Blu-ray sales grow, but home video revenue still down

Despite large growth in the high definition market, standard DVD sales continue to sag, and home video revenue will continue to fall, report a few notable analysts.

According to Reuters, 5 million HD movies have already been sold this year (mainly Blu-ray) and that puts the pace far ahead then 2007 which saw only 10 million movies sold for the entire year.

This strong growth however is not enough to make up for the continued sagging sales of standard definition DVDs. In 2006, movie studios generated $25 billion USD in revenue for home video releases. In 2007 the number fell to $23 billion and Citigroup analyst Jason Bazinet believes that number will fall again this year to $21.4 billion.

Analysts also feel that consumers see less benefit in upgrading to Blu-ray then they did with the switch from VHS to DVD. Many consumers don't even have the necessary equipment to enjoy Blu-ray, including Blu-ray players, HDTVs or surround sound setups. Price of course is another significant barrier with most Blu-ray players costing about $400 USD, about $250 USD more expensive than even the best upscaling standard DVD players.

Sony Electronics CEO Stan Glasgow agreed in March that a price drop was necessary for more market penetration but that the necessary $200 price point wont be available until at least 2009.

�I don't think $200 is going to happen this year. Next year $200 could happen,� said Glasgow. �We'll be at a $300 rate this year. $299 will happen this year.�

Another factor is that Blu-ray movies usually sell at a $15 dollar premium over their standard definition counterpart (yes, even at Amazon) making the alternative not as pretty usually despite its much improved audio and video.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Apr 2008 18:28

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48 comments

mattkind

Just lower blu ray movies . Still to expensive 30 euros is too much for a movie where i live , when the dvd is only 12 euros.

25.4.2008 18:44 #1

iluvendo

C'mon, we're in a recession. Entertainment dollars (euros) gotta get the most bang for the buck. Sorry, but as Mattkind stated Hd discs are still toooo expensive.

25.4.2008 18:52 #2

hulud86

Originally posted by mattkind: Just lower blu ray movies . Still to expensive 30 euros is too much for a movie where i live , when the dvd is only 12 euros.Agreed. Blu Ray is to pricey. If they want everybody to switch they will need to lower prices. I'm not going to pay $24.99 for 1991's Terminator 2. Crazy.

25.4.2008 19:51 #3

def&blind

25.4.2008 20:30 #4

iluvendo

Agree totally def&blind !!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck!
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

25.4.2008 20:40 #5

DoomLight

dont forget it cost damn near 4 bux a gallon to drive to the store to buy these friggin blu dvds;

blah

25.4.2008 21:17 #6

error5

BluRay is recession-proof.

Those who can afford BluRay hardware and software at current prices will continue to buy as they are less likely to be affected by recession.

The same is not true with standard DVD.

Pioneer Kuro 50" PDP-5010FD 1080p Plasma With 24fps input and 3:3 72Hz Playback - ISF Calibrated
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player// Sony PS3 60GB - soon to be replaced by the Panasonic DMP-BD50
Marantz SR6001 Surround Sound Receiver With HDMI// B&W604/602/LCR600 // Hsu Research VTF3 Subwoofer
HD DVD Titles - 85 // BluRay Titles - 63 (and counting)

25.4.2008 22:10 #7

saltynuts

Originally posted by error5: BluRay is recession-proof.

Those who can afford BluRay hardware and software at current prices will continue to buy as they are less likely to be affected by recession.

The same is not true with standard DVD.

afford and willing to pay is two different things.i think most people who opt not to buy blu can afford it really but instead choose not to.

25.4.2008 22:19 #8

iluvendo

Originally posted by error5: BluRay is recession-proof.

Those who can afford BluRay hardware and software at current prices will continue to buy as they are less likely to be affected by recession.

The same is not true with standard DVD.The coparison is more meaningful when stated thusly

The Nordstrom people will still shop at Nordstroms in a recession whereas the Wal-mart people will not shop (at Nordstroms) but still shop at Wal-Mart.

BTW Nordstroms is a $6 billion a year company whereas Wal-Mart is a $300 billion a year company .

The SD people have it way over the HD people purely on volume in sales.

If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck!
"The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

25.4.2008 22:25 #9

juankerr

Quote:The Nordstrom people will still shop at Nordstroms in a recession whereas the Wal-mart people will not shop (at Nordstroms) but still shop at Wal-Mart.They may still be shopping at WalMart but they're not buying the DVD's - thus "the continued sagging sales of standard definition DVDs" as the article says.

error5 is right. In a recession the luxury entertainment items will continue to sell while the masses will spend less on home video.

