We need detailed offical number releases to see what is going on in the HDTV war

[HDTV1080P]

Perhaps both the HD-DVD and BLU-RAY camp want to keep the actual numbers a secret since there is a format war going on. Some numbers have been released from both sides but not all. It would be neat to see the following numbers reported every 90 days to see how each format is doing

• Number of standalone BLU-RAY players sold
• Number of standalone HD-DVD players sold
• Number of dual format Universal players sold
• Number of BLU-RAY PS3 videogame consoles sold
• Number of X-BOX 360 HD-DVD add on devices sold
• Number of BLU-RAY computer drives sold
• Number of HD-DVD computer drives sold
• Number of dual format Universal computer drives sold
• Total number of BLU-RAY movies sold
• Total number of HD-DVD format only discs sold (not including combo disc movies)
• Total number of HD-DVD combo discs sold
• Grand total of HD-DVD movies sold including combo discs
• Grand total of BLU-RAY devices sold (universal players not included in number)
• Grand total of HD-DVD devices sold (universal players not included in number)
• Grand total of Universal dual format devices sold

If we had these numbers available we could see which format is winning. With 6 million BLU-RAY PS3 videogame systems scheduled to have shipped by end of March worldwide it is clear that over all there are more BLU-RAY devices on the market then HD-DVD. BLU-RAY standalone players are most likely out selling HD-DVD standalone players now. The one problem with the HD-DVD combo disc concept is you do not know if people purchasing the combo discs actual own a HD-DVD player. With HD-DVD only movie discs (no combos) and the BLU-RAY movie discs one knows that everyone purchasing the disc is using the disc in a HDTV player of some type. If HD-DVD studios wanted to they could lower the price of the combo discs movies to the same price as DVD titles and then there would be way more movies sold on a combo disc then there are HD-DVD devices on the market. Many DVD owners might currently be purchasing many of the combo discs now thinking some how they will get HDTV quality on a standard DVD player. BLU-RAY could play that game and release combo discs. Combo discs add to the cost and is not necessary. Consumers that are educated on what they are buying will most the time only watch the HDTV version of the movie located on the combo HD-DVD/DVD disc.