81:19 Nielsen/VideoScan Weekly Sales Numbers

[sj001]

Didn't Toshiba make some kind of veiled threat to pull their products at one point to Wal-mart if they didn't expand their HD-DVD support? I could've sworn I read a bunch of stuff about that. Obviously that would be crazy to do, but hey, we are talking about Toshiba here.

[The Guardian]

Originally Posted by sj001

Didn't Toshiba make some kind of veiled threat to pull their products at one point to Wal-mart if they didn't expand their HD-DVD support? I could've sworn I read a bunch of stuff about that. Obviously that would be crazy to do, but hey, we are talking about Toshiba here.

Well I think they pulled that on some other companies... especially smaller chains and single stores. Perhaps even major chains. But Wal-Mart would laugh Toshiba out the door with all their products if they tried that.

If Wal-Mart can bully RIAA around, they don't care one bit about a company like Toshiba. There are a dozen others that would happily pick up the slack.

[Anthony P]

Here is a scary thought. What if Paramount gets paid again to stay exclusive to HD-DVD? I hope like hell that doesn't happen. They have once already, though.

what you are missing is the time factor. Let's say Paramount said "150M$ in BD profit, I can't do that in 2008, I accept". will they say the same for 2009? or will it be "who knows how much I can make, I want 500M$ to stick around for an other year". Toshiba can't afford to continue in the same way for ever, it is not only the constant high price but the constantly increasing high price.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

DECEMBER 4th: POTC3 and "Superbad" (a film which should appeal heavily to PS3 users) on the 4th should give us a good number even with BSG (a highly-anticipated HD DVD release).

I like that you are trying to hedge here, but let's face it.... BSG is irrelevant in that discussion. That week is an asskicking.

The week of the 26th is HD-DVD's best bet but sadly that week doesn't matter as no one will be buying anything right after X-Mas and all their $$ is already spent. Volume will die for a few weeks.

[Anthony P]

Again, I'm not comparing the technical specs of these formats, merely pointing out that although Beta was "technically" superior, it lost out to the cheaper solution. Lets not discect or look into this too much?

not at all. The issue was that it was not “technically” better. “Technically” it Beta-1 had better video quality. The issue is that Beta-1 only had 1 hour per cassette. So the thinking in most peoples head was "if I want to tape a 2hour show or a couple of extra minutes on a 1hour show or 2 1 hour shows" you are screwed. Eventually Beta added Beta-II and Beta-III that made the same tape be 2h and 4h respectively. The issue is that the extended time came at a loss of PQ which was the original benefit of Beta and nullified it. So if you wanted a better PQ for something short <1h Beta was better, but once past that point VHS could go up to 6h while beta was stuck at 4

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ray Buckeye

I like that you are trying to hedge here, but let's face it.... BSG is irrelevant in that discussion. That week is an asskicking.

The week of the 26th is HD-DVD's best bet but sadly that week doesn't matter as no one will be buying anything right after X-Mas and all their $$ is already spent. Volume will die for a few weeks.

I expected the sales ratio for SM3 and Pixar weeks (among others) to be higher than they were, so while my mind is telling me that 12/04 is going to be a butt-kicking ratio week, I do feel the need to hedge.

I've gone over BSG several times already, but my main point is that I expect it to be a good seller for HD DVD that week. I'm expecting it to be in the TOP 5 HD DVD sales leaders, and possibly in the top 10. Ratio wise, I agree that it's irrelevant.

As far as the 26th, I agree, but don't forget that some people get gift cards and/or cash for Christmas that could help one or both formats that week. I still expect Blu-ray to carry it though...

~Alan

[OokieSpookie]

Really dumb question but does anyone know if Moviestop counts in Nielsen?
I would assume so since Gamestop is part of NPD but just curious.

[Zotar]

Originally Posted by greekjgg

My final response to the beta max discussion: The public PERCEPTION was that Beta was better and VHS was cheaper, and VHS won out. THat is it!! End of story!! Let it alone!!

What you say here is correct as far as it goes. But where you are wrong is thinking that VHS won because it was cheaper. VHS won because of content. So the fact that Blu-ray has more studio support tha hd-dvd means that blu-ray has the crucial advantage that VHS had.

[Neo65]

Originally Posted by Zotar

What you say here is correct as far as it goes. But where you are wrong is thinking that VHS won because it was cheaper. VHS won because of content. So the fact that Blu-ray has more studio support tha hd-dvd means that blu-ray has the crucial advantage that VHS had.

beta had the first player below $300. It was a sanyo. VHS followed within a few months though, so we'll see how this pans out.

[OneBigJedi]

The Week Ending 11/18

Blu-Ray 66% vs HD DVD 34%

Year to Date

Blu-Ray 65% vs HD DVD 35%

While this is no news to us here in the US, what is news is that Blu-ray trends around the world are far better than here. It seems that the US is the last battle grounds. I sure hope that even the hold outs for HD DVD can see the light by the 1st of the year. Blu-ray WILL be declared the winner by March!! Period!

Now all we need to put this puppy to bed is for Warner Bros. to take our side and only put their product out on Blu-ray.

More News, Apple Computer is soon to release, no later than mid Jan., Macintosh computers with build to order Blu-ray.

As far as I know, this 100% of the Major computer makers in the Blu-ray court, and 0% in the HD-DVD one.