25.4.2008 23:07 #10

ZippyDSM

The media industry i doing well enough, the market might be lagging but itsd not like they are "losing"money just yet.

26.4.2008 01:15 #11

nobrainer

Originally posted by mattkind: Just lower blu ray movies . Still to expensive 30 euros is too much for a movie where i live , when the dvd is only 12 euros.lol they ain't going to do that because its an advancement in technology and a way to hike up prices, call it "Hi-Def" and you can charge 2x the amount and keep the prices artificially high.

this is how the MPAA has managed the dvd rip off pricing for the last ten years, that and region coding (global price fixing DRM) which if disabled on a blu-ray the disc FAILS to play.

Why is the movie industry failing, because the movies suck, all they care about is money and how the woo the populous is, better effects/graphics, much the same as the gaming industry, the talent is being destroyed by the gatekeepers of media with their quick buck rubbish they constantly churn out.

if you want our culture to regain its foothold we have to boycott the companies killing it for profit which are the MPAA, RIAA, BPI, Ect, Ect, Ect.

@ hulud86

haven't you heard blu-ray is the future, its the best ever way to watch them suck ass films, and you know a �30 bad movie looks even better in blu-ray!

On a serious note WHY do you think that the MPAA/RIAA constantly lobby and block bills/legislation from being passed to allow format shifting, if an old technology is made obsolete by the media courps they can force you to purchase it all again "a licence to print money"!

iPod tax: UK music biz open to format shifting... for a fee
Originally posted by ars link: April 14, 2008
And then came hints that this apple might come with a serious worm. Early this year, the BPI again said all the right things about format shifting, but we noted that the Association of Independent Music was making noises; apparently, the group wanted to get paid whenever music was transferred from a CD to a portable device.

Now we have the official, combined filing (PDF) from ten different music organizations in the UK (including AIM), and it's a doozy. Follow the ruthlessly simple logic with me:

* Step one: format shifting is valuable; just look at how many people do it. From the filing: "Unquestionably, there is a value produced by the ability to format shift for both consumers and commercial enterprises which directly arises from the transferability of music."

* Step two: creators don't see any of this value, and they should (because without them, there would be no value for anyone). "It is imperative that creators and performers should benefit directly from this value," says the filing. "Ultimately it is their creativity which underpins the entire value chain."

* Step three: start taxing iPods to recoup this value. "The only solution which achieves these goals is a flexible and market-led approach based upon a business-to-business relationship... an exception subject to license."

Device manufacturers, who are apparently building their fortunes on the back of the music industry's content without paying for the privilege (err, but didn't the consumers already pay for the discs?), would have to pay a license fee to the music business that would be split among all the involved parties according to a formula that makes the Schrodinger equation look like a bit of first-term algebra. big media are stealing money from everywhere they can and the only way to stop their constant anti-consumer behaviour is to not purchase anything from them, & if you have to because the advertisers tell you that you must purchase this thing to fit into society only purchase 2nd hand media or 2nd hand hardware use ebay ect, force them to change their ways & lower prices

The BPI Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
The RIAA Soundexchange Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
The IFPI Are: The same anti consumer lot as listed above!
The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.

26.4.2008 04:31 #12

sgriesch

Originally posted by error5: BluRay is recession-proof.

Those who can afford BluRay hardware and software at current prices will continue to buy as they are less likely to be affected by recession.

The same is not true with standard DVD.Nothing is recession-proof. Even the things that we need are not. People are driving less due to high gas prices. Many don't go out to eat as much because it is more expensive. I deal with wealthy people all day, and believe me, they are feeling the crunch as well. Mattkind is right, the technology needs to be correctly priced for everyone to embrace it.

26.4.2008 13:26 #13

error5

Originally posted by sgriesch: Nothing is recession-proof. Even the things that we need are not. People are driving less due to high gas prices. Many don't go out to eat as much because it is more expensive. Read the article again. In the slowest sales quarter of the year high def media has already sold 50% of the total volume sold in 2007, while in the middle of a recession, and while the total home video market is in a big slump.

Quote:I deal with wealthy people all day, and believe me, they are feeling the crunch as well. They're probably not BluRay fans or buyers - as the current robust sales figures show.

Quote:Mattkind is right, the technology needs to be correctly priced for everyone to embrace it.It's priced fine right now.

BluRay doesn't need mass acceptance at this point since:
>not everyone owns an HDTV. As HDTV prices approach the sub-$500 mark and 50% or more market penetration then you'll see the BluRay prices drop as well - probably late 2009 to 2010. Remember it took 5 - 6 years for DVD to overtake VHS.
>CE companies need to turn a profit on the players in order to keep the format attractive and to keep R&D going. Toshiba's artificially deflated prices were a disaster for them.

