No Country Blu-ray sales on the rise

[dominica]

Just some News:

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6543961.html

"By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 3/21/2008

MARCH 21 | Oscar Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men also is a winner on Blu-ray Disc.

Retailers report that the Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment March 11 release is generating 10% to 15% of its sales on Blu-ray, which is higher than the average 5% to 10% on major day-and-date DVD/BD new release.

DeepDiscount.com, Newbury Comics and Virgin Megastores all report No Country skewing higher Blu than other titles.

Store managers attribute No Country’s Blu-ray muscle to both the caché of the Oscar-decorated title and the fall of the HD DVD format.

Disney did not comment.

“We did over 100 on Blu-ray, and over 1,000 [overall] in the first week No Country was on sale,” said Ian Leshin, buyer for Newbury’s 27 New England stores. “That’s a big number. Since the HD DVD side of things folded, we have seen a marked improvement in Blu-ray sales. [Customers] are feeling comfortable buying into the format.”

David T. Barker, VP of ecommerce marketing for DeepDiscount parent Infinity Resources, said, No Country “is running at about 15% Blu-ray, which is stronger than normal. The format is certainly on the rise, but in my opinion, it’s the strength of the title.”

Retailers expect BD to continue to be an increasing part of titles’ sales. Barker also thought Disney’s March 18 release Enchanted should enjoy BD heft, as 8% of its sales were in the format on street date at DeepDiscount.

“We’re seeing key new release titles on Blu-ray, like No Country, exceed 10% of total sales,” said Chris Anstey, Virgin senior product manager. “This trend will continue on new releases as the format gradually comes into its own.”

[bboy412]

Nice, Good for blu-ray but still only a percentage, we need some hard sales numbers as this title may have sold 100k.

[Nomen Luni]

Nice to see an actual percentage figure for BD vs. overall sales on a specific title. It gives a better picture of the demand for BD at the moment than a perhaps apples-to-oranges comparison of format sales across all titles.

[Woody]

Wow 10-15% is very impressive.

[JAGUAR1977]

Excellent news.

[C.S.Strowbridge]

I'd like to see industry wide numbers instead of just from one store, but at least Blu-ray is moving in the right direction, despite what others might say.

[steaky]

I am at the same time shocked but also pleased. I dont think we expected 10% this year, but perhaps this will hold up when compared to DVD on the same titles in 2008. Its not really fair to compare DVD to the whole DVD market given its back catalogue. Heads up on new releases its doing better than we thought it seems.

[bganga]

It would be nice to see this kind of info about I Am Legend.

[Darth Daver]

Good information but I'd like to see info from more than one retailer and a few more movies.

[Stories]

Originally Posted by bganga

It would be nice to see this kind of info about I Am Legend.

I'd think the cheap starting price of online retailers may make I Am Legend a big mover. $19 for a day and date release? I was all on top of that one.

[BladeofTheImmortal]

Well, No Country is one of the best movies ever made.

[ack_bak]

The Purple Avengor must be rolling over in his banned grave.. 10-15% is very impressive for a title that has generated as much press as this one has (as well as awards).

[pirates]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

The Purple Avengor must be rolling over in his banned grave.. 10-15% is very impressive for a title that has generated as much press as this one has (as well as awards).

So there is a god! It's about time. Hehe.

It is impressive though. I must admit I helped contribute the sales. It's an amazing movie. I think this is enough proof that blu-ray is starting to really jump start since HD DVD is long gone.

[Kid Banana]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

The Purple Avengor must be rolling over in his banned grave.. 10-15% is very impressive for a title that has generated as much press as this one has (as well as awards).

Yes, I think it's titles like this that will initially get the highest percentage of hidef sales.

Big, popular, movies sell by the truckload on DVD so they will initially dwarf the hidef numbers shipped. Acclaimed (but slightly difficult) movies like 'No Country...' have a higher appeal to hard-core film fans than the casual consumer and hard-core film fans are more likely to shell out for hidef than the average Joe.

Anyway, good news for hidef in general and nice to see a title like 'No Country...' lay waste to the 'only action movies sell on blu-ray' and 'HD DVD is the only format for film buffs' arguments in one go.

[Hi i'm God]

Originally Posted by pirates

So there is a god! It's about time. Hehe.

Yes and you're welcome.