HD-DVD stand-alones beating Blu-ray in Europe

Posted Jul 13, 2007 at 4:40PM by QJ Staff Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: Betamax, Europe, France, GfK, Sony, VHS
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HD-DVD vs Blu-ray - Image 1The HD-DVD group has earlier announced positive signs coming from the European front of the high-definition format war where it says that its stand-alone HD-DVD players are outselling Sony's Blu-ray players on a three-to-one scale.

The data, the group says, comes from research firm GfK and covers countries Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Germany. The numbers included all current HD-DVD players stacked up against players outside of the Sony PlayStation 3 console which is also capable of playing Blu-ray movies.

The group, however, made it clear that Blu-ray discs are still outselling HD-DVDs in the same region and declined to comment on whether or not the format is losing money in the United States and other markets around the world.

Comparisons have already been drawn between this format war and the rivalry between the Betamax and the VHS formats from about three decades ago. Others have likened it to Netscape versus the Internet Explorer from back in the mid-90's.

The HD-DVD format has been in Europe significantly longer than Blu-ray. Its technology was developed by Toshiba and is capable of storing more data than its predecessor, the DVD format. It can also play videos at a higher resolution and is touted to have better audio output than recent storage media.

The Blu-ray camp is led by Sony and is backed by other biggies such as Apple and Samsung. It also plays HD videos but can store information on a bigger level and is said to sport more features. The price point for Blu-ray, however, is steeper than that of its sole rival.

 
 
 

Comments [refresh]

by Minoas - 2007-07-13 11:39
» Lol

Each side claims that they Win.Which should we take for granted????Its getting funny.



p.S Zomg FIRST!!

by Real Gambler - 2007-07-13 11:41
» Wow, most useless stats in the world...

It's proven, the PS3 is the best BluRay player right now, price wise!!! Anybody who's not a gamer, but want a BluRay player is quite likely to buy a PS3 since he's getting a player, but he can also surf the web, and likely play some of the little downloadable games like Sodoku, Puzzles, Flow. Or he can buy a more expensive player who just plays BluRay... So if you want to compare with the HDDVD market, then you should at least remove the cheapest player from their stats as well no??? Or remove the best HDDVD player like they did with the PS3... Wow, they are really fishing for anything now... Poor guys.

by Nathan - 2007-07-13 11:44
» Ok

This means nothing because think about it. If I'm a non-gamer and I want a Blu-ray player, I'd buy the Ps3 because I get a cheap blu-ray player and other stuff with it. Why would I buy a blu-ray player with nothing extra for the same price or more?



This is like saying "Microsoft is selling more MP3 players than Apple if you don't count the iPod".

by Someone_PR - 2007-07-13 11:56
» ok..

This is so simple... why the skip the PS3 as a Blueray player if is the best blueray on the market in almost at the same price of the stand alone one... u said that people with the PS3 don't buy blueray movies? why the Blueray disc is outselling the HD dvd one then? U want to see a ray of light where isn't.... hate to read when they try to skip the PS3 as a blueray player... I though that now blockbuster have blueray movies here in Puerto rico I can rent a movie in mind that I will rent it because here doesn't buy the stand alone player but guess what... all rented... at least here in Puerto Rico

by Minoas - 2007-07-13 11:57
» NOT COUNTING THE PS3

Lol I just noticed they are NOT counting the PS3 in those stats...Quite a way to make an impression and a FIXED statistic.Hiding the tested group in the small letters....



So in the same logic its safe to suggest that Linux is the most used operating system in the world...([TinyLetters\] We are not counting ms products[/TinyLetters]

by killalot100 - 2007-07-13 12:01
» sad

why would anybody buy a stand alone blue ray player. the ps3 loads faster and has way more features than a stand alone player.

by bluray - 2007-07-13 12:18
» They are tired

Still saying the same ol crap. Face it HD-DVD got pwnd. U can't NOT count ps3 as a bluray, it being marketed for bluray amongst other things. They just bitter.

by l'kl;' - 2007-07-13 12:36
» its over

"The group, however, made it clear that Blu-ray discs are still outselling HD-DVDs"



"The HD-DVD format has been in Europe significantly longer than Blu-ray."



hd-dvd is garbage blu ray ftw

by WTF!?!?!?!?! - 2007-07-13 12:49
» WTF!?!?!?!?!

HD-DVD already CONFESSED that they purposely left out the PS3 when reporting the same garbage in the US!!!!



As soon as they added the PS3 to their figures they realized they were losing miserably!!!!



"stand-alone HD-DVD players are outselling Sony's Blu-ray players"



DUH!!!



Now add the PS3 to the equation and what do we find?



"Blu-ray discs are still outselling HD-DVDs"



Why? Because there are WAY MORE Blu-ray players then HD-DVD players.



