HD DVD Sales Staging Comeback-'Planet Earth' Breaks New Amazon Record. (1 Viewer)

[Rob_Walton]

sorry, i don't know what that means.

 

[Jason Seaver]

It means that Amazon sales numbers tend to be held up as a useful barometer and noteworthy accomplishments by those whose side they support, and dismissed by the others. BD supporters, for instance, often discounted the sizeable lead HD DVD seemed to have until Casino Royale had a high ranking.

Or at least, that's what people say.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

I think it's impressive that this HD DVD title peaked out so high on Amazon's chart, whatever the reason.

I'll be curious to see how the HD DVD/BD sales ratios play out over the next few months (especially when Fox gets back into releasing some titles).

Personally... I'm buying neither the BD nor HD DVD version of Planet Earth... as I hope to get the BD screener copy...

 

[ppltd]

That was then, this is now

TOP 10
Blu-ray : 197
HD DVD : 197.8

TOP 25
Blu-ray : 731.94
HD DVD : 602.02

TOP 100
Blu-ray : 3371.62
HD DVD : 3224.71

Kind of fun watching this roller coaster .

 

[ppltd]

My guess is that could be said about 99 % of the films we purchase. Most movies are good for only one or two viewing (and some times not even one).

 

[Yumbo]

Thomas, you jester.

 

[ppltd]

 

[Cees Alons]

Rob,

During the last months of 2006, Amazon sales figures were often quoted by HD DVD "fans" to prove the success of the format, but invariably BD-people would point out vigorously that they weren't "typical", not representative, etc.
Then, during the first months of the year, Amazon figures were often quoted by the BD camp, and sometimes (faintly, or they wouldn't sound too consistent) dismissed by HD DVD proponents for the same reasons.
Now, a figure is used that seems to be in favour of HD DVD and you (more or less) dismiss it as not being representative.

Hence my lighthearted and slightly ironic remark.


Cees

 

[Grant H]

I'm trying to avoid that kind of purchase on the HD front. Though I have bought some great movies that I don't know how often I'll be in the mood for, like Kingdom of Heaven and Black Hawk Down.

 

[ppltd]

Probably but I am one of those collectors that buy many films that are viewable maybe once. Hell, some films I buy just because of the title. I.E. 'Surf Nazis must Die', 'The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies' or 'Cannibal! The Musical'. I mean, how can one not own a movie with the title 'Bite Me!'.

 

[John Berggren]

Both formats remaining will ensure that HD is a niche, not the reverse.

 

[DaViD Boulet]

Exactly. Which is why despite many of the positive outcomes of the format war early on (like improved performance of both formats and lower prices of hardware), many of us are delcaring that it's time for one format to emerge as "The" high-def disc format so that the would-be adoptors afraid of investing in a format battle will step in and help ensure the long-term survival of HD disc media.

 

[MarekM]

Marek

 

[Adam Gregorich]

Even if one of the formats threw in the towel tomorrow, it would still be a niche market for a long while. The movies cost more, the players cost more, and there isn't a huge selection of titles to choose from.

 

[Chris S]

Totally agree.

 

[Rob Young]

...and many people out there are simply happy with DVD.

All I know is I am happy to have HD on disc and I hope we continue to have it for years.

 

[Chris S]

When will the Planet Earth Nielson/Videoscan numbers be counted, the week ending 4/29 or sooner? Are they based on retailer orders or actual units purchased?

And not to throw cold water on this accomplishment but I wonder if some fans used Planet Earth, or other upcoming releases, since those titles would be easier to cancel once their ranking had sufficiently increased and the buying event was over. Is there any indication that the majority of the titles ordered were pre-releases versus available titles?

 

[Adam Gregorich]

HD PE is a preorder, but it comes out this Tuesday, so we will know soon enough.

 

[ppltd]

Early on? We are still seeing the benefits of this competion. Prices on hardware continue to fall, releases are increasing in qty, and performance upgrades continue to come. (The latest being an upgrade for the Panasonic). There is little doubt that this competition will continue for a long time to come, as there is way too much invested by Toshiba and Sony to give it up.

Is it good or bad? I don't know, but for the time being, I like what it is doing for the technology and pricing. And who knows, maybe HD VMD, who just signed major marketing agreements with 2 major content distributors supplying to the French market will step in and put the fight to rest.

 

[Chris S]

Forget buying HD-DVD or BD, I'm buying Amazon stock!!

The Blu-ray fans plan a counter attack