Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD: Warner's 300, The Departed, Planet Earth

[Dust]

Summary of Warner's Major Titles:

300 (Ratio: 1.89)
Superman Returns (Ratio: 1.82)
Happy Feet (Ratio: 1.65)
The Departed (Ratio: 1.64)
Ocean's 13 (Ratio: ~1.60)
Planet Earth (Ratio: 0.95)




For the week of November 11, the Year-To-Date was given instead of the weekly sales number. Here's the result.

Top 10 YTD as of November 11, 2007:

1. 300 100.00
2. Transformers 66.57
3. 300 52.84
4. Casino Royale 51.83
5. The Departed 33.79
6. PotC DMC 33.68
7. Planet Earth 30.71
8. PotC CBP 29.19
9. Planet Earth 29.19
10. Apocalypto 26.70

xx Spider-man 3 25.00
xx Ghost Rider 21.78
xx The Departed 20.60




Warner's 3 best selling titles YTD as of Nov. 11

300 100.00
300 52.84
Ratio: 1.89

The Departed 33.79
The Departed 20.60
Ratio: 1.64

Planet Earth 29.19
Planet Earth 30.71
Ratio: 0.95


-------------------------------------

Other major Warner titles:

First week (Ratio: 1.52)
Ocean's 13 50
Ocean's 13 33

Second week (Ratio: 1.66)

Ocean's 13 16.73
Ocean's 13 10.08

Third week (Ratio: 1.67)
Ocean's 13 28.86
Ocean's 13 17.27



Happy Feet (as of August 5, 2007)
Blu-ray - 32,000
HD DVD - 19,400
Ratio 1.65

Superman Returns (as of August 5, 2007)
Blu-ray - 27,800
HD DVD - 15,300
Ratio 1.82

[kowhite]

But...but...Amazon!

[Merlins]

Originally Posted by kowhite

But...but...Amazon!

Yes, their sales are included Their rankings is another thing...

[Dust]

Just curious, how come Planet Earth is doing better in HD DVD than Blu-ray?

Any explainations? PS3 buyers are less likely to buy documentaries? PS3 buyers are turned off by the high price of Planet Earth? Discount for HD DVD?


p.s.

Planet Earth is co-produced by BBC (UK) Discovery Channel (US/UK), CBC (Canada) and NHK (Japan). So Warner is only the distributor not the producer.

[chipvideo]

Originally Posted by Dust

Just curious, how come Planet Earth is doing better in HD DVD than Blu-ray?

Any explainations? PS3 buyers are less likely to buy documentaries? PS3 buyers are turned off by the high price of Planet Earth? Discount for HD DVD?


p.s.

Planet Earth is co-produced by BBC (UK) Discovery Channel (US/UK), CBC (Canada) and NHK (Japan). So Warner is only the distributor not the producer.

Demographic of the PS3 is much different than a SAL.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by chipvideo

Demographic of the PS3 is much different than a SAL.

Really?

Do you have an age breakdown of people who currently buy both or are you just talking out of your @$$ ?

I would ask for links but asking for a link from an HD-DVD fan is like trying to hold up a falling building with a toothpick it's kinda useless.

Logan

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Dust

Warner's 3 best selling titles YTD as of Nov. 11

300 100.00
300 52.84

Ratio: 1.89

The Departed 33.79
The Departed 20.60

Ratio: 1.64

Planet Earth 29.19
Planet Earth 30.71

Ratio: 0.95

I DO find that interesting though, it shows that 300, ONE title on Blu-Ray is practically outselling the other 3 by itself vs the HD-DVD versions.

Very interesting.

Logan

[C.S.Strowbridge]

Originally Posted by Dust

Just curious, how come Planet Earth is doing better in HD DVD than Blu-ray?

Less competition on HD-DVD. For a long time it was the marquee HD-DVD release.

[C.S.Strowbridge]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Really?

Do you have an age breakdown of people who currently buy both or are you just talking out of your @$$ ?

The average video game player is in their 30s. I doubt it's that much different that the average owner of a SA player.

[Hunting Wabbits]

Originally Posted by Dust

Any explainations? PS3 buyers are less likely to buy documentaries? PS3 buyers are turned off by the high price of Planet Earth? Discount for HD DVD?

For me that would be a yes, and a yes. I'd rather get a box set of movies than shell out that kind of money for something to put me to sleep. I'll expect I'll end up putting my money towards Potter.

[undrafted]

I tend to prefer blu-ray for Warner titles, but I have both 300 and the Departed on HD DVD.

300 comes free with the A3. I doubt that counts towards the list.

the Departed was one of the only decent titles I didn't own already during the Amazon Black Friday A3 sale.

I'd probably buy both on Blu-ray if they hadn't been bundled in the A3 deal.

I'd probably take Planet Earth for free, not sure if I'd watch it.

[Dust]

Originally Posted by C.S.Strowbridge

Less competition on HD-DVD. For a long time it was the marquee HD-DVD release.

Did Warner released both Blu-Ray and HD DVD Planet Earth at the same time?

I think the fact that it is a documentary (not PS3 gamers cup of tea) might have a large effect on the ratio. The expensive price might also played a part.

[g.k.]

What's amazing is just how well Planet Earth is doing overall. That title sure has legs.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Dust

I think the fact that it is a documentary (not PS3 gamers cup of tea) might have a large effect on the ratio.

Again, is there any evidence of this or are you HD-DVD fans just talking out of your @$$ ?

I like documentaries, and oh shit... I own a PS3 as well... goddamn I must be an individual, crap.

Logan

[makingmusic476]

Also, Warner titles are still selling at the same ratios now as they've been all year, despite HD DVD's recent SAL sales:

From the Nielson thread:

Week ended November 25, 2007
Top 10 titles:

1. Live Free or Die Hard 100.00
2. Open Season 49.75
3. Spider-man 3 36.67
4. Ratatouille 29.66
5. Shrek 3 25.01
6. Transformers 22.87
7. Hairspray 17.72
8. Ocean's 13 16.73
9. Santa Clause 3 15.53
10. 300 15.09

xxPlanet Earth 13.72
xxPlanet Earth 10.42
xxOcean's 13 10.08
xxStar Trek TOS: S1 6.88
xx300 6.44

300 - 2.34:1 BD:HD
Ocean's 13 - 1.66:1 BD:HD

Price drops on the ps3 and BD SALs have allowed the BDA to easily keep pace with Toshiba's $1-200 sales. These low prices were Toshiba's big chance, and they haven't really done much at all. They've simply kept HD DVD from falling further behind, much like the price drops in May and the Paramount move in September.

Every time Toshiba makes a big move, the ratios drop to the 50s for Blu-Ray, and every time Blu-Ray recovers, with the ratios eventually moving back to the upper 60s and low 70s in favor of Blu-Ray.

I remember back in May when Toshiba announced the sale of 70,000 SALs in only a month after price drops. The sales ratios for the week ending 5/20 were 52:48 BD:HD. By the end of June they were back up to the upper 60s in favor of Blu-Ray. The same has happened after the Paramount deal and the 90k HD DVD SAL sale.

Barring Warner going HD exclusive (which goes against all logic, as the OP points out), what does HD DVD have left?