybe people aren't buying into Blu-Ray because they don't see enough advantage to warrant spending the money, and therefore they just don't buy it?
|
I read it as: Poor sales due to high prices .... high prices not justifying the better quality experience .. ergo .. not buying bluray due to high prices ...
At any rate ... stop cranking out so many DVD's ... create an artificial shortage, which will increase the price of DVD's .... people will move to bluray ... prices of blurays will drop.
Still waiting for the general population to understand wtf bluray is ... and what the difference is compared to a DVD.
I often hear in stores:: "Do you have XXmovie on bluray dvd?"
Salespeople: "Yes, we have xxmovie on DVD's here **neglect to point out that the store doesn't have a large selection of Bluray movies**"
Buyer wanders off content with his crappy DVD at BD price ..... not realising he/she has just been duped.
Hmmm ... buyer beware
Something I forgot to mention in the article but have wondered: How are HDTV prices over there? There has been a major price war here in the U.S. that has driven the cost of HDTVs down significantly compared to a couple of years ago. Has this happened in Europe as well?
Thanks. 
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by DukeNukem
"Furthermore, the picture quality of DVDs is still considered “good enough” for most EU viewers."
|
We have done the taste test and Blu Ray is a waste of money.
Blu-Ray movies that are actually filmed as Blu-Ray films are certainly higher definition than standard DVDs. However, If you have a HD television and a upconverting DVD player a DVD is quite good. So switching over to Blu-Ray becomes a price issue.
I purchased a Blu-Ray player, that was NetFlix enabled, and have been happy with it. I have not been as happy with the Blu-Ray discs on the market. Quite a number of the discs are simply old films on a Blu-Ray disc. The quality of some of the films is not any better than the original VHS tape that it was originally distributed on. I feel like I was gypped buying some of the titles on Blu-Ray.
Blu-Ray burners have dropped below $150.00 ($139.00 at NewEgg.com) and have decent specs. The blanks are still a bit pricey but if you watch the sales you can get some decent buys on the 25 gig blanks. The Blu-Ray disc certainly makes backing up your computer easier. Extra data storage is also a big plus. Films on Blu-Ray discs are still a chore to copy and take quite a long time if you don't have a quad-core or higher processor. Having said all of that I have to agree that the Blu-Ray discs may be a dead end. I have been experimenting with AVCHD compression and I BELIEVE that you can get just as good picture quality using a DVD blank. I can not tell the difference between the Blu-Ray disc or the AVCHD disc that I made.
I purchased a Blu-Ray player, that was NetFlix enabled, and have been happy with it. I have not been as happy with the Blu-Ray discs on the market. Quite a number of the discs are simply old films on a Blu-Ray disc. The quality of some of the films is not any better than the original VHS tape that it was originally distributed on. I feel like I was gypped buying some of the titles on Blu-Ray.
Blu-Ray burners have dropped below $150.00 ($139.00 at NewEgg.com) and have decent specs. The blanks are still a bit pricey but if you watch the sales you can get some decent buys on the 25 gig blanks. The Blu-Ray disc certainly makes backing up your computer easier. Extra data storage is also a big plus. Films on Blu-Ray discs are still a chore to copy and take quite a long time if you don't have a quad-core or higher processor. Having said all of that I have to agree that the Blu-Ray discs may be a dead end. I have been experimenting with AVCHD compression and I BELIEVE that you can get just as good picture quality using a DVD blank. I can not tell the difference between the Blu-Ray disc or the AVCHD disc that I made.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Vbritt
Blu-Ray movies ... filmed as Blu-Ray ...switching over to Blu-Ray ... purchased a Blu-Ray player ... not been as happy with the Blu-Ray discs ... old films on a Blu-Ray disc ... gypped buying some of the titles on Blu-Ray.
Blu-Ray burners have dropped ... The Blu-Ray disc certainly makes ... Films on Blu-Ray discs are still a chore to copy ... I have to agree that the Blu-Ray discs may be a dead end. ... I can not tell the difference between the Blu-Ray disc or the AVCHD disc |
When the price premium for Blu-Ray players, media and movies goes away it will replace DVD. Simple as that.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by aargos
When the price premium for Blu-Ray players, media and movies goes away it will replace DVD. Simple as that.
|
I like Blu-Ray
Anyone that doesn't appreciate Blu-Ray over DVD is obviously blind, or is doing it wrong.
That said, I wouldn't bother buying 1950's movies on Blu-Ray, because they were sourced from crappy lo-def film that isn't going to improve, no matter what they do with it.
All oversize Blu-Ray in this message were by pure accident
Anyone that doesn't appreciate Blu-Ray over DVD is obviously blind, or is doing it wrong.
That said, I wouldn't bother buying 1950's movies on Blu-Ray, because they were sourced from crappy lo-def film that isn't going to improve, no matter what they do with it.
