AfterDawn: News

Blu-ray has best week ever, thanks to 'Iron Man'

According to Nielsen VideoScan data from Home Media Magazine, Blu-ray Disc had its best week ever as a format, thanks mainly to the blockbuster smash hit Iron Man.

'Iron Man' sold 7.2 million DVDs for the week of September 29th to October 5th and sold 510,000 Blu-ray Discs, smashing previous first week records for the HD format.



Paramount added that the disc sold 260,000 units on its first day (including pre-orders) to set the single day record.

The popularity of Iron Man helped push Blu-ray to a market share (of top 20 volume) they have never seen before, 13 percent. Iron Man BD also "stole" 17 percent of sales from DVD, the highest number ever for a day-and-date release.





Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Oct 2008 11:59

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• 20 comments

• trexxus

  That's great but just wait until The Dark Knight hits Blu-ray.

  12.10.2008 12:32 #1

• Interestx

  Take Iron Man out of the numbers & the picture is awful.
  
  The truth is that one or two or even a handful of movies are no basis for expecting Blu-ray to gain widespread adoption.

  12.10.2008 13:26 #2

• ematrix

  Agreed Interestx, i would like to point out 2 things... first all this occurred prior to the present global economic crisis, so Blu-ray will have a much harder time than before, to gain widespread adoption within USA and globally as well.
  
  Second, the 7.2 million DVDs vs 510,000 BDs figure sold within USA, it shows that for every 1 BD, 14 DVDs were sold, which translates to BD having 7% of disc volume sales, but what about the rest of the world, where BD's consumption is roughly 1%? no doubt the number of BD copies sold is much, much lower than of DVDs copies sold.

  13.10.2008 03:29 #3

• Oner

  Those are old/wrong numbers. They are about 900,000 for first week sales only. Yes, nothing near DVD but the same could be said/tracked about the beginning of DVD vs VHS. To quote an aD member error5 ~
  
  Quote:Originally posted by error5: @juankerr:
  
  Here's more concrete figures from thenumbers.com:
  
  http://www.the-numbers.com/interactive/newsStory.php?newsID=3757
  
  Iron Man BluRay:
  
  Total 1st week unit sales: 879,000
  Total 1st week revenue: $23.07 million
  
  Quote:On a side note, some reports have Iron Man DVD selling 7.2 million units during its first week, however, this likely includes copies sent to rental chains, as well as those sold at retailers.
  
  Moving onto Blu-ray, several records were broken this week, including for individual titles as well as the format as a whole. Sales flew to their highest recorded levels climbing 146% from last week hitting $26.8 million. That's 15.7% of the total home market sales revenue, and 13% of the top 20 comparison (and all three of the sales numbers are records). Like last week, this means the catalog titles are outselling the big releases, at least in terms of Blu-ray to DVD ratio. This is amazing since this week we had the best selling single release in Blu-ray history with Iron Man selling an estimated 879,000 units generating $23.07 million in sales. This is not only the best opening week sales for a Blu-ray release, it the best selling Blu-ray of all-time. In fact, according to an interview with Jon Favreau, it was able to get there in just two days. Wow.
  

  
  
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  13.10.2008 11:51 #4

• ikari

  Originally posted by ematrix: Agreed Interestx, i would like to point out 2 things... first all this occurred prior to the present global economic crisis, so Blu-ray will have a much harder time than before, to gain widespread adoption within USA and globally as well.
  
  Second, the 7.2 million DVDs vs 510,000 BDs figure sold within USA, it shows that for every 1 BD, 14 DVDs were sold, which translates to BD having 7% of disc volume sales, but what about the rest of the world, where BD's consumption is roughly 1%? no doubt the number of BD copies sold is much, much lower than of DVDs copies sold.ematrix, I would like to point out two things:
  
  Your first point is kinda obvious. With less money to spend, of course it will be harder to any newer and more expense technology to be sold Blu-Ray or otherwise.
  
  And second, why do you and all of the other anti-sony and/or anti-Blu-ray people think that Blu-ray should be selling at the level of DVD? Doesn't it make sense that DVD is selling more than Blu-Ray? DVD has been around for a long time. How is this a valid argument that blu-ray's sale figures are bad?

  13.10.2008 16:41 #5

• uwiloz2me

  Sorry Howard !!!! maybe next time Huuu! Nice try!
  
  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081014/people_nm/us_ironman_1

  14.10.2008 12:06 #6

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by uwiloz2me: Sorry Howard !!!! maybe next time Huuu! Nice try!
  
