Content 'disadvantage' not slowing HD DVD down

October 12, 2006

...At
least according to the HD DVD promotional group. They were at the
DigitalLife Electronics show in New York yesterday, and they were quite pleased with the high definition formats growing momentum. Despite the backing of many more studios to provide content for the Blu-ray format, HD DVD seems to be selling pretty darn well.

According to Nielsen data in August, HD DVD sold three times as many discs as any other high-definition format, including Sony's Blu-ray. In addition, the survey company also found that customers of the format owned an average of 8.4 DVDs.

The format already has a best seller: Universal's "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," which sold through 30 percent of its inventory in the first week alone. These numbers are sure to please studios that have selected the format, such as Universal and Warner Home Video.

The article over at BetaNews goes on to say something very important. They remind us that when Microsoft unleashes the $199 dollar external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, this will be a nice booster shot for the format. This external drive is quite a bargain if you are a gamer anyway and want the Xbox 360. The word is, the bundle will include a movie and also a nice remote, that normally sells for 40 bucks! Considering an HD DVD movie runs $25, you are getting one heck of a deal. Beat that Sony!

Source: BetaNews