All oversize Blu-Ray in this message were by pure accident
HDTV prices is a factor, for a Led 42" HDTV R29, 000 approx $2,900 in South Africa. And problems with incompatible BLU-Ray players add to people not buying Blu-Ray players.
I am disappointed at the quality of many new BD releases, and honestly cannot see any difference with a DVD movie upconverted to 1080p by a Bray player and played on my 1080p capable Epson home theatre LCD projector. Many regular DVD movies are so good played as above, that they defy the Bray version.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by arbort
I am disappointed at the quality of many new BD releases, and honestly cannot see any difference with a DVD movie upconverted to 1080p by a Bray player and played on my 1080p capable Epson home theatre LCD projector. Many regular DVD movies are so good played as above, that they defy the Bray version.
|
DukeNuken
Please tell me more of the Tinfoil Hat Society that you are president of.
Thank you for your comment. I spent quite a bit of money trying to back up blu-ray movies, like buying BD recorder, programming , BD 25 blanks and a lot of frustration when movies over about 23g are compressed or converted taking a lot of time and often crashing. I even upgraded my computer, though I dont regret that ending up with a more powerful machine for other purposes. Ieven build a new computer to be able to back up movies over 25g to a hardrive to play back on home theater.
All good experience but the end results are not any better than regular DVDs as I explained before, played back upconverted to 1080p on capable equipment. My efforts seem all futile. Again thank you for your comments
Please tell me more of the Tinfoil Hat Society that you are president of.
Thank you for your comment. I spent quite a bit of money trying to back up blu-ray movies, like buying BD recorder, programming , BD 25 blanks and a lot of frustration when movies over about 23g are compressed or converted taking a lot of time and often crashing. I even upgraded my computer, though I dont regret that ending up with a more powerful machine for other purposes. Ieven build a new computer to be able to back up movies over 25g to a hardrive to play back on home theater.
All good experience but the end results are not any better than regular DVDs as I explained before, played back upconverted to 1080p on capable equipment. My efforts seem all futile. Again thank you for your comments
Thank you for your comment; I won’t buy any HDTV or Blu-Ray players at the current prices.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by arbort
I am disappointed at the quality of many new BD releases, and honestly cannot see any difference with a DVD movie upconverted to 1080p by a Bray player and played on my 1080p capable Epson home theatre LCD projector. Many regular DVD movies are so good played as above, that they defy the Bray version.
|
I got my BD player just after the news hit that HD-DVD was dead so I could continue to buy HD movies once the prices got real.
I had only about 10 movies in Blu ray until recently when everyone started selling fairly new good movies for 9 bucks each. I think in the last few weeks I probably got another 15 or so because the price finally justifies buying them, especially when you can get a first run movies for 20 bucks with the BD, DVD, and digital download all in one box.
Best part is my first gen Panasonic BD 10a plays every movie I feed it, though it loads very slowly, even Avatar
I had only about 10 movies in Blu ray until recently when everyone started selling fairly new good movies for 9 bucks each. I think in the last few weeks I probably got another 15 or so because the price finally justifies buying them, especially when you can get a first run movies for 20 bucks with the BD, DVD, and digital download all in one box.
Best part is my first gen Panasonic BD 10a plays every movie I feed it, though it loads very slowly, even Avatar
I have no Blu ray player or projectors downloaded some blu ray movies and played them on my HD Pc-monitor the quality were good.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dartman
I had only about 10 movies in Blu ray until recently when everyone started selling fairly new good movies for 9 bucks each. I think in the last few weeks I probably got another 15 or so because the price finally justifies buying them, especially when you can get a first run movies for 20 bucks with the BD, DVD, and digital download all in one box.
|
A picture is worth a 1000 words.
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/blu-ray.zml Bluray disc only (for most).
There is a small reprieve ... http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/dvd/blu-ray-sale.HTM
I caved in and went on a spending spree when a few places started advertising blurays at 3 for $75 (blu-rays only, no dvd or download).
Downloading a blu Ray movie will take forever at 39kb/s on my Pc. I downloaded some Blu-ray movie tracks from Microsoft. When the price for Blu ray players is right ill bye a Blu ray player.and Blu ray movies.
Most people are buying HDTV's not for the HD but for the size and flatness of the screens vs price. You can bet LG and the like are selling a bucket load of 50" displays. Everyone I know who has got a large HDTV has not bothered with much in the way of HD content and are perfectly happy with SD broadcasts and upscaled DVD playback. They really dropped the ball with HD media simply because of the HDDVD vs Bluray battle. If they had not been so dumb as to introduce 2 formats when they did and confuse consumers the uptake may have been a lot better. And they are doing another stupid thing with 3D by tying 3D movie titles to 3D HDTV brands. They really have not learned anything from past mistakes.
