Blu-ray takes lion's share of high-def market

Easily outselling rival HD DVD format, Blu-ray took 70 per cent of the market for high-definition movie titles in the first quarter of 2007, according to figures just released by the trade magazine, Home Media.

Its dominance reflects a rapid turnaround in fortunes: in January HD DVD was in front. Blu-ray took the lead in February and by March three out of every four discs sold was Blu-ray.

Its new-found dominance can be attributed in large part to the release in the US and Japan late last year of Sony's PlayStation 3 games console, which includes a Blu-ray drive. By contrast Microsoft only offers an HD DVD drive for its Xbox 360 console as an optional add-on.

Eight of the top 10 selling titles in the first quarter were Blu-ray, led by Casino Royale. The Departed, which won Martin Scorsese a belated best director Oscar, was second. The file was one of the few big-name titles to be released on both formats, and the HD DVD version was third in the list.

Combined sales for the quarter reached 1.2 million, over half the total number of 2.14 million sold since HD DVD launched in April 2006 and Blu-ray two months later.

"All this data points to the irrefutable facts that the consumers are voting with their dollars and adopting the revolutionary technology of the Blu-ray Disc," Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Home Entertainment, told Home Media.

"With such beloved titles as Pirates of the Caribbean on the horizon, these numbers will only do one thing: grow."

Blu-ray is backed by a majority of the major movie studios. Only Paramount and Warner support both while Universal is alone in eschewing Blu-ray in favour of HD DVD only releases. Home Media notes that as a result Blu-ray player owners have a stronger selection of movies to choose from.

Andy Parsons, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association's US Promotion Committee said in a statement that forthcoming Blu-ray releases will maintain Blu-ray's advantage.

"It's exactly what we've said all along would happen - the strong support for Blu-ray among movie studio and equipment manufacturers means that consumers have more choices when it comes to players and titles," he said.

"And they're choosing Blu-ray by an ever-increasing margin."

Frank Simonis, the Blu-ray Disc Association's European chairman, predicted last month that Blu-ray will replace DVD within the three years.

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