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Here’s one that will throw you off a bit… There are more HD DVD players than Blu-ray players in American homes. Below is an excerpt taken from the Harris Poll report which can be read in full here.
While Blu-ray was declared the big “winner” in the high definition format war last year, consumers may be slow to be part of the winning team. In fact, Americans are not jumping on board with any of the high definition DVD players. Just one in ten Americans (11%) own a HD DVD player while 7% own a Blu-ray player. Looking at the other devices for playing HD DVDs, 9% own a Sony PLAYSTATION®3 (which plays Blu-ray ) and 3% have the external HD DVD drive for the Xbox® 360 (which plays HD DVDs).
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,401 U.S. adults surveyed online between April 13 and 21, 2009 by Harris Interactive. While slow to catch on, ownership of all these high definition disc players is up from May 2008. Interestingly, while Blu-ray was the clear “format war” winner over HD DVD, sales of HD DVD players (11% in 2009 vs. 6% in 2008) are up over 2008 by about the same margin as Blu-ray players (7% in 2009 vs. 4% in 2008). Both were rivaled by the Sony PLAYSTATION®3 (9% vs. 5%). However, only 3% purchased the external HD DVD drive for the Xbox® 360, up from 1% in 2008. There is no expected surge of interest pending — only 7% of non-Blu-ray player owners report a likely purchase of a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, down from 9% in May 2008
As we are seeing more HD content delivered via IP who really cares anymore?
[via Andy Pennell’s Blog]
View Comments (8)
This seems like a very error-prone survey to me. If I had a Blu-Ray player and someone asked me if I had a "high definition DVD player" I would say yes. If someone asked me if I had an "HD DVD player" and I didn't know about the two formats, I would also say yes. I call bs on the Harris poll's findings.
This seems like a very error-prone survey to me. If I had a Blu-Ray player and someone asked me if I had a "high definition DVD player" I would say yes. If someone asked me if I had an "HD DVD player" and I didn't know about the two formats, I would also say yes. I call bs on the Harris poll's findings.
Interesting... I would assume the Harris Poll would define HD DVD and Blu-ray separately, like they callout Playstation and XBOX 360. I would think people that own Blu-ray know that HD DVD is different... I see you point though... either way, I believe Blu-ray is struggling.
Interesting... I would assume the Harris Poll would define HD DVD and Blu-ray separately, like they callout Playstation and XBOX 360. I would think people that own Blu-ray know that HD DVD is different... I see you point though... either way, I believe Blu-ray is struggling.
I agree with Mike D. re: the Harris poll findings. The average consumer doesn't know (or care) the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray.
I believe there are 2 factors that contribute(d) to low consumer demand for Blu-ray (and initially higher demand for HD DVD): 1) poor product positioning - the term "Blu-ray" makes little sense to most consumers hence the fairly recent decision to begin marketing Blu-ray as "high definition dvd" and 2) price point - when they were competing, compare $100-$200 for a HD DVD player vs. $200-$300+ for a BD player. It's a no-brainer for the average consumer.
My mom is a great example (and also a technophobe). She purchased a HD DVD player ~4 weeks before HD DVD was discontinued. Her reason: price. She had no idea Blu-ray even existed. To her, the acronym "HD DVD" is all that made sense. Nice.
I agree with Mike D. re: the Harris poll findings. The average consumer doesn't know (or care) the difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray.
I believe there are 2 factors that contribute(d) to low consumer demand for Blu-ray (and initially higher demand for HD DVD): 1) poor product positioning - the term "Blu-ray" makes little sense to most consumers hence the fairly recent decision to begin marketing Blu-ray as "high definition dvd" and 2) price point - when they were competing, compare $100-$200 for a HD DVD player vs. $200-$300+ for a BD player. It's a no-brainer for the average consumer.
My mom is a great example (and also a technophobe). She purchased a HD DVD player ~4 weeks before HD DVD was discontinued. Her reason: price. She had no idea Blu-ray even existed. To her, the acronym "HD DVD" is all that made sense. Nice.
There are more HD DVD players than Blu-ray players in American homes.
Good post overall. Enjoyed reading it.