HD-3 conference eliminates "Blu-ray in trouble" rumor gremlins -- by pouring water on them
By Richard Lawler 
posted Nov 12th 2008 9:03AM
posted Nov 12th 2008 9:03AM
Panelists at Home Media Magazine's third annual high definition conference found plenty in Blu-ray to be positive about, according to the magazine's own report, so they may be somewhat surprised to see co-sponsor Hollywood Reporter's less optimistic "Economy grinch may pinch Blu-ray" headline as the most syndicated report we found this A.M. Not exactly another Blu-ray is dead exaggeration, but not exactly how the industry wants to represent itself coming into a very important holiday season. With Blu-ray player prices diving, a slew of blockbuster titles on the way and shelf space expanding, the perception of Blu-ray as a niche format should be dwindling, but Home Media Mag publisher Thomas Arnold blames analysts and reporters who "don't understand our business" for putting Blu-ray in their crosshairs. At least per our poll, 55% of you are continuing as normal or increasing purchases, at least for some, there's just no substituting for quality.Read - Economy grinch may pinch Blu-ray
Read - At HD-3, Myths Dispelled About Blu-ray Disc
Same old thing, the haters say things that are stupid, the fanboys praise beyond reality, of the rest, people either get it or aren't interested.
Blu is doing fine and is improving. Its not going to "die" but its also not going to destroy dvd either. I buy Blu because I have the setup to take advantage of what it offers but I also realize that eveyone isn't in the same boat. the only things pissing me off about Blu now is that some of the awesome back catalog movies aren't coming out fast enough and they're already double dipping!
> the perception of Blu-ray as a niche format should be dwindling, but Home Media Mag publisher Thomas Arnold blames analysts and reporters who "don't understand our business"
So the publisher of an video/audiophile magazine believes the rest of the world has it wrong by describing the format they support as "niche"?
Heh.
Seriously though, the first article has it right. The economy is on the skids. Player prices are falling, but they're still approximately 10x the price of DVD players ($250-$1,500 with $400 buying a "normal" model, opposed to $25-$150 with $40-50 buying a "normal" model. You can, of course, reduce both sets of prices given discounts of closeout models, but these are the MSRPs.) Blu-ray's only useful to people spending over $500 on a new HDTV, and the improvement in image quality is only *serious* for those spending well over $1,000.
And the movies are more expensive.
And there are alternatives. Not as high quality as BD perhaps, but still pretty high quality. AppleTV. HD DVRs with cable/satellite movie channels. And Netflix is coming along quite nicely. And let's not forget piracy and the growth in STBs designed to play HD movies off of SD cards and USB sticks.
I just don't see how the optimism is warranted. I'd like a good hard media HD format, I'd be more optimistic if the industry sat down and said "Ok, we know there are obstacles to getting BD adopted, let's fix it, make it work, and get it out there." But they continue to pretend that BD is some perfect format that is a compelling proposition to everyone, and it just plain isn't.
Home Media Magazine is not "video/audiophile magazine". It's an industry trade magazine, or as they say themselves: "Home Media Magazine is the premier home entertainment business publication, designed to inform, educate and facilitate communication among content owners, packaged and electronic distribution channels, and all other parties involved in the home entertainment market place. Through its weekly print and digital magazine, Web site and daily electronic newsletter, Home Media Magazine delivers news, analysis, market research, product reviews and marketing updates to give studio executives, retailers, distributors, technology providers, marketers and suppliers of ancillary products and services a one-stop resource to help grow their businesses and increase profits."
I got my Samsung 1500 for $150.00 and I know someone else who got it for $140..plus lots of other sales have seen players fall below $150-$170... so your $250-$1500 quote is misleadiing.
Mike, are you saying that your Samsung's MSRP was $150? Because that's major news if that's the case. I mean seriously major news. Like, you'd have though Engadget HD would be making this their major story. We'd not be talking about some obscure discontinued model being cleared out for under $200, or a price mistake at Radio Shack's website, but an actual bona-fide Profile 2.0 (it's 2.0 right?) player being sold new at $150 as per the manufacturer's instructions. That's absolutely remarkable, you and Darren Murph should get together and celebrate.
