81:19 Nielsen/VideoScan Weekly Sales Numbers

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by cking2729

Hah, I bet you a buck 50 that the HD-DuDers like Kosty are going to be bragging about how the 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 margins on HP are evidence of them "closing the gap" and that Warner will stay on the HD-DVD train.

But of course. However, we also know based on history that the Blu release will have longer "legs" (only exception being Planet Earth). By end of the year or by mid-January, The Potter Series will be in favor of Blu by about 1.5:1 to 1.7:1.

If I were an HD DVD'er, honestly, at this point now that Bourne was the last big release of the year, I would hold off on buying any HD DVDs until after CES (or maybe even late January since I personally don't think WB announces their strategy change at CES) just to see how this all shakes out.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I have to be honest: I'm very disappointed and surprised Blu only took Potters by 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 for the boxset.

Me too......like shamus says, way too close for comfort and plenty of ammnition for the other side.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I have to be honest: I'm very disappointed and surprised Blu only took Potters by 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 for the boxset.

Blu won though. Everyone I know is saying "Did you see the Blu-Ray display at Target?" Retailers are supporting Blu. No Worries!!

[Joon]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

Me too......like shamus says, way too close for comfort and plenty of ammnition for the other side.

But they are still not winning. That is the bottom line. Yeah we would like to see 3 to 1 sales ratios for Warner movies, it didn't happen. But BD is still winning. Don't think Warner will ignore the fact that Bourne was released and they still lost the week.

[Rob Tomlin]

Big win for BD.

I was thinking 55:45, and it was quite a bit better than that at 61:39.

The beat goes on.......

[OokieSpookie]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

Me too......like shamus says, way too close for comfort and plenty of ammnition for the other side.

Considering the player base difference I sure as hell wouldn't be striking up the band for a 1.2 on one of if not thee most crucial set of titles to be released especially after all of the "BUY WARNER" and "BUY POTTER" activity.

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by Joon

But they are still not winning. That is the bottom line. Yeah we would like to see 3 to 1 sales ratios for Warner movies, it didn't happen. But BD is still winning. Don't think Warner will ignore the fact that Bourne was released and they still lost the week.

I know, but you know what they're like.....
They're clutching at straws now, and this is another (pretty big) one for them to clutch.
Their spin on this will be "HP sales almost equal, are you watching Warner??"

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

Considering the player base difference I sure as hell wouldn't be striking up the band for a 1.2 on one of if not thee most crucial set of titles to be released especially after all of the "BUY WARNER" and "BUY POTTER" activity.

I didn't give two farts about Potter. I think that title to a lot of viewers is irrelevant.

[krispyjala]

Originally Posted by Joon

But they are still not winning. That is the bottom line. Yeah we would like to see 3 to 1 sales ratios for Warner movies, it didn't happen. But BD is still winning. Don't think Warner will ignore the fact that Bourne was released and they still lost the week.

Well, now the HD DVD supporters (happy now I don't call them DUDs? ) are saying many of them waited for this week's BOGO to buy Bourne instead, and that's why Bourne didn't sell as much as expected. But if that's true, then I'm really sorry for them because there's no way in hell they're gonna win over Simpsons and Blade Runner this week. Better luck next year eh? (Though January lineup for them doesn't look too good either).

[whitedenalixl]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I have to be honest: I'm very disappointed and surprised Blu only took Potters by 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 for the boxset. Obviously, the HD DVD boys knew how crucial this was to their format with the Warner situation.

With the possibility of receving a HD-DVD in the Bluray boxsets for HP, i would say that those numbers are good. I would suspect a lot of people are waiting for WB to get their packaging squared away before ordering HP.

[Alan Gordon]

First of all, I have nothing against David Vaughn. I don't agree with him on a lot of things, but I have nothing against him. I also appreciate his reporting of the numbers ratio on Wednesday, as I wish he could on Monday.

That being said, he was WAY off on his numbers sold for POTC3 last week, but right on the overall sales ratio... so could he be wrong on the title ratios?

