No let up in high Blu-ray disc prices

[The News Bot]

Figures released at an industry confab in the US by Adams Media Research predict that consumer spending on Blu-ray will eclipse DVD by 2012, with actual sales passing DVD by 2013. According to the latest set of crunched-numbers, by 2016 90 million Blu-ray players will have been sold in the US, driving disc [...]
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[Greg]

That forum title doesn't appear to go with this story.

Before opening it, I would have guessed it was a story on how the UK high streets are stiill ripping off Blu-ray buyers.

[Figment]

Originally Posted by Greg

That forum title doesn't appear to go with this story.

Before opening it, I would have guessed it was a story on how the UK high streets are stiill ripping off Blu-ray buyers.

Yep thats why I clicked on it thinking the same thing

[Endeavour]

I see what they mean in the title, but it seems rather contraditory to assume blu-ray will overtake DVD if there is a supply side shortage. You would have to assume that the investment in pressing will be made and that it will come on stream fast enough.

I assume the surrender of HD-DVD is going to mean a scramble by Universal, Paramount etc to secure capacity. They have a HD-DVD catalogue to re-release. I presume that starting from existing HD-DVD encodings is easier than starting from cine transfers and so they will concentrate on that activity rather than extending the back catalogue.

[cdb]

However, analysts believe that Blu-ray disc prices will remain high as there is currently too little replication capacity worldwide to meet demand

They'll definately remain high for a while as there'll be no competition to encourage them to lower prices.

[Rich777]

Can we assume that some entrepreneur is going to read this and at least have a think about looking into investing in blu ray replication ?

Can we also assume that this is the editorials whole intention ?

It reads like an advertisement.

If it moves like a fish and its covered in scales.....its probably a ?

[Endeavour]

Originally Posted by cdb

They'll definately remain high for a while as there'll be no competition to encourage them to lower prices.

The HD format war did nothing to lower software prices, and I don't think it ever would have. You only have a single studio issuing a title at the end of the day. It only really served to bring down hardware prices.

Now the real battle begins and that is against DVD with downloads threatening to open up another front. The studios are going to have to balance whether to make a lot of margin off a few people as they have been doing or lower margins off an expanded customer base. They would very much like people to rebuy things they already have on DVD and this may be the most potent force for price reduction. The price comparison is now pretty close to the DVD/VHS one back in the early days. I think DVD was a more compelling upgrade so the difference is going to have to be closer before people swap camps in large numbers.