Study: Blu-ray failing to find consumer traction

by Stevie Smith - Aug 5 2008, 10:13

The HD format war may be long over, with Sony’s Blu-ray crowned as the industry standard after putting Toshiba’s rival HD-DVD platform to the sword back in February of this year, but a new study has revealed that Blu-ray is still struggling to make its mark as ‘the next big thing.’

New survey reveals Blu-ray is failing to find consumer popularity. Image: Sony/Blu-ray.

According to a recent survey conducted by ABI Research, prospective consumers are still largely reticent when it comes to shifting from mainstay DVD over to the high-definition advantages provided by Blu-ray.Figures taken from the survey, which covered 1,000 respondents and their purchasing plans over the next 12 to 24 months, revealed that more than 50 percent said they had “other priorities” to deal with in life and had no plans whatsoever to invest in the Blu-ray platform. A further 23 percent claimed that although they were likely to buy into Sony’s HD format at some point, it would not be something they would throw money at this year.By way of response, ABI Research offered that Blu-ray’s continuing lack of market performance is likely down to the majority of consumers being unable to discern a clear quality distinction between standard definition DVD and high-definition Blu-ray -- a point compounded by costing aspects that require consumers to purchase a HDTV in order to fully appreciate what Blu-ray has to offer.“Consumers were happy to embrace standard DVD when that format arrived because the improvement in quality over VHS videotapes was dramatic. Standard DVD didn’t require the purchase of a new TV either,” commented ABI’s principal analyst Steve Wilson, who went on to say that “most [consumers] are very satisfied with the performance of their current DVD players.”That perspective is supported by the survey itself, which saw 40 percent of those polled describing Blu-ray’s quality as “much better” than standard DVD, while another 40 percent only categorised its apparent enhancements as “somewhat better.”
The survey also revealed that Blu-ray’s high pricing is serving to keep adoptive consumers in a state of cautious non-committal, with many not yet keen on the platform given the accompanying need for a high-definition television. And hardware price drops don’t look imminent either, with ABI predicting that upper-tier player prices will remain above $300 USD at least until the close of 2008. One plus point for Blu-ray emerges through Sony’s PlayStation 3 videogames console, which comes equipped with an onboard Blu-ray player as standard. ABI notes that increasing popularity attributed to Sony’s home console “will go a long way to help bring down manufacturing costs and drive down Blu-ray player prices.”It’s also worth noting that the PlayStation 3’s bundled player is largely considered to be the best slice of Blu-ray currently available. For example, the boffins at tech magazine CNET hold the PS3’s player at the top of their Blu-ray player listing and use the console as a review yardstick whenever new Blu-ray hardware is released. “It’s the best Blu-ray player we’ve tested so far,” enthuses CNET’s Crave, “plus you get a high-def gaming console and a well-featured media streamer for $400.”

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JDAug 6th, 2008 - 01:54:35

I hope Blu-ray crashes and burns so that the corporate fools that remove competition from the marketplace with no concern for the consumer will perhaps learn something. Not likely! I will continue to up-convert the lower priced industry standard. Although not true HD, it isn't too bad. I'll wait for the next format, hopefully it will be one with a competitive edge, so that the average consumer will want to purchase it. Blu-ray is a flash in the pan.

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tech dudeAug 6th, 2008 - 07:42:17

Blu-ray is not a flash in the pan. When the player prices close the gap with DVD, and the economy picks back up, and gas prices fall, and the hdtv transition is complete, then people will have no reason not to own blu-ray. I own a PS3, and the picture is awesome. Long live blu.

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XXXmonkeyAug 6th, 2008 - 08:50:15

That's a lot of 'whens'.

Also, gas prices falling? Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

Once TV is completely digital, and HDTVs and Blu-ray are on an equal pricing plateau with conventional TVs and DVD, then maybe Blu-ray will track some success.

Personally, while I own a PS3, I rarely use the Blu-ray player... and I think that Toshiba's considerably cheaper HD-DVD format would have stood a much better chance of making an impression with consumers had Blu-ray been the one beaten out.

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Patrick L.Aug 6th, 2008 - 17:21:55

I stalled on getting a Blu-ray player for a while, and then eventually broke down and bought one last month. I am very happy with it and the picture is amazing. The fact that it can play normal DVDs and 'upgrades' the picture helped me sell the idea of getting one to my wife. I think the format will never take off as long as the Blu-ray releases stay way overpriced compared DVD releases with little extra special features to justify it.

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le_avionAug 6th, 2008 - 18:34:42

Since I purchased my PS3 I no longer purchase any DVDs. However the problem right now is that the library of Blu Ray titles is too limited. There is a lot of junk that the studios are releasing and only very few good titles I would like to purchase.

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Bonner MartinAug 6th, 2008 - 19:05:14

I would have Blu-ray tomorrow if the price was right as I am a movie buff with over 900 DVD's in my library. What is stopping the up take of Blu-ray is (1) Over priced Blu-ray disc (2) Over priced Players.

Hollywood needs to lower the price to a point that it is no longer economical for pirates to be able to make a profit and they are so cheap that a person will not think twice before purchasing them.

My large library of DVD's has been purchased on an average price of less than .00 a disc. I have never paid full price for a DVD.

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DaveBGAug 7th, 2008 - 18:50:57

Blu-ray is doing far too little far too late.

VOD via high def DVRs is clearly going to be the 'next big thing', afterall it's 'HD on your HD TV all the time' and offers sports as well as movies etc etc.

If the majority of the public when asked don't see Blu-ray as being worth the significant premium over DVD (and they don't) then it's perfectly obvious that HD TV services & downloaded high def (which will be whatever happens a fast growing market that even Sony have embraced with 2 new services, 1 for PS3 and 1 for Bravia owners) mean the market is changed completely from DVD days anyways.

Blu-ray can never be 'the next DVD' because that market has gone and is now so fragmented.

After the way the industry have openly begun to talk about killing DVD early and watching the way they pulled the rug on HD DVD, who in their right mind would take a chance on Blu-ray now?

Blu-ray is so completely reliant on the PS3 game console and is therefore practically invisible to the a/v true mass-market.
Every Blu-ray title is available as a copy on the net thanks to BD+ (the supposedly 'superior' anti-copy 'protection' = customer gouging & annoying gravy-train that never stopped a genuine commercial 'pirate' ever) being cracked.

At least HD DVD owners got to enjoy rock-bottom pricing and the chance to build a nice high def movie collection for relative pennies.
If Blu-ray does die an early death (a not altogether unlikely possibility) the early adopting owners won't even have had that.

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RichOct 17th, 2008 - 04:16:06

I think its funny all you people who think blu ray won't last or that it doesn't look much better than dvd ! Ha I dont know what tv your watching but my 1080p l.c.d with blu ray looks outstanding plus better sound and if you think the price is too high research the internet for f sake thats what its for Blu ray boxsets.com has blu rays and new ones at that for the same price as you get the dvd for christ sake you just have to look! Any way blu ray will last until u can dowload movies at that resolution on your t.v.. I personally like having a hard copy myself! Long live blu ray!!!!!

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