HD DVD outselling Blu-ray in Europe

FRANKFURT - HD DVD video players have outsold rival standard Blu-ray players by a three-to-one margin in Europe's main markets so far this year, according to a lobby group.

[dale1]

made up story

[Captain Tuttle]

But Reuters and MSNBC are legitimate news outlets, certainly more legitimate than the "Sony Protection Group" nonsense that gets approved on here all the time.

Edit: Meant to reply to #2...whoops.

[Also Known As]

dale1 its called denial

[ITR]

I need to check the price on the new Sony BD players we're getting in today.
Currently, the A20(retails for $399) cost our company only $119.00.

We sell loads of HD DVD players mostly the A20 model.

[Lord Anubis]

The figures were for stand-alone players only and did not include sales of games consoles such as Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3, which contains a Blu-ray player.

that explains everything.

[P4KY B]

They would say that wouldn't they. LOL

Just as bad as posting articles from The Sony Protection Group.

[Merovee]

If you notice they're only talking about players not media, which leads me to beleive they did not cout the PS3 as a Blu-Ray Player, so add about 900,000 since march to the BD side and HD is still getting smoked... lol, anything for a spin from the HDDVD lobby heh.

[actionjackson]

Agreed. They are not showing disks sold, which would be a huge factor. Second, if the PS3 is in the number counts, then that means HD-DVD has sold over a million units, which doesn't make too much sense. If they have sold over 1 million, wow.

[achira]

lol, i have never seen a hd dvd player here. lool

[Biphter]

Only Blu-Ray stuff. This article is bias, its by the HD-DVD Promotional Group!!! The main reason why HD-DVD standalone players are beating Blu-Ray standalones is because the PS3 makes a sensible alternative. So if your out to buy a Blu-Ray player you have the option for the PS3 which bonuses up as a media center and Games machine!

The only fair way to compare how the formats are doing is with Disc sales, and right now Blu-Ray is TROUNCING HD-DVD, why can't you HD-DVD purists (Sony haters) see that? Thats what counts, and you'll never hear the HD-DVD Promo group tout them figures because it would paint the REAL picture.

In Denmark all I see is Blu-Ray. Fona, Merlin, Blockbuster etc.. they all have Blu-Ray Discs only. I have even asked sales reps if they stock HD-DVD they all say NO. Well actually, One guy in Fona said, "yeah we have HD-DVD" and pointed to the Blu-Ray movies. In his mind HD-DVD IS Blu-Ray, as it is in many other peoples minds. The only exception i've come across was back in the UK last summer (before Blu-Ray came out here) in PC world. A Rep there said that Blu-Ray would die because none of the TV sets they had in were "Blu-Ray Ready" He only sold "HD Ready" sets... well, I had to leave quickly so I could laugh my ass off in the parking lot...

Basically, the sooner this war is over the better, and articles like this just delay the inevitable.

[Shadow Flare]

In HMV in the UK, the bluray section is literally 3 times the size of the HD-DVD section

what idiot disagreed? lemme guess, someone who doesn't live in the UK. Or someone who lives in the UK, but stays indoors all the time and has skin so incredibly pale they never venture outside the front door of their house to even visit HMV.

[paul_war]

Same here, they are both very expensive though, £20+

[Hayabusa 117]

Wow! Someone disagreed with HD DVD and Blu-Ray being £20+! Probably some 12 needing serious attension.

[Ggame]

They crazy that don't included PS3 for Blu-ray Players.

[ericnellie]

The PS3 shouldn't be counted as a Blu Ray player! That would mean that all PS2's, all Xbox's & 360s, and all PCs with a DVD drive would be considered DVD players. These are all consumer electronic devices with other purposes that happen to have a DVD playback feature and aren't necessarily "DVD Players". The numbers really start to get skewed when you incorporate everything with a DVD drive or playback capability. Then what, do computer people count the PS3 as a computer because it has that capability, or do the Blu Ray people count it as a Blu Ray player, or do video game people count it as a game console, or can we consider the PS3 a PS2 and a PS1 since it has that capability as well? Come on, we've got to draw the line somewhere as everyone wants to increase their numbers in all businesses.

Edit - why in the hell would anyone disagree with my statement. The numbers are for STAND ALONE PLAYERS which, means that it's number #1 priority is to play movies (all extra features aside). The PS3 is not a STAND ALONE PLAYER -- it only has a Blu Ray drive for video game content storage with blu ray movie watching features as an extra bonus. The PS3's #1 Priority is for gaming...anyone who thinks other wise has been living under a rock.

