Blu-ray disks might be winning the battle ? but the war is just beginning.
While many industry analysts compare the current Blu-ray versus High Definition DVD debate to the VHS and Betamax battle 25 years ago, it looks like Blu-ray may be pulling ahead. While vendors have pushed HD-DVDs, Blu-ray disks are being added to Blockbuster, the video rental chain announced earlier this month, and NetFlix has made the move of offering the rival format.
According to Home Media Research?s year-to-date study, 67 percent of high-end DVD sales have been Blu-ray. It?s not an inexpensive option for consumers. HD-DVD players sell for $200 to $1,000, while Blu-ray players cost between $550 and $1,300, costhelper.com reported.
“We fully support both formats,” said Scott Tavegia, the customer experience manager for the Best Buy in Towson. “As a company, our leadership is disappointed that HD and Blu-ray did not come to an agreement on the standard. We are a big player and couldn?t pressure them to come to one solidified stance.”
Aside from enhanced picture and sound quality, HD and Blu-ray discs both offer additional space and storage capacity. While HD-DVDs usually use one layer of a disc, and thus make themselves the slightly cheaper alternative, nearly all Blu-ray discs use double that by filling up a pair of layers.
“We are not looking at an incremental increase in space, but a significant one to allow a longer life cycle that is best for the consumer,” said Sandra Benedetto, director of product management and sales engineering for Pioneer Electronics. Pioneer endorses the Blu-ray format.
Companies, retailers and the film industry have already begun to take sides. Of thetop eight film studios ? which account for 90 percent of the box office sales in 2006 ? five will release their films on Blu-ray only, and two will release pictures in both formats. Sony, MGM, Buena Vista, Fox and Lions Gate will release on Blu-ray only, while Warner Brothers and Paramount will produce both, Benedetto said.
Only Universal will not release Blu-ray discs.
“When you think about things like ?you can?t get a Disney movie in anything but Blu-ray,? that resonates to the consumer market,” Benedetto said.
STORAGE COMPARISON
» CD: 700 megabytes
» DVD: 4.75 gigabytes
» HD-DVD: 15-30 gigabytes
» Blu-ray: 25-50 gigabytes
What would prompt you to buy a Blu-ray player? Respond below in our comment section.