I don't think the HD DVD/ Bluray war really hurt it in the long. When the war was going on, the bluray/hd-dvd prices were way to steap to catch on with the public in the first place. Toshiba started selling them at a loss just before hd-dvd went out,but other then that.. they were expensive machines.
It seems now you can find cheaper model bluray players for 99 bux.. and bluray movie prices seem to be coming down.. getting closer to 20 bux for a new release.. and alot of older release for 10-15 bux.
Seems to be similar to how DVD prices fell when they came out. The last few years of the 90's when DVD was brand new.. players were a few hundred bux and movies were 30 bux. I'm guessing bluray adoption will come the continuing price drops.
that being said.. they really oversaturated the market with dvd's. Wal-mart has so many sub 10 dollars dvd bargain bins its insane.. it does make it difficult for bluray to compete with that.. there's so many dvd's out there now, they just overflow everywhere
as for the guy with projector.. I have a feeling its downconverting your image. Bluray definately looks better then a dvd even on my 3 year old 42 inch LCD. Maybe you just have a subpar projector if theres no noticible difference.
When I watch dvd's on my tv.. its not that is bad, but you can start to see the compresion/pixellation on bigger screens. Watching a bluray reminds me of walking a film in a theatre.. seems flawless.
It seems now you can find cheaper model bluray players for 99 bux.. and bluray movie prices seem to be coming down.. getting closer to 20 bux for a new release.. and alot of older release for 10-15 bux.
Seems to be similar to how DVD prices fell when they came out. The last few years of the 90's when DVD was brand new.. players were a few hundred bux and movies were 30 bux. I'm guessing bluray adoption will come the continuing price drops.
that being said.. they really oversaturated the market with dvd's. Wal-mart has so many sub 10 dollars dvd bargain bins its insane.. it does make it difficult for bluray to compete with that.. there's so many dvd's out there now, they just overflow everywhere
as for the guy with projector.. I have a feeling its downconverting your image. Bluray definately looks better then a dvd even on my 3 year old 42 inch LCD. Maybe you just have a subpar projector if theres no noticible difference.
When I watch dvd's on my tv.. its not that is bad, but you can start to see the compresion/pixellation on bigger screens. Watching a bluray reminds me of walking a film in a theatre.. seems flawless.
I agree Blu-ray definitely looks better; knowledge of what monitors, TV’s, and Blu-ray players to bye is a key factor here.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Zod
as for the guy with projector.. I have a feeling its downconverting your image. Bluray definately looks better then a dvd even on my 3 year old 42 inch LCD. Maybe you just have a subpar projector if theres no noticible difference.
When I watch dvd's on my tv.. its not that is bad, but you can start to see the compresion/pixellation on bigger screens. Watching a bluray reminds me of walking a film in a theatre.. seems flawless. |
Funny that you should mention Bluray & Theatres. Last night I watched Prince of Persia on a 5 metre (estimate) wide screen ... when the projector first started, it flashed 720p/60Hz ... the whole time, I was greatly distracted by the pixellation of the picture, and I could make out all the individual pixels. ...urgh.
My Epson model is PowerLite Home Cinema 6100and the resolution (native format) is 1920 x 1080 pixels, 1080p
Interesting that you bring up the matter that the projectors is downgrading the resolution.
Some BD are excellent, however many are not any better than the DVD version.
I will check with Epson about your comments about downgrading the resolution
Interesting that you bring up the matter that the projectors is downgrading the resolution.
Some BD are excellent, however many are not any better than the DVD version.
I will check with Epson about your comments about downgrading the resolution
I mean downscalling not downgrading
Again I will check with Epson. My powerlite home cinema 6100 is a 3LCD full HD model
Again I will check with Epson. My powerlite home cinema 6100 is a 3LCD full HD model
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by debro
Many 1080p compatible projectors will accept a 1080p signal, but will actually downscale & project it at a lower resolution .... what's your projector model?
|
resolution (native format) 1920 x 1080 piexels, 1080p
If it is native format, why would the projector downscall or downconvert?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by arbort
My Epson is a PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 home theater projector 3LCD
resolution (native format) 1920 x 1080 piexels, 1080p If it is native format, why would the projector downscall or downconvert? |
Your projector is native 1920x1080, so it shouldn't down convert at all.
Make sure that you have your bluray player set to X.V. Colour over HDMI, and it is set to 1080p.
Make sure that your projector is set to X.V. mode - it's listed as a separate colour profile in the specifications for your projector.
On an LCD/Plasma TV, DVDs and Blu-rays are night and day.
Using a PS3, which does a marvelous job upscaling even the crappiest low res AVI's, blurays are amazing in both colour depth, and clarity in comparison to DVD's.
