HDTV Info

Europe Expected to be Strong HDTV Disc Market

Jim Bottoms, managing director of industry analyst Understanding & Solutions, spoke at a Blu-ray Disc Association event in London last week and discussed how a relative lack of broadcast HD programming in Europe could encourage sales of high-definiton DVD discs.

In Western Europe, Bottoms forecasted that by 2010 there will be some 115 million HDTV sets in use, but only around 17 million homes will have access to HD broadcast services.  "With consumers increasingly aware of the benefits of high definition but unable to access HDTV services, then the demand for pre-recorded HD media is bound to increase significantly," said JimBo.  His logic makes sense.

For the U.S., Bottoms predicted  that by 2010 there will be around 138 million HDTVs in use and some 81 million homes will receive high definition TV programming.

Bottoms also discussed the November launch of Sony's  Playstation 3 video game console as an important "market driver," and he predicted a similar effect in Europe following PS3’s introduction last month: "PS3 has succeeded in changing the focus and boosting Blu-ray disc’s interest.  By the end of 2006, a total of one million high definition players of all types were in use in North America including over 750,000 PS3 players."

"Now, over 80 per cent of total US installations are Blu-ray Disc and BD software title sales are outstripping HD-DVD by a significant margin.  During the first week in January Blu-ray Disc accounted for 68% of all HD title sales and one week later that figure had increased to 72%," he added.

Is Microsoft Still Behind HD-DVD?

Microsoft, a leading HD-DVD format supporter has taken steps in the last week that have led some to speculate whether it's hedging its bets in the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD HD disc war.

First, Microsoft unveiled its new XBox 360 Elite game console that can play high-def movies downloaded from the XBox Live Marketplace.  XBox 360 Elite, which will be available next month for $479, does not include a HD-DVD player.  In comparison Sony's PlayStation 3 features a built-in Blu-ray player.  So with a price tag comparable to PS3's entry point of $499, it's surprising that Microsoft also did not match Sony's high-def player feature.

Second, In an interview, Microsoft Europe's senior regional director, Neil Thompson, discounted the progress of the HD disc market, but left open the possibility that XBox 360 could support Blu-ray at some point: "I'm not sure the market has moved to High Definition (movies) yet.  And if and when it does, then the way that we've constructed the offering we've made means we'll be able to go whichever way we want."

Do Thompson's remarks reflect the thinking at Microsoft headquarters?  In recent months, Blu-ray player and disc sales have easily outpaced HD-DVD and many industry observers are concluding that Blu-ray could be reaching the stretch drive.

"Whatever format wins, it is highly likely we will offer a solution," Thompson told the BBC. "The only debate is if you want to watch Blu-ray movies and pay the extra money for that feature. We prefer to offer the consumer choice."   Even if the consumer choice is Blu-ray?

Sony Hopes Casino Royale on Blu-ray Will Shoot Down HD-DVD For Good

Casino Royale, the latest Bond installment, was recently released on Blu-ray HD disc, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has reportedly shipped more than 100,000 units.

To put this in perspective, consider that it took DVD 11 months to reach that milestone with Air Force One, also a Sony release.

"Casino Royale has done it in far less time and is clearly demonstrating the format's robust growth in the marketplace," SPHE worldwide president David Bishop said. "We clearly feel that we are looking at HD-DVD in our rearview mirror."

Nielsen VideoScan, which tracks DVD sales, says Casino Royale is outselling any other HDTV DVD by nearly 10:1, and HighDefDigest estimates that 100,000 copies of the Blu-ray disc may have been sold in the United States thus far, based on the Nielsen data.

Sony's Blu-ray has enjoyed a 700% increase in disc sales since the PS3 launch, and with all of its just-announced upcoming releases on 50GB discs, Sony sees a Blu-ray pulling away in U.S. and worldwide.  In fact, the U.K. release of Royale sold 10,000 in the first week despite being the PS3 pack-in bonus.

Naturally, a spokesperson for the North American HD-DVD Promotional Group was not available for comment.

Independent Films Can Enjoy Blu-ray Too

With all the talk about the major studios backing Blu-ray, HD-DVD or both, it seems that independent films have been left out of the HDTV DVD equation altogether. 

That was, of course, until Hollywood producer John Daly and Erick Hansen (of Blue Ray Technologies - note the spelling) formed a company, Edge of Light Media, to make and distribute Blu-ray HDTV DVDs for independent film makers.

"It is a solution for indies, because they can't raise the money to have a big Blu-ray release," Hansen said.  He also said that the L.A.-based Edge of Light Media will not support HD-DVD.

