I'm an American, and so not necessarily qualified to comment directly on this. However, I wonder if part of the problem is a lack of available programming? Here I can put up an antenna and see virtually all primetime programming in glorious 1080i or 720p, for free. If I subscribe to cable or satellite, my choices go up to as many as 50 HD channels (most broadcasting a combination of HD and SD programs).
I'm sure HD would have had a tough sell here as well, if the only way to receive it were through expensive premium pay channels, or PPV.
It's been my experience that once people experience HD, they want it. So if slow European HD adoption is a case of lack of programming, Blu-ray might actually act as a launching pad for HD in Europe. If someone could go out and get a player and movies and jump into HD as easily as they've been doing with DVD, I'd say that could be movement in a positive direction.
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I'm an American, and so not necessarily qualified to comment directly on this. However, I wonder if part of the problem is a lack of available programming? Here I can put up an antenna and see virtually all primetime programming in glorious 1080i or 720p, for free. If I subscribe to cable or satellite, my choices go up to as many as 50 HD channels (most broadcasting a combination of HD and SD programs).
I'm sure HD would have had a tough sell here as well, if the only way to receive it were through expensive premium pay channels, or PPV.
It's been my experience that once people experience HD, they want it. So if slow European HD adoption is a case of lack of programming, Blu-ray might actually act as a launching pad for HD in Europe. If someone could go out and get a player and movies and jump into HD as easily as they've been doing with DVD, I'd say that could be movement in a positive direction.