Let us not forget that Blu-ray is a triple dip of the same film. My worst fears have come true: just some crappy movie on Blu-ray. There should be some kind of rule, if a studio wants to do a Blu-ray version they have to (yes, I said have to) upgrade both picture and sound to the best quality available or they can't do it at all.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Randomus
Something I forgot to mention in the article but have wondered: How are HDTV prices over there? There has been a major price war here in the U.S. that has driven the cost of HDTVs down significantly compared to a couple of years ago. Has this happened in Europe as well?
|
Not too long ago the same thing would cost 1000 Euros more...
I think this answers your question about prices?
To give you a complete picture: there are basically no CRTs on sale anymore and plasma has fallen behind. Almost everything is LCD. Even LED TVs, which started quite expensive, compared with normal LCD, are also dropping dramatically in price. Soon the prices will be around current non-LED TVs, I think.
To try and sell things at a premium, TV manufacturers are now using the 3D gimnick. But I think they will fail, I really don't see much interest in 3D. Well, except for the ones trying to force it upon the masses. But I doubt they will be successful.
HDTV prices is a factor, for a Led 42" HDTV R29, 000 approx $2,900 in South Africa
$1,663 for the same unit in the U.S I hope this answers your question about prices.
Hope the major price war starts soon in South Africa.
$1,663 for the same unit in the U.S I hope this answers your question about prices.
Hope the major price war starts soon in South Africa.
"Important European markets, including the United Kingdom and Germany, have reported lower than expected Blu-ray player and movie sales."
I look at amazon.com: Bestselling Bluray-Player Panasonic DMP-BD65 costs there 130$. Same Panasonic DMP-BD65 on amazon.de: 159€ = 197$. So what do they expect?
I look at amazon.com: Bestselling Bluray-Player Panasonic DMP-BD65 costs there 130$. Same Panasonic DMP-BD65 on amazon.de: 159€ = 197$. So what do they expect?
Went to my local video store and saw many Blu-ray titles 3 for $20 etc. Some selling cheaper than DVDs of the same title. Purchased Blu-ray burner for the computer and installed it, went to play Blu-ray movie, won't play Hmmmm. What is this funny message when I try to play the movie? Ahhhh Video card and Monitor not HDCP complient, Whats that I thought, Quick google search, Some kind of copy protection? can only play Disk via Analog output only!!!!! Tried to play back on my 42 inch full hd TV, No joy either via dVI input but would work through analog input. Picture quality of DVD through DVI input better than Blu-ray through Analog. Another Quick Google search, seems I have to replace Computer video card Monitor to play Blu-ray on the computer and if I wish to view Blu-ray on my "LESS THAN FOUR YEAR OLD BIG SCREEN TV I would have to buy A new TV as well that is HDCP complient. Took Blu-ray disks back to video store for refund, sales assistant tells me "This happens quite a lot". Seems to me that Blu-ray is formulating its own Death. I wonder why they don't seem to sell to well
This is why I pirate. Not because I am too cheap to pay for media but I refuse to be locked into a DRM system this restrictive. If they come up with a decent model to download content without DRM I 'may' consider paying for it!
Way to shoot yourselves in the foot AAses
Way to shoot yourselves in the foot AAses
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Redking1
Let us not forget that Blu-ray is a triple dip of the same film. My worst fears have come true: just some crappy movie on Blu-ray. There should be some kind of rule, if a studio wants to do a Blu-ray version they have to (yes, I said have to) upgrade both picture and sound to the best quality available or they can't do it at all.
|
My understanding is that just about any movie shot on 35mm film already has infinitely more resolution than BD and it's in the transfer to digital where the ball gets dropped. From reading around the net it seems if done properly there can be a noticable improvement in video quality (DVD to BD), not sure what can be done about the audio though...
Space Odyssey 2001 is a very old one but the most impressive convert to BR. BR comes to life on 40+ inch screens coz the detail level increases dramatically the bigger the screen.
Most popular headlines
Windows Blue to allow boot to desktop and brings start menu back? (3)
- Tue 16 Apr 16:12 by DoMiN8ToR
- Software, Windows 8
The upcoming update of Windows 8 might allow users to boot to the desktop again.
Jobs in US entertainment industry on all-time high - piracy?! (8)
- Fri 12 Apr 15:10 by DoMiN8ToR
- Piracy
The number of jobs in the film and music industry in the United States has increased despite the claimed negative effects of illegal downloads.
The Piratebay domain moves to Greenland - circumvents blockade (3)
- Tue 9 Apr 14:23 by DoMiN8ToR
- Piracy
The PirateBay has moved to the domain thepiratebay.gl in fear that their previous domain would be ceased by Swedish authorities
Intel 9 series chipset has native SATA Express (SATA over PCIe) support (2)
- Wed 17 Apr 13:57 by DoMiN8ToR
- Solid State (ssd)
A Chinese tech site has posted a picture that reveals details on Intel's 9 series chipset.