26.4.2008 13:48 #14

sgriesch

Originally posted by error5: Originally posted by sgriesch: Nothing is recession-proof. Even the things that we need are not. People are driving less due to high gas prices. Many don't go out to eat as much because it is more expensive. Read the article again. In the slowest sales quarter of the year high def media has already sold 50% of the total volume sold in 2007, while in the middle of a recession, and while the total home video market is in a big slump.

Quote:I deal with wealthy people all day, and believe me, they are feeling the crunch as well. They're probably not BluRay fans or buyers - as the current robust sales figures show.

Quote:Mattkind is right, the technology needs to be correctly priced for everyone to embrace it.It's priced fine right now.

BluRay doesn't need mass acceptance at this point since:
>not everyone owns an HDTV. As HDTV prices approach the sub-$500 mark and 50% or more market penetration then you'll see the BluRay prices drop as well - probably late 2009 to 2010. Remember it took 5 - 6 years for DVD to overtake VHS.
>CE companies need to turn a profit on the players in order to keep the format attractive and to keep R&D going. Toshiba's artificially deflated prices were a disaster for them.I read the article. It compared it to 2007, which in comparison to all video sales is less than 1% of the total movie sales period. That's not as robust of a growth as the article leads you to believe. Blue-Ray does need mass acceptance if it wants to make money. You're right about it taking a while to replace the DVD. It won't be anytime soon. It wasn't Toshiba's cheap prices that hurt them. It was the lack of movie studios behind the format that killed them off. When everyone left the boat sunk.
My point about the recession is that people DO quit buying what they don't NEED (at least smart people). That's why entertainment stocks are the worst to own when a recession hits. People cut what they can do without.

26.4.2008 21:59 #15

antirip

It's amazing they didn't blame piracy!! Too expensive yet though, they need to drop prices

27.4.2008 08:34 #16

juankerr

Here's a link to the original article:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=blu-ray-boom-not-enough-t

This paragraph is interesting:

Quote:Taking into account that Blu-ray sales will cannibalize a large portion of standard DVD sales, Nathanson says that during the 2007-2011 period, home video could boast a 2.4% compounded annual growth rate in revenue. Without Blu-ray, he estimates home video would have lost 2.2% each year during that same time frame.He predicts that BluRay will be the reason why home video will continue to be a growth industry in the next few years.

27.4.2008 10:33 #17

nobrainer

Quote:Here's a link to the original article:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=blu-ray-boom-not-enough-t

This paragraph is interesting:

Quote:Taking into account that Blu-ray sales will cannibalize a large portion of standard DVD sales, Nathanson says that during the 2007-2011 period, home video could boast a 2.4% compounded annual growth rate in revenue. Without Blu-ray, he estimates home video would have lost 2.2% each year during that same time frame.He predicts that BluRay will be the reason why home video will continue to be a growth industry in the next few years.you do realise that its a drop in revenue don't you?

btw a new dvd in the UK costs �7-10 and a new Blu-Ray costs �15-30. maybe this is how they are going to recoup profits, by over charging because its a "New & Better Format" that "HAS" to cost more doesn't it!

27.4.2008 14:04 #18

juankerr

Originally posted by nobrainer: you do realise that its a drop in revenue don't you?Read the paragraph carefully.

With BluRay -> home video could increase revenue by 2.4% compounded annually.

Without BluRay -> home video could lose 2.2% revenue each year.

Quote:btw a new dvd in the UK costs �7-10 and a new Blu-Ray costs �15-30. maybe this is how they are going to recoup profits, by over charging because its a "New & Better Format" that "HAS" to cost more doesn't itIt is a new and better format. The higher price is expected.

No one is pointing a gun to your head. If you can't afford it or are unwilling to buy it then by all means walk away.

27.4.2008 14:13 #19

nobrainer

Originally posted by juankerr: Originally posted by nobrainer: you do realise that its a drop in revenue don't you?Read the paragraph carefully.

With BluRay -> home video could increase revenue by 2.4% compounded annually.

Without BluRay -> home video could lose 2.2% revenue each year.

Quote:btw a new dvd in the UK costs �7-10 and a new Blu-Ray costs �15-30. maybe this is how they are going to recoup profits, by over charging because its a "New & Better Format" that "HAS" to cost more doesn't itIt is a new and better format. The higher price is expected.

