News Corp (Fox) president: player SCARCITY holding back Blu-ray adoption

[Grubert]

From Home Media Magazine

News Corp. president and COO Peter Chernin said a dearth of Blu-ray players at retail continues to hamper wider consumer adoption of the next-generation format.

News Corp. is parent to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, among other studio assets.

In an analysts call, Chernin said many retailers carry just one or two Blu-ray players, which he said has necessitated a manufacturing push for third-generation players.

He expects the new players to reach the market by the summer and contribute to an upswing of both player and movie sales through the fourth quarter.

The COO said News Corp. remains bullish on Blu-ray due to the format’s higher margins compared to standard DVD. He said if margins remain constant and players become abundant, year-end industry Blu-ray revenue could reach $1 billion.

“We think these [Blu-ray] discs are more valuable [than standard DVD],” Chernin said.

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