Study shows that Blu-ray sales are killin' in Japan
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jan 21st 2008 2:03PM
posted Jan 21st 2008 2:03PM
Although Japan Today doesn't realize that Blu-ray discs aren't DVDs, they do have some interesting stats that shed some light on why Warner might have chose to go BD exclusive. The report is from a study of 2,300 Japanese electronic retailers, and shows that 90-percent of HD movie player recorder sales -- not counting the PS3 -- were owned by Blu-ray. The other interesting thing to note is that although Americans couldn't care less about recording to shiny round discs, the Japanese continue to love it, and HD disc recorder sales were up to 20-percent in November and December from 6.1-percent in October. Leading the way in recorder sales was Sony, followed by Panasonic and Sharp.
"Japaneese" ??
First!
Well no surprise here, uber expensive tech is big out there.
Its funny how this big tech debate came about when both formats are very similar, it really all depended on money and influence, but BR hardware is more expensive and at the moment less able, however Japan digs the "high end" stuff
Please, please, please don't start that "First!" thing here too.
That is one of my biggest pet peeves.
That is all. Thank you.
and no - you weren't "first"
This has changed since...?
I hope this doesn't result in a "news" story about every other area like Europe, Australia, etc...
I see that spreading FUD across all of the Engadget domains is the norm? This article is about RECORDER sales, not movie player sales. Of course BD would be the obvious winner in RECORDER sales given its higher capacity.....reading comprehension FTL!
They use these boxes like VHS recorders, they play content as well as record. It's the lions share of the market over there.
If there are more recorders sold in Japan, wouldn't that translate to more BR-Rs, and of course more BR players?
I'm trying to be kinder in response to foolish comments but you're making sooooo difficult...
The people that buy these recorders may not even care about movies. They may just want to have more space on their optical medium for backing up data.
This article does not say that Blu-ray has 90 percent of the market in Japan. Engadget subject heading is misleading.
It doesn't matter, as of October 2007, Blu-ray *movies* outsold whatever HDDVD offerings there were by 9:1
(source: Createc 2007, Japan)
I might guess the odds have only improved since then.
Much of the world has also been PAL, but the US was NTSC. Two formats - in one world?? Egad!
And the US HD broadcast method (8VSB) is pretty much a loser overseas, too.
Just like BetaMAX...Honestly...The exact same thing. Japan loved BETAMAX. In fact sony produced their last betamax player in 2002. So why is this news? I just want to know since, this has been like this from the very beginning and it wasnt going to be any different then what BetaMax did. THIS WAS A GIVEN!
It's not surprising if Blu Ray captures the recorder market. HD DVD recorders are rarer than hens teeth and likely to stay that way.
The correct number is 96%.