NPD: Sky Isn't Falling for HD-DVD, Blu-ray Isn't Champ Yet

Sales data for HD-DVD and Blu-ray players and movies has been misconstrued lately by various outlets, with reports implying that HD-DVD sales have fallen at an amazing pace while Blu-ray sales have blasted through the roof.

Not so fast, says the NPD Group:

"The facts are that during the week that is being singled out, both Blu-ray disc players and software were being given away for free with the purchase of 1080p TVs. It is also important to note that the instant rebate promotions that had previously netted Toshiba's players' MSRPs to $199 and $249 had actually ended on Jan. 5th -- causing an increase in HD DVD's MSRP back to $299 and $399 during that same week. Since Toshiba's retail price move on Jan. 13th to $149 / $199 -- Toshiba is seeing very positive sales trends at retail. This reinforces the fact that price is a significant driver of sales.

"Toshiba's HD DVD players represent a significant value to the consumer and the marketing campaign that just began is proving effective."

[LightningPS3]

All HD DVD can do is give them away.

I won't even go into this again.

[zambrota]

dont make me laugh

:)

[frizshizzle]

http://forums.highdefdigest...

[Bathyj]

I've always wanted to say, nice avatar.

Great movie, I'd love to see a game done right.

[n_n]

does your hd-dvd addon work well, alice? or have you finally bought a ps3? you did say that if december sales were above 600k you would... you're not lying to us are you alice?

[Snukadaman]

"The NPD Group attempted to quiet the storm of online scuttlebutt with the following statement:

"As you may have seen, there are attempts being made to portray NPD's weekly sales tracking figures for next generation DVD as a trend. We want to remind you and make clear that it is not accurate to make long term assumptions based on one week of sales -- a cautionary point that NPD has made as well."

im quite sure they can get sued for being fraudulent..thats a quote from npd themselves...maybe what you state is true but im sure they cant make up statements from npd right?

[diatom]

The original article states these quotes are from a Toshiba Rep and not NPD...

In the original article this section begins "Commenting on the numbers, Jodi Sally, Toshiba Digital A/V Group marketing VP said:" and not "Not so fast, says the NPD Group" like this article claims.

This is deliberately misquoted from the original article... ie FUD. The orginal article is from http://www.twice.com/articl...

[marinelife9]

How blatant of a lie can you get? That's pure fallacy this is getting reported.

[felman87]

Why pics of PS3 I wonder....

[zambrota]

priced at 198$

[Iron Man 2]

LMFAO...are you blind?!

Those are NOT PS3's,there HD-DVD players;)

[Prismo_Fillusion]

"It's in a box, it must be a PS3!"

[felman87]

thought they were really cheap PS3s, blindness FTW!!!

[gamesR4fun]

was the beta vcr war this full of bs?

[Legion]

yes but it was all done using snail mail so nobody took notice.

[Snukadaman]

But i guess this news just makes the usual horsesheit we get on here as being bunk....and before anyone calls bs ..this is from npd...we all treat that as gospel right>?

[chfthnder26]

not all hddvd supporters treat it as being dead i know three people that have bought players since ces 08 and i was going to get my parents one but they were sold out of the 149.99 model so people r still buying them dont believe everything that u read

[DJ]

They're still trying to convince people that Blu-ray ISN'T more popular? Not even the movie studios believe them anymore.

[chfthnder26]

honestly blu ray isnt more popular people think it is because of the ps3 i mean if i was a ps fan i would be stupid to not buy movies if i had a ps3 but also a lot of those people also have hddvd players

[DJ]

Even though it sells more standalone hardware (not including PS3) and more discs than HD-DVD? Wow dude. I guess that means AMD is more popular than Intel, even though Intel sells more product. What a completely logical mindset.

[meepmoopmeep]

great and small... would hd-dvd just die already!!!??? the longer this takes is the longer i have to wait for Heroes season 1 & 2 on blu... how much more nails will it take to seal the damn coffin already!

[Mr Marbles]

if HDDVD stays around and gets dirt cheap, you can just buy Heros on that platform for a fraction of the price it will cost on bluray. Movies and players will be insanely cheap if HDDVD starts to die off completely, why not pick one up, there are plenty of exclusive movies on that format to justify the purchase if the price is low enough.

