HD-DVD lost to Blu-ray

According to the first-quarter business statistics, published in Home Media Magazine, HD-DVD seems to be losing to Blu-ray competitor.

Home Media Magazine said that 70% of high-resolution optical discs consumed in the first quarter of this year are Blu-ray discs. HD-DVD is only 30% in hand.

Since February Blu-out began to rise above the competition. The rate of sales has reached the point of one out of every 4 high-resolution optical discs sold in March, with 3 being Blu-ray discs.

Users also tend to choose more Blu-ray discs even though the provider supports both high-definition optical disc formats. For example, Warner Home Video released "The Departed" on February 13 in both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats. However, as of March 31, a total of 53,640 copies of "The Departed" on Blu-ray discs were sold. Meanwhile, there were only 31,590 copies with HD-DVD discs.

Research analysts say 8 out of 10 best-selling high-resolution films in the first quarter were Blu-ray. Including Roy Royale with 59,680 copies and The Departed with 53,640 copies. HD-DVD occupies 3rd place.

From January 1 to March 31, 2007 the market consumed a total of 1.2 million high-resolution optical discs. Of which, 832,530 are Blu-ray discs and 359,300 are HD-DVD discs. In March alone, the market consumed 335,980 Blu-ray discs and 119,570 HD-DVD discs.

Since its debut Blu-ray has sold 1.2 million discs and HD-DVD has only 937,500 discs.

Observers say the results are not surprising because Blu-ray received the backing of five of the six biggest Hollywood studios. Meanwhile, HD-DVD only won the backing of three brands including Sony, Disney and Fox.

Hoang Dung