Mainstream success for Blu-ray and HD DVD far-fetched

[The News Bot]

The idea that either Blu-ray or HD DVD can replace DVD is “far-fetched”, according to speakers at High Def 2.0, an industry forum sponsored by trade publication Home Media Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter. Sales of HD discs are still minuscule compared to standard definition, and “the consumer doesn’t know enough to care” about either [...]
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[punkymunky]

If both formats are set to co-exist I expect consumer take up to be even lower. Who wants to buy into one format and instantly halve the available movies you can watch? You are then forced to buy two machines or a more expensive dual format player in which case you probably won't bother.

[MrHyde1969]

Originally Posted by punkymunky

If both formats are set to co-exist I expect consumer take up to be even lower. Who wants to buy into one format and instantly halve the available movies you can watch? You are then forced to buy two machines or a more expensive dual format player in which case you probably won't bother.

Thats where 'combi' player come in the play of things. And the way I think all manufacturers will go very soon....

[Jonstone]

Originally Posted by punkymunky

If both formats are set to co-exist I expect consumer take up to be even lower. Who wants to buy into one format and instantly halve the available movies you can watch? You are then forced to buy two machines or a more expensive dual format player in which case you probably won't bother.

If we get to the stage where both have a large enough userbase to survive then we will see the end to studios only releasing on one or the other.

One of the main reasons we see studios taking sides is due to the incentives offered by either side for exclusivity. If we get to the stage where both are clearly going to co-exist then their will be little point for either side to offer these incentives leaving the studios to decide which to support on unsubsidised economic grounds at which point it would be daft to ignore one side and its installed userbase.