I'm assuming this is the case, because I SPECIFICALLY SAID THIS: "You can, of course, reduce both sets of prices given discounts of closeout models, but these are the MSRPs". It was right after I quoted ball-park prices. And you're accusing me of being misleading. So I have to assume that the $150 you're quoting is the MSRP of the player. Interestingly enough, when I Google it, the lowest price I find is $197, but that must be EVIL online stores deliberately ADDING $50 to the price, right? RIGHT?
haha, you're such a jackass, squiggleslash....and I mean that in a good way
Mike, you're right, there are deals to be had out there, but Blu needs to broaden the customer base from the people that post here (and have done some really good bargain hunting or don't care too much about price) to the consumer at large that IS price sensitive, but not inclined to dig for the bargains.
There really isn't much disagreement that despite drops in prices, the combined cost of an HDTV, Blu-Ray Player, cables and in many cases furniture is still a deterrent. The economy just amplifies the problem.
And we all know that Home Media Magazine isn't filled with a bunch of Blu-ray fanboys. What the Blu-ray fanboys and supporters need to face is the fact that DVD is hurting right now and its not because of Blu-ray, the only reason why Blu-ray hasn't shown signs of pain as of yet is because the people out there with the significant amounts of disposable income haven't felt the pinch that a good number of DVD supporters have, if that happens Blu-ray support will dwindle quickly, because of the fact that it is a very small group of people who support the format... middle middle class and middle upper class, above that and bellow that are supporting other forms of entertainment.
Honestly, I think Blu-Ray is doing well considering the economy. With prices coming down on the players, it is time for the studios to start with lower more moderate pricing on the discs.
Movies should not cost more than $10 than the comparable dvd title. in fact, i would say the HD version should cost no more than $5 more. why? you are paying for the content, and the format shouldn't be such a rip off.
Should Hellboy 2 really be $40 on BD?
Should Meet Dave be $40? it was a bomb
Space Chimps be $40? Another bomb
Seems like some home video executives need electroshock therapy, for blu-ray to take off, there needs to be less of an HD penalty. And in time when disc manufacturing costs are lower, BD discs need to be the same price as DVD's.
sorry, in today's VOD age, studios need to know better than to price gouge.
Pouring water on gremlins makes them multiply, right?
I used to buy two to three blu ray titles a week, but have since cut back to maybe one or two per month. I do not know how long the economy will stay like this, so spening $3,600 in one year on movies is hard to justify.
Vacation to Hawaii or spend $3600 on blu ray movies, hmmm tough decision.
Blu-Ray's major competition is pricing. The players, while declining in price, are still more expensive than DVD players. Blu-Ray discs are more expensive than DVDs. And Blu-ray rentals via Netflix are more expensive than DVD rentals.
With the economy not being the greatest, it's not necessarily easy to justify the higher costs involved right now.
DVD isn't going away anytime soon. For me, I used to purchase a new DVD just about week, but then ceased that practice about a year ago when I instead opted for Netflix. I really don't need to own discs anymore.
I'm impressed by Blu-Ray. And I was impressed by HD DVD. But my DVD player has been working fine. And I do get HD via my cable company, with maybe 40 something odd channels. I probably won't be in the market for a new player until my DVD player stop working.
I think Blu-Ray would do better if disc pricing was more in line with DVDs, and if players (at least Profile 2!) sold at the sub $150 level.
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The price of players is no different from DVD in its life cycle. Your wish for sub $150 players is bound to happen within 12 months if not sooner. But a word to the wise, all the deals stop at christmas so do not be surprised if all the deals on players for around $200 now suddenly rebound to their MSRP come January. This cycle happens every year on all home electronics items. So if you want to hold out for sub $150 you might have to wait until next September.
I do not see blu ray discs matching DVD prices for some time, but plenty of deals will be available on them. There are so many titles available now and the novelty of the format is wearing off so stores will start discounting titles in just the way they do for DVD. Perhaps some studios might also try to justify the premium by putting more features on the blu ray disc and less on the DVD. That's a possibility too.
My Costco now has a Blu-ray section on the end isle of the regular DVD section.
Who cares, I just think your avatar rocks, the world needs a lot more of that, then we would achieve world peace, much more important!