Blu-ray already overtaken DVD?

[ranma]

Today I run across this article and notice the table it attached:
http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/18...oesnt-know-why

Looks like in year 2013, DVD has $16.2B, BD has $18.1B on global market.
I don't know where the data come from, any one can confirm it?

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by ranma

Today I run across this article and notice the table it attached:
http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/18...oesnt-know-why

Looks like in year 2013, DVD has $16.2B, BD has $18.1B on global market.
I don't know where the data come from, any one can confirm it?

There's a reason why there's no source attached to that chart. It's fiction. There's no way anyone would know worldwide sales revenue, much less rentals. Last year in the U.S. DVD sales were $5.3 billion and Blu-ray just under $2.5 billion (according to info from the DEG and Home Media Magazine). The U.S. Blu-ray market share of 33% is one of, if not the highest, in the world.

So to play along as if the info were true, plugging in the U.S. data, the rest of the world would have DVD sales revenue of $9.9 billion and BD revenue of $15.6 billion. That would make the non-U.S. Blu-ray share over 61%, which is completely ridiculous.

[benji888578]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

There's a reason why there's no source attached to that chart. It's fiction. There's no way anyone would know worldwide sales revenue, much less rentals. Last year in the U.S. DVD sales were $5.3 billion and Blu-ray just under $2.5 billion (according to info from the DEG and Home Media Magazine). The U.S. Blu-ray market share of 33% is one of, if not the highest, in the world.

So to play along as if the info were true, plugging in the U.S. data, the rest of the world would have DVD sales revenue of $9.9 billion and BD revenue of $15.6 billion. That would make the non-U.S. Blu-ray share over 61%, which is completely ridiculous.

Though I would like to see these numbers confirmed, why would it be completely ridiculous? The US is becoming more ignorant and slower to adopt new things. People tend to believe the news & internet and don't find things out for themselves in any area, so, they don't know that, when you buy a Blu-ray player, it plays DVDs & CDs too, it's not marketed that way. People are fine with 720p on their HDTVs via Cable, Sat, or streaming vid. Also, why would families buy Blu-rays if they can't pop it in their DVD player in their SUV for the kids to watch while driving? For lazy, soft americans everything has to work easily and be conveniently compatible, etc. etc., don't care about quality, AND it can't cost more than the old tech. ...While other places are buying up Blu-rays because they like what they get from it, aren't so held back by the need for backward compatibility. (Personally, I also appreciate the improvement in color quality, not just the resolution. I think marketing by numbers (1080p, contrast numbers, etc.) is a big failing for selling blu-rays and quality HDTVs.)

I won't buy DVDs anymore, it's a waste, looks like crap. If something is not available in Blu-ray, I look to iTunes, and, if it's available in HD there, it goes in my iTunes wishlist. If it's something I don't absolutely have to own and it's on Netflix in HD, then, I'll skip it or wait. ...Only something that can't be had in HD somehow will I then get the DVD.

I think DVD players should be taken off the market. Every disc player should be able to play Blu/DVD/CD etc. Even in SUVs (I don't care if the little screen is 1080p in a moving vehicle, but, it SHOULD be able to play BDs by now! Especially at the exorbitant prices they charge for the things.)

Americans can be so fickle! (I was born here, but, in many ways, I really can't relate.)

[ouflak]

Originally Posted by benji888578

People tend to believe the news & internet and don't find things out for themselves in any area,

Oh the irony...

Originally Posted by benji888578

Though I would like to see these numbers confirmed, why would it be completely ridiculous?

If such a market condition ever actually did take place, it would have been the biggest headline on this message board to have been posted, ever. That thread would probably still be stickied on this sub-forum. Anyway, while worldwide sales are not possible to ascertain, it is possible to interrogate some key markets; the EU, UK, Japan, maybe a couple of others. That should get you a picture of the general trend: that blu-ray adoption lags in the rest of the world behind the U.S.

[mredman]

Originally Posted by ouflak

Oh the irony...



If such a market condition ever actually did take place, it would have been the biggest headline on this message board to have been posted, ever. That thread would probably still be stickied on this sub-forum. Anyway, while worldwide sales are not possible to ascertain, it is possible to interrogate some key markets; the EU, UK, Japan, maybe a couple of others. That should get you a picture of the general trend: that blu-ray adoption lags in the rest of the world behind the U.S.

you were saying:


Blu-ray Sales Up 10% in the UK

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=12911


Blu-ray Sales Up 41% in Germany

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=11944

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by mredman

you were saying:


Blu-ray Sales Up 10% in the UK

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=12911


Blu-ray Sales Up 41% in Germany

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=11944

He meant lags behind in volume and in percentage market share vs. DVD (although Germany is now very close now in market share, with 30% in 2013 according to the link above).

Very nice to see such strong growth in Germany and the UK. I hope it continues.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Well, I'm not sure about this either. As I mentioned in another thread, I recently went to Wal-mart & they are definitely carrying LESS Blu's than they were even a year ago. The bulk of what I saw were about 98% DVD, and about 2% Blu.

Though I have found plenty of Blu's in other retail stores like Target & Frye's Electronics, as far as I'm concerned Blu is still a niche format.