  " target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081014/peop...onman_1
  
  Howard was OK but I think Cheadle's the better actor.

  14.10.2008 12:14 #7

• Gnawnivek

  I bought a copy myself... $30 (with tax) BD version from Target, can't say no to the masked edition. The same package DVD version is about $25 (with taxes and all). So yeah, i rather spend $5 more for HD... The DVD version should be priced at $15-$20 IMO. Anyhow, Iron Man in HD, wow, just wow!

  15.10.2008 12:50 #8

• Azazel61

  Originally posted by trexxus: That's great but just wait until The Dark Knight hits Blu-ray.I think The Dark Knight will easily top Iron Man's figures.

  15.10.2008 17:54 #9

• juankerr

  Originally posted by Azazel61: I think The Dark Knight will easily top Iron Man's figures.TDK has the potential to be the first BD title to sell a million units in the first week.
  
  http://www.thehdroom.com/news/The_Dark_K...nd_Explode/3578

  15.10.2008 19:29 #10

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by juankerr: Originally posted by Azazel61: I think The Dark Knight will easily top Iron Man's figures.TDK has the potential to be the first BD title to sell a million units in the first week.
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.thehdroom.com/news/The_Dark_K...de/3578
  
  No need to read the link, totally agree. It's just a matter of which "exclusive" version i want, the batpod version is nice, but i'm sure there will be other store specials. Between Iron Man and Batman, let's not forget Hulk :)
  

  So many dvds, not enough times...

  16.10.2008 09:33 #11

• Azazel61

  Originally posted by juankerr: Originally posted by Azazel61: I think The Dark Knight will easily top Iron Man's figures.TDK has the potential to be the first BD title to sell a million units in the first week.
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.thehdroom.com/news/The_Dark_K...de/3578
  
  I intend on being one of them. I am eagerly waiting TDK as I already have Iron Man. I'll rent Hulk first since I despised the last one.

  17.10.2008 10:33 #12

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by Azazel61: Originally posted by juankerr: Originally posted by Azazel61: I think The Dark Knight will easily top Iron Man's figures.TDK has the potential to be the first BD title to sell a million units in the first week.
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.thehdroom.com/news/The_Dark_K...de/3578
  
  I intend on being one of them. I am eagerly waiting TDK as I already have Iron Man. I'll rent Hulk first since I despised the last one.The Ang Lee one sucks ball, Hulk (2008)is much better. I'm getting the BD Hulk from BB next week, hopefully i can get the free lithograph with it...
  

  So many dvds, not enough times...

  17.10.2008 12:39 #13

• 13thHouR

  Iron man is another classic PG13, the sweet spot. It could have been something great but ended up being another crippled movie aimed at the children's audience as nothing more than a cash cow.
  
  These money making movies make me sick but thanks to DRM and the ppl that profit from it can controll the media the world sees, thanks MPAA for being the gatekeepers of media and blocking talented movies from ever seeing the light of day!
  
  DRM used yet again by big media to stifle innovation and guarantee their media and price fixing scams.
  
  
  AACS makes Blu-ray too expensive for small film makers Quote:A simple 1000 disc production could already cost $8k for just disc production, according to an article on DVDA.org which explains all the fees that have to paid in order to even start producing Blu-ray.
  
  In order for High Definition and Blu-ray to become a succes, content makers are essential. Besides big Hollywood studios there also many smaller independent content producers with low volume disc productions. For them Blu-ray might be just too expensive, mainly due to the obligated AACS copy protection on the discs.
  
  Currently, if you even want to start replicating a Blu-ray disc you will have to pay AACS a one time content fee of $3000 to get you started. Then there is a fee per title of $1300 and another $0.04 per disc. Replication of the disc will set you back about $2 per single layer disc and then you just have a disc. Costs of editing and authoring etc. are not even in there. A calculation of the author of the article estimated about $13k for 1000 Blu-ray discs, which is a large amount of money for a small film maker.
  
  Even if you were thinking to distribute your movies on recordable Blu-ray discs then you'll have to purchase BD-R discs, which are about $15-40 a disc currently, even more expensive.
  
  An option would be to make AACS optional, it would certainly make it much cheaper, and who needs AACS on a large set of wedding videos?
  

  The RIAA - BPI - IFPI - CRIA - Ect - Ect Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.
  
  Dont allow them to hide behind the trade body names, name and shame em.

