81:19 Nielsen/VideoScan Weekly Sales Numbers

[Elandyll]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Yeah but the free ones don't count in sales number. The people I was reading were saying that on average each person who bought a $99 A2 bought 3-4 titles on the same day (not including the 5 free ones).

If the average situation is anywhere close to the Walmart I was in, that was not even remotely true.
People were grabbing their A2 and running out of the store. People doign so were striking me as either 2nd time buyer (additional unit, thus no impact on Software sale) or DVD-upscaling crowd attracted by price.

I didn't see any of those buyers stopping by the HD disc shelves, or even ask for the HD DVD at $14.95 (very limited selection - that the Walmart, I asked out of curiosity, hadn't even received yet when the A2's went on discount).

I will be -extremely- surprised if the fire sale has much effect at all on the ratio this week after this.

[RobertB]

I'm going out on a limb and saying 75:25

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02

Wicky also told us that there indeed was a press conference schedule form WB last week......but it was only to go over release schedules.....and nothing happened.

The press conference was announced by others, not Wicky.

Wicky came back and said "Don't get your hopes up, this press conference isn't about exclusivity, it's about new releases."

Then the press conference didn't happen.

Somehow this is Wicky's fault? The "fact" that Warner was going to hold a press conference was everywhere. For whatever reason they cancelled it, plain and simple.

[shamus]

Anybody know what the sales ratio from MI:3 to the Boxset was?
This could give us a good idea of what the Spidey Boxset may be...

[marzetta7]

I'm predicting 68:32...but, I too, would love to see it in the 70s for Blu-ray.

[Охранное]

Anyone know when we can expect to see the next quarterly report that shows all of the wonderful total sales numbers and the like?

[scragham]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

If the average situation is anywhere close to the Walmart I was in, that was not even remotely true.
People were grabbing their A2 and running out of the store. People doign so were striking me as either 2nd time buyer (additional unit, thus no impact on Software sale) or DVD-upscaling crowd attracted by price.

I didn't see any of those buyers stopping by the HD disc shelves, or even ask for the HD DVD at $14.95 (very limited selection - that the Walmart, I asked out of curiosity, hadn't even received yet when the A2's went on discount).

I will be -extremely- surprised if the fire sale has much effect at all on the ratio this week after this.

agreed, actually.

i'd be interested in seeing what percentage of the ninety-niners were actually true first-timers (not that i'm saying the majority were existing owners picking up an additional unit, buy i'd be surprised if they weren't a decent sized minority).

in addition, i find it laughable that the red ants suggest that the rabid bargain shoppers who jumped in because the price was $99 bucks are going to go apeshit on buying discs. if these people waited this long for the price on HD DVD to reach bargain bin levels, then what does that tell you about their patience and waiting for the mail-in free discs?

[Longshot]

Originally Posted by Steverhcp02

Wicky also told us that there indeed was a press conference schedule form WB last week......but it was only to go over release schedules.....and nothing happened.

to act as if wickys word is the word of god is not very accurate. Ill be stoked, and im not calling Wicky out at all since hes in a position to know these things above me.....but im also not going to trumpet his word as if its the end all be all.

Ill believe it when i see it.

What's your problem with WickyWoo? This is like the third time you have called him out for no reason. You are 100% wrong on your above assertion. It was that HD DVD shill Kosty that started that rumour. Get your facts straight before spouting off and questioning mods or anyone else's intentions.

[aluni2230]

Originally Posted by Longshot

What's your problem with WickyWoo? This is like the third time you have called him out for no reason. You are 100% wrong on your above assertion. It was that HD DVD shill Kosty that started that rumour. Get your facts straight before spouting off and questioning mods or anyone else's intentions.

Wicky shot me down when I said that my friend at Warner said that Dan Silverberg was misquoted at the BDA event and that Warner was not leaning BD. But he did agree with me in that the Wal Mart promotion of HD DVD was made after assurances of support for the format were made by both MSFT and Warner - WalMart was concerned because of the PR backlash, so both gave them long term commitments of support (Wicky agreed that assurances were given, but till the end of the year).

That was my first post here (or one of my first) since I was really excited to have what seemed like insider info

To to make a big deal about this, but in this world no one has perfect information. Who's Kosty and what is a shill?

[navychop]

PR backlash is no doubt a very real concern. I think that's why some retailers are minimizing their exposure by limiting/eliminating sales of HD DVD players.

How many would be angry and demand refunds on players, even after any normal return period, once it appeared that HD DVD was doomed? That prospect may ensure that HD DVD just fades slowly, rather than goes out like the 8 track.

[aluni2230]

Originally Posted by navychop

PR backlash is no doubt a very real concern. I think that's why some retailers are minimizing their exposure by limiting/eliminating sales of HD DVD players.

How many would be angry and demand refunds on players, even after any normal return period, once it appeared that HD DVD was doomed? That prospect may ensure that HD DVD just fades slowly, rather than goes out like the 8 track.

Problem would be solved if BDA put out inexpensive players. This is a huge chicken and egg problem. Retailers are frustrated that BDA isn't moving faster on price cuts. In another 3 months we WILL have 2 formats. Once there are 500K or so HD DVD players the format war is over, we will be in a world of 2 formats.

On another note. Guys, please don't punish Fox and Disney for being loyal to BD by buying Warner titles only. But Warner titles in addition to what you would buy from Fox and Disney. These studios have stuck by the format. What has Warner really done? When I look back, we have a format war that is entering Q4 for 2 reasons - Batman and Matrix Trilogy.

