Software Sales: Blu-ray 72.6% for black friday week

[james99]

Jason Bourne will sell well, expecially A.coms promotion which should count as 3 new sales.

[hc666]

Yep, i'm getting the third installment for sure!

[SensualPoet]

I admit I find the most recent week sales split dis-heartening. I believe there are several good reasons why, longer term, HD DVD is a better format for hidef. And, as someone with some background in consumer purchase cycles, I do remind myself this is not a week-to-week race. Still, even going back to Sep 1, I would have expected a better split between the formats than what we appear to be seeing.

However, it remains true that at this time software sales simply don't have a lot of impact. Nice to have, absolutely: and titles like 300 can actually make some money for the studios (and retailers) since they are selling in enough volume. This is still a "bums on seats" game: get as many players installed in homes as possible and worry about "attach rates" later.

The arrival of Venturer (finally!) gives some solace. I was afraid they'd miss the Xmas 2007 buying season. Provided they have ample stock in the channel -- and I expect Wal-Mart made that table stakes in agreeing to carry it -- they will move a lot of players (and certainly, imo, far more than Sony Blu-ray BDP S300 in Target at twice the price).

CES 2008 still remains the next significant benchmark.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by james99

All the stuff I want are on both formats.

Anyway, the only major HD DVD released during Turkey week was Star Trek HD DVD, which was expensive.

It's not a bad week for HD DVD, going up against BOGOs and Die Hard and Hair Spray, etc.

It is considering those 90k $98 A2s sold a couple weeks ago should have lead to some new users buying movies for their new player. They "should" have easily offset Die-Hard numbers.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by james99

Jason Bourne will sell well, expecially A.coms promotion which should count as 3 new sales.

So Will Pirates 3, the Simpsons Movie and Superbad. Plus all 3 of those are day-and-date.

[james99]

Bourne is also day and date.

That being said the BDA camp seems to get nervous every time a big HD DVD movie comes out and start offering free Blu-ray movies. Hard to compete against a BOGO.

[99semaj]

Well, I guess that's the nature of this war. HD DVD is fighting by selling hardware at near- or below-cost. BD is fighting by taking substantial discounts on software.

Given that the hardware is virtually identical in capability (at least insofar as 95% of consumers care) and that title availability is roughly even, it really comes down to which camp has selected the right bait: cheap hardware or cheap software.

[Luis_A51]

Bourne 3 is day-and-date, not the other two. That makes a difference.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by 99semaj

Well, I guess that's the nature of this war. HD DVD is fighting by selling hardware at near- or below-cost. BD is fighting by taking substantial discounts on software.

Given that the hardware is virtually identical in capability (at least insofar as 95% of consumers care) and that title availability is roughly even, it really comes down to which camp has selected the right bait: cheap hardware or cheap software.

I agree with everything up until "title availability is just about equal"

Just because the total number of movies available is just about equal, doesnt mean the quality of the movies is. Movie selection (in terms of quality movies, not just quantity) has always been one of blurays strengths (although personal opinion isnt universal)

[james99]

How so? Amazon is bundling all 3 for 50 dollars (45 usd for some of us).

It's gonna sell well. Of course many folks already own the first two on HD DVD but newer owners may not.

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

Just because the total number of movies available is just about equal, doesnt mean the quality of the movies is. Movie selection (in terms of quality movies, not just quantity) has always been one of blurays strengths (although personal opinion isnt universal)

C'mon, that's a totally subjective quality. Considering the widely differing opinions on movies, I'd say it's pretty much a wash and really can't be counted as a distinct advantage for either at this time.

Cheers.

[99semaj]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

I agree with everything up until "title availability is just about equal"

Just because the total number of movies available is just about equal, doesnt mean the quality of the movies is. Movie selection (in terms of quality movies, not just quantity) has always been one of blurays strengths (although personal opinion isnt universal)

I stated it that way in recognition that everybody's tastes vary. For me, I generally prefer the BD selection, but I'd be lying if I said there weren't HD DVD titles that appeal to me.

[U]

Yeah can't wait for Harry to come out so we can really compare some numbers. If it's 2:1 or 3:1 after that then yikes.

Until then, it's clear that BR titles are more desirable lately... Mr Bean vs Die Hard... no contest lol

This is known already. Just look at the "300" numbers or other Warner dual release...

Again, 2:1 in favor of BD. I suspect HP will be the same.

[hc666]

U, yes... I guess all I'm saying is that it doesn't change than i'm worried that the increased HD DVD player sales may have had no impact.

[99semaj]

Originally Posted by hc666

U, yes... I guess all I'm saying is that it doesn't change than i'm worried that the increased HD DVD player sales may have had no impact.

If you think about it, there were probably 250,000 PS3's sold this month, too. If 30% use them in their home theatre systems (a number that seems to be generally accepted by both persuasions around here), then that offsets the HD DVD sale that Wal*Mart had.