Edge of Light also will help distributors of old TV shows and other non-studio fare to get their content on Blu-ray.  Hansen said the older shows look dramatically better in high-def: "It's like a Model T versus a brand new Mustang."

Toshiba to Offer HD-A2 for Just $399

Effective April Fool's Day, Toshiba will be cutting the price of its HD-A2 HD-DVD player to $399. 

According to the reports, Toshiba has reportedly issued a new catalog announcing the price drop to $399 from $499, making the HD-A2 the lowest priced high-def DVD player in all the land.

Sony's PlayStation 3, which comes with a Blu-ray HDTV DVD player inside, can be purchased for $499.
One reason for the price drop is that Toshiba, the major force behind the HD-DVD format, is under pressure to quickly boost sales, as it's being outsold by a 2:1 margin to Blu-ray discs.

Toshiba is also expected to lower the price on the HD-A20 model from $599 to $499.  Previously, Toshiba lowered the price tag on the HD-XA2, the company's second generation player, to $799 from $999.

Finally, Toshiba is also offering five free HD-DVDs with the purchase of any HD-DVD player.

Lionsgate to Release 2 Movies on 1 Blu-ray Disc

According to an article in Video Business, Lionsgate will release two movies on one Blu-ray HDTV DVD on April 24, 2007.  It is reported that Lionsgate and Marvel Enterprises are teaming up to issue Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2 on one 50GB Blu-ray disc.

Lionsgate is able to release the two films on one disc because the Blu-ray 50GB disc has more capacity than standard DVDs or even other Blu-ray DVDs.

The double-feature disc will have a suggested retail price of $39.99, and Video Business says the Blu-ray disc will include two supplemental featurettes, a trivia track, and a preview of the upcoming film Dr. Strange.

Blu-ray Extends Lead over HD DVD

Video Business has reported that, for the second straight month, Blu-ray HDTV DVDs outsold rival HD-DVD by a 2:1 margin in February; 250,000 Blu-ray discs were sold in February, compared to 125,000 for HD-DVD, according to Video Business.

“Every week it (Blu-ray) grows,” Rich Marty, vice president of business development at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, told Video Business.  “It’s growing faster than DVD did. Each month it just looks more and more promising.”

Sony's attempt to pre-maturely herald Blu-ray as the inevitable winner in the format war was shot down by Universal, who said Blu-ray sales have risen only because of a recent increase in new titles.  “When they start talking about numbers, two-to-one, that’s really about the release schedule,” Universal Studios  executive VP Ken Graffeotold Video Business.

Free Movies with Toshiba HD DVD Player

There may heve been some recent good news about Blu-ray outselling HD DVD, but for HDTV DVD customers who haven't taken sides in the next-gen DVD war, the real good news is coming from the HD DVD camp. As part of Toshiba's new promotion, which runs from March 1 - July 31, anyone who buys a Toshiba-branded HD DVD player will receive 5 free HD DVD titles.

Currently, Toshiba's entry HD DVD player is roughly 50% less than the suggested retail price of standalone Blu-ray players, and Sony announced last week that it will cut Blu-ray player prices by 50% in 2007. Coincidence???

Nichia Laser Supports Up To 10x Speed Recording for HDTV DVD

Japanese Nichia Corp. says that it has developed a blue-violet semiconductor laser diode, featuring a power high enough for burning Blu-Ray and HD DVD media at high speeds, that emits pulsed light at 320mW, while offering a stable operation of 1,000 hours. The diode could be used for optical discs including Blu-ray and HD DVD, allowing 10X speed recording with a double-layer disc and 2X speed recording with a four-layer disc.

The high output was achieved with 260 mA and 5 V at a temperature of 80 degrees. Nichia gave the diode an estimated life of more than 1,000 hours under the stable conditions. Pulse oscillation's threshold current is 35 mA and threshold voltage is 3.7 V. The company explained it achieved the high power by improving the laser chip.

Sure, the new diode could boost the recording speeds of the next generation optical storage media, but high-speed recording also requires significant improvements in the materials and the developments of the optical discs.

Nichia aims to start this product's mass-production early next year.

National Geographic Releases First HDTV DVD Film

National Geographic has announced that on March 27, it will release its first documentary in HDTV DVD.  The film is called Relentless Enemies, a 90-minute documentary that chronicles the struggle of lions and buffalo in Botswana.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD editions will cost $34.99 each; National Geographic will charge $19.99 for the standard definition DVD.

Last year, National Geographic launched a high-def channel but has struggled to find spots in cable and satellite lineups due to bandwidth limitations.  Even though Comcast has signed a carriage agreement with National Geographic HD, the cable operator is only offering NG HD via its On Demand service in several markets.