[THE_JUDGE]

The numbers are for stand alone players and we all know that the PS3 sells both Blu-ray's and games. They're just trying to puff their chest out and hang on for dear life.

[Bloodmask]

HDDVD players always outsell Bluray players every month. Even in the US HDDVD players outsell Bluray players 4 to 1.

If Bluray wasn't incorporated in PS3 it never would have taken off. People seem to think that HDDVD = Microsoft but it doesn't. HDDVD = Toshiba. Microsoft is just a backer.

Just bc people buy PS3 doesn't mean they pick Bluray. There was an article posted that less than 13% of people watch DVDs on their games console.

No flame, but if consumers are offered a choice they do choose HDDVD.

http://www.tech.co.uk/home-...

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/20...

[paul_war]

What about people who brought the PS3 as a blu-ray player?

Do they not count.

[ZyKlOn]

HDDVD players always outsell Bluray players every month. Even in the US HDDVD players outsell Bluray players 4 to 1.

If Bluray wasn't incorporated in PS3 it never would have taken off.

Just bc people buy PS3 doesn't mean they pick Bluray. There was an article posted that less than 13% of people watch DVDs on their games console.

[Valik21]

What are you saying? Tell me the reason why someone who has a ps3, that is one of the best BD players, has to buy a stand alone BD player? And there was also an article that says that like 87% of ps3 owners are going to watch or buy a BD movie, OR they are already doing that. And the sales of the BD movies just proves that, the BD is winning and is the format of choice for many many people. If i will buy a ps3 i will use it as a BD player, i'm not so fool, like you want me and others to be, to buy after that a stand alone BD player for another 500+ $.

[Biphter]

To buy a Blu-Ray standalone player over the PS3, even then you'd look at the recent PS3 firmware update that allows some incredible DVD/BD playback features if your TV supports them.

The only real advantages a standalone has over PS3 that I can see are, it may run quieter, and it will allow something to be stacked ontop of it whereas the PS3 will most likely be limited to the top of the stack, unless you like balancing expensive hifi seperates on a mega curvy surface.

So again, the figures are misleading, and the way you worded your article it makes it seem like HD-DVD is beating Blu-Ray generally in Disc sales too. Way to spin that one. The article is narrow focused on specific hardware and you add by being vague in your title. Well done! *Clap Clap Clap*

[Bloodmask]

I didn't spin anything.....I just copied and pasted the title frome the original article.

And unlike yourself who just goes aroung trolling I actually left links to prove my points. Your the biggest hypocrite I've seen on N4G yet.

[ZyKlOn]

HD DVD is dead

[ITR]

It's far from dead.
I typically don't sell a BD player unless it's a Sony person.
Most people just buy a progressive scan DVD player or they may opt up for a A2 or A20 HD DVD player.

People tend to pick HD over BD once they see them both playing on 70in screen of say Superman Returns.
At least in our company.

[Biphter]

Do you sell the PS3?

Have you seen the quality the PS3 outputs at now with firmware 1.8+ on DVD and BD?

Do you sell HD Movie discs in your "Shop"?

Are you a HD-DVD fanboy and/or a Sony Hater pretending to act "Factual"?

Your basically just talking like Bloodmask, ignoring the whole picture. Standalone Hardware sales mean nothing and are an unfair comparison.

Fanboys that pretend to be neutral are the worst.

[MaximusPrime]

i rarely see any HDDVD in any shops.

There are so many Bluray on shelves.

I correctly predict some dumb idiot "disagreed" with me. Why not come to UK and see if im telling the truth? Wait a min, you dont know where UK is?

[donscrillinger]

this is true hd dvd is what people want over there

[Says you]

When can MSNBC be legitmate considering there own by Microsoft to, Captain Tuttle there just probably spreading the word saying that there winning over there when I dont see any proof of the matter or either they told the consumers that there competion Blu Ray isnt better and told them to buy theres.

[pts]

Look on Amazon, there are always 2 or 3 HD DVD models ranked better than the first stanalone Blu-ray player (excluding PS3).

[cdzie1]

If you count PS3, there are about 5 Blu-ray players per 1 HD DVD player (in the US). Yet, Blu-ray is not leading 5:1 in movie sales, they are only leading 2:1. This tells us that most PS3 owners are not buying movies, but using it just for games.