With LCD HD Tv's being one of the largest Christmas gifts this year, the natural add on is Blu-ray! Don't forget to educate your family and friends!

Movies: I am still hoping for the Star Wars series, and more Pixar titles to be released within the next year!

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by OneBigJedi

The Week Ending 11/18

Blu-Ray 66% vs HD DVD 34%

Year to Date

Blu-Ray 65% vs HD DVD 35%

While this is no news to us here in the US, what is news is that Blu-ray trends around the world are far better than here. It seems that the US is the last battle grounds. I sure hope that even the hold outs for HD DVD can see the light by the 1st of the year. Blu-ray WILL be declared the winner by March!! Period!

Now all we need to put this puppy to bed is for Warner Bros. to take our side and only put their product out on Blu-ray.

More News, Apple Computer is soon to release, no later than mid Jan., Macintosh computers with build to order Blu-ray.

As far as I know, this 100% of the Major computer makers in the Blu-ray court, and 0% in the HD-DVD one.

With LCD HD Tv's being one of the largest Christmas gifts this year, the natural add on is Blu-ray! Don't forget to educate your family and friends!

Movies: I am still hoping for the Star Wars series, and more Pixar titles to be released within the next year!

Hopefully Warner is watching sales this quarter like they said, very carefully. I wouldn't hold my breath though, seeing is believing.

[sphdle1]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

DECEMBER 11th: With the exception of "Planet Earth", Blu-ray just sells better, so the numbers for the HP films should be good, and "High School Musical 2" combined with Zorro, "Rent", and "Lost" S3 should offset "Bourne"... the question is... by how much?

To me that's the most critical week of the year, so it better be by a 'Huge' margin, especially on the HP Warner titles. We need to kick butt more than 2:1 on those by buying them all separately, instead of the box set, because Warner are looking closely at their numbers this quarter, and that's the big week! This could potentially decide the war in the minds of Warner, and by domino effect, Universal & Paramount...

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ray Buckeye

The week of the 26th is HD-DVD's best bet but sadly that week doesn't matter as no one will be buying anything right after X-Mas and all their $$ is already spent. Volume will die for a few weeks.

Are you serious??? Hello, GIFT CARDS!! The day after xmas is the 2nd busiest shopping day of the year now. THey will be using GC's to buy all the movies they get for their players.

This is where I think Blu wins actually. If I got a HD Player for xmas not really knowing the format war, I walk into Best Buy and see that all the good stuff is on blu, I think I'm asking somebody if I can get the gift receipt and swap it out for a ps3. We'll see how many open item units they have by the 1st of the year.

[SamInNorthCakalakey]

Actually Toshiba is considered a major computer manufacturer and they are not on Blu's side.

Originally Posted by OneBigJedi

The Week Ending 11/18

As far as I know, this 100% of the Major computer makers in the Blu-ray court, and 0% in the HD-DVD one.

[BluOgre]

Originally Posted by Blu-Ray Buckeye

I like that you are trying to hedge here, but let's face it.... BSG is irrelevant in that discussion. That week is an asskicking.

The week of the 26th is HD-DVD's best bet but sadly that week doesn't matter as no one will be buying anything right after X-Mas and all their $$ is already spent. Volume will die for a few weeks.

As a retailer the day after christmas is VERY busy. You have people who have lots of gift cards as well as everyone is returning the stuff they didn't want........they get instore credit and exchange it for something else.

It won't make a bit of difference however.......Rush Hour 3 is exclusive on BR that week which WILL out perform The Kingdom, Heatbreak Kid, and Eastern Promises. There is no hope for HD DVD unless the cheap players they are selling = software sales. The titles I just mentioned will not intrest those people.

[aphex]

what all comes out the 26th of dec?

[yakman]

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

Hopefully Warner is watching sales this quarter like they said, very carefully. I wouldn't hold my breath though, seeing is believing.

I was under the impression Warner said they would be watching hardware sales this quarter not movie sales. There are hundreds of thousands(my guesstimate) of PS3s sitting under the x-mas tree for another 4 weeks.

[Go Blu]

Originally Posted by yakman

I was under the impression Warner said they would be watching hardware sales this quarter not movie sales. There are hundreds of thousands(my guesstimate) of PS3s sitting under the x-mas tree for another 4 weeks.

Hopefully there are allot of Blu-ray movies sitting under the tree with them!
I'm sure Warner will be taking everything into account.

[greekjgg]

Originally Posted by sphdle1

To me that's the most critical week of the year, so it better be by a 'Huge' margin, especially on the HP Warner titles. We need to kick butt more than 2:1 on those by buying them all separately, instead of the box set, because Warner are looking closely at their numbers this quarter, and that's the big week! This could potentially decide the war in the minds of Warner, and by domino effect, Universal & Paramount...

My only fear that week is that Harry Potter will be like the 2nd best title for HD Dud to come out in several months. IMHO, its the best title for them since Transformers. Bourne is a great movie, but I don't think its a flagship title for them.

Blu has been kinda spoiled the last several months with all the releases we've gotten lately. I think it is possible that even though we will win the week, Harry may sell more on HD.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by Go Blu

Hopefully there are allot of Blu-ray movies sitting under the tree with them!
I'm sure Warner will be taking everything into account.

The momentum is BACK in Blu-ray's side! Watch out for the Friday Nielsen number we might be in for a very pleasant surprise