PS3's Blu-ray Functionality Promoted in New Ad

[silverado]

The percentage of the PS3 userbase using it for a Blu-ray player is increasing as awareness of the feature and interest in the format increase. Blu-ray is getting MORE relevant for the PS3's value, not less.

I keep hearing how the PS3 users are buying/renting more movies and all that, but there is no credible link or anything to back up such claims. Call of Duty sold massive amounts and this equates to more systems selling.
As each PS3 is sold I am sure that the consumer is aware that it plays Blu-ray movies, but I am skeptical that they are starting a collection and buying catalog as well as new releases more often then gaming.
As far as Blu-ray's relevance for PS3's value...................less. Hence the price drop.

[Kosty]

I keep hearing how the PS3 users are buying/renting more movies and all that, but there is no credible link or anything to back up such claims. Call of Duty sold massive amounts and this equates to more systems selling.
As each PS3 is sold I am sure that the consumer is aware that it plays Blu-ray movies, but I am skeptical that they are starting a collection and buying catalog as well as new releases more often then gaming.
As far as Blu-ray's relevance for PS3's value...................less. Hence the price drop.

Some of the recent growth in Blu-ray sales is due to the increased buying activity of existing Blu-ray hardware owners, its not just new Blu-ray player owners that are increasing Blu-ray movie purchases. New PS3 owners and existing PS3 owners are part of that and the large amount of PS3 owners are the largest group of people that could be energized to purchase Blu-ray movies.

Existing and new PS3 owners also will react to cheaper Blu-ray movie prices and increased promotion and inventory of Blu-ray movies at their local retailers.

PS3 owners still have the most Blu-ray drives in households, so its logical to assume they are buying more Blu-ray movies and thats also effecting the Blu-ray sales figures.

[silverado]

I think that Blu-ray software growth is mirrored by the increase in SAL sales.
Don't misunderstand what my point is here, I know that PS3 owners buy movies, I know that new releases (certain ones anyway) gain in sales from the game console, but increased sales and hopeful catalog sales in the future are not resting on PS3's shoulders.
Your (kosty) charts show growth but that does not directly link PS3 with those sales, common sense says that increased SAL's have increased software sales.

[Pro-bassoonist]

I think that Blu-ray software growth is mirrored by the increase in SAL sales.
Don't misunderstand what my point is here, I know that PS3 owners buy movies, I know that new releases (certain ones anyway) gain in sales from the game console, but increased sales and hopeful catalog sales in the future are not resting on PS3's shoulders.
Your (kosty) charts show growth but that does not directly link PS3 with those sales, common sense says that increased SAL's have increased software sales.

Increased sales do not rest on the shoulders of SA either. If there is such definitive study that shows clearly that current growth has not been fueled by the brisk PS3 sales, I would like to see it.

The PS3 has contributed greatly for the mass proliferation of the format and continues to be a major factor everyone in the industry is paying attention to. Fact of the matter is - even in the future, if 3D ends up being unreservedly embraced by the content owners, the PS3 will continue to be a major factor on the market.

Pro-B

[Kosty]

Until we can get some hardware sales stats its rather tough to try and correlate anything.


But I think its fair to say that all are happening at the same time and contributing to increasing Blu-ray sales. More PS3 sales. More Blu-ray player sales. Increasing purchases by both existing and new owners of both Blu-ray players and PS3s. Increasing Blu-ray purchases by existing PS3 owners and some new PS3 owners who have bought the PS3 primarily to use as a dedicated Blu-ray player.

In 2007 and 2008 a lot of PS3s were bought primarily to be used as dedicated Blu-ray players as they were the best value and future proof piece of Blu-ray hardware even at a $499 or $599 price point. As Blu-ray players got better and cheaper the PS3 declined as the best value Blu-ray player. But with a $299 price point, the PS3 value again as a pure Blu-ray player is once again increasing for many consumers and enthusiasts and the Sony message here on the PS3s multiple capabilities may very well be gaining traction.

[nextoo]

I believe Sony is trying to catch lightening in a bottle with the PS3.

It worked for the PS2 with the arrival of DVD but with BD most of the horses are already out of the barn. Not all of the horses but most.

Trying to leverage the PS3 BD capabilities makes sense. Why not. But the timing is off - way off. From a pricing perspective.

With CE BD players already at sub $100 levels I'm not sure the PS3 $299 price point means much for BD uptake. It won't hurt but the days of a PS gaming platform being the preeminent optical disc movie platform reminds most of days gone by.

That window is already closed.

[Rich86]

They are also spending a lot more money on the campaign than they ever had with mentions of its Blu-ray capability.

The PS3 helped the Blu-ray format win the format war.

Now with the increasing success of Blu-ray, that built in capability of the PS3 with its new lower price point is going to help Sony sell more PS3s.

With folks interested in gaming who like the games available on the PS3?
Sure.
For the rest of us?
No way!

[ack_bak]

Sony gambled adding Blu-Ray into the PS3, and I believe that gamble will payoff. It (the PS3) was clearly one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reason Toshiba was forced to pull the plug on HD DVD, and I think the PS3 will be another 10 year console easy. Sony has lost a pile of money putting Blu-Ray in the PS3, but the rewards are going to really payoff, as Sony gets BD player royalties, disc royalties, manufacturers the discs, makes games and movies that go on those discs too.

I also think Nintendo and Microsoft will strongly consider adding Blu-Ray into their next console to support larger games, and give their consoles a strong media presence. Sony stands to reap piles and piles of money if that happens due to licensing and disc manufacturing.

The PS3 was the catalyst for all of this and truly is an amazing machine. I still consider it a very strong Blu-Ray player for someone looking for a complete player today (ie it will support 3D, most likely managed copy, etc).

