Strategy Analytics on HD-DVD: Blu-ray Wins Battle, Not War

Business Wire, Feb 19, 2008

Blu-ray Disc Player Sales To Reach 100 Million By 2012

LONDON -- Blu-ray Disc's victory over HD-DVD is the first battle in a much longer struggle, according to Strategy Analytics. A major challenge lies ahead if the industry is to persuade hundreds of millions of DVD owners that they should switch to a completely new format. DVD players costing less than $100 can already offer HD-like video quality through upscaling techniques. The industry must now unite behind a major promotional campaign to push Blu-ray Disc as the preferred optical disc standard for the high definition age.

"Blu-ray Disc has passed its first real test by beating HD-DVD," says David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "But a much bigger challenge now lies ahead if BD is to become as successful as DVD, and content owners, retailers and manufacturers must now demonstrate that they can work together to promote BD effectively."

Strategy Analytics predicts that cumulative sales of stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players excluding games consoles, PCs and other devices will reach more that 100 million units worldwide by 2012.

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Strategy Analytics, Inc focuses on market opportunities and disruptive forces in the areas of Automotive Electronics and Entertainment, Broadband Connected Home, Mobile & Wireless Intelligent Systems Implementation Strategies and High Frequency Market intelligence. Headquartered in Boston, MA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, S. Korea and China, Strategy Analytics works with clients through annual multi-client services, management team workshops and custom consulting engagements. For more information, please visit www.strategyanalytics.com.