AfterDawn: News

HD DVD players outselling Blu-ray 3 to 1 in Europe?

According to the European HD DVD Promotional Group, the Toshiba-developed HD DVD format is performing significantly better than the Blu-ray disc format in Europe, at least with regard to stand-alone sales. Citing research from market research group GfK, the HD DVD group claims to be currently holding a 74% market share in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

The HD DVD group, which is led by Toshiba but includes many other big players like Microsoft Corp. and Warner Bros., did not give specific figures of units it has shipped to European retailers. It is clear however, that the figures do not include either gaming consoles (PlayStation 3) or console add-ons (Xbox 360 HD DVD drive).



Toshiba's HD-E1 HD DVD player currently sells for to €399 in Europe. Sony's BDP-S1E European version sells for prices starting around €900 in Europe. The cheapest way to invest in Blu-ray equipment in Europe right now is to buy a PS3 console. For those with an Xbox 360, the HD DVD add-on the easiest way to invest in that format.

Source:
Reuters

Written by: James Delahunty @ 12 Jul 2007 3:25

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• 19 comments

• mspurloc

  So much for the "Blockbuster rules the world" argument for Blu-Ray.

  12.7.2007 03:57 #1

• ChromeMud

  A cheap HD player for the format win and it's looking like
  HD-DVD is getting there quicker...

  12.7.2007 04:00 #2

• akaangus

  These figures are absolutely meaningless without the X360 addon and the PS3.

  12.7.2007 05:47 #3

• diabolic

  The PS3 and Xbox 360 hd drive should be included in the number. Even if the 360 is an addon, they are part of the user base and capable of playing the hd format.

  12.7.2007 06:24 #4

• NexGen76

  Originally posted by diabolic: The PS3 and Xbox 360 hd drive should be included in the number. Even if the 360 is an addon, they are part of the user base and capable of playing the hd format.Thank you, The last time i check there both HD players so i guess HD-DVD making up they own meaning less PR garbage....LOL trying to boost there self esteem.

  12.7.2007 06:57 #5

• hughjars

  PS3 has given Blu-ray a short-term boost (taking it as far as the current Blu-ray approx 60/40 or 65/35 (depending on who's figures you believe) lead in movie disc sales.
  
  But then again total disc sales since either high def format was released are now around the 2 million level for Blu-ray and 1.3 million for HD DVD.
  This in a market where 750 million DVD movies were sold last year alone.
  
  That's the problem for all those who insist their favourite format is making ever so huge strides.
  Right now none of them are.
  Talk about a pi*s in the ocean.
  
  The problem with the PS3 in this is now the PS3 itself.
  Not only does it have it's own 'issues' as a game console with stalled sales (given a short term boost by the recent small price drop) but it's a game console.
  
  Almost all those that wanted one as their cheap Blu-ray player already bought one.
  
  It's never going to go on to actually 'win' the wider mainstream mass-market a/v sector of the market - which is by far the bigger prize.
  
  It's also wrecking the Blu-ray stand-alone market with Panasonic now saying they're not even going to bother releasing a new stand-alone in the UK.
  
  HD DVD meanwhile just continues to sell genuine stand-alone players and it's costs and prices continue to drop.
  Prices continue to get ever closer to that 'sweet spot' (sub $200).
  
  I expect that will be well and truly broken by the entry-level Toshiba HD A2 in the next few months (certainly by X-mas 2007) and we know there are at least 3 brands of cheaper Chinese HD DVD players.
  They're not going to be the same price (or more expensive than the Toshiba) so what price will they come in at in Q3 of this year?
  $100 - $150?
  
  When that happens it's bye-bye Blu-ray and off it will go to become just another viable market to itself but it'll still be yet another failed proprietary format, this time on the PS3 and a few stand-alones and a couple of PC drives.

  12.7.2007 07:08 #6

• lapiz

  In the Greek Fnac, they only sell Blu-ray movies.. I have not seen a single HD DVD movie, ever.

  12.7.2007 07:45 #7

• cedk

  Originally posted by hughjars: PS3 has given Blu-ray a short-term boost (taking it as far as the current Blu-ray approx 60/40 or 65/35 (depending on who's figures you believe) lead in movie disc sales.
  
  But then again total disc sales since either high def format was released are now around the 2 million level for Blu-ray and 1.3 million for HD DVD.
  This in a market where 750 million DVD movies were sold last year alone.
  
  That's the problem for all those who insist their favourite format is making ever so huge strides.
  Right now none of them are.
  Talk about a pi*s in the ocean.
  
  The problem with the PS3 in this is now the PS3 itself.
  Not only does it have it's own 'issues' as a game console with stalled sales (given a short term boost by the recent small price drop) but it's a game console.
  
  Almost all those that wanted one as their cheap Blu-ray player already bought one.
  
  It's never going to go on to actually 'win' the wider mainstream mass-market a/v sector of the market - which is by far the bigger prize.
  
  It's also wrecking the Blu-ray stand-alone market with Panasonic now saying they're not even going to bother releasing a new stand-alone in the UK.
  
  HD DVD meanwhile just continues to sell genuine stand-alone players and it's costs and prices continue to drop.
  Prices continue to get ever closer to that 'sweet spot' (sub $200).
  
