HD VMD predicts 500,000 units sold worldwide in '08
By Richard Lawler 
posted Feb 8th 2008 1:55PM
posted Feb 8th 2008 1:55PM
to bring you up to speed on the plucky red laser HD format. NME thinks with its low production costs and movie prices -- about the same as a standard DVD -- it can move 500,000 of the 1080p standalone players worldwide this year. The company has had some success dealing with international distributors, resulting in high profile movies like Apocalypto available on the format in Australia. In the U.S., the only studio noted is Anthem Pictures, which plans to release three titles a month. With HD DVD prices plunging and Blu-ray's expectations soaring its tough to see HD VMD competing with the big boys.
"Lazy Town" is that the best they can do? I hate that show. Lazy Town is like the Teletubies, you have to be either drunk or high, or both, in order for them to make sense.
You do realize that you are not Lazy Town's target audience, don't you? You might be "a little" to old. Especially if Alcohol and Drugs are necessary for you to enjoy the show....
I'm not worried about lazy town, I'm worried about the guy that is doing the Ad! How long will it take before he wraps his lips around the barrel of a gun?
Looking at that picture I don't picture him with his lips around a gun.
Actually that guy is the owner of the lazy town franchise. I think he's doing just all right.
This company is just a scam factory. There is no way for them to hit that sales projection.
This just in, every major movie studio going exclusive blu-ray or hd dvd and not releaseing on vmd. Oh wait, that was the situation from the very beggining. I might as well build my own hdplayer and release my personal home filmed hd movies and call my format the next best thing.
"The Number One Kids Show"? Where is that? Maybe the Netherlands or New Zealand, which I think is where the show originates.
It originates from Iceland.
mmmm....hd stephanie......
Has anyone at EngadgetHD tested the VMD players yet?
They may as well fold up their tent right now. If you want cheap HD content then both HD DVD and Blu Ray have offerings that work on DVD-9 media.
I looked at Amazon's HD VMD bundle, which has a player and several movies:
"Film titles include Cutting Room, Eighth Plague, Enigma With A Stigma, Mother Ghost, Refuge Of The Last Resort and The Naked Ape as you've never seen them before!"
I've never heard of those titles.
Incidentally, that bundle isn't even available for sale. The player is available by itself, but there are no HD VMD movies available for sale on Amazon.
I can't help but think the "LazyTown" tie-in is not targeting the right demographic that might want to buy into this standard.
I didn't know Freddy Mercury was doing commercials for HD VMD?!
They actually have some good titles...they just don't have the USA liscensing and distribution.
It's a bit funny that the folks in Iceland will have access to the first hd version of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (yes, Peter Jackson's trilogy) thru the HD VMD release.
HD VMD doesn't have region coding...so, alot of the good movies won't be immediately avialable to the USA. But, targeting the independents...who can't afford Bluray, is a smart way to go.
But no one in Iceland has (or is about to buy) HD-VMD players. It's mostly blu here (since the PS3 is so popular). Why our media companies went HD-VMD exclusive no one knows.
C'mon now, Blue ray HD formats only have 1% of the home video market in the USA. Don't tell me they dominate Iceland. I suspect standard DVD still rules the day.
2007 Breakdown of 23.8 billion dollar industry:
16 Billion = DVD
300 million (1 % of market ) = Bluray & HD DVD
7.5 = DVD rental
Yes, I was talking about HD only, not SD. It's 99% Blu, 1% Red, and a big fat zero for HDVMD. So why Sena and Myndform went with HDVMD is just baffling. Especially when Sena is the Sony rep in Iceland vis-a-vis the PS3.