[chrno6]

What's the point of buying a player that has lost the war and will soon lose its 2 remaining studio support? For instance, I don't want to spend 99 bucks just to watch a single movie that I want. Moreover, blu-ray will get the hd-dvd exclusives once the two studios ditch the format, and we all know for a fact that it will happen soon.

[chrno6]

Who in the right mind would think hd-dvd has a chance still??? Seriously...

[anh_duong]

no hd dvd isnn't dead.. the fat lady has just put on her make up but is yet to appear on stage..

[nomad117]

I think the show is about to start.

[omodis420]

Why can't you all see the truth.......
Nah I'm kidding. HD-DVD is going the way of the Dinosaurs.

R.I.P.
My soon to be forgotten friend

[lim_ryan]

lol...sick of this,,,....game comparison (eg burnout,dmc4), now this hd-dvd vs bluray.....the fact is every ps3 equip with bluray....
so thats the winner...and retailer favor bluray too....

[Fighter]

This is spam.

[TheExodus]

HD DVD player with 9 movies & a 20% off Reward Zone coupon at Best Buy, $119.99. Watching Sony fanboys weep as Blu-ray's prematurely declared victory slips away yet again, priceless.

Universal says HD DVD is here to stay ( http://www.afterdawn.com/ne... ) & Warner Brothers is already getting cold feet on their impending switch to Blu-ray ( http://www.tgdaily.com/cont... ).

Yup, HD DVD is dead alright. I guess if you're a PS3 fanboy you have to hang your hopes on something because PS3 sales in NA are down 11% over last year after a $100 price cut. Name one time that a product consumers actually wanted sold less after a 20% price cut. PS3 is in trouble, Blu-ray isn't helping & 1 year later Sony fanboys are still trying to convince themselves that they haven't made an epic mistake while ignoring all evidence to the contrary.

I was looking for a positive piece of news regarding HD DVD before I hit Best Buy tonight & I found it. Blu-ray won? We'll see about that because I do buy a lot of movies & TV series on DVD.

[mr_potato]

Wow how dumb you sound.

Guess you will be carrying HD-DVD fate on your arms alone you better buy the movies in the million.

[resistance100]

'Warner Brothers is already getting cold feet on their impending switch to Blu-ray ( http://www.tgdaily.com/cont... ). '

Ever thought that they have extended it 3weeks because HD DVD warner films will be released 3 weeks later. Basically any movie released after may on blu-ray/DVD won't be released on HD DVD, however the ones released in the last 3weeks of may on blu-ray/dvd will be released on HDDVD in the first 3 weeks of June

[DRUDOG]

The Exodus...must be your name for the mass departure of HD-DVD supporters that are going Blu.

[TheExodus]

For $128.18 I walked out of Best Buy last night with a Toshiba "1080i UPCONVERT & HD-DVD PLAYER", a copy of 300, The Bourne Trilogy & a rebate for 5 HD DVDs that I honestly couldn't be less excited about. But "dumb"? Only for economically challenged Sony fanboys because that's a bargain for consumers in the market for an upconverting DVD player & whether you like it or not we outnumber Blu-ray/HD DVD supporters 10:1.

EDIT: I know it's only 1080i, but the max. resolution of my DLP is 720P so I used that $50 1080i vs. 1080P savings to buy a copy of No More Heroes for my Wii.

[GodsHand]

Toshiba is just looking to get some money back, by letting idiots buy these players. Then in the end, they will let all the HD Dvd supports feelings like they just had something shoved in their butt.

Toshiba, will issue a letter, saying we appreciate your support, but it is time to move on, and think of the future.

[marcdz1]

I just feel bad for the people that did not even own a HD-DVD player and went out and got one for 99 dollars only to find out it was rendered useless a week later hahahahaha. I know of a few in here. That's even more funny.

[Legion]

Rendered useless..? They still have a $99 DVD player. So not totally useless.

Kind of like PS3.. it's not totally useless, you can still watch movies on it.

[joevfx]

peopel that are buying these cheap players obviosly dont know whast goin on int eh farmat war and are not beign educated by the sales people. there gonna be pisses coem may when mor ehten half the movies they wont they cant get on hd dvd.

[TomW]

So how many have seen and signed this petition ?

I am one.

http://www.petitiononline.c...

[TomW]

I have both formats but prefer HD DVD and that $100 player works just great ! If it makes you feel better spend more money...

[earthbane]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=...

hahaha