No one is pointing a gun to your head. If you can't afford it or are unwilling to buy it then by all means walk away.

ya sry i meant to say a drop in profits in comparison to what they could be ripping everyone off for!

then you have big media (the gatekeepers) stance on net neutrality to squeeze all user generated content off of the pipes and force ppl to purchase their over priced dribble!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-r...es_b_98568.html
Quote:Looks like our prediction in our recent HuffPo post was spot-on. Citing piracy concerns, Big Media has made its deal with broadband ISPs like Comcast to make sure its Internet video gets priority A-1 Express Lane carriage over the Internet. In exchange, they are supporting the ISPs' fierce opposition to net neutrality rules that would bar them from pushing everyone else's video into the Bus Lane, if they even deign to deliver it at all.there are so many reasons why i to boycott anti-consumer products/services/companies!

27.4.2008 14:33 #20

ZippyDSM

Quote:Originally posted by juankerr: Originally posted by nobrainer: you do realise that its a drop in revenue don't you?Read the paragraph carefully.

With BluRay -> home video could increase revenue by 2.4% compounded annually.

Without BluRay -> home video could lose 2.2% revenue each year.

Quote:btw a new dvd in the UK costs �7-10 and a new Blu-Ray costs �15-30. maybe this is how they are going to recoup profits, by over charging because its a "New & Better Format" that "HAS" to cost more doesn't itIt is a new and better format. The higher price is expected.

No one is pointing a gun to your head. If you can't afford it or are unwilling to buy it then by all means walk away.

ya sry i meant to say a drop in profits in comparison to what they could be ripping everyone off for!

then you have big media (the gatekeepers) stance on net neutrality to squeeze all user generated content off of the pipes and force ppl to purchase their over priced dribble!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-r...es_b_98568.html
Quote:Looks like our prediction in our recent HuffPo post was spot-on. Citing piracy concerns, Big Media has made its deal with broadband ISPs like Comcast to make sure its Internet video gets priority A-1 Express Lane carriage over the Internet. In exchange, they are supporting the ISPs' fierce opposition to net neutrality rules that would bar them from pushing everyone else's video into the Bus Lane, if they even deign to deliver it at all.there are so many reasons why i to boycott anti-consumer products/services/companies!I love it when sheep look at you funny for bucking the herd,dn;t you? ^^.

27.4.2008 15:57 #21

jove

can you guys bring out some statistics on how many blu ray players have been sold? im talking stand alones, not ps3s. and how many have been sold after toshiba exited the market. im real curious to know how many are sold on a weekly basis.

27.4.2008 19:43 #22

emugamer

Quote:Originally posted by error5: BluRay is recession-proof.

Those who can afford BluRay hardware and software at current prices will continue to buy as they are less likely to be affected by recession.

The same is not true with standard DVD.
afford and willing to pay is two different things.i think most people who opt not to buy blu can afford it really but instead choose not to.
I agree with you salty. The recession is impacting everyone differently and I don't think it's an accurate statement to say that people with money are going to keep buying. Maybe young, single guys. A friend of mine makes very good $$. He works hard for his six figure salary. But his international company announced a certain percentage of layoffs for "non-essential" jobs this year. He doesn't feel that his job is non-essential, but why take a chance? He's not buying a single thing in the entertainment category now or in the near future, even though he can. I can see the pain in his eyes, because he is a techie. He really wants to get into HD. Smart people will assess their circumstances and make the decision to not spend money this year. Our families got together this weekend for dinner and we ended up discussing what we are paying for gas now and how it's impacting everything we want to do. We're not even going on vacation this year.

I feel that everything is going to stagnate. DVD's are not suffereing because of blu-ray. They are probably suffering due to the same reasons everything else will suffer. And these figures seem to be for new media. I continue buying video (both SD and HD), but it's all used. One mans junk is another mans treasure. I'd buy the Terminator DVD used for $2.50 off Amazon or out of a bargain bin before I buy a new movie.

28.4.2008 12:24 #23

nobrainer

@ emugamer

its not just paying customers that just don't care about blu-ray, if you take a look on your fav bittorrent, newsgroup network and compare the amount of downloads for the HD material compared to the dvd there is an overwhelming shun of the format, if ppl don't even want to download it for free what hope is there for ppl purchasing it?

blu-ray is a way for the MPAA to lock up media with DRM and increase the prices and the average person will not even conside downgrading to hobbled by DRM equipment until the media and hardware = that of current DVD.

