Is the future of Blu-ray growing bleak?

[The_Iceflash]

It almost appears to me that the hype around Blu-ray seems to be going away. It just seems like most don't care and that they are slowly going away. One thing that made me think of this (bad example I know..) was when I was in Disney World a month ago and it was a chore to find Blu-rays in gift shops! They had many Disney DVDs but Disney BDs were like non-existent. I finally found some behind a counter under lock and key and some in the Toy Store in Downtown Disney but that was it. I notice the size of Blu-ray sections in places like Wal-mart are pitiful to say the least. Is this a sign of the future? As one who has just invested in it I hope not. What do you think about Blu-ray now and what you think it's future looks like.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Until you can cite an article with numbers stating a decline in sales in specific regions I wouldn't put too much thought into what you saw in WDW gift shops.

Here's an article stating how Blu-ray sales more than doubled in the first half of 2010 in Western Europe and Japan:

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4876

[Duckburger]

No, it isn't.

In fact, a lot of new movies almost reach the 50% marketshare on blu in the first week of release, case in point Clash of the Titans (you can look it up on blu-ray.com). The hype is sort of dropping, but that's not really strange... after all it's been more than 4 years. A lot of people have chosen it as their format of choice for new movies, and there aren't any numbers on the internet that can prove this wrong. DVD is still stronger... sure, but there is FAR more content available on DVD. Not really a fair comparison. And honestly, Wal-mart wasn't really the place to go for DVD's 4 years into the format (or so I've read).

What I do find strange and somewhat annoying is that Disney seems to be reluctant to release catalog titles on blu-ray. A total of 7 so far this year in frickin' 8 months (Re:Gangs of NY, Toy Story 1, Toy Story 2, Armageddon, Tombstone, 10 Things I Hate About You, James and the Giant Peach). I fail to see their logic. I just hope it stops soon.

[ajmrowland]

you site a department store and theme park gift shops, yet places where people go to buy movies, like Best Buy, FYE, etc. have simply blooming blu-ray sections that have no sign of shrinking. even Wal-mart once had an okay selection and Target's done pretty decent too.

no. the hype is dying, but the format's here to stay. it took a long time for DVD to become norm. just wait and see.

[DarthPrime]

I've found Wal-Mart to be really random stocking Blu-rays. I have 2 stores close by. One barely stocks new releases, while the other has an entire section.

Target seems to be doing well, and the last time I was in Best Buy about 1/3 of their movie section was Blu-ray. Overall I think Blu-ray sales are doing very well, and will continue to improve in the future.

[Cordy_Biddle]

I'm finding there's still not an adequate spotlight of Blu-ray in ANY of the stores I regularly frequent.

[The_Iceflash]

Yeah, it's pretty bad when the only store that has 'An American in Paris' stocked is Barnes and Noble and they are charging the list price!

[PixarFan2006]

I don't think the format is dying, just the hype. I am pretty sure the same thing happened to DVD.

I see some places like Wal-Mart selling BDs for 20.00 or less (Not counting new releases). I think that's good given the way the economy is now.

[The_Iceflash]

I feel a little better. Everyone in my house is 100% convinced Blu-ray is on the way out and my Mom just went on a rant to me about me putting money into it since she's convinced they're on their way out. My mom and my brother were both telling me this and how there were more DVDs in the stores this stage in DVD's lifespan than this time around.

[PatrickvD]

I feel a little better. Everyone in my house is 100% convinced Blu-ray is on the way out and my Mom just went on a rant to me about me putting money into it since she's convinced they're on their way out. My mom and my brother were both telling me this and how there were more DVDs in the stores this stage in DVD's lifespan than this time around.

as if ti would be a waste of money? I'm pretty sure all future video playing devices will be able to play Blu-ray, so it's not like they're worthless.... even in the unlikely event of Blu-ray going away.

[The_Iceflash]

I feel a little better. Everyone in my house is 100% convinced Blu-ray is on the way out and my Mom just went on a rant to me about me putting money into it since she's convinced they're on their way out. My mom and my brother were both telling me this and how there were more DVDs in the stores this stage in DVD's lifespan than this time around.

as if ti would be a waste of money? I'm pretty sure all future video playing devices will be able to play Blu-ray, so it's not like they're worthless.... even in the unlikely event of Blu-ray going away.

that's true.

Of course Steve Jobs has something to say too:

http://www.blurayfreak.com/2010/07/the- ... -ever.html

[ajmrowland]

yeah, cuz lower quality and no features is worth it.

[The_Iceflash]

yeah, cuz lower quality and no features is worth it.

The scary thing is people think that. The example there (I think was mentioned there) was the music market and how the fate of HDCD and SACD in the music world will also be the fate of Blu-ray.

[Lazario]

Well, if cost isn't an issue anymore - I can't see why this would be happening. I guess some stores simple feel their customers aren't buying Blu-Rays and so they don't stock very many.

This would be great news for me though, if there were a great amount of truth to it. Since, like I say, most buyers now are people with a standard DVD collection just big enough to the point where they don't want to start collecting all over again with a new format. Our wallets are still more pinched now than they have been in a long time, things aren't getting that much better.

[The_Iceflash]

Well, if cost isn't an issue anymore - I can't see why this would be happening. I guess some stores simple feel their customers aren't buying Blu-Rays and so they don't stock very many.

This would be great news for me though, if there were a great amount of truth to it. Since, like I say, most buyers now are people with a standard DVD collection just big enough to the point where they don't want to start collecting all over again with a new format. Our wallets are still more pinched now than they have been in a long time, things aren't getting that much better.

Well prices in general (not counting release weeks/coupons) are still pretty up there for most big titles. I personally haven't been able to buy BDs at a rate I used to DVDs as a result.

I think it's at least partially due to stocking. Even Best Buy's selections are generally underwhelming. I find that a lot of BDs I'm looking for are not any stores whatsoever.

[Goliath]

I hope it's true. Maybe then Disney will release proper DVD's again, instead of insulting 80% of consumers with barebones DVD's --saving bonus features for BluRay.

[Margos]

I hope it's true. Maybe then Disney will release proper DVD's again, instead of insulting 80% of consumers with barebones DVD's --saving bonus features for BluRay.

Agreed. The new TS3 DVD is going to be a shame and a travesty. (Sure, the feature presenstation itself is so good that it's still worthwhile, but still.... we don't even get a freakin' audio commentary!)

[Flanger-Hanger]

Maybe then Disney will release proper DVD's again...

Those days left long before Disney got serious with Blu-ray. At least if their ditching of TV content, catalog live-action titles (poor quality or not), ever decreasing WDT numbers/bonus content on new releases and pointless re-issues of animated classics were any indication.

At least now quality releases* exist on some format.

*And like Disney DVDs those days appear to be numbered. See the Blu-rays of Tombstone and James and the Giant Peach.

[2099net]

I hope it's true. Maybe then Disney will release proper DVD's again, instead of insulting 80% of consumers with barebones DVD's --saving bonus features for BluRay.

I don't think that will happen. The recent Prince of Persia Blu-ray shows that Disney's even willing to go to the expense of authoring 2 blu-ray discs (one with just the movie, one with the movie and cinexplore) and charge extra for the premium disc.

What they've done to DVD, they're now doing to Blu-ray.

[dvdjunkie]

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