According to aggregate weekly estimates from the research department of Home Media Magazine and listed each week on blu-ray.com's sales information posts, revenues from BD sales in the US in the first quarter of 2010 were $331.31 million, 68.5% more than in the same period of 2009. Blu-ray accounted for 12.3% of packaged-media sales revenue in the first three months of the year (versus 7.0% in Jan-Mar 2009).
Packaged-media sales revenues for the quarter were just short of $2.7 billion, 3.1% up year-on-year.
The biggest-selling week in the quarter was the week ended March 25, with $45.46 million in BD sales. The slowest week was the week ended February 21, with $18.58 million.
During the month of March, Blu-ray sales revenues were $130.36 million, 86% up year-on-year.
Give us Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and the LOTR's Extended editions on top of what's coming before the year's out and we'll blow the Blu Ray sales right out of the universe for 'ya.
Whoever said that Blu Ray will fade out are the same idiots who said DVD's would never make mainstream. And all this money made is before the release of Avatar!
I have never and WILL never use a download as a form of owning video media. Even if/when they figure out how to match Blu-ray's PQ & AQ I still want physical ownership for my hard earned money.
I agree with Rainman 100%. I want the disc in-hand, on the shelf, artwork, etc. And for those of you waiting for digital downloads to take over this media, you can keep waiting in vain, because when that happens, they'll also charge you accordingly for it, both in infrastructure and MB/GB downloaded at what rate kb/sec. Just keep waiting...
Downloads are overrated and, at least thus far, only good for rentals IMO. As far as ownership goes, I prefer physical media on display on a shelf with full audio and video quality. It's much easier to see and chose something to watch from a physical library, it makes for a great display and addition to any home entertainment system/room, you own the disc which means you can take it with you and watch it over a friend's house and there's no risk or hassle of any hard drive crashing on you.
I just want DVD to die. I wish Blu-ray was the only disc-media for home viewing. I really feel DVD is ugly. Why are Blu-ray sales only 12% of packaged-media sales revenue? DVD sales really account for 88%?
This is amazing news to hear because on a daily basis (I sell Blu Ray at my work) I deal with people talking about how amazing DVDs are and how Blu Ray is too expensive and won't last.....and now to see these strong numbers with really no strong titles, that's amazing. I can't wait to see the numbers later this year with Avatar, Twilight 3 and Harry Potter 7 coming out on blu ray.
yeah, wait til the 22nd....
i hear RUMOR that some stores will open 12 midnight wednesday night for Avatar... all i can say is WOW!!! there's a 24/7 Walmart close to me might go might wait til i get up.....
Good news, but I thought by now that percentage might be just a slight bit higher. I think Avatar is going to raise that percentage and I agree totally with Cap Nord (his post above) that if the studios were to release Star Wars and some of the other top catalog like ET, Jurassic Park, Titanic, ect....that would add as well. I still strongly believe that even though classics (pre-1970) are not the best sellers, release enough of them and you get a whole new demo to buy into the format. I know many friends who are classic fans who havn't bought a player yet because the selection of pre-1970 films is pretty small. They are willing...but waiting.
Raiders of the lost Arc this year and releases like The Sound of Music coming at holiday time are going to help as well. The upcoming 3D is certainly an attractive proposition for consumers. Plus, I think this coming holiday season, there is going to be a record-breaking number of players sold and we will have full-function players selling for under $99.
I remember when DVD hit the market, the more movies that came out, the more players sold, and the $99 price point for name brand players really blew it open.
I have bought way too many BRDs in the past 5 months so I definitely contributed to this increase... :-P I am in love with this format. The audio and video is such a huge improvement over DVD it's silly. I can't wait until more catalog titles get ported over to BR with quality transfers. I purchase all my BRDs through Amazon, they have such tremendous pricing on BRDs. People that have not switched yet just need to experience a PIXAR film in Blu Ray with a decent home theater system and they would be blown away...
Just a quick addition...Frozenpinky mentioned that 88% of packaged media sales are DVD. Actually, the real number is worse. The article mentions 12.3% of the revenue is due to B-r. Since the average Blu-ray costs more than the average DVD, 12.3% of revenue translates to no more than 10% of the units sold.
We B-boys and girls are only buying maybe 10% or less of the discs sold.
I just recently upgraded my home theatre and I'm blown away by the picture and sound quality of Blu-ray! I'll definitely do my part to help those BD sales, it would be good to know the share of rentals as well...
AWESOME. I seriously can't wait for tomorrow, I'll be helping wiht my very small purchases with LOTR and Poseidon. WAY to go BLU. Keep those number's climbing. I'm so proud to say I'm a Blu veined Blu faced, Blu rolen fan and contributor to its unparalled quality and power.
The local top video store here is being remodelled this summer. I've seen the floor plan. DVDS and Blu-Rays will have HALF the space they currently have. According to the manager the whole chain has been told to cut back on disc floor space. They aren't selling anywhere like they used to. Game space is being expanded by the way.
(I do not use the name of the chain because the manager could be in trouble for revealing the plans).
What's sad is that most people have flatscreens (yes, every single person/coworker/student I know has a flat HD screen). So if they're not buying BD's and instead purchasing DVD's, they're out of their mind.
The only excuse I see is if they're just not collectors and arent buying discs at all/prefer to rent/use OnDeman instead...etc
According to aggregate weekly estimates from the research department of Home Media Magazine and listed each week on blu-ray.com's sales information posts, revenues from BD sales in the US in the first quarter of 2010 were $331.31 million, 68.5% more than in the same period of 2009. Blu-ray accounted for 12.3% of packaged-media sales revenue in the first three months of the year (versus 7.0% in Jan-Mar 2009).