  18.10.2008 05:29 #14

• Oner

  How does a thread on BD having a good week get to DRM....AS USUAL? If you cannot stay on TOPIC then please refrain from posting. If the majority of thread replies revert to DRM this or that then you are not discussing the thread topic, and are just trolling. Therefor don't post.
  
  
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  18.10.2008 09:01 #15

• error5

  IM's week 2 sales came down as expected but still accounted for the second best week this year with respect to revenue - $14.7 million.
  
  http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/questex/hom373554CVB/index.php#/2
  http://forums.highdefdigest.com/1236549-post2678.html
  
  Originally posted by 13thHouR: These money making movies make me sickQ4 should be interesting for you then:
  
  Oct 14 - Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
  Oct 21 - The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  Oct 21 - The James Bond Collection 3 Packs Vol 1 and 2
  Nov 09 - Kung Fu Panda
  Nov 11 - Star Wars - The Clone Wars
  Nov 18 - Wall*E
  Nov 25 - Hancock
  Dec 09 - The Dark Knight
  
  Time to take those antidepressants.

  18.10.2008 09:45 #16

• 13thHouR

  Originally posted by Oner: How does a thread on BD having a good week get to DRM....AS USUAL? If you cannot stay on TOPIC then please refrain from posting. If the majority of thread replies revert to DRM this or that then you are not discussing the thread topic, and are just trolling. Therefor don't post.My post was about controlling the markets and blocking competition, and this is one of the reasons that Iron man is doing so well, because as a movie from about half way through it sucks and turns into a pg13 (boys) cash cow movie, and my rant was aimed at all the studios NOT blu-ray and your beloved Sony.
  
  
  

  The RIAA - BPI - IFPI - CRIA - Ect - Ect Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, EMI.
  The MPAA Are: SONY, UNIVERSAL, WARNER GROUP, DISNEY, PARAMOUNT, FOX.
  
  Dont allow them to hide behind the trade body names, name and shame em.

  18.10.2008 11:53 #17

• Oner

  Wow! I have to explain it even more!?!?
  
  What does DRM have to do with this TOPIC
  
  NOTHING. There is not a hint of it in the article. If you cannot abide by the rules laid forth when they are enforced don't complain.
  

  
  
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  18.10.2008 15:20 #18

• uruz7

  That's OK!But take a closer look following link,It's great to DVD and PSP converter
  
  spam removed

  21.10.2008 01:59 #19

• ematrix

  Originally posted by ikari: Originally posted by ematrix: Agreed Interestx, i would like to point out 2 things... first all this occurred prior to the present global economic crisis, so Blu-ray will have a much harder time than before, to gain widespread adoption within USA and globally as well.
  
  Second, the 7.2 million DVDs vs 510,000 BDs figure sold within USA, it shows that for every 1 BD, 14 DVDs were sold, which translates to BD having 7% of disc volume sales, but what about the rest of the world, where BD's consumption is roughly 1%? no doubt the number of BD copies sold is much, much lower than of DVDs copies sold.ematrix, I would like to point out two things:
  
  Your first point is kinda obvious. With less money to spend, of course it will be harder to any newer and more expense technology to be sold Blu-Ray or otherwise.
  
  And second, why do you and all of the other anti-sony and/or anti-Blu-ray people think that Blu-ray should be selling at the level of DVD? Doesn't it make sense that DVD is selling more than Blu-Ray? DVD has been around for a long time. How is this a valid argument that blu-ray's sale figures are bad?Ikari, first of all i'm not anti-Sony, I simply don't believe in Blu-ray. Back to topic, the problem with any sales figures provided by some like HMR, is that there are variable, yet when Blu-ray has one good week, inmediatelly is manipulated by others as the format being a constant success, when in fact it only reflects that it had a good week.
  
  For instance, they noted within USA, Iron Man sold 510,000 BDs in the week of September 29th to October 5th, and that half of them were sold in the first day of release (including preorders) which means that a lot of people rushed to buy it. Yet they noted that in the same week Iron Man sold 7.2 million DVDs, and that DVD consumers maybe waiting for holiday sales and discounts to buy it.
  
  Nobody is denying that Iron Man smashed previous records for BD, indeed had a good first week, but at this point that's all. All I'm saying is that we should look closely at how Iron Man in BD and DVD does in the following weeks, not only within USA, but globally as well, so we all could get a clear picture before making any conclusions about BD alleged market dominance.

  22.10.2008 04:16 #20