Blu-ray Surpasses DVD in Japan

According to the latest GfK Retail and Technology Japan data, Blu-ray recorders broke the 50% barrier during the first week of November, meaning that unit sales of Blu-ray recorders surpassed that of DVD recorders for the first time ever. Compared to the same time last year, when Blu-ray's market share was only 10%, the format has shown rapid growth.

Additionally, statistics show that the Blu-ray format is outpacing DVD in replacement speed as well. The high definition format is replacing DVD recorders 1.5 times faster than DVD recorders replaced VHS decks. The trend is expected to continue as recorder prices continue to drop.

[chaosatom]

Japan likes to Adopt newest Technology. Ps3 sales will start to grow even more.

[rucky]

They're already talking about 4G speeds there whereas 3G Technology in the US is still starting.

[solidt12]

I want a PC internal recorder when the price goes down.

[kalel114]

I give it another year before it dominates DVD in the rest of the world.

[lordgodalming]

Quick, somebody post an irresponsible blog about how Bluray needs to be saved! lol

[sonyandcher]

This is awesome news.

I was beginning to wonder if the media Sony hate was having an effect on the perception that blu ray was just a "ps3" thing. It has so many potential uses just like the DVD had with the added bonus of producing amazing quality video.

I hope they start releasing music albums on blu ray instead of CD - the quality of music would be amazing - anyone who had SCAD or even DTS 5.1 recordings would agree.

[PirateThom]

Blu-ray adoptation has been faster worldwide than DVD. It's doing very well, hopefully they knock the prices of the players though.

Outside console wars, I'm sure there's people who would like to pick up a Blu-ray player when they reach a decent price, and I'd like to buy my grandad one as well.

[Mr_Bun]

How are the HD DVD players doing?...Oh, right.

[Gue1]

Most people from the MS side are saying that DD > Blu-ray but I'm sure if the HD-DVD were still here they would been saying HD-DVD is the future!

[Nathan Drake]

I'm a proud supporter of BluRay

[ViRaL-]

that was fast

[So Easy I Can Do It]

what she said.

[Jihaad_cpt]

hahahaha, thanks for the laugh

[strotee]

Oh snap

[Fishy Fingers]

Not surprised, BR has received a better adoption rate than DVD and has won over many skeptics. Japan is usually a good indication of how a technological product will perform. I expect this to be the same for EU/US within a few years.

Good news for the BR camp. One of many milestones achieved.

[theEnemy]

how many people out there who have no Idea that blu-ray players can play DVDs ?

[tplarkin7]

The headline is wrong. The stats are only for Blu-Ray recorders vs DVD recorders.

[artsaber]

Uhhh, recorders are players too, so they will add to the count of players... maybe? It will be a while still before Bluray takes over standalone players, although I scored a Black Friday Sharp Aquos bluray player for $169. Nice addition to my PS3 Bluray family.

[THE_BATTLERAGER]

It looks like Blu-Ray might not be overshadowed by digital distribution after all. I doubt hard drives are going to get big enough to properly compete with blu-ray in that regard. At least not for a while. And maybe by then there will be tech to just transfer your blu-ray movies straight to your hard drive.

[NipGrip]

And many others perhaps come with a Digital Copy of the movie you can transfer to the PSP, your computer, or whatnot.

[rhood022]

good for it.

[SL1M DADDY]

It would seem that when any other company posts layoffs, they get little press if any at all but when Sony posts that they are going to lay off some of their workforce, it stakes claim to Sony going under... FUD.

Let me tell ya, this hatred towards Sony is almost amusing these days.

[ultimolu]

I'm practically laughing right now.

[eagle21]

Awesome, Blu-ray will top DVD soon there.

[kevnb]

that means in 2 years it will be the same here.

[rawd]

Who's going to saveeeee Blu-rayyyy

[Iceman100]

who cares blu ray is dvd

[Aclay]

Blu-ray is not just DVD, it's a whole new format and it is a big deal that Blu-ray has surpassed DVD in Japan this quickly because that just goes to how successful Blu-ray will eventually be worldwide, and all of the critics with their "Blu-ray is dead" articles have failed so miserably.

[Aclay]

The Japanese get all of the newest tech before anyone else and they sure are quick adopters of it..... There's some products that come out in Japan and may not hit the U.S. shores for another year or two later.

I'm really surprised that Blu-ray surpassed DVD in Japan so fast though because DVD has been around so long, and Blu-ray just came along and overtook it in Japan within a matter of 2 - 2 and a half years... amazing.

[Sir_Ken_Kutaragi]

GOOD GOOD;)

[eagle21]

Blu-ray will rock 2009 like it's 2999!

We need a Prince commercial Sony! :)

[Keele]

That sucked. SUCKED.

Do me a favor and NEVER, NEVER POST AGAIN.

[SacT0wnF1n3st]

Can't wait to pick up a copy of The Dark Knight in Blu Ray today. It'll be awesome.

[NipGrip]

$25 at Best Buy and yes, it's awesome.

[killing_Art]

A store in Mexico broke the street day, they shipped the DVDs and blu rays in the same date. and yes, it's awesome.

[tk]

But HD-DVD $99 players was going to kill it...
No... DL was going to kill it...
No wait... DVD will kill it...
Oh snap...

[UnwanteDreamz]

Quick someone kill this thing before it gets out of control!

BR: All yer DVDs are belong to us.

[Endorphin]

LMAO Biggest laugh today!

[Darkseider]

But but but... I thought Blu-Ray was dead?!?

/end sarcasm

Every day that goes by is just another day that Blu-Ray gains on DVD. The more Blu-Ray sells the faster it goes down in price. BD players go down in price so will the PS3 because of additional reduction in production costs. It's a beautiful thing seeing technology progress and the effect it has not only in the entertainment industry but in the computing and video game industry as well.

[NipGrip]

360 owners say it's DOOMED! DOOOOOOMMMEED! So this article must be spun somehow. C'mon PoG or TheMART get to spinnin'!

[sinncross]

Well Sony really needs a small price cut... if this news is any indication to go by, ps3's cud begin to sell better, but obviously dedicated blu ray players are cheaper.

[bviperz]

I've been pretty much watching BR exclusively now and come to one conclusion:

I need a bigger HDTV.

[Dark General]

B b bu but i thought Blu-Ray was dying?

[steck67]

This is just the beginning.

[Magic_The_Celt]

My blu-ray collection will soon have the Dark Knight :)

[SICKSTEAPHOAR]

me too!
I so excited to watch it again.

now we have to wait for blu-ray discs to drop $10 or so,
THEN blu-ray will truly dominate.

[Arknight]

How can the Japanese be so foolish? They better sell off those obsolete Blu-Ray players and start investing in the awesome HD power of digital downloads right away...

[Parapraxis]

Before Arknight loses all his bubbles, i'd like to point out that what he said sounds to very sarcastic ;)