Samsung: No Market for HD DVD Player

[Josh]

Samsung has not seen enough global consumer demand to lead it to produce a home entertainment system using the high-definition HD DVD video format developed by Toshiba, NEC and Microsoft, a senior Samsung executive said Thursday.

"If the market demands such a system, then we will produce one," Seung Soo Park, a vice president in Samsung's audio video division, said before the Friday opening of the Internationale Funkausstellung, the largest consumer electronics convention in Europe. "But at this time, we have no plans to do so."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/30/business/dvd.php

[glenn22]

I wonder if they are referring to the European market or in general. I guess it doesn't matter, no HD-DVD player from Samsung is a good thing in any event.

[CptGreedle]

If they don't now, I doubt they ever will.

The HD-DVD market is going down! Blu-ray will go up!

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Josh

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/30/business/dvd.php

There is certainly no market for them in HD DVD, because the silly people at Samsung insist on making PROFIT on what they sell.

Perhaps when the under $200 players come, this will improve things?

[Rob Zuber]

Translation: Toshiba has gutted the cost structure of the HD-DVD player market by subsidizing players and going to China that it's insane for us to consider making a player.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by glenn22

I wonder if they are referring to the European market or in general. I guess it doesn't matter, no HD-DVD player from Samsung is a good thing in any event.

Seems the market is better in Europe. There are no ultra-cheap HD DVD players there or planned, are there?

Gary

[GarettP]

Originally Posted by Rob Zuber

Translation: Toshiba has gutted the cost structure of the HD-DVD player market by subsidizing players and going to China that it's insane for us to consider making a player.

Hit the ol Nail right on the Head with that one!

[atdm71]

Originally Posted by Rob Zuber

Translation: Toshiba has gutted the cost structure of the HD-DVD player market by subsidizing players and going to China that it's insane for us to consider making a player.

Perhaps not Samsung's translation, but here's hoping they read your post and consider it seriously.

[Maxell]

huh? Haven't they at least made a hybrid blu/hd player?

[CptGreedle]

I still don't think that HD-DVD is going to make any headway with a cheaper player.

It's the HDTVs that are too pricey. People are waiting for the entire system to get cheaper before buying them, which won't be this year. But by next year I think they will be cheap enough for the price of the player to matter. But next year BD players will be as cheap as any HD-DVD player and still better quality.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Maxell

huh? Haven't they at least made a hybrid blu/hd player?

They've announced plans for one. But, that was a backroom deal with Microsoft for free licenses to some MS tech. It didn't come out of market demand.

Playforsure, for example, is on Pioneer BD decks. So, it's not as if ZERO Microsoft IP is finding its way onto things. This is why Microsoft can't swing the big hammer. They need to have good relations with CE.

Gary

[atdm71]

Originally Posted by Maxell

huh? Haven't they at least made a hybrid blu/hd player?

Different that making a commitment to a dedicated player, which I assume is that the dude from Samsung was referring to in his comments...

[Thundercrash07]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Seems the market is better in Europe. There are no ultra-cheap HD DVD players there or planned, are there?

Gary

Depends on what you consider cheap. lol

http://www.amazon.de/Toshiba-HD-DVD-...8509286&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-HD-E...8509923&sr=8-1


And I don't know about this one, it is categorized as HD DVD player, but according to the specs it can play DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD, DivX®, XviD, Audio CD, HDCD and Kodak Picture CD only. No sign of "HD-DVD"

http://www.amazon.de/DVD-Player-DVD-...8509286&sr=8-8

[mattym]

that hd dvd/hd-dvd confusion thing again isnt it...

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Thundercrash07

Depends on what you consider cheap. lol

http://www.amazon.de/Toshiba-HD-DVD-...8509286&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-HD-E...8509923&sr=8-1

Well, I guess really depends on what a European considers cheap.

The A2/E1:

(Amazon.com) US$254
(Amazon.de) EUR 349,00 = US$475
(Amazon.uk) £199.00 = $400

And while not available at Amazon.ca, the A2 at BestBuy.ca:

CA$349.00 = US$330

Gary

[haushausman]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

I still don't think that HD-DVD is going to make any headway with a cheaper player.

It's the HDTVs that are too pricey. People are waiting for the entire system to get cheaper before buying them, which won't be this year. But by next year I think they will be cheap enough for the price of the player to matter. But next year BD players will be as cheap as any HD-DVD player and still better quality.

Agreed. People that have a HDTV obviously have money. And one or two hundred dollars is not going to make or break there decision as far as HD-Players go.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Well, I guess really depends on what a European considers cheap.

The A2/E1:
(Amazon.uk) £199.00 = $400

Only £179 on play.com. Given that stuff usually costs us the same in £ as the US price in $, this corresponds to a $179 price point in the US, and will be seen as pretty cheap by a lot of potential UK purchasers.

I do think that player price will be a significant factor in many people's buying decisions, the BDA can't afford to ignore this aspect.