The early release of Bolt on Blu-ray caused more harm than good
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Mar 28th 2009 5:42PM
posted Mar 28th 2009 5:42PM
We commend Disney on always trying new things to promote Blu-ray like the recent decision to release Bolt on Blu-ray two days before DVD. But just like in the comments of our weekly HD release post, it confused more people then it motivated to upgrade to Blu-ray. Evidently as a result of the confusion, employees at retailers all over the country were scratching their heads and ended up breaking the release date on the DVD version. Although we can totally understand the confusion, we figure the pain is over, so don't stop now Disney! We don't know about anyone else, but we really want to see this experiment run the course because we think the results will be fascinating.
Ben,
"...more harm than good"
Maybe it caused a lot of harm then it started causing good. Like a process from one to the other.
screw blu-ray, am more then happy with my dvd's. And I have a PS3 and a few blu-ray movies. And I do have tv's that are more then capable of showing them, but until the cost drops, I'll stick to my dvd's.but even then I may just say screw sony and their format.
Awesome dude, welcome to 2006. Why don't you head over to EngadgetSD with that sentiment?
Putting out the Blu-ray two days ahead is not going to do much of anything. Now if they were to try a 1-week advance with the BD, that might actually do something for sales.
Mr. E
People are spending less on trivial items, and guess what Blu-ray falls under. You notice something that has been obviously missing the past few weeks on Engadget HD? The Weekly sales numbers for Blu-ray and DVD. You know why? Those 10%+ Blu-ray numbers on dollars haven't returned. People who got Blu-ray for Christmas have discovered that that extra $10-$15 for the HD content isn't anything near the value that is put on it. If you read on down further you see companies making suggestions that HD media (Blu-ray) isn't doing all that well on their end either, this translates the potential for fewer future releases from these companies, to much has been put into Blu-ray and its not floundering due to lack of public demand. One week ahead would end up costing the companies more money than getting them Blu-ray sales. Think about what would happen. People who want the DVD would go out and buy the Blu-ray and sell the Blu-ray off cheaper than retail -1 sale, or people who want the Blu-ray will do the same -1 sale, and releasing just Blu-ray a week ahead will just tick customers off, if you think this Digital change over has had ill feelings towards it think about what would happen if the consumers felt distributors were trying to force them to go to a more costly format.
Uh... Last week Blu-ray was at 14%, this week it is at 9% marketshare, and it's been over 10% most of 2009.
Blu-ray is doing fine. It's had a faster adoption rate than DVD.
I'd always love to see Blu-ray cheaper, but new releases at Amazon are priced within $1.00 to $2.00 of their DVD counterparts. AND... as already pointed out... Bolt comes with a DVD in the box. AND Amazon (et al) often have sales which price some Blu-rays below $9.00.
-Pie
Actually Pie, Blu-ray hardly ever breaks 10% of the market share, those numbers are the Sales Revenue Shares, very few ever actually sees the market shares, e.g. DVD Copies Sold vs Blu-ray Copies Sold, but since the average Blu-ray which effects the numbers is 10% more than the counterpart DVD the market share is probably far less on average than those numbers released by Nelson.
Disney should just stop releasing DVDs. The Blu-ray comes with DVD anyway.
... and anybody who still BUYS DVD instead of BD are just cheap. You get better picture and better sound and you aren't willing to pay more yet you spend money on cruddy DVD???
Good comment. I bought the DVD version for my daughter who was dying to be able to watch the movie. I have an HDTV and Blu-Ray player, I also lost my job back in December and can barely pay my rent and car payments on unemployment. The difference in price from DVD to Blu-Ray disc is about the cost of 100 diapers at Target. I guess I'm just cheap though.
You know what used to often come with a DVD version on new releases too? HD DVD. On the same disc. That made more sense and is one of the reasons why the technology was better.
Because with Blu-ray, it has to be a separate disc and anybody could just sell or give the DVD version away (like they did with the Cinderella DVD disc on eBay). That's gotta piss Disney off. If Blu-ray was a more capable tech, the DVD version would be on the same disc so people wouldn't do that. But including a separate copy of a successful competing product to sell a failing product is just an attempt to make your failure look more successful on paper. That's like Sony including an XBOX 360 with every PS3 then saying that the PS3 is selling more than the 360.
if the $10 difference is that big of a deal, then you shouldn't be buying the DVD either. According to your math, it's equivalent to about 200 diapers at Target.