~Alan

[shamus]

Originally Posted by OokieSpookie

Considering the player base difference I sure as hell wouldn't be striking up the band for a 1.2 on one of if not thee most crucial set of titles to be released especially after all of the "BUY WARNER" and "BUY POTTER" activity.

Heres hoping people passed on Harry in order to save up for Blade Runner. Like Darin(I think it was him) said, this is one title that will be close to Warners Heart.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by shamus

And he has a right to. 1.2:1 is wayyyyyy too close for comfort.
These Warner numbers are the the ones we should be concentrating on. Lets hope Blade gets a better ratio next week.

It might not be as large as the ratios on previous releases, but it's hardly doomsday. Remember, Blu fans have way more titles to choose from this holiday season and the buying is going to spread out a bit across multiple titles. Obviously, a lot of people bought Pirates during the Potter week.

Read my comments above on BD titles having more "legs". The ratio on Harry Potter should creep up over time.

As far as I am concerned, the relative "under-performance" of Harry Potter on BOTH sides during the highest volume week to date puts more pressure on WB to make a choice soon. I think they will make a choice in the 1Q08, if they haven't already. Based on Insider comments and developments at WB and MS, I suspect that choice will be good for us.

[McLovin]

Seriously, you guys are gonna give yourselves ulcers

Blu won a week that a lot of people were worried about

It's OK to feel good

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Seriously, you guys are gonna give yourselves ulcers

Blu won a week that a lot of people were worried about

It's OK to feel good

+1

[Metalthrasher442]

I agree..Blu wins every week. Just take it as a win..you know we're going to crush this week with Simpsons and Blade Runner..

[Joon]

It has already started. They are clinging to the fact Planet Earth is selling better along with the 1.2 to 1 sales for BD on the potter movies. You remember hearing the saying, it is ok to lose the battle if you win the war. What happens when you are losing the battle and the war? How do you even try to show you are winning at all?

[shamus]

Originally Posted by Esox50

It might not be as large as the ratios on previous releases, but it's hardly doomsday. Remember, Blu fans have way more titles to choose from this holiday season and the buying is going to spread out a bit across multiple titles. Obviously, a lot of people bought Pirates during the Potter week.

I was just going to say that.
It would be easier for me to have justified picking up the Potter series, had I not just recently bought Cast Away, all the Die Hards, Pirates, Spidey etc.

Besides Ultimatum, the last must have for most of the HD-DVD side, IMO, would of been Transformers.

[Steverhcp02]

i expect HD DVD to fall off the table. It just has to be demoralizing to lose that badly on a week even some of us thought would go RED. Man, i just think some people who dont have an agenda will just say **** it and wait if they have already bought some HD DVD's.

Bourne wins handily and they only muster 61:39? I mean they had 2 Blockbusters, 1 exclusive.....and they couldnt even do better than 1.56:1. They had their long looked forward to BOGO on amazon, they had 3 free movies with any player on amazon, they had bourne, they had the bourne box set, they had harry potter.....and STILL not even 1.5:1.

If ANYONE feels wary about this they are an IDIOT, im sorry, nothing personal to any "realists" but lets put this into perspective. This is absolutely tremendous for BD, no way to dance around it. As other have said HP will be inflated, you have confusion of brand name to go along with the last xmas hurrah for HD DVD owners, and slim pickings on key titles......HP was one of the big guns for HD DVD, for BD it was just another great movie. Pirates sellinf 2:3 with Bourne is SPECIAL. Folks we are seeing this victory as we speak/type/read. A title in its second week, a family light heartedly title in its second week selling 40:60 with a day and date action blockbuster starring matt damon. I mean seriously, this is spectacular.

Great work BD, awesome!

[HeavyHitter]

I do think the 61% was great for Blu considering Bourne. I just thought the Potter ratio would be at least 1.5:1.

I would like to see the final sales ratio numbers for Potter 5. Potters 1-4 not selling extremely well on either format wouldn't surprise me as catalog titles don't sell as well as new releases.

The more I think about it, I also think all of the BOGO offers may have affected the Blu-ray Potter sales too. I remember some people here speculating this a couple of weeks back.