  I expect that will be well and truly broken by the entry-level Toshiba HD A2 in the next few months (certainly by X-mas 2007) and we know there are at least 3 brands of cheaper Chinese HD DVD players.
  They're not going to be the same price (or more expensive than the Toshiba) so what price will they come in at in Q3 of this year?
  $100 - $150?
  
  When that happens it's bye-bye Blu-ray and off it will go to become just another viable market to itself but it'll still be yet another failed proprietary format, this time on the PS3 and a few stand-alones and a couple of PC drives.I don't think its about the amount of players sold because its about the companies supporting the format, and Blu-Ray has more studios and there is always more films sold more Blu-Ray than HD-DVD

  12.7.2007 08:28 #8

• jimmer

  cheaper price always wins

  12.7.2007 08:59 #9

• mattkind

  At least...HD-DVD is winning...who wants to pay more when the result is the same! apart capacity , but in the end who needs a 50 GB disk !

  12.7.2007 11:01 #10

• AXT

  I hope nobody wins. Why? Cheap prices of course.

  12.7.2007 14:36 #11

• hughjars

  Originally posted by cedk: I don't think its about the amount of players sold because its about the companies supporting the format, and Blu-Ray has more studios and there is always more films sold more Blu-Ray than HD-DVD - It's far too early to be making claims as if nothing will change.
  
  The studios will do what every business does in the end and follow the money.
  
  Same as when LG & Samsung abandoned their 'Blu-ray exclusive' hardware manufacturing status to go dual format (and IIRC Samsung are now taking about an HD DVD stand-alone too).
  
  Look at the sales numbers, in well over a year high def hasn't even broken the 5 million sales barrier (and that's both formats combined) when the total market is an annual 750 million+.
  
  High def (of either format) is waaaaaaaaay too tiny to be making such big sweeping claims about it.
  
  VHS video outsells both high def formats - and by a huge margin .......and you wouldn't go making big claims about it's future now would you?

  12.7.2007 16:51 #12

• gallagher

  Originally posted by AXT: I hope nobody wins. Why? Cheap prices of course.well that is certainly true. Look at the game systems. If there were no Xbox 360 or Wii, do you think the PS3 would go down in price? I think not. If there had not been a free IE, do you think web browsers would be free today? If microsoft media player were not free, do you think there would be other free services? Microsoft may be a scumbag overall, but they have actually helped the consumer in many ways. I grew up with an Apple IIe and Apple is by FAR worse than Microsoft as far as screwing them over with fees and limitations.
  
  Competition always benefits the consumer. Unfortunately, way too many companies screw us over with monopolies over certain services (like EA with sports titles) and get away with it.

  12.7.2007 20:11 #13

• Gradical

  i just want to quote this news:
  
  [url=http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/10308.cfm][/url]
  
  they smashed 500gb on a disk, youre trying to tell me, sony or even toshiba or any other big a$$ company playing this you need a new format orank on all of us didnt find a way to put 30gb on a dvd mmmm thats convincing sure it doesnt even has anything to do with css being completily obsolete, so obsolete in some countries theyre declaring it would be legal to circumbent them since theyre OBSOLETE, sure theyre not trying to get honest consummers to pay the price of hgaving 1 more year of sales without piracy, and that being a very long time for someone to crack it, considering the speed some groups take down technology today, wga, psp firmware, office locks, norton accounts, the list just goes on with the biggest names, if you are selling software in a decent quantity, chances are youll get pirated

  13.7.2007 00:42 #14

• Cinnjerm

  Originally posted by Gradical: i just want to quote this news:
  
  [url=http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/10308.cfm][/url]
  
  they smashed 500gb on a disk, youre trying to tell me, sony or even toshiba or any other big a$$ company playing this you need a new format orank on all of us didnt find a way to put 30gb on a dvd mmmm thats convincing sure it doesnt even has anything to do with css being completily obsolete, so obsolete in some countries theyre declaring it would be legal to circumbent them since theyre OBSOLETE, sure theyre not trying to get honest consummers to pay the price of hgaving 1 more year of sales without piracy, and that being a very long time for someone to crack it, considering the speed some groups take down technology today, wga, psp firmware, office locks, norton accounts, the list just goes on with the biggest names, if you are selling software in a decent quantity, chances are youll get piratedis this english? anyway i agree with hughjars. Once hddvds go below that 200 price point it's over and exclusive support for BD will disintegrate.

  13.7.2007 16:54 #15

• cazer

  this only talks about Europe. you cant say hddvd is wining because of one region is selling more of one then the other. and they also look at the amount of movies sold as well not just players.

  13.7.2007 17:22 #16

• ChromeMud

  If your a Sony fan then Blu-Ray is the only choice but if you want
  value then it's HD-DVD for me.

  14.7.2007 04:27 #17

• Cinnjerm

  Originally posted by cazer: this only talks about Europe.this is true, but I'm pretty sure i heard the same said of the US for standalone players atleast. The whole ps3 matters stance is irrelevant because not only have ps3 sales come to a screeching hault at this price point, but the people who have them aren't particularly interested in purchasing movies. I remember there was an article on here earlier saying how BD had outsold HDdvd by only a few thousand movies,which sounds impressive, but then if you think about how fewer hddvd players there are, it's not really saying much.

  15.7.2007 16:40 #18

• borhan9

  This just proves to me that why can not both formats play nicely with each other and just have a player that can play both formats. I know its the money factor. Damn Capitalism.!!!

  17.7.2007 02:27 #19