While Blu-ray has the advantage over HD DVD in regards to capacity, the format has been criticized for its higher production costs. So how big is the price difference between Blu-ray and HD DVD? As Wesleytech has found out, the difference is not as big as HD DVD supporters would like you to think.
My confidential industry source revealed that one large replication company is currently charging approximately $1.15 per single layer HD DVD (15GB) and $1.30 per single layer Blu-ray Disc (25GB), assuming a quantity of 25,000. For comparison purposes, a run of 25,000 Dual Layer DVD (DVD9) discs would cost about $0.50 per disc at this same facility. DL HD DVD (30GB) was right inline with SL Blu-ray (25GB) pricing, but an exact figure was not provided. This translates to a cost of approximately $0.077 per GB on HD DVD SL media and $0.052 per GB on Blu-ray SL media.
As Wes is quick to point out, these prices don't include setup or AACS fees. This and the cost to author a title, can have a big effect on the overall price. In an case, its an interesting read. if you'd like to check it out, the entire article can be found here.
