NPD player sales week ending 1/19: 65.63:34.37

[Grubert]

From The Digital Bits:

First up today, we've obtained the latest NPD Group hardware sales numbers from our industry sources. This would be for the week ending 1/19 - the second week after Warner's announcement, and the first full week reflecting Toshiba's 50% off price reductions. Here's how the numbers look. Note that we've included the previous week (ending 1/12) as well for comparison, and that these numbers reflect sales of stand-alone, non-combo units (game system devices like the PS3 or Xbox add-on drive are not included)...



Here's how the specific unit sales numbers looked for the week ending 1/19...

Blu-ray Disc - 16,496 units
HD-DVD - 8,639 units

So it would certainly appear that Toshiba's price cutting has at least contributed to a modest rebound in the number of HD-DVD units moved, though sources are telling us that Blu-ray earned approximately 83% of all the actual dollars spent on high-def players for the week. Here are those totals...

Blu-ray Disc - $6,033,540
HD-DVD - $1,182,248

Again, that would seem to reflect the fact that Toshiba's prices had been heavily discounted. The dollar volume percentage is key, because that's where retailers are going to see profits. As such, they're obviously making more money on each Blu-ray player sold than each HD-DVD player sold right now.

FYI, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that two weeks of data points does not equal a trend, just a very small line. We're sure that all parties involved (including the NPD Group) will make their own comments shortly.

[BadAss]

But how long can Toshiba keep this 50% offer going...?

[Blu-Generation]

Originally Posted by BadAss

But how long can Toshiba keep this 50% offer going...?

Not long enough to win this war, that's for sure.

[mattym]

aha! clear signs that hddvd is on an upward trend and will soon be outselling bd again, allowing disney to go hddvd exclusive and end this format war.

*inhales from pipe*

[Ispoke]

No doubt the red ants will spin this as the second coming of HD DVD.

Now..........Toshiba's fire sale pricing has only managed to move enough players to achieve approximately 50% of the pre Warner announcement HD DVD unit sales.

Hmmm, does not bode well me thinks. Next I foresee more price reductions and then............

[SGRSBSKIER]

I can see it now "See HDDVD is coming back while Blu-ray is on a downward trend, HDDVD increased about 500% while Blu-ray fell 25%".

[Ispoke]

Just to add Andy Parsons, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association said about the Toshiba firesale “I don’t see market share going back to 50-50,” Mr. Parsons said. “That I will bet a lot of money on.”

Spot on, reckon he should bet on the horses

[Sporty]

Thats kinda sad really.

I expected a larger bump then only 8,639 unit being 1/3 of the price. It's going to be a long and painful time for HD-DVD, just for stores to clear them out of their own warehouses if they can't move that many units in such a drastic fire sale.

Considering the profit margins on SA player sales I wouldn't be surprised if all the major retailers refuse to restock them once they run out if they are moving this little at ~$100.

[GregBlu5]

The Fire Sales from last fall didn't succeed. These clearance sales obviously aren't going to succeed (not that I suspect Tosh really believes the propaganda they're spinning).

Fortunately, only virtual horses were harmed in the beating of the already dead.

And, you know, the Fudsters used to be able to tout standalones as their one, minor victory in the format bloodbath. Now, they don't even have that fallback position to defend. I recommend total surrender.

-Greg

[Ispoke]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

......And, you know, the Fudsters used to be able to tout standalones as their one, minor victory in the format bloodbath. Now, they don't even have that fallback position to defend. I recommend total surrender.

-Greg

Your right, so now the retort is profiles and price. Lets see, profiles are of course not of interest to you average mortal and current firesale prices for Toshiba are unsustainable leading to..............


Where’s the donkey thing again

[BBlue]

(game system devices like the PS3 or Xbox add-on drive are not included)...

How many PS3 are sold every week in the USA? About 50K I would say which means 6 times the number of HD DUD players...

Of course, we all know that people who buy the PS3 do not watch Blu-Ray movies on it...

[beavis667]

OMG look at all the momentum HD-DVD has.

[Grubert]

BTW please note that we have now an omnibus NPD thread at the top of the forum with historic data and whatnot.

[Blu Titan]

Wow Grubert...great news! Even with the discounted priced HD DVD got OWNED in player sales for the week. Sweet! There were probably like 60K PS3 sold; in addition to the standalone players. Just watch those Nielsen Video Scan percentages to keep favoring Blu-ray in a BIG way. It is very sad for Toshiba really, even with the reductions and the clearances they managed to sell 8K players in a week?!

[swivel]

I think HD-DVD supporters have actually hurt HD-DVD over the past two weeks or so. I keep reading posts at other forums where guys are getting their third, even fourth player. Keeping these units out of the hands of new movie-buyers is doing the worst possible thing to Toshiba. Toshiba loses money on each sale, and get no new movie sale (plus, has to give away 7 free that go on eBay or are given to friends).

[Grubert]

Also, which will make a retailer happier: selling 10 BD players at $365 each, or 5 HD DVD players at $137 each?

[eat_me_cool]

Bottom line is that by cutting the price by 50% they sold just under 7000 players. If they can keep that rate of sales up, they will sell half a million players this year.

Failure.

[sssick]

HD-DVD fan: All of the BD players are being given away with HDTV's!!!

[Sporty]

Considering Toshiba's Stock price has dropped over 11% since Warner's announcement and todays financial reports show they lost 25% of their profit in the third quarter. You have to wonder how long they can heavily subsidies HD-DVD players before their upper Execs and stockholders say enough is enough.

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't get a major bump after the Super Bowl commercial that they will be forced to stop the bleeding and pull the plug

[york weir]

I wonder how their loss compares to other likewise industries. I know where I work our profit fell sharply.