28.4.2008 12:39 #24

NexGen76

Originally posted by nobrainer: @ emugamer

its not just paying customers that just don't care about blu-ray, if you take a look on your fav bittorrent, newsgroup network and compare the amount of downloads for the HD material compared to the dvd there is an overwhelming shun of the format, if ppl don't even want to download it for free what hope is there for ppl purchasing it?

blu-ray is a way for the MPAA to lock up media with DRM and increase the prices and the average person will not even conside downgrading to hobbled by DRM equipment until the media and hardware = that of current DVD.First off your totally clueless when it come to BD torrents people Don't downloading them because the torrent are to damm big.Most BD 720p torrents run 4.5 GB to 8 GB(Major loss of QP),1080P Torrents run 8 GB up 20 GB.So who in there right mind going to download files that dam big? Plus HD torrents are fairly new & not as simple as dvd rips,DivX, & Avi...You need to give this crap a rest because you clearly didn't read the article.

28.4.2008 12:50 #25

nobrainer

Streaming Hd material from your pc is not locked in by the DRM of Blu-Ray and as you state is 4.5 gig is size, funnily enough its exactly the same size as a dvd rip but ppl just don't care!

take a browse and look for your self as even looking over the open tracker mininova proves this ppl DON'T care!

no matter how much you stamp your feet nextgen data proves this, you do realise that HD sales are less than 5% total media sales.

The benefit does not justify the price or the anti-consumer DRM locks.

Blu-ray still has a fight on its hands
Quote:DESPITE emerging triumphant in the battle of the high-definition storage format, Sony may still have a way to go to win the war, say boffins from analyst outfit ABI Research.

ABI reckons that because almost 85 per cent of all Blu-ray players are actually PS3s, Blu-ray as a separate video unit, or PC disk drive could take as long as five years to take off.

In a recent report covered by the (cough) Philippine Inquirer, a principal analyst at ABI, Steve Wilson, noted that the fact that so many DVD players (35 per cent) could be "upconverted" to work with high-definition TVs, was a major problem for Blu-ray, especially with the prediction that over the next five years as many as 60 per cent of all DVDs would be upconversionable.

Blu-ray manufacturers, who at least appear to have caught on to the problem, have now started to slash prices in what appears to be a desperate bid to get the market going, even to the extent that computer manufacturers are offering to configure Blu-rays for reduced prices.

But as Wilson points out in his report, �If you're only going to spend $500-600 on a PC, are you really going to spend 40 per cent more for a built-in Blu-ray player?" �

L�Inq

28.4.2008 12:56 #26

juankerr

Originally posted by nobrainer: if ppl don't even want to download it for free what hope is there for ppl purchasing it?How then do you explain the data from the article?

HDM sales:

1st Quarter of 2008 - 4.9 million units (the slowest buying season of the year)

The whole of 2007 - 9.8 million units

Quote:no matter how much you stamp your feet nextgen data proves this, you do realise that HD sales are less than 5% total media sales.
It used to be 1%. Now it's 5%.

Pretty good progress if you ask me.

28.4.2008 12:59 #27

nobrainer

Originally posted by juankerr:

HDM sales:

1st Quarter of 2008 - 4.9 million units (the slowest buying season of the year)

The whole of 2007 - 9.8 million units

Pretty good progress if you ask me.Q. do you know how many units does the average DVD sell for ONE film?

once you find out this information then please feel free to state that Hi-Def is making progress!

here is an easy one, in the first week how many dvd's of I Am Legend were sold compared to HD and then work out the ratio of all the DVD's compared to HD, its a niche market and will be for a long time as its not worth the price?

28.4.2008 13:25 #28

juankerr

Originally posted by nobrainer: Q. do you know how many units does the average DVD sell for ONE film?

once you find out this information then please feel free to state that Hi-Def is making progress!No need to look up DVD numbers. You yourself gave the proof.

High def media used to be only 1 percent of all home video.

Now you say it's 5%.

1% to 5%.

That's progress right there.

28.4.2008 13:30 #29

emugamer

Originally posted by nobrainer: @ emugamer

its not just paying customers that just don't care about blu-ray, if you take a look on your fav bittorrent, newsgroup network and compare the amount of downloads for the HD material compared to the dvd there is an overwhelming shun of the format, if ppl don't even want to download it for free what hope is there for ppl purchasing it?I politely disagree with both you and Nextgen. I've been easing into HD over the past year. There is a huge selection of HD rips - 720P and 1080P. You've got the file size right, but you underestimate the demand for it. Warez is flooding with HD movies/tv series. And it's not just bluray rips. It's HD TV signals. Maybe the public trackers are scarce, but I see tons of HD torrents. You're right that standrd 700MB xvids that people have grown accustomed to over the past couple of years still reign, but you are underestimating the populariry of the HD rips (from both Bluray, HDDVD and HDTV). I have not seen a "shun" of the format. People are embracing it in all file sharing forums. HDD storage mediums are becoming dirt cheap now and people, including myself are upgrading. Owning a few TB's of HDD storage is not uncommon. My buddy is ripping his bluray collection (among others) and there is huge support on the forums he visits for direction. I'm not going to list my sources, but I've seem embracing of the format in all avenues of file sharing.

