Blu-Ray hits the skids, numbers continue to decline

One of the driving forces behind Sony's plan for the PS3, Blu-Ray, is showing signs of decline.

Blu-Ray hits the skids,

Is this a bad sign?

The cause could be a variety of factors, from the failing economy to the summer gaming doldrums, but the effect is clear: Blu-Ray as a media format is in decline.

The news has to be worrisome for Sony, whose PlayStation 3 console has the Blu-Ray disc format as a cornerstone of its strategy to get a multi-purpose gaming and media hub into homes the world over.

In response to the sluggish sales, Sony even went so far as to drastically slash its Blu-Ray player prices to the magic $200 mark, a la Microsoft with the Xbox 360, with other models going for as low as $250 as of this writing. Tech blog Engadget called the new price points "unquestionably delectable," but another observer at the Industry Standard said the cuts and a number of other indicators betray the fact that conditions may not be so rosy.

For example, in the latest Wired magazine, Sony and Microsoft went so far as to include a free Blu-Ray disc, the seven part film noir flick Coma, as part of a full page insert.

"I don't know how much this is costing Sony and its partners, but it can't be cheap -- Wired's paid circulation is 706,494, and this press release indicates that other magazines may be involved," wrote Industry Standard writer Ian Lamont.

Sony is betting the price cuts (and the PS3) will bolster Blu-Ray in time for the winter holiday, but Lamont is wary--especially as more and more consumers turn to the Internet and services like iTunes for their HD content.

"Sony better hope that mainstream consumers feel the same way [about the price cuts], or the company risks another weak Christmas for Blu-ray this year -- and losing out in an even bigger way when consumers begin to turn to the Internet for their HD content," he said.

Comments [89]

post a comment

bluer57

If the $200 prices don't turn sales around Blue-ray Disc is in trouble.

193052
tparsons5150

I'd say the biggest problem is too many people are afraid of change with stupid comments like DVD is good enough, or just too cheap to go to HD cuz truth is the average consumer still doesn't have a HDTV yet so obviously they don't want to buy Blu-ray movies, and then there's piracy .

I don't see why they don't just halt production of DVD and drop Blu-ray to DVD prices,. problem solved

goofball

The economy and the fact you can get new releases on DVD for $9 and now you can pick up upscaling 1080p HDMI output players that have HDD built in for $60-$100.
The average consumer cannot tell the difference nor cares. Moreover only 15% of households have a HDTV anyways.

but Lamont is wary--especially as more and more consumers turn to the Internet and services like iTunes for their HD content.

I told you guys DD content will be the future. Its coming like it or not

jstern

Some of you guys really are underestimating digital downloads and the effects of competition. And too tparsons5150 who's in charge of halting the production of DVDs? Do you think movie studios are such Sony fanboys that they're willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars by not having their movies on DVDs just so that a format will do better? And Sony cannot just simply cut blu ray movies to DVD prices, they're losing so much money on this format as it is.

electricmine

More negative articles and FUD for the 360 fanbrats to get an orgy from. Didn't we have an increase in bluray sales as of late?

Anything to attack the PS3, now that things are looking up from the system. Gamepro has no numbers or sales figures to back up this statement.

God 360 fanboys! The PS3 is goin' down! /sarcasm

Toneman

The jump from VHS to DVD made a HUGE difference. Just like cassettes to CDs. No more rewinding, jump to a scene, special bonus features, digital sound and image. The only thing Blu-Ray offers more than DVD is a better resolution and slightly better menu... not a major improvement. Upconverted DVDs look fantastic, and I can't see Blu-Ray ever being more popular than DVDs.

scarosone

The format is expensive. People want to buy movies but not the 20-30 dollar range most BR movies are. The economy is isn't doing well so who is going to put down $300+ on a new BR player and buy movies for it when you can get an upscale DVD player for under $100 and not have to buy the same movies again. Everyone here thinks HDTV is the norm, its not. There are people who don't even have cable or satellite TV out there.

Post a Comment