At least they added the truth this time:



"The numbers included all current HD-DVD players stacked up against players outside of the Sony PlayStation 3 console"



HD-DVD is going downhill fast!

by crait - 2007-07-13 13:10
» totally

i totally agree with you 100%

by crait - 2007-07-13 13:13
» sorry

HD-DVD's are getting depressing

I wonder what happens when everyone finally drops the formats

And when I say everyone i actually mean the only 2 companies still using it

against the 20 or so blu ray companies (excluding the adult entertainment industry)

People are going to be using these as frisbies just like the AOL cd's

by TON!CK - 2007-07-13 13:18
» LOL

LOL CRAIT!!!!! Yup he pretty much sums it up, HD-DVD hot pwned.

by Gino D. - 2007-07-13 13:26
» yeah...

here in norway, every music/dvd/games store have a small HD movie section, and you can see alot more BR flims than HDDVDs. just today i saw like 25 BR films compared to 2 HDDVD film covers at the bottom corner...

personally i think theyre far too expensive :( costing twice as much as a dvd and almost all of em doesnt even have extras like they do on DVDs

by Phill harrison - 2007-07-13 13:47
» not including the ps3

they put up a big headline saying hd-dvd outsells blu-ray and you find out it doesn't include the playstation 3 which is a main reason for the success of the blu-ray format in general.



I think in this day and age more capicity is required and that is something blu-ray had to offer over hd-dvd.

by MTK - 2007-07-13 13:52
» I agree

Hi,



Even though this race is not over yet, I do agree that the future does not look particularly bright for HD-DVDs.



Just one example: Here in Chicago, IL, where I live, my local Walmart has both Blu-Rays and HD-DVDs. The number of HD-DVDs has been constant at around 12 for the past several weeks, while the number of Blu-rays has been steadily increasing (currently it's 25 movies). Both formats started around roughly the same number, however the Blu-ray section has been increasing in shelf-size, while HD-DVD has been about constant.



I've noticed that Circuit City also seems to be favouring Blu-ray movies, TV series and musical programs over HD-DVDs, in the way they are placed and while getting new movies as well, while Best Buy seems to be getting all movies available on both formats yet.



Regards,

MTK

by nastradamus - 2007-07-13 14:39
» ya,

i thought something was weird. then i got to the part where the excluded the ps3 as a BD player.



why is this misleading crap even posted?

by AoxomamoxoA - 2007-07-13 16:08
» sonys mindless cattle

of course bluray is winning, theres no GAMES for the ps3. its basically been sonys idea from the start. release a new format dvd player, call it a gaming machine, and dont release any games so people will HAVE to buy the movies or risk wasting $600. poor sony puppets, and you still vouch for them, how pathetic.



enjoy your bluray guys, make sure you fill both of sonys pockets!

by Sean - 2007-07-13 16:18
» what?

Did Sony come to your town and rape and pillage your women?

by MTK - 2007-07-13 16:23
» To AoxomamoxoA

Hi AoxomamoxoA,



A touch of FUD there? When I bought my PS3, I didn't buy it just because it was a next-gen console. The fact that I was getting a next-gen format HD Player in addition to a next-gen Console (not including all the other goodies, like Wi-Fi, the Card slots, HDMI, etc) was one of the primary reasons that I bought a PS3 (and it isn't as if this is all I have - I have a 360 as well, so forget the bias or fanboy angle if you are going to use that to reply).



And you like to say Sony doesn't have any games: that's not strictly true, you know. All multiplatform games are not being released ONLY on the 360, they are being released on the PS3 as well. I see several games when I go to my local Walmart or Best Buy. Sure not all of them may be superlative games, but then not all the games on the 360 are world-class games either. The fact remains that if you want to play only on the PS3, you are not starved of choice.



And since Blu-ray movies are at the most 5 (or maximum 10) dollars more than a DVD, for myself, I would rather get a Blu-ray movie than a DVD. Hell, sometimes Walmart even sells them for less than maximum on the day they are released (as I'm sure you've noticed for DVDs if you are from the US).



Bottomline, the PS3 is not part of a conspiracy to make the Blu-ray format win. I suspect that is just some FUD on your part. I know nobody likes to think they might be wrong, but in the past you've come up with some balanced arguments as well (even though you are biased towards the 360). That's why I'm telling you (whether you want to listen or not is up to you) that your motives for berating Sony fanatics may not be as pure as you think.



Then again, I might be wrong :). I leave the interpretation up to you.



Regards,

MTK

by Untouchable - 2007-07-13 17:56
» W0W

Why is this crap even posted, if you take out the best selling Blu-Ray player, then you minus well take out the best selling HD-DVD player, which clearly wasnt done. WHY IS THIS CRAP EVEN POSTED!!

by bj - 2007-07-13 22:36
» duh

they say the players sell 3-1 against blu ray , BUT they do not count ps3 bluray player nd most people who want a bluray player buys a ps3 so more bluray players are sold

by PS3Rider - 2007-07-13 23:57
» ...

Thats not fair! I hate people who do these surveys and dont include the ps3 because it makes it 'unfair'. How can they say its unfair when the PS3 is a blu-ray player!!!

by god0fgod - 2007-07-14 00:09
» If they took the UK into account.