To win the war, I believe you have to face reality and then deal with it. The window of an outright win is getting smaller. There is one and one thing only that needs to be done by the BDA - coordinate a price cut on all hardware. Put some money into a joint hardware promotion pot (say $1B) and each vendor who sells a player gets $200 from there per unit shipped. I bet that is how the HD Promo group works - and how MSFT never has to write a check for anyone. Write a check to the HD Promo group and they do the rest. Easy!

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by scragham

agreed, actually.

i'd be interested in seeing what percentage of the ninety-niners were actually true first-timers (not that i'm saying the majority were existing owners picking up an additional unit, buy i'd be surprised if they weren't a decent sized minority).

in addition, i find it laughable that the red ants suggest that the rabid bargain shoppers who jumped in because the price was $99 bucks are going to go apeshit on buying discs. if these people waited this long for the price on HD DVD to reach bargain bin levels, then what does that tell you about their patience and waiting for the mail-in free discs?

When there is a price war going on, the natural consequence is that prices do go down. FWIW, there's a PC chain store store called Canada Computers (they have an online site) and now they're clearing out BDP-1000 for $229. They only have 11 when I last checked.

Like the people waiting until $98, I have doubts that people who have to wait till $229 to buy a BD player are going to be heavy collectors. Otoh, they might join in and buy the occasional blockbusters every 3 months or so. Catalogs? Not likely.

[darkprime]

I won't buy titles for the sake of buying titles to support a studio. I will though buy titles that I WANT, hence why i've been spending a nice penny on Disney Blus lately and soon warner should have some stuff out that I want.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by aluni2230

Problem would be solved if BDA put out inexpensive players. This is a huge chicken and egg problem. Retailers are frustrated that BDA isn't moving faster on price cuts. In another 3 months we WILL have 2 formats. Once there are 500K or so HD DVD players the format war is over, we will be in a world of 2 formats.

What's a shill? You are.

Can just one of you people try to actually think your way through what you are saying?

Toshiba is throwing away money so the entire BDA should too?

Tell the 9 million Sega Saturn owners out there that you are guaranteed to survive once you hit 500k.

If Retailers are SO frustrated, why are they all expanding their Blu-Ray selections and sections? Out of good will?

[WickyWoo]

Wicky shot me down when I said that my friend at Warner said that Dan Silverberg was misquoted at the BDA event and that Warner was not leaning BD. But he did agree with me in that the Wal Mart promotion of HD DVD was made after assurances of support for the format were made by both MSFT and Warner - WalMart was concerned because of the PR backlash, so both gave them long term commitments of support (Wicky agreed that assurances were given, but till the end of the year).

It's more that they don't want to be selling you an HD DVD player this week, and have them not be able to get Harry Potter next week

500k players is not even close to the critical mass, and retailers will not stand for 2 formats once ite gets past the first aisle (Most Best Buys now have 3/4 of an aisle devoted in varying configurations). They will pick a winner after Christmas and so will Warner, and the entire industry not actively trying to save their jobs knows that will be Blu-ray

I don't have any proof, but I believe that with Amir, there also went the bottomless bribe checkbook, as I haven't even heard about pokings around with major payoffs since he got demoted. I seriously believe even Microsoft has adopted an "it's all fun and games tilll you hit half a billion", and they also know that if they ever want to work with Hollywood in the future(which they'll have to since they don't own any movie or music content), they need to stop poking the hornet's nest with a stick

This is the first week starting tomorrow where the real split between the 2 formats is going to start majorlly hurting the HDers. I believe that Spidey's combined single/box numbers will easily push us well into the 80s for the split, something I expect to be repeated and possibly even improved upon the following week for the Pixar blitz.

Shrek and bourne numbers will be bumped by the $99 players, but aside from some major deals I don't see the few new customers they had for them to move things one way or another that much. The price differential is simply too high, and any more than $5 and the vast majority will buy the DVD

[richard lichtenfelt]

Wickywoo deserves his moniker of Super Moderator.
Thanks for the insight.
While I'm at it I would like to thank all of the moderators for the exemplary job of troll control as of late.

[JAGUAR1977]

believe that Spidey's combined single/box numbers will easily push us well into the 80s for the split, something I expect to be repeated and possibly even improved upon the following week for the Pixar blitz

That's a very bold statement, most Blu-ray supporters will be happy if we touch 70-30.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

500k players is not even close to the critical mass, and retailers will not stand for 2 formats once ite gets past the first aisle (Most Best Buys now have 3/4 of an aisle devoted in varying configurations). They will pick a winner after Christmas and so will Warner

Why do you think Warner will go exclusive when they have adamantly said they will not?

[richard lichtenfelt]

How about a source for the supposed adamant statement denying blu-ray exclusivity.
A guy from the strategic marketing dept. of WB saying that Mr. Silverburg's statement was taken out of context doesn't seem like WB boldly declaring their commitment to hd dvd.

[blu2]

Originally Posted by richard lichtenfelt

How about a source for the supposed adamant statement denying blu-ray exclusivity.
A guy from the strategic marketing dept. of WB saying that Mr. Silverburg's statement was taken out of context doesn't seem like WB declaring their commitment to hd dvd.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...h_Formats/1135

"Like any major company, we are always reviewing our strategies in every aspect of our business, it is what smart companies do. I can't say what may happen five, ten years down the line. But right now, Warner Bros. has made no decision to change course. We are still onboard with both formats, and will continue [with a strong line-up of new releases and catalog titles], just as we have in the past in supporting HD DVD and Blu-ray."

Seems pretty clear.