[vinnie97]

I can't believe I'm saying this (in support of the PS3) but...the PS3 is also a good media extender for those with networked PCs.

It only does everything.©

[silverado]

Increased sales do not rest on the shoulders of SA either. If there is such definitive study that shows clearly that current growth has not been fueled by the brisk PS3 sales, I would like to see it.

The PS3 has contributed greatly for the mass proliferation of the format and continues to be a major factor everyone in the industry is paying attention to. Fact of the matter is - even in the future, if 3D ends up being unreservedly embraced by the content owners, the PS3 will continue to be a major factor on the market.

Pro-B

Exactly my point, thank you
It does continue to sell and the consumers will continue to buy new releases for the PS3 if the funding is not taken by the next big video game.
To attribute continued growth of software to mainly the PS3 is naive at best. With different genres grabbing a bigger share of the software sales pie, then that points to SAL being sold to a wider variety of consumer who enjoy a wider variety of movies and maybe people who collect and enjoy MOVIES not GAMES

[Pro-bassoonist]

Exactly my point, thank you

Far from it, really.

You are arguing that the increase in software sales mirrors the increase in SA sales. However, I am not aware of an industry report showing that the increase of software sales isn't fueled by the strong PS3 sales we've witnessed recently.

Additionally, no one is arguing that the increase of software sales should be attributed to mainly the PS3; I certainly am not.

What I am arguing is the same point I argued a couple of months ago when a thread in this forum questioned whether or not the PS3 slim price cut would have an impact on the software market - the answer, I believe, is obvious. What isn't entirely clear now is what is the actual breakdown between PS3 and SA sales and how software sales are impacted.

Pro-B

[Rich86]

Far from it, really.

You are arguing that the increase in software sales mirrors the increase in SA sales. However, I am not aware of an industry report showing that the increase of software sales isn't fueled by the strong PS3 sales we've witnessed recently.

Additionally, no one is arguing that the increase of software sales should be attributed to mainly the PS3; I certainly am not.

What I am arguing is the same point I argued a couple of months ago when a thread in this forum questioned whether or not the PS3 slim price cut would have an impact on the software market - the answer, I believe, is obvious. What isn't entirely clear now is what is the actual breakdown between PS3 and SA sales and how software sales are impacted.

Pro-B

You are right, of course. The answer IS obvious. There is absolutely NO indication that the drop in price of the PS3 had any impact whatsoever on the sales of blu-ray based optical media entertainment titles.

[silverado]

Far from it, really.

You are arguing that the increase in software sales mirrors the increase in SA sales. However, I am not aware of an industry report showing that the increase of software sales isn't fueled by the strong PS3 sales we've witnessed recently.

Additionally, no one is arguing that the increase of software sales should be attributed to mainly the PS3; I certainly am not.

What I am arguing is the same point I argued a couple of months ago when a thread in this forum questioned whether or not the PS3 slim price cut would have an impact on the software market - the answer, I believe, is obvious. What isn't entirely clear now is what is the actual breakdown between PS3 and SA sales and how software sales are impacted.

Pro-B

Elementary. Nothing I do at work is definitive so we have to use deductions and theorize.
SAL sales increased, software sales increase, PS3 sales remain relatively same as last year.
Blu-ray sales show increased sales in different genres of movies that are not
"PS3 orientated" and the explosive sales of Call of Duty show that gamers are buying, just seems to be games.
Just ask Kosty about Up. GREAT week and there was no explosions or Megan Fox!!
SAL=buying/watching/renting movies
PS3=games/network chat/movies/downloads/facebook/netflix.
Increased PS3 sales could mean more netflix subscriptions, or more facebook accounts, but we will never know, just guesstimate.
That was my point, I believe the same as yours.

[Elee s]

Nah, I would wager that there is little to no changes when it comes to Blu penetration at this time in PS3's life.

Well certainly as SALs get cheaper the PS3's role becomes less crucial to Blu ray's success. Its still huge though. 150-200k a month is probably more than any 1 brand sells.

SAL's are cheaper than a PS3 and if you want to watch Blu movies, then you will get a SAL and NOT a PS3, if you want to play games, you already own a PS3 or XBOX and watching movies is not the system seller.
Why wouldn't they be advertising or creating software/hardware bundles with COD. Huge selling game that would sell systems.

Wait.. isnt this the opposite of what youre trying to say? or are you really saying that from here on out every person that buys a PS3 is using it for movies since they'd already have one if they were interested in games?

[Kosty]

Exactly my point, thank you
It does continue to sell and the consumers will continue to buy new releases for the PS3 if the funding is not taken by the next big video game.

To attribute continued growth of software to mainly the PS3 is naive at best.

With different genres grabbing a bigger share of the software sales pie, then that points to SAL being sold to a wider variety of consumer who enjoy a wider variety of movies and maybe people who collect and enjoy MOVIES not GAMES

Who is saying that? The PS3 was the catalyst and in 2008 and early 2009 it may have been the driving force for Blu-ray movie sales but as cheaper better standalone Blu-ray players are sold in greater numbers its dominance is clearly falling. But there are a lot of PS3s in the yield and more being sold every day and even more at the $299 price point. As Blu-ray becomes more mainstream that mass of PS3 owners will contribute even more to Blu-ray sales.

The advantage of directing Blu-ray promotion at PS3 owners is a lot of them are dormant or low volume Blu-ray users at the moment so there is a lot of untapped potential there. So this kind of promotion of the PS 3 as a Blu-ray player not only promotes new owners to buy one but it has the bonus of of promoting Blu-ray usage among existing PS3 owners.