It's a different story in the UK. you can't say the whole of europe from a few countrys.

by Xman - 2007-07-14 01:19
» stupid

hd dvd is winning world wide!! blu rey is almost gone!! it will be over by the end of the year!!

by Xman - 2007-07-14 01:44
» My ***** is missing

In case you didn't figure it out by my name alone, I've had a sex change... well... most of one. I'm hoping to get the ol' twig an berries lopped of here real soon but until then, I'll just keep chugging semen and raggin' on the PS3 that I'm hella jealous of. Though some day I hope to also get a console change... after my broke (pole taking)ass saves up enough cash. Peace Y'all.

by ThomasGOAL - 2007-07-14 02:08
» stupid

That a stupid news becaause alot of European buy the PS3 only for Blu Ray player !

by Mister Common Sense - 2007-07-14 05:21
» .

Yep the PS3 is the best blu ray format pusher/ crap multiplatform port game console/ protien folder there is!



I don't care at all about HD movies on discs anymore, I just got HBO HD on Disc network, with a HD recorder.

by Mister Common Sense - 2007-07-14 06:03
» .

HD-DVD will be around for at least a couple more years. I'm waiting to see how that investigation with the European Union on blu ray's scandalous underhanded tactics are going. What I don't understand is people who say they buy PS3s just to use as a blu ray player when HD-DVD players can be bought for like half that amount. I guess if blu ray wins, it's proof that doing things ethically is the wrong way to do business.



regards, the only source of Common Sense

by hahahaha - 2007-07-14 06:35
» ps3s are bluray players

ONLY when you calculate attach rates. when you count standalones....PS3s dont exist.



simple as that

by SpongeBob - 2007-07-14 09:10
» Lol

Apple would probably still be selling more MP3 players (somehow...) if they didnt count the iPod!

by SpongeBob - 2007-07-14 09:13
» .

Don't forget those free DVD's you get with "The Mail on Sunday"

by Skinny310 - 2007-07-14 11:28
» not everyone has hd tv's

they did not include the ps3 because people that bought a stanalone hd player(blue ray or hd-dvd) bought it strickly to watch movies in HD while probaly less than a quarter of the people that bought a ps3 did it for that reason

by Bob the Blob - 2007-07-14 12:09
» Excluding PS3

Thats just silly... why not exclude all blu-ray players that are black while youre at it? That should get you to 10 to 1.

by Chi-Town XIII 2 OnE - 2007-07-14 18:53
» wow!

WoW! is a good game ..... but this is sad cause I understand that you can't count non-standalone players but I have a feeling this study group was influenced someway to figure out how to squiggle around the fact that they are not doing so well with HD-DVD and declare themselves a winner... I tend not to take sides and see the good in both but I have yet to meet a person who owns a HD-DVD player and the only people I knew who bought a movie was my 70 year-old grandmother who thought that they were upgrades for DVD movies lol. But I know 5 family members who own a standalone, 6 members of my family who have a PS3 and 20 plus other who own either a PS3 or standalone. The funny thing is that I don't live in some little town in bumf**ked Egypt I represents Chicago. Chicago is Blue-Ray territorry. No way HD-DVD is going to last any longer. Nicely enough Blue-Ray is available exclusivly at blockbuster which I really don't care for but oh well. I neglected to mention as well that the porn industry will have little to zero effect on the format war... Back then the VHS had one competition and even the first DVD players had no real compitition for porn formats... But does everyone forget about the internet and hard drives? Everyone rather now and days have a quick look and finish. Delete the cookies and history, then everythings peachy. But if you must need to keep them then the now pretty much standard of 250GB hard drives should be more than efficient for all your porn loving needs. But who in the hell actually cares about watching porn in HD and who has a smut collection in the living room amoungst the regular movie selection? and god damn this post is to frickin long so Im going to cut it short here and bid you all farewell

by HD-DVD - 2007-07-14 20:55
» Numbers

My players are outselling the competition 3-1..



My tie ratio is 6.0 versus the competitions 1.2..



Simple math tell us I should be outselling the competition almost 15 to 1..



Everyone knows nobody buys movies for the PS3..



So how come they are beating me 3-1 in movie sales??

by JetiMaster - 2007-07-15 07:39
» 50-50

I think both formats are selling in future.. Maybe blue-ray ends up winner, but there are way too many hd-dvd player owners, and they are not gonna throw them away to buy blue ray player.

by Seer - 2007-07-16 02:49
» War by content

HD-DVD owners won't throw out their machines for Blu-Ray, they'll purchase a Blu-Ray player to playthe many movie that they can't get in their format and HD-DVD will fade away... just like DVD vs. DIVX players.

by Zen - 2007-07-16 09:06
» WWWWWWWTTTTTTTFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the biggest load of tripe I've ever heard in my life. The HD DVD group are seriously clutching at straws - they should be taken to the ombudsman. This is clearly false advertising and they should be ashamed. Blu-ray is clearly the winner here, if HD-DVD can come back now I'll eat my c*ck!

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