TVPredictions.com: HD DVD Exit Could Spark Blu-ray Sales Surge

[blu-backer]

"Online poll by TVPredictions.com suggests many consumers have been waiting for the format war to end.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (February 17, 2008) -- Blu-ray player sales could see a sharp spike if rival format HD DVD drops out of the race as expected.

An reader poll conducted this weekend by TVPredictions.com found that 43 percent of respondents would buy a Blu-ray player if Toshiba pulls the plug on HD DVD.

News reports this weekend have said Toshiba is planning to stop production on new HD DVD players and cede defeat to Blu-ray in the format battle.

The TVPredictions.com poll, which attracted 2,503 participants, found that only 20 percent said they would not buy a Blu-ray player if HD DVD drops out.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they already had a Blu-ray player.

While the poll is not scientific, it offers a likely snapshot of the high-def audience at this time. TVPredictions.com, which gets approximately 20,000 visitors each business day, focuses exclusively on high-def issues and thus attracts a strong HD readership.

To date, both Blu-ray and HD DVD players have generated few sales compared to standard-def DVD players. However, Blu-ray supporters have said the new format will start to challenge the SD DVD after the format war is settled."

http://www.tvpredictions.com/blusurvey021708.htm

[ezcobar411]

End the confusion and increase the adoption. I love it

[Blu Titan]

I have been posting about this. It is a great advantage to Blu-ray to have the format war decided so early in the year.The great part of getting the "war" won so early in the year is that the BDA will have the entire year to concentrate on the adoption of Blu-ray by the masses. With 100% studio support, dropping prices, elimination of confusion, and increased selection of players.

[blu-backer]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

I have been posting about this. It is a great advantage to Blu-ray to have the format war decided so early in the year.The great part of getting the "war" won so early in the year is that the BDA will have the entire year to concentrate on the adoption of Blu-ray by the masses. With 100% studio support, dropping prices, elimination of confusion, and increased selection of players.

I'm personally surprised that this came to a head so soon this year. I was really expecting the end to come by mid year, but it's great to see it happen now. It should be a great Blu year!

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by BlueNeon

I have been posting about this. It is a great advantage to Blu-ray to have the format war decided so early in the year.The great part of getting the "war" won so early in the year is that the BDA will have the entire year to concentrate on the adoption of Blu-ray by the masses. With 100% studio support, dropping prices, elimination of confusion, and increased selection of players.

You're exactly right. I think Blu-ray will have one hell of a good year culminating in an absolutely fantastic Blu Christmas.

[GarettP]

The headline on this thread sparked a one word response as soon as I read it...

DUH!

[quaylie]

i am excite! the PS3 is going to take off in sales..due to the fact that it will never be out of date..it is a bargain...Sony should follow Toshiba's announcement with the rumored 120 or 160gb PS3..it would be perfect timing..but since nobody has located an fcc filing for the new sku yet..i doubt it's even close.

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by blu-backer

I'm personally surprised that this came to a head so soon this year. I was really expecting the end to come by mid year, but it's great to see it happen now. It should be a great Blu year!

I was wondering how the retailers and Toshiba would decide to operate in a climate when the outcome is not in doubt (even if the timing was not certain).

Once everyone accepts that the outcome is certain, then capital preservation will take over Toshiba's thinking and sales revenue would govern the retailers mindset. Toshiba spent all that money the last few years because someone(s) in the corporate head office believed they had a chance to win. Once it is very clear that victory is not possible, then the "saving face" part has to take a back seat and the rational people have to take over the decision making at Toshiba HQ.

While no retailer wants to upset Toshiba needlessly, (1) Walmart is so big that they don't care and can p*ss off anyone they choose (2) Circuit City and Best Buy for a couple of weeks said nice things publicly, but did very different things when it comes to selling the red boxes.

The MSRP slashing in hindsight the last attempt to buy time and get rid of inventory, but when sales did not take off, the charade was stopped.

The reports of returns overtaking supplies is one likely accelerant that made BestBuy invoke the mercy rule.

Once Netflix and BestBuy did their thing, Walmart just did what was obviously in their best interest to try to spark some new expensive optical disk sales.

I'm very curious what Yoshihide Fujii at Toshiba will do now. Whether he is the main architect of HD DVD or not, he was the public face and appear to be the executive sponsor for this product. Tens of billions of Yen is not a small amount of pocket change for a company to absorb without someone having to answer for this.

[smurfy]

Originally Posted by quaylie

i am excite! the PS3 is going to take off in sales..due to the fact that it will never be out of date..it is a bargain...Sony should follow Toshiba's announcement with the rumored 120 or 160gb PS3..it would be perfect timing..but since nobody has located an fcc filing for the new sku yet..i doubt it's even close.

The fact that HD DVD is dead prompted me to:
1) Look into Blu-Ray player.
2) Find that the PS3 is the only upgradeable to Profile 2.0 player
3) Find that the PS3 is one of the cheapest, and certain most value-for-money player
4) I'm now going to sell my Xbox 360 for a PS3.
5) Find that if I play my cards right I could nab a PS3 for about £100 (yup yup $200) after subtracting the profit from my 360 sell.

[Jiffylush]

Originally Posted by GarettP

The headline on this thread sparked a one word response as soon as I read it...

DUH!

Yeah really, Nostradamus he isn't.

[Jiffylush]

Originally Posted by smurfy

The fact that HD DVD is dead prompted me to:
1) Look into Blu-Ray player.
2) Find that the PS3 is the only upgradeable to Profile 2.0 player
3) Find that the PS3 is one of the cheapest, and certain most value-for-money player
4) I'm now going to sell my Xbox 360 for a PS3.
5) Find that if I play my cards right I could nab a PS3 for about £100 (yup yup $200) after subtracting the profit from my 360 sell.

A friend of mine did the same thing, she loves her new PS3 and blu-rays.

[quaylie]

i expect an announcement from Toshiba sometime tomorrow..about time.

[quaylie]

Originally Posted by smurfy

The fact that HD DVD is dead prompted me to:
1) Look into Blu-Ray player.
2) Find that the PS3 is the only upgradeable to Profile 2.0 player
3) Find that the PS3 is one of the cheapest, and certain most value-for-money player
4) I'm now going to sell my Xbox 360 for a PS3.
5) Find that if I play my cards right I could nab a PS3 for about £100 (yup yup $200) after subtracting the profit from my 360 sell.

you are a wise man..my friend who is a total xbox guy just had his 360 RRoD him...he was like literally sad.