Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 7, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The battle between the two formats Blu-ray and HD DVD appears decided. The Blu-ray standard promoted by Sony leaves the field as the winner. What helps the industry currently gives consumers little pleasure. Online retailer amazon.de is currently selling off films on HD DVD for ten euros per. Anyone wanting to buy films on Blu-ray, however, usually pays up to 30 euros. But that is expected to change soon.
Experts expect a significant drop in prices thanks to simpler, less expensive manufacturing methods. While a blank BR disc currently costs 20 to 30 euros, the media are soon expected to cost around five euros. Falling blank-disc prices should then also affect the prices of the films on them.
Following the end of the years-long format dispute, the industry expects a marked revival in the market for BR media and players. However, since market researchers’ latest forecasts are still from November, before Blu-ray’s victory, it is too early for precise estimates.
Blu-ray no longer trails HD DVD technically
One argument made by HD DVD supporters was the technical superiority of their medium. However, Blu-ray discs have recently caught up considerably and neutralised that advantage.
