NPD: Consumers think they already have high-def

[zombieflanders]

Well, this isn't exactly encouraging:

NPD found that 85% of consumers surveyed think they’re buying high-definition DVD movies, but many of these movies weren’t available in high-definition. Of those that thought they were buying a high-def movie, 59% don’t even own a high-definition DVD player
[...]
At this point, not many consumers plan on buying a high-definition player in the immediate future. NPD found just 10% of DVD buyers plan to buy a high-def DVD player in the next six months, which Crupnick called a “startlingly low number.” Between 70% and 80% say they definitely won’t be buying a high-def player.

*Sigh* Let's hope the analysts are wrong.

[DeathKnight]

Don't count on it. The general consumer is pretty uneducated in these regards. Chalk up some of that hesitancy to purchase an HD player to sticker-shock.

[dobyblue]

Probably because so many of the new DVDs say "Mastered in High Definition" on the back of them, like that means fuck all.

[JU1CYFRU1T]

And add in a 'format war'... and you get a list full of idiots and fence sitters.

Nay, it's going to be a while before either can claim the title of 'New Home Video Standar'. (unless you ask Fox... because they say March... (dies laughing).

[MentokTheMindTaker]

Yeah I thought that a lot of consumers think that DVDs are high definition media. And they are... compared to VHSs.

[zombieflanders]

What's sad is that name recognition as a whole seems to have failed. Some believed that the Blu-ray name was "fresh" enough to make it stand out, and not promote confusion. Others thought that HD DVD had an advantage by using both "hi-def" and trusty "DVD" in one easy-to-recognize package. But it looks like nobody's right, so far.

[Aodh]

Upscaling players may lead to part of the confusion as well. Read most boxes and the average consumer is convinced that their DVDs undergo a transformation into HD. People won't buy true HD players until the prices are closer to Upconverting players, unless they're HD die hards and know the difference and have money to blow.

[imdaly]

Yeah, too many average joe's think that because they own a HDTV that they're automatically watching Hi-Def video. Some aren't that bad and think that owning an upconverting DVD player means they own a HD DVD player. But yeah, I completely believe this report, judging from what I see every day at the Circuit City where I work.

[messin18]

Originally Posted by zombieflanders

Well, this isn't exactly encouraging:



*Sigh* Let's hope the analysts are wrong.

Lol makes sony's numbers of 80% have / are buying hd movies not mean so much now huh?

[MrChaos]

My Friend over the holiday summed the general consumer up by saying that his sister bought him Batman Begins on HD DVD because she figured that because he had an HDTV, HD DVD must work.

Honestly people how long does it take to read a simple entry on wikipedia??

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by MrChaos

My Friend over the holiday summed the general consumer up by saying that his sister bought him Batman Begins on HD DVD because she figured that because he had an HDTV, HD DVD must work.

I guess THAT is an argument for combo discs, for the uninformed gifter.

[Net]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Probably because so many of the new DVDs say "Mastered in High Definition" on the back of them, like that means fuck all.

Yeah I always wondered what that meant.

[Blurry]

Originally Posted by Net

Yeah I always wondered what that meant.

It means the film is first converted to an HD master and then that is down-converted to the SD master. It gives superior results than converting the film directly to SD resolution.

[OrangeCrush]

I have come to the concusion that these HD formats are simply not going to be like DVD was. Sure it will most lilly have very solid growth but unless the studios actually force people to buy into them at some point by discontinuing the SD DVD lines, I dont think HD will ever get anywhere near the numbers DVD has. IMO I think that maybe 35-50% of the market will end up going HD at some point over the next 2-3 years but the majority will in fact stick with SD DVD's.

I dont think it will be a nich market like Laserdisc was but I dont think it will be anywhere near as successful as SD DD was. Too many people simply have nice collections of DVD at home that they feel is perfectly fine with upconverting DVD players or even non upconverting DVD players. I just dont think that mostof the people care about going HD with thier home movies. People love Standard DVD way too much as the market is so mature with cheap prices and an absolutly mind boggling amount of titles.

I used to think that HD would take over but after seeing how pathetic these companies are at advertising these products I am just not buying it like I used to. I think a 50% market share in like 5 years is probably the best that they willbe able to do and to even get that number they will have to push these products hard.

OC...

[El Duro]

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

I have come to the concusion that these HD formats are simply not going to be like DVD was. Sure it will most lilly have very solid growth but unless the studios actually force people to buy into them at some point by discontinuing the SD DVD lines, I dont think HD will ever get anywhere near the numbers DVD has. IMO I think that maybe 35-50% of the market will end up going HD at some point over the next 2-3 years but the majority will in fact stick with SD DVD's.

I dont think it will be a nich market like Laserdisc was but I dont think it will be anywhere near as successful as SD DD was. Too many people simply have nice collections of DVD at home that they feel is perfectly fine with upconverting DVD players or even non upconverting DVD players. I just dont think that mostof the people care about going HD with thier home movies. People love Standard DVD way too much as the market is so mature with cheap prices and an absolutly mind boggling amount of titles.

I used to think that HD would take over but after seeing how pathetic these companies are at advertising these products I am just not buying it like I used to. I think a 50% market share in like 5 years is probably the best that they willbe able to do and to even get that number they will have to push these products hard.

OC...

Most people are just happy with the quality of SD DVD and is true they even think that with an upscaling DVD player thay are already getting HD. I see it this way I live in NYC and is not even funny the amount of BOOTLEG movies that is being sold in the street, in the subway in fact every where. Do you think that the consumers who buy these crops think a little bit about quality ( not at all ) and trust me is a big amount of people that is buying these crops. I am 100% with you in what you saying and probably only people like us in this forum and others are the ones that really care about good quality regardless of format ( HD DVD OR Blu-ray ). At fisrt I thought to support HD DVD only but with this uncertain situation I am supporting both (HD DVD and Blu-ray ) because anyway these two new formats are way better than SD DVD.