28.4.2008 13:30 #30

nobrainer

@ emugamer

one quick look over wild-bytes and torrentleech quickly shows that very few ppl are bothering with the HD-x264 films.

tv shows, yes they are in popular demand, but the overall majority are still downloading dvd rips at 4.5ish gig each.

xvids and divx has seen its day, with the introduction of faster adsl/dsl you can easily download 10gig in less than a day so reducing the quality is not needed since the demise of 56k dial up.

28.4.2008 13:39 #31

emugamer

Originally posted by nobrainer: @ emugamer

one quick look over wild-bytes and torrentleech quickly shows that very few ppl are bothering with the HD-x264 films.

tv shows, yes they are in popular demand, but the overall majority are still downloading dvd rips at 4.5ish gig each.

xvids and divx has seen its day, with the introduction of faster adsl/dsl you can easily download 10gig in less than a day so reducing the quality is not needed since the demise of 56k dial up.I agree, the combination of size and lack of familiarity of the HD containers are definitely contributing factors. Why grab a ratio killer when you don't know what codecs will allow you to play it and honestly don't need a 720P quality movie? But I wouldn't base the statement "people are shunning HD content" on the torrent community alone. There is definitely growth that I've seen in the past 6 months alone. New release groups are constantly emerging, proving that there is a demand somewhere.

28.4.2008 16:50 #32

NexGen76

Originally posted by emugamer: Originally posted by nobrainer: @ emugamer

one quick look over wild-bytes and torrentleech quickly shows that very few ppl are bothering with the HD-x264 films.

tv shows, yes they are in popular demand, but the overall majority are still downloading dvd rips at 4.5ish gig each.

xvids and divx has seen its day, with the introduction of faster adsl/dsl you can easily download 10gig in less than a day so reducing the quality is not needed since the demise of 56k dial up.I agree, the combination of size and lack of familiarity of the HD containers are definitely contributing factors. Why grab a ratio killer when you don't know what codecs will allow you to play it and honestly don't need a 720P quality movie? But I wouldn't base the statement "people are shunning HD content" on the torrent community alone. There is definitely growth that I've seen in the past 6 months alone. New release groups are constantly emerging, proving that there is a demand somewhere.
Maybe i word what i said wrong but thats what i was really trying to say,Because Nobrainer visit a few torrent sites don't reflex the totally out look on HD torrents they are growing & so are the application to use for them also.Let no forget this is Nobrainer so what he say should be looked upon as a paper weight.

28.4.2008 17:27 #33

nobrainer

Originally posted by NexGen76:
Maybe i word what i said wrong but thats what i was really trying to say,Because Nobrainer visit a few torrent sites don't reflex the totally out look on HD torrents they are growing & so are the application to use for them also.Let no forget this is Nobrainer so what he say should be looked upon as a paper weight.They are probably the two largest closed communities on the net in english spoken language, and reflect fully ppl's downloading habits, but as i already stated just take a look over at mininova and you will see that ppl are not overly bothering to download HD content, other than, as emugamer correctly pointed out, tv episodes.

And btw ppl on closed communities generally know what the HD-x264 codec is nextgen, just because a few teenagers haven't a clue about bittorrent as it involves reading and understanding more than a combination of clicks on a game pad does not equate to the main populous that would be purchasing/downloading material, unless of course their parents are brad pitt and angelina jolley as these are they only ppl that can afford Blu-Ray as you have to be mega rich to afford one and its like buying into a millionaires lifestyle to simply own one!

The fact of the matter is HD content is going to take several years to take off because ppl are happy with their DVD's and until the studios force everyone to downgrade to hobbled by DRM equipment with the introduction of digital switch overs, only selling TV screens with HDCP HDMI DRM, slowly releasing major titles on Blu-Ray only and constantly marketing Blu-Ray as a lifestyle choice, and you can only aspire to own Blu-Ray if you finances are to a point that you can boast your riches to everyone else, it's a movie player nothing more.

What will stifle the uptake of Blu-Ray will be the constant rubbish Hollywood (MPAA) constantly churn out, last year there were a handful of titles actually bothering to watch/own. Stories, characters and relationships in movies have been replaced with special effects so at least the suck ass film will look good eh!

a dvd on release in the first week sells in excess of 9million copies in the UK alone, how well is Blu-Ray doing?
I Am Legend, even though it was total rubbish aimed at 13year old boys that totally missed Matheson's excellent work and was reliant on special effects sold in excess of $20million in the first week of release on dvd, and sold almost 3/4 of a million copies. how many were sold on Blu-Ray, how well is Blu-Ray doing, lmao?

if constantly insulting myself is they only way to prove a point it is becoming very pathetic nextgen!

