» Subscribe to Newsletter
» Switch to BizTech2.com
Home » News » DVD Players HiFi & TV » HD DVD Demise Hasn't Meant Scramble For Blu-ray
HD DVD Demise Hasn't Meant Scramble For Blu-ray
By: AP   |   May 03,2008
Sales of Blu-ray disc players haven't been helped by maker Toshiba's capitulation over producing the rival HD DVD format, research firm NPD Group said Wednesday.

Toshiba announced on Feb. 19 that it would stop making HD DVD players, already doomed by Warner Bros. Entertainment's announcement Jan. 4 that it was dropping HD DVD to focus on Blu-ray.

Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding PlayStation 3 game consoles, dropped 40 percent from January to February in the U.S., according to NPD. Sales grew only 2 percent from February to March. The firm didn't release numbers of players sold.

''When we surveyed consumers late last year, an overwhelming number of them said they weren't investing in a new next-generation player because their old DVD player worked well and next-generation players were too expensive,'' said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD. ''It's clear from retail sales that those consumer sentiments are still holding true.''

While DVD players cost less than $100, Blu-ray players generally cost $400 or more.

Another factor that may be holding back sales of Blu-ray players is that anticipated models with Internet connectivity haven't hit the market yet. Current models can't be upgraded.

But sales of PS3s seem to be recovering, perhaps with help from their built-in Blu-ray players. Sony Corp. sold 257,120 units in the U.S. in March, nearly doubling last year's figure.

Another firm, ABI Research, estimates that PS3s will account for more than 85 percent of Blu-ray players in use this year and that the number of stand-alone players and Blu-ray-equipped PCs won't surpass them until 2013.
 
Ads by Google 
Post a Comment on “HD DVD Demise Hasn't Meant Scramble For Blu-ray”
Comment : 
Name : 
City : 
Email : 
There are no comments on this article yet.
Why don't you post one?
Ads by Google 
Ads by Google
Ads by Google
Products
Camcorders  |   Controllers  |   CPUs  |   Desktop PCs  |   Digital Cameras  |   Digital Video Recorders  |   DVD Players  |   Games  |   Gaming Consoles  |   General  |   GPS Systems  |   Handhelds / PDAs  |   Hard Drives  |   Headphones & Headsets  |   HiFi Audio Systems  |   Home Theater Systems  |   Input Devices  |   Internet  |   Laptops  |   Low Level Components  |   Mac Systems  |   Mobile Phone Accessories  |   Mobile Phones  |   Monitors  |   Motherboards  |   MP3 / Audio Players  |   Multi-Function Devices  |   Networking  |   Optical Drives  |   PC Accessories  |   PC Add-on Cards  |   PC Cabinets  |   PC Games  |   Printers  |   Projectors  |   RAM Modules  |   Scanners  |   Software  |   Speakers  |   Telecom  |   TVs  |   Video Players  |  
Careers | About Us | Ad Inventory | Site Profile | Feedback | Copyright © 2007, Tech2.com India - A Network 18 India Venture