When I got my first Blu player in late 2012, I had the impression at the time that regular DVD's would eventually stop being made, and that everything would be Blu in 3-5 years. Almost two years later, it's fairly evident that won't be happening...IMHO DVD's will be around for quite a while...

[BLeClair12]

Honestly, I think a solid portion of America either doesn't understand high definition, or doesn't care.

I can't even tell you the number of people I know who buy fancy, expensive HDTVs, have HD-capable cable boxes, and simply tune to their regular old SD stations, stretch the picture out, and think it looks fantastic.

Recently, our cable company switched over to a forced override in all cable boxes so that, even if you tune to a SD channel, as long as your TV is HD capable, you get the HD feed. I'd be willing to bet a lot of people don't even notice.

Anytime I've shown a friend or family member who has been on the fence the difference, they quickly change their tune. Still, though, if I'm out shopping in stores, rarely do I see people browsing Blu-Ray.

I, personally, haven't bought a DVD in around five years, nor do I really plan to again. The difference is so large that I can hardly bring myself to watch SD content anymore. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched one of my DVDs, honestly. If something I love isn't released in Blu-Ray, I won't buy it. I refuse to support the format, because that's just sending the message that I'm willing to settle, and I'm not.

[halloween5309]

walmart around here is the same, i live in a very poor neighborhood and many people of all ages have not heard of blu ray and most still have crt tvs with tv antennas

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by BLeClair12

Honestly, I think a solid portion of America either doesn't understand high definition, or doesn't care.

I can't even tell you the number of people I know who buy fancy, expensive HDTVs, have HD-capable cable boxes, and simply tune to their regular old SD stations, stretch the picture out, and think it looks fantastic.

I, personally, haven't bought a DVD in around five years, nor do I really plan to again. The difference is so large that I can hardly bring myself to watch SD content anymore. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched one of my DVDs, honestly. If something I love isn't released in Blu-Ray, I won't buy it. I refuse to support the format, because that's just sending the message that I'm willing to settle, and I'm not.

Well put, well said.

As far as regular DVD's go, I pretty much feel the same way; I watched The Point of No Return (1993) the other day on regular DVD & finished it since I really like the film - however, the PQ was crap, and it was almost unwatchable as a result....

That being said, I'll end up keeping & probably not replacing a lot of TV shows I have on regular DVD, i.e. Lost, Smallville, Sopranos, Twin Peaks, etc. I can't justify replacing all of these on Blu, since it would be prohibitively expensive. Also, there are a lot of TV series that even now are not being released to Blu - The recently released '80's crime drama The Equalizer 4-season set is only on regular DVD, not Blu...

Movies on the other hand, aren't as big of a deal - especially if you can get these for good prices...

[mohit9206]

Originally Posted by benji888578

I won't buy DVDs anymore, it's a waste, looks like crap.

No it doesn't. Its just that Blu ray has spoiled you.

Originally Posted by BLeClair12

I, personally, haven't bought a DVD in around five years, nor do I really plan to again. The difference is so large that I can hardly bring myself to watch SD content anymore. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched one of my DVDs, honestly. If something I love isn't released in Blu-Ray, I won't buy it. I refuse to support the format, because that's just sending the message that I'm willing to settle, and I'm not.

Although i agree that Blu ray certainly looks better than DVD, you also have to understand that DVD can look gorgeous too.It by itself looks pretty good even on HDTVs and that's why people don't feel the need to upgrade because the truth is the difference is simply not that huge.
Most people aren't particularly interested in seeing each strand of hair, wrinkes, or skin pores in all its hd glory.
I too don't really care for the better audio and video quality that blu ray offers but what i do care about is the hours of extra features that blu ray gets that DVD don't.The studios intentionally stopped /minimizing special features in dvds so that people would buy blu rays because they knew that simply better audio and video quality by itself wasn't going to do the trick.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by BLeClair12

Honestly, I think a solid portion of America either doesn't understand high definition, or doesn't care.

I can't even tell you the number of people I know who buy fancy, expensive HDTVs, have HD-capable cable boxes, and simply tune to their regular old SD stations, stretch the picture out, and think it looks fantastic.

Recently, our cable company switched over to a forced override in all cable boxes so that, even if you tune to a SD channel, as long as your TV is HD capable, you get the HD feed. I'd be willing to bet a lot of people don't even notice.

Anytime I've shown a friend or family member who has been on the fence the difference, they quickly change their tune. Still, though, if I'm out shopping in stores, rarely do I see people browsing Blu-Ray.

I, personally, haven't bought a DVD in around five years, nor do I really plan to again. The difference is so large that I can hardly bring myself to watch SD content anymore. I couldn't tell you the last time I watched one of my DVDs, honestly. If something I love isn't released in Blu-Ray, I won't buy it. I refuse to support the format, because that's just sending the message that I'm willing to settle, and I'm not.

Agree on almost all counts. I live in an apartment building and even though I'm now considered "old", most of the people here are even older and technically unsophisticated. I've helped a number of people with their installs and setups and they have been watching SD channels in spite of having HDTVs. I'd say about 60% appreciate the difference once I fix it and the rest don't. And of course then there's the issue of getting their TV in a somewhat calibrated state. Most people hate the result because they're so used to watching an over-bright, over-contrasty, over-saturated picture. A few appreciate the warm, film-like image with proper skin tones.