29.4.2008 03:14 #34

emugamer

I really hate to beat a dead horse...but...

I'm not going to argue with you on the closed communities that you stated. But there has to be a balance somewhere, and you don't seem to find the middle ground. You seem to fail to realize (or just refuse to acknowledge) that there are private HD only trackers that are getting huge memberships. Maybe some of the people on those trackers you mentioned also have memberships to HD trackers, and dl from there because they have rules that appeal to them more (Heck, I'm not going to dl a game from TL if I'm on Blackcats). Or maybe they don't download their HD content from these closed communities because they also dl from warez (save their ratio on their tracker to get other specialized content that may not be available elsewhere), which is another issue I have with your statements. You seem to not want to address the exponential growth of HD content of warez sites, or even newsgroups. Maybe all the people you are looking for on these trackers are a little smarter than you give them credit for and found other means to grab what they want. And they don't even have to share it. Not everyone shops at just one store for the rest of their lives. My wife only goes to Shop Rite when their sales are better than A&P. A&P has better produce in this area......get my point?

No disrespect meant. Just trying to find a balance. You've got a lot of knowledge on the subject, but your posts seem extremely one-sided for the most part.

29.4.2008 06:08 #35

nobrainer

@ emugamer

its obvious that their is an uptake of HD material, but its not to the extent that the news stories and spin would have ppl believe, which is my point, a few million sales compared to sales of dvd's clearly shows this.

29.4.2008 06:19 #36

varnull

Actually the small numbers of downloads isn't because of the file size. People are well used to downloading 4-8 gig files in dvd-r format.
It's more the fact that to burn these blu disks costs a small fortune @ �10 per blank, plus a very expensive burner. If you want to run it from your pc to your tv it's a �20 wire and a �150 graphics card... even if the rest of your hardware can cope.
Going HD is a �2000 game.. and most people don't have that kind of money to throw around on a whim with real inflation (not the cooked up BS the government spew out) running at 30%

It's just too damn expensive for 95% of the population who are doing what everybody does during a credit squeeze.. They hold on to their cash for the more important things.. like heat and lights and food and keeping a roof over their heads.

The broadcasters hold the key to HD success.... and they are reducing quality in favour of quantity. 480x320 xvids look bloody awful even on a close on 20 year old 22" crt. That's what the cable companies think is acceptable.

Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work....

29.4.2008 07:03 #37

nobrainer

Originally posted by varnull:
The broadcasters hold the key to HD success.... and they are reducing quality in favour of quantity. 480x320 xvids look bloody awful even on a close on 20 year old 22" crt. That's what the cable companies think is acceptable.i fully agree with you regarding the UK where ofcom has just announced that there will only ever be 4 channels via freeview in the UK transmitted in mpeg4 because of the bandwidth and the other channels will have to figh over the remaing space with a lesser codec, but this is not going to happen until 2012 and even then you are going to have to purchase your hardware again because of the broadcast flag DRM, all thanks to the MPAA.

In the US its a little different as they have many HD channels via cable but at a premium cost.

American Studios' Secret Plan to Lock Down European TV Devices
Originally posted by eff hyperlink: Hollywood's desire to force DRM on TV fans doesn't stop at the U.S. border -- an international consortium of television and technology companies is devising draconian anti-consumer restrictions for the next generation of TVs in Europe and beyond, at the behest of American entertainment giants.

in response to the cost element varnull, all you will get is sony bloggers stating "if you cant afford it" nonsense as you have to remember they are selling a "lifestyle", if you don't own a Blu-Ray you are living in the dark ages and are obviosly living on the streets eating out of dustcarts. The marketing and sales employ the same anti-consumer selling/marketing speak as time share salesmen and want to convince ppl that you can afford one or you are poor if you don't have one!

29.4.2008 09:01 #38

eatsushi

Originally posted by juankerr: 1% to 5%.

That's progress right there.Here's another sign of progress.

A Blu_Ray cosmetics and makeup line from Cargo - for high def video/photo shoots:

http://gizmodo.com/355076/blu_ray-the-makeup

Quote:Blu_ray, the Makeup

Making your face presentable for high definition is tough, which is why the makeup brand Cargo is carrying a "blu_ray" brand makeup�trademarked, no less�that's supposed to cover up any Cameron Diaz-level skin problems;)

29.4.2008 17:18 #39

nobrainer

@ eatsushi

yeah and i'm sure Sweaty Betty looks great to!