Your kid needs diapers but your kid do NOT need DVD.
It's really not a matter if she NEEDS the DVD, it's that she asked for it and loved the film. I went with the cheaper alternative so my 2 year old could have some kind of luxury that didn't cost an arm and a leg. It's awesome that you're rolling in it and can drop $30 on a movie though, Congrats.
DCC, don't feed the elitist snob-troll. You don't need to justify how you spend your money to anyone, particularly some judgemental idiot who apparently has more money than sense.
DCC, I got my Bolt Blu-ray disc for $15 from Toys R Us. How much did you pay for your DVD?
I paid $20 for mine... the DVD version is $18.
you want Hitech, then just start downloading the movies in HD. Lost of places to do that at, and why dude you think Blu-ray is so hi Tech is beyond me. HD high def was far better then blu-ray, but due to the fact Sony paid everyone off to secure their format as the only one, guess they wanted no more betamax screwup!
Dude, The New betamax is HD-DVD!!!
I was actually suprised when I went to exchange a couple of Total Access Blu-Rays @ Blockbuster on Saturday a day before the Sunday early Blu-Ray was supposed to be released and saw the DVD copy on the rack at the registar. I asked if the movie was already available to purchase and the clerk said yes. I then asked if they had the 3 pack Blu-Ray edition as I think at least for Disney this is one of their best options because although we have 2 PS3's and 2 HDTV's in the house to watch movies... The kids are still rocking dvd players in their bedrooms and the entertaiment system in the Suburban until Blu-Ray players come down in price and really until I upgrade thier CRT's to LCD's. I was certianly happy to pick up a copy as an easter present for one of my kids as it saved me an extra trip to Best Buy or Wally World even though it was an extra $10 bucks @ BB. So for me I have to say I like the whole releasing of the Blu-Ray version earlier even though at this point I am not buying DVD's anymore unless they come bundled with the Blu-Ray Edition even though it seems like this trial run dident work so well or BB was just trying to get a heads up on the competition.
Sorry, I just don't get paying extra $ to buy BRs, (HD DVDs either in their day) for kids movies. My kids couldn't care less about HD movies, DVD is perfectly fine for them, hell, they will still happily watch a VHS without complaint. It's only the hi def junkies that visit these sites that feel the need to buy kids movies in HD.
For the adult aficionado watching the latest and greatest movies, HD is a different story, we might love it and appreciate the differences, but kids don't care.
Blu ray is the format of choice for the adult home theater enthusiast, and I think that's where it's main market will remain.
i don't know, my 2 year old sits still for 90 minute blu-rays, but won't for the entirety of an sd dvd. she seems to be mesmerized by some of the blu-ray movies, especially pixars.
what the hell is confusing?its just shows how stupid peoples are.
and drop the price on bluray discs to 14.99$ and that would take care of the problem .
i bought the bolt bluray and its awesome,u got the digital copy,the dvd version,and bluray v.
i buy blurays mostly for my 2 years old. 25-35$ its just to much to buy 2-5 blurays a month.
i recommend a ps3+mkv2vob+internet..+ a big ass HDD.
im getting my second 1tb hdd if u know what i mean!!?
Drop the price down to $14.95? I'm all for that, it'll spurn digital distribution on even faster, the SRP is being set because of the cost to manufacture and publish the movies and still hold a reasonable profit margin, someone comes along and forces the price down to just above cost or in the case of your suggestion below cost, distributors will jump ship.
Rather than messing around with release dates how about improving the blu-ray format to handle a 3D release (perhaps using panasonic standard) or to output deep colour
By the way, "Bolt" on blu-ray has an incredible soundtrack. The opening sequence that was shaking the nails out of the wall. If you have a wimpy sub-woofer, it may just run away crying!
They're idiots:
This would have worked perfectly if only they had included a DVD copy with the Blu-ray release (just like they did with Sleeping Beauty).
That way, the household who heard about the release date, was confused about the Blu-ray/DVD release date differences and went to the store will not only buy the Blu-ray version and take it home and be able to play the DVD version of the movie, but they now have their first Blu-ray movie, sitting there, reminding them that the future is here, and they'd better get with the times and buy a Blu-ray player so they can enjoy the true benefits of what they already purchased.
It's the re-birth of the HD-DVD Combo disc.