Blu-ray players reach 2.7 million units sold

[mikemorel]

Blu-ray players reach 2.7 million units sold

DEC. 3 | The Blu-ray Disc Assn. is touting a new milestone passed over the Black Friday shopping period, noting that player sales since launch reached 2.7 million units through Nov. 24.

Like the HD DVD camp’s recent claims, the figure encompasses both Blu-ray-capable gaming devices and Blu-ray set-top players.

Through October, there had been 2 million units sold of the Blu-ray-enhanced PlayStation 3. That arguably gives Blu-ray set-tops a 700,000 piece of overall format unit sales. But the picture is muddied somewhat by the likely gangbuster PlayStation 3 sales in November due to the introduction of the relatively cheap $399 PlayStation 3. November console sales will not be available from the NPD Group until mid-December.

It’s tough to calculate specific gains for Blu-ray set-tops, as many of the manufacturers have not released sales information on their players to this point.

Still, the 2.7 million sold is a clear achievement over the HD DVD side, which pushed its installment base to 750,000 units following widespread holiday retail sales, notably including $99-priced players at Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Although not as steeply priced-slashed as rival HD DVD, many Blu-ray players also were sale-priced at retail. Several chains were offering Samsung and Sony Blu-ray players at $399, $100 below their $499 list prices.

The BDA last week also trumpeted its continuing lead in Blu-ray software sales, which in the weeks leading up to Black Friday had been outpacing HD DVD titles by a two-to-one ratio. During the Black Friday period, BD titles made up 72.6% of all high-def purchases, with HD DVD totaling 27.4%, according to Nielsen/VideoScan figures cited by BDA.

The fact that BD software remains the sales leader in an environment of heavy HD DVD player discounting is especially heartening to the BDA.

A statement from the group noted, “Despite the $99 HD DVD fire sale, Blu-ray movies were flying off the shelves in this crucial holiday shopping period.”

According to the BD camp, total BD disc sales in the U.S. since launch topped 4 million units in November, about the same time HD DVD software sales passed just 2.5 million units.

at 700,000 standalones...High comedy.

[kowhite]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

at 700,000 standalones...

Yeah, that's not right. The PS3 is closer to 2.5 million than 2.0 million after Black Friday.

[Rayzor77]

Cue the Red Army in 5..4..3..2..1

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by kowhite

Yeah, that's not right. The PS3 is closer to 2.5 million than 2.0 million after Black Friday.

Which makes standalones 200,000. Sounds about right.

Originally Posted by article

It’s tough to calculate specific gains for Blu-ray set-tops, as many of the manufacturers have not released sales information on their players to this point.

Why do you think that is?

[Garret]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Which makes standalones 200,000. Sounds about right.

200,000 BD players in a year? That's pitiful.

[kowhite]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Which makes standalones 200,000. Sounds about right.

It's around there. I think they walked into November with around 2.1 million to date, and estimates seem to peg 450k being a reasonable November estimate. Since this doesn't include the last week, that's about 300k to date...so it might be closer to 300k standalones.

It's muddy though, 200k-300k sounds about right.

[ChayesFSS]

rofl @ 200k...the usa is not as dumb as some think I guess

[kowhite]

It does seem more like 300k. But yeah, that's not a huge number. Granted, neither is 500k.

[chocobomog]

Originally Posted by Garret

200,000 BD players in a year? That's pitiful.

Originally Posted by ChayesFSS

rofl @ 200k...the usa is not as dumb as some think I guess

I love how people automatically go to the standalone numbers and ignore all other numbers in the announcement.

It's like the mentality is "if we ignore the PS3, it will go away".

If 200k is so bad, how did Blu-ray outsell HD-DVD 72:28 during the biggest shopping week of the year? (and yes, both sides gave away movies, just HD-DVD gave away 3:1 movies: players).

[Garret]

Originally Posted by chocobomog

I love how people automatically go to the standalone numbers and ignore all other numbers in the announcement.

It's like the mentality is "if we ignore the PS3, it will go away".

If 200k is so bad, how did Blu-ray outsell HD-DVD 72:28 during the biggest shopping week of the year? (and yes, both sides gave away movies, just HD-DVD gave away 3:1 movies: players).

Hopefully, someday people will have games to play on their PS3 and not have to face a choice of play Blu-Ray movies or watch it collect dust.

[kowhite]

Originally Posted by Garret

Hopefully, someday people will have games to play on their PS3 and not have to face a choice of play Blu-Ray movies or watch it collect dust.

And hopefully, when you realize this gamer effect isn't going to happen, you people will stop with this unfounded and unrealistic scenario that you hope will happen, but just won't. When March and April hit, and MGS4 and GTA4 both hit, you know what's going to happen to Blu-Ray sales?

Nothing. It'll continue to be dependant on releases and continue to follow similar trends.

[chocobomog]

Originally Posted by Garret

Hopefully, someday people will have games to play on their PS3 and not have to face a choice of play Blu-Ray movies or watch it collect dust.

You mean like Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Warhawk, Folklore, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, MotorStorm, Resistance, Everyday Shooter, Super Stardust HD? Or how about upcoming games like Haze, UT3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Little Big Planet? Or maybe great non-exclusives like Call of Duty 4, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, Guitar Hero 3, Oblivion, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, and soon the Orange Box and GTA IV?

There are many great games on the PS3, and many more that aren't listed but interest specific genres (sports, racing, etc).

How many of these have you played?

[mikemorel]

Originally Posted by chocobomog

I love how people automatically go to the standalone numbers and ignore all other numbers in the announcement.

It's like the mentality is "if we ignore the PS3, it will go away".

You are absolutely right - we should pay more attention to the PS3.

2.5 million after one full year in the market??? That's terrible.

What happened to Andy Parson's proclaimation of 4 to 7 million PS3s by the end of 2006?

[Coren]

Hehe yah. Within the last month, I bought Ratchet and Clank, and Uncharted for the PS3 - As well as about a dozen Blu-ray movies. Once the plethora of PS3 exclusive games start coming out next year, it's not gonna slow down my Blu-ray purchases one bit.

[rmslives]

A. It doesn't matter how many standalones were sold - 2.7 million BD players versus 750k is the score. Advantage, Blu-Ray!

B. Bullshit to 700k BD standalones. The BDA needs to stop releasing hazy figures: state how many fucking standalones were sold, because you're still winning even if PS sales make up 86% of all BD players. Stop with the deliberate vagueness, BDA!