Originally posted by the macc lads: She wore big knickers and she worked at the sewage farm.
Got my hands down her jeans and I nearly lost half my arm.
But after ten pints, she looked quite fit,
Couldn't wait to get my hands on her flabby tits.
Slap that and ride the ripples, just got to get my gob round her greasy nipples.
Flabby arse, sweaty breasts, thirty eight chins, she was a mound of flesh.

Sweaty Betty, she eats a lot of pies,
Sweaty Betty, she's got enormous thighs,
Sweaty Betty, have you smelled her breath?
Sweaty Betty, she'd crush a man to death.

I knew that she wanted me to shag her, so I stabbed her cunt with my mutton dagger.
I couldn't believe the size of her bum,
She used to play for Wigan at the back of the scrum.
I've seen nowt like it since the day I was born,
But you know me, I'll shag owt that's warm.

Sweaty Betty, she eats a lot of chips,
Sweaty Betty, she's got massive tits,
Sweaty Betty, she's got a huge vagina,
Sweaty Betty, you'd fit a bus inside her,
She's so obscene, three tons of margarine,
She's like a lump of lard
But Sweaty Betty makes my willy hard. and who exactly stated that these Blu-Ray's were purchased, every Blu-Ray given away, or in a bogof, or any other free offer are also counted towards total sales, this is only one of the ways that the data is manipulated by the PR and marketing scum bags.

30.4.2008 02:13 #40

moteza

great article.

30.4.2008 07:07 #41

FredBun

wow, so much of this is so over my head, but still damn intersting, but I do have a question, knowing absolutly nothing about these torrent things but has cought my attention, how would you guys compare watching a so called torrent or whatever other type site that you can copy HD or bluray contact compares in quality versus watching a bluray disc on a standalone.

13.5.2008 06:46 #42

nobrainer

Originally posted by FredBun: wow, so much of this is so over my head, but still damn intersting, but I do have a question, knowing absolutly nothing about these torrent things but has cought my attention, how would you guys compare watching a so called torrent or whatever other type site that you can copy HD or bluray contact compares in quality versus watching a bluray disc on a standalone.it would depend on the codec used to rip the movie if it was a 100% image it would be an exact replica of the original movie. your pc spec also need to be able to cope.

imho, divx, xvid sux and is not needed now we have lost 56k dial up nearly everywhere.

14.5.2008 09:40 #43

ZippyDSM

Quote:Originally posted by FredBun: wow, so much of this is so over my head, but still damn intersting, but I do have a question, knowing absolutly nothing about these torrent things but has cought my attention, how would you guys compare watching a so called torrent or whatever other type site that you can copy HD or bluray contact compares in quality versus watching a bluray disc on a standalone.it would depend on the codec used to rip the movie if it was a 100% image it would be an exact replica of the original movie. your pc spec also need to be able to cope.

imho, divx, xvid sux and is not needed now we have lost 56k dial up nearly everywhere.I disagree I want 25 25min eps to fit on 1 dvd5 dangit :P

14.5.2008 09:42 #44

emugamer

Quote:Quote:Originally posted by FredBun: wow, so much of this is so over my head, but still damn intersting, but I do have a question, knowing absolutly nothing about these torrent things but has cought my attention, how would you guys compare watching a so called torrent or whatever other type site that you can copy HD or bluray contact compares in quality versus watching a bluray disc on a standalone.it would depend on the codec used to rip the movie if it was a 100% image it would be an exact replica of the original movie. your pc spec also need to be able to cope.

imho, divx, xvid sux and is not needed now we have lost 56k dial up nearly everywhere.I disagree I want 25 25min eps to fit on 1 dvd5 dangit :PHere here! Divx, xvids, will still reign in my house until every TV I own is HD.

14.5.2008 11:38 #45

ZippyDSM

emugamer
Until DVD9 is as cheap as DVD5 at least :P

14.5.2008 11:40 #46

emugamer

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: emugamer
Until DVD9 is as cheap as DVD5 at least :Plol, I stopped holding my breath on that one.

14.5.2008 11:47 #47

nobrainer

Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: emugamer
Until DVD9 is as cheap as DVD5 at least :Plol, I stopped holding my breath on that one.but, but, but ..... didn't you know that blu-ray is the future and will obviously be cheaper than dvd's!

drm-ray, what a completely pointless and overpriced format that the MPAA have chosen for us because of the extra level of DRM over HD-DvD and of course blu-ray comes complete with region coding, yippee global price fixing DRM to.

14.5.2008 11:53 #48

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