[bee2427]

very true but at the same time people who own an HD DVD playeer are buying movies just so that theyre format will win for the most part, at AVSFORUMS they had a day where every1 went out and bought a load of movies just to fight back which caused the sales for hddvd movies sky rocket that month making it look like a good choice... without including a PS3 in this article for atleast 25% of them sold is biased because atleast 1 out of 4 people are watching blu-ray movies and using hte ps3 as their movie player

[psycho360]

But but according to peter dillie HDDVD is dying and should be dead within few months. Shocking news i guess /sarc

[SuperSaiyan4]

Someone said in the US a blu-ray player is $399 well I am suprised that both HD-DVD and Blu-ray players are selling at all in Europe especially the UK considering the latest HD-DVD player is like over £400 and Blu-ray players are like £500 or so.

Just double that for a USA price!!

Even though I have the HD-DVD add-on for the 360 and a PS3 for blu-ray movies I fully support HD-DVD for a number of reasons:

1) HD-DVD sounds like it should a HD format
2) Picture quality on HD-DVD's is a LOT better than a most blu-ray movies
3) ALL HD-DVD's are using the latest technology for the best compression methods i.e. VC1
4) HD-DVD is the only format to support full interactive in-movie experience.
5) A lot of HD-DVD's are in fact cheaper than most blu-ray movies.

[Vip3r]

1.) So what if it was to be used for games or backing up date? There would be nothing HD about it.

2.) Picture quality is the same. Just you are a fanboy.

3.) If BD's aren't already using it then soon will. Blame the movie companies for that.

4.) LOL. You obviously haven't played a Blu-ray movie as they have it too. Again this is because you are a fanboy.

5.) They are about the same price. Just depends where you buy them.

Most of you are forgetting that the PS3 will be the main Blu-ray player seeing that it cheaper than the others and is a games console too.

[360RULEZ]

even David Jaffe the sony droid said that bluray is an overpriced piece of sh!t. nuff said.

[paracardium]

These guys didn't coun't the Ps3's this is just stand alone players.

[nomad117]

may have heard on youtube ''CNN and NBC
Especially MSNBC
Are Microsoft companies
So, of course, they always decree
360's 0WNZ PS3's
At least that's what they make the public believe.
Microsoft you're playing a dirty game''

[darkdoom3000]

What the HELL!!!
I letarly havent seen HD-DVD movies ...Ive seen some Bluray movies here, but not much, I went to the Video shop in town, they had blurays, a preety good selection..didnt see any HD-DVDs anywhere... bizzare...

HD-DVD isnt going to good here...bluray is not going good eitheir...the only people who watch any HiDef movies are Ps3 owners...

[rev20]

Whichever one is cheaper is generally gonna be selling more atm, as there is not an industry standard and the 2 visually are nearly on par to the everyday consumer

[Hayabusa 117]

To all the people who keep saying "they're not counting PS3s"...I would like to point out that the article specifically states "stand alone players" and is referring to this catagory. including the PS3 would be unfair. Doesn't that reinforce the arguement that PS3 is just a Blu-ray player? And even if it was, it still wouldn't be counted, because it isn't a "stand alone" player (i.e. it plays games as well). Most people I know of who have PS3's don't own any Blu-Ray movies. They brought it for the games.

in most stores I go into that sell the HD format tend to have both, although the Blu-ray library tends to be bigger.

[xfrgtr]

HAHAHAHAHA,I love this HDDVD GROUP;THEY DO NOT INCLUDE THE PS3 WHICH IS A BLURAY PLAYER AND A CONSOLE,HDDVD IS DEAD,especially in Europe,I can understand why the hddvd group is so desperate:
http://www.eproductwars.com...
http://www.eproductwars.com...
http://www.eproductwars.com...
http://www.eproductwars.com...

[Odion]

so by some of the posters heres logic everyone who has a PS2 surely doesn't have a Dvd player, oh wait!

[Hayabusa 117]

A "stand alone DVD player" is a device that only plays DVDs. A PS3 is a multimedia device. The article specifically refers to stand alone units. Is the PS2 a stand-alone DVD player?

[jlytle1234]

Think about next year when all the big blockbuster movies come out on high def. Spiderman 3 wont be on hd-dvd, pirates wont be on hd-dvd. Harry potter will be on both. Transformers will be on both. Star wars is exclusive bluray. That disney exclusive is big. If you have young kids, you know they watch little mermaid 20 times a day. Plus when you go to rent these movies...blockbuster is going to offer only bluray.

[tonsoffun]

Actually, the first two Pirates movies have already been released and according to various sources from the AVS forums, they have one of the best picture quality out of all the high def sources.

While initially, I agree that HD DVD had the better picture quality over the earlier releases on blu ray, this is simply now not the case - they are, IMO, almost exactly the same, picture quality wise.

