Blu-ray crushing rival DVD format in Japan: study

[Jeff®]

Blu-ray crushing rival DVD format in Japan: study

2 hours ago
TOKYO (AFP) — Next-generation DVDs are catching on with Japanese consumers, with sales picking up sharply at the end of 2007 and the Blu-Ray format blowing away the rival HD-DVD platform, new figures show.

In a replay of the VHS-Betamax battle in video cassette tapes in the late 1970s, two different DVD formats are hitting the market offering cinematic quality images and interactive entertainment -- but at a significantly higher price than traditional DVDs.

A major study of 2,300 electronic stores across Japan found that consumers were increasingly buying the next-generation DVD recorders.
The proportion of DVD recorders sold that were next-generation rose from 6.1 percent in October to around 20 percent in November and December, said the study by Japan's Business Computer News think tank released Thursday.

Due to the price difference, next-generation DVDs made up a lucrative 35 percent of the total value of DVD recorder sales in the last two months of 2007, it said.

Blu-Ray, the format created by Sony Corp., accounted for a crushing 90 percent of next-generation DVD recorder sales in the three-month period, the study said.

Blu-Ray is used in Sony's PlayStation 3 video-game machine, but the study only looked at living-room DVD recorders.

Three Sony models were the top-selling next-generation DVD recorders, with the electronics giant accounting for some 60 percent of total sales in the sector.

Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. took 27 percent of sales, with Sharp Corp. coming in third at nearly 10 percent. Both Matsushita and Sharp support Blu-Ray.

Toshiba Corp., the main supporter of HD-DVD, enjoyed only four percent of the sales, the study said.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...cUlHDjcCMkzLzQ

[KretzJ]

N I C E..... good news outside of the US is actually GREAT news if you think about it. I've heard Australian percentages are skewed toward Blu in very similar fashion. Any locals care to confirm?

-John K.

[seto]

I'm glad people back home know which way to go. \(^^)/

[ranma]

I bet the recorders in the article is players.

[AlexCruz]

Originally Posted by ranma

I bet the recorders in the article is players.

I was wonder why it kept saying DVD recorders

[JonasK]

Originally Posted by AlexCruz

I was wonder why it kept saying DVD recorders

They said DVD recorders because they meant it! DVD recorders, and now Blu-ray recorders, are really big in Japan. Last time I checked, Sony and Panasonic aren't even selling stand-alone Blu-ray players in Japan, only Blu-ray recorders so far.

[crystal_sun]

What's the population in Japan? 1-2 billion? This is great news.

[lol dobbs]

Originally Posted by Jumong

What's the population in Japan? 1-2 billion? This is great news.

[Slapper]

Originally Posted by Jumong

What's the population in Japan? 1-2 billion? This is great news.

More like 130 million.

Edit: Just found some info. As of July 2007, a bit over 127 million. I was close.

[KretzJ]

Originally Posted by Jumong

What's the population in Japan? 1-2 billion? This is great news.

Er... no.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat...k/geos/ja.html

~127 million

[The Don]

Originally Posted by Jumong

What's the population in Japan? 1-2 billion? This is great news.

you might be thinking China..

[wingnut0021]

Originally Posted by KretzJ

N I C E..... good news outside of the US is actually GREAT news if you think about it. I've heard Australian percentages are skewed toward Blu in very similar fashion. Any locals care to confirm?

-John K.

Im aussie and i can confirm this. Its at about 9:1 to blu ray. Most HDDVD buyers here have to actually import them due to the lack of titles being sold at stores. Ill find some actual numbers if you like.

[Maxell]

Earth is Blu!

[saljr]

GO Japan Go Japan. Go Blu.

[richard lichtenfelt]

Nice find Jeff registered. I'm just bummed you didn't make one of your patented funny pictures for this thread.

[UKJD]

excellent news....

[docjan_uk]

1 or 2 billion, much lulz

[eat_me_cool]

Originally Posted by Maxell

Earth is Blu!

Blu Planet

[Pureugly]

Yeah here in australia we are smashing HD-DVD its like there is NO war all major retailers support blu-rays there are pretty much no selection down here on HD-DVDs it looks like they pretty much never started to be honest its great but i hate the fact that we have to wait so long to get our BLU'S!

[lch]

and japan bd recorder came out quite a few years ago (and were using cartridge) when rest of the world is just starting to use dvd recorder. (i still don't have a dvd recorder )