While HD DVD is
doing quite well in the set-top player market, its still lagging behind Blu-ray in regards to movie sales. In Europe, Blu-ray has sold
more than one million units and has accounted for 73% of of the high-def discs sold this year.
Total Blu-ray Disc movie
sales across Europe have topped one million units, it was announced today by the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee.
Of the High Definition movie discs bought by consumers year-to-date in Europe, 73% were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27% were HD DVD,
according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.
The only High Definition packaged media universally
supported by the film, music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling High Definition packaged media. The one million unit
milestone relates to movies only. If BD game disc production is added into the equation, then total number of discs produced for sale in
Europe already exceeds 21 million units. The so-called ‘PlayStation effect’ is important since it is creating major economies of scale
and makes BD disc replication cost effective.
Blu-ray Disc movie sales experienced their highest weekly sales since the inception
of the format, in week 44, topping 66,000 units. This is due to the launch of new release titles such as 300, Spider-Man 3, Die Hard 4.0
and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
While selling a million discs is a commendable feat, its still a drop in
the bucket compared to the number of standard DVD's being sold. If you'd like to read more, the Blu-ray Disc Association's entire
press release can be found here.