We have two cable providers in the building. RCN still has separate SD and HD channels and they must be chosen manually. Time-Warner does now automatically choose the HD if your TV supports it.

I agree with you that most people either don't understand or don't care about Blu-ray's superior quality. That's why Blu-ray still has only a 21% physical unit share. I'd say the industry as a whole has not done a good enough job selling the marketplace on the benefits of Blu-ray, but maybe that's because they initially did such a good job selling consumers on the benefits of DVD.

I also NEVER watch SD broadcast content. On very rare occasions, I have watched a DVD and I'm usually surprised that it actually looks pretty good upscaled on my HDTV, but I've sold most of my DVDs. I feel like once you have better quality, it's really hard (at least for me) to go back.

[PLG1962]

I got to ask for USA UK and Canadian et al

Do you notice when stores have sales/specials in their catalogues etc you see page after page of dvd's but blu-ray is hardly noticeable (I recall one catalogue here had 4 and 3/4 pages of dvd and 1/4 blu-ray specials)

Because that's what I've noticed here in Australia

[slimdude]

People are still renting, and buying DVDs, just as much as blu-rays.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

Well put, well said.

As far as regular DVD's go, I pretty much feel the same way; I watched The Point of No Return (1993) the other day on regular DVD & finished it since I really like the film - however, the PQ was crap, and it was almost unwatchable as a result....

That being said, I'll end up keeping & probably not replacing a lot of TV shows I have on regular DVD, i.e. Lost, Smallville, Sopranos, Twin Peaks, etc. I can't justify replacing all of these on Blu, since it would be prohibitively expensive. Also, there are a lot of TV series that even now are not being released to Blu - The recently released '80's crime drama The Equalizer 4-season set is only on regular DVD, not Blu...

Movies on the other hand, aren't as big of a deal - especially if you can get these for good prices...

The point of no return? Isn't that watching Gravity on a smartphone?

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

The point of no return? Isn't that watching Gravity on a smartphone?

It's not just "Gravity" - it's almost any film.

Some months ago I was in an airport and my plane was going to be delayed about three hours. I didn't have a book with me and there was nothing in the small airport bookstore that I thought I wanted to read, so I decided to download "The Grand Budapest Hotel" when it was either still in theatrical release or shortly after, so it wasn't inexpensive. But it was a useless exercise because the free WiFi in the airport was so slow, the movie didn't download before my flight left.

Since I paid around $15 for the download, I decided I should watch it, so I started watching it on my phone at home, but found it absolutely impossible to watch a movie this way, especially one with such stunning visuals. I could not get into the movie. I eventually watched it on premium cable when they had a free weekend.

It's one thing to watch a talking heads TV show on a smartphone, it's quite another to attempt to watch a well-crafted film or a show with high production values like "Game of Thrones". I can't believe that people find this acceptable and as I've posted earlier (or in a different thread), it's going to destroy the film business. With the exception of "American Sniper", the films nominated for the Oscar this year have done no business and they're all very fine films. That's a very dangerous sign. It tells the studios, "don't invest in any serious or unique films. If it's not a comic book, superhero, sequel or reboot, don't make it."

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

Since I paid around $15 for the download, I decided I should watch it, so I started watching it on my phone at home, but found it absolutely impossible to watch a movie this way, especially one with such stunning visuals. I could not get into the movie. I eventually watched it on premium cable when they had a free weekend.

You should have already known this, before you've even download any movie on a smartphone, and paid $15.00 for it at that! Add just a couple more dollars, you could've bought the blu-ray and watched it in your home theater ( on a big screen), with lossless audio.

[steve1971]

Blu ray over taken DVD? Not in in the U.S. And just think 4K Blu ray may be coming out soon . If Blu ray has yet to push dvd out of the way how is 4K Blu ray going to compete? Its going to be going up against Blu ray and dvd. The market is going to be saturated with different movie formats and the general public is going to do what its always done and that is go for the cheapest price which is why dvd still sells today and will continue to sell for some time to come. Blu ray was supposed to be the end of the road for dvd and it hasnt happened. Sorry but dvd isnt going no where anytime soon and thats sad because Blu ray kicks the crap out of it but try and tell that to the general consumer who couldnt give a damn.

[Midnight Rambler]

Originally Posted by ranma

Looks like in year 2013, DVD has $16.2B, BD has $18.1B on global market.

With total sales $'s being so close for the two, sales volume (ie. total units sold for each format) would be a far better indicator of which format is in the "lead". Especially when the avg. price of a DVD is less than that for a BD.

[Selaboc]

Originally Posted by steve1971

Blu ray over taken DVD? Not in in the U.S.

well, yes and no. While DVD does have the much larger market share, Blu-ray, however, does outsell DVD on some individual titles (usually new release blockbuster type movies). The reason Blu-ray won't be overtaking DVD's market share anytime soon is that there is a lot of stuff that is released DVD only, particularly in the back catalogue stuff.