[ArduousAndy]

if HD-dvd is dead how come i can find sony movies on Hd-dvd in europe?

Im curious to hear from europeans on which is selling more.

http://www.amazon.de/Silent...

http://xploitedcinema.com/c...

[jlytle1234]

that may be the way it is now because the market is still split. plus movies like silent hill arent going to be best sellers. Europe will follow America on the format. Japan is already bluray territory and America is looking bluray because of all the exclusive deals made like disney and blocbuster. And if those two markets are bluray. Whos gonna want to continue to support hd-dvd? So there may be more hd-dvd players in europe, but there isnt more hd-dvd movies. Which is what matters. The money is in the movie sales, not the disc player sales.

[Da Ghostdog]

First off, nobody here can judge what format will reign in the future. What I'm about to say, you better put it in respective. It's called the "Wal-Mart Effect".

http://articles.moneycentra...

This little link above explains it all. Now, word was Wal-Mart was coming out with their own "HD-DVD" player. What if its cheaper than the new price cut Toshiba?! If this would happen, more HD-DVD players would be on the market than Blu-Ray players. If Movie Production companies see growth on the HD-DVD side, they will go where the masses are. True, Blu-Ray outnumbers movies from HD-DVD. But we're just in the opening stage of High-Def movies. The race only has just begun.
I'm not judging no winner at this time. But if the "Wal-Mart Effect" takes place, the tide for HD-DVD will shift more.

[SuperSaiyan4]

Exactly, a friend of mine in the USA told me that some blu-ray only movies can be bought in some parts of Europe (not UK) on HD-DVD! And he even compared the quality side by side and said HD-DVD looked a lot clearer.

Terminator 2 is on HD-DVD and so is Underworld 2 in Spain I think or and France with English and has subtitles which can be turned off.

Looks like I will be selling my Underworld 2 on blu-ray (to be fair it looks no differnt to the DVD version when it is upscaled!) and get the HD-DVD version.

[psw11sixty]

I have my ps3 hooked up via HDMI to my HDTV and I have the HDDVD add on for my Elite hooked up via component cables to the same TV and HDDVD looks much clearer...I also prefer HDDVD because the majority of them have the combo format which allows me to take a movie over to a friends house and watch it on a regular DVD player without making me take my game system over to their house...and combo format HDDVD's are usually 5 to 10 dollars cheaper than a BLURAY movie.

So even though I may rent Blu-ray disks from blockbuster (you can still rent HDDVD via Blockbuster online) I will buy more HDDVD's because they are cheaper, more convenient, and just plain better looking....

[Bullseye]

does anyone know how the Blu-ray and HD-DVD sales figures compare to standard DVD player sales?

[mmike855]

Okay now this is getting a little hilarious. Blu Ray has the support of almost all of the major movie production studios. HD DVD is just plain ole' on its last leg. Unfortunately, this town isn't big enough for the two of them. In terms of cost, the cost of Blu Ray will come down much more quickly now that the "war" is over, and they can expand production. HD DVD is on its way out, and like the Beta max before it, will always have its loyal following. Blu Ray is here, people are making more space for Blu Ray on their shelves, and advertising the wazoo out of it. HD DVD, rest in peace my friend, we never knew you, but we'll look back on you from time to time (given the HD DVD add on for the 360 keeps functioning)

[fenderputty]

when there is a good portion of people who buy a PS3 just for Blu-Ray. Even the people that don't buy it just for BLU-RAY (Me) end up buying movies if they have an HDTV. I'll bet anything that movie titles are still selling 2-1 in favor of Blu-Ray.

[dale1]

4 million verus 400000 thats 10 to 1 bluray overall so far, not including japan there its all blue and climbing

[mikeslemonade]

NO freaking duh to this story. I imagine the STAND alone player here in the U.S. the HDDVD player is selling more than the blu-ray player. You somehow forgot the PS3. And it doesn't matter because blu-ray the software in Europe is selling more.

[cuco33]

and hence yet another reason why i say this format war is years from over.

dead in months my ass.

[ENNO]

i thin the fact that the ps3 forced on us was not good....now we have a very over priced cosole with slow loading times because we have to access all this memory....blu-ray got a huge boost from the ps3 but hd dvd id the better format and people are seeing this now!

[tk]

So you have a PS3. You have a HD TV set. You ant to get a BR movie. So you rush out and buy a standalone BR player? You switch to the stanalone BR player whenever you want to view a BR movie? Come on. Even the ones arguing that side don't believe that it will makes sense.