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Comparison of high-definition optical disc formats

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In 2006, the release of two mutually incompatible, next-generation optical disc formats attempted to improve upon and eventually replace the DVD standard. The two formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, were in a format war until February 19, 2008 when Toshiba, HD DVD's creator, announced plans to cease development, manufacturing and marketing of HD DVD players and recorders.[1] This article compares respective technologies, as well as the historical business alliances, hardware support, and sales.

There are two other high-definition optical disc formats: the multi-layered red-laser Versatile Multilayer Disc and a Chinese variant of HD DVD known as CH-DVD.

Technical details

A Table Comparing the High-definition Optical Media Formats
DVD included for comparison
Mandatory codecs must be supported by the player. Each disc must use one or more of the mandatory codecs.
Blu-ray Disc HD DVD DVD
Laser wavelength 405 nm (blue-violet laser) 650 nm (red laser)
Numerical aperture 0.85 0.65 0.6
Storage capacity
(single side) 		per layer/maximum 25/50 GB[a] 15/30 GB[a] 4.7/8.5 GB
Maximum
bitrate 		Raw data transfer 53.95 Mbit/s 36.55 Mbit/s 11.08 Mbit/s
Audio+Video+Subtitles 48.0 Mbit/s 30.24 Mbit/s 10.08 Mbit/s
Video 40.0 Mbit/s 29.4 Mbit/s 9.8 Mbit/s
Mandatory video codecs H.264/MPEG-4 AVC / VC-1 / MPEG-2 MPEG-1 / MPEG-2
Audio
codecs 		lossy Dolby Digital Mandatory @ 640 Kbit/s Mandatory @ 504 Kbit/s[citation needed] Mandatory @ 448 Kbit/s
DTS Mandatory @ 1.5 Mbit/s Optional @ 1.5 Mbit/s
Dolby Digital Plus[d] Optional @ 1.7 Mbit/s Mandatory @ 3.0 Mbit/s N/A
DTS-HD High Resolution Optional @ 6.0 Mbit/s Optional @ 3.0 Mbit/s N/A
lossless Linear PCM Mandatory
Dolby TrueHD Optional Mandatory[b] N/A
DTS-HD Master Audio Optional N/A
Secondary video decoder (PiP) Mandatory for Bonus View players[c] Mandatory N/A
Secondary audio decoder Mandatory for Bonus View players[c] Mandatory Optional
Interactivity BDMV and Blu-ray Disc Java Standard Content and Advanced Content Rudimentary
Internet support Mandatory for BD-Live players[2] Mandatory N/A
Video resolution (maximum) 1920×1080 720×480 (NTSC), 720×576 (PAL)
Frame rates 24/25p, 50/60i 24/25p/30p, 50/60i 50/60i[e][dubious – discuss]
Digital Rights Management AACS-128bit / BD+ / ROM-Mark AACS-128bit CSS 40-bit
Region codes 3 Regions[f] Region free 6 Regions
Hardcoating of disc Mandatory Optional

^ a These maximum storage capacities apply to currently released media as of February 2008. The DVD Forum has approved a triple-layer version of HD DVD that would have a capacity of up to 51 GB, and Hitachi has proposed a modified Blu-Ray version that would support a capacity of up to 100 GB. Both format modifications are intended to maintain compatibility with existing players, requiring no more than a firmware upgrade. However, neither has yet been mass-produced or released.
^ b All HD DVD players are required to decode the two primary channels (left and right) of any Dolby TrueHD track,[3][4] however every HD DVD player released thus far decodes 5.1 channels of TrueHD.
^ c On November 1 2007 Secondary video and audio decoder became mandatory for new Blu-ray Disc players when the Bonus View requirement came into effect. However players introduced to the market before this date can continue to be sold without Bonus View.
^ d There are some differences in the implementation of Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) on the two formats. On Blu-ray Disc, DD+ can only be used to extend a primary Dolby Digital (DD) 5.1 audiotrack. In this method 640 Kbit/s is allocated to the primary DD 5.1 audiotrack (which is independently playable on players that do not support DD+), and up to 1 Mbit/s is allocated for the DD+ extension. The DD+ extension is used to replace the rear channels of the DD track with higher fidelity versions, along with adding additional channels for 6.1/7.1 audiotracks. On HD DVD, DD+ is used to encode all channels (up to 7.1), and no legacy DD track is required since all HD DVD players are required to decode DD+.
^ e On PAL DVDs, 24 frame per second content is stored as 50 interlaced fields per second and gets replayed 4% faster. This process can be reversed to retrieve the original 24 frame per second content. On NTSC DVDs, 24 frame per second content is stored as 60 interlaced fields per second using a process called 3:2 pulldown, which if done properly can also be reversed.
^ f As of December 2007, about 68% of Blu-ray discs are region-free and 32% use region codes.[5]

Capacity/codecs

Blu-ray has a higher maximum disc capacity than HD DVD (50 GB vs. 30 GB for a single sided disc). In September 2007 the DVD Forum approved a preliminary specification for the triple-layer 51GB HD DVD (ROM only) disc, though this may not have been compatible with existing players. Toshiba has confirmed that testing still needs to be done. In September 2006 TDK announced a prototype Blu-ray Disc with a capacity of 200GB[6]. TDK was also the first to develop a Blu-Ray prototype with a capacity of 100GB in May 2005[7]. In October 2007 Hitachi developed a Blu-Ray prototype with a capacity of 100GB. Hitachi has stated that current Blu-ray drives would only require a few firmware updates in order to play the disc[8].

The first 50 GB dual-layer Blu-ray Disc release was the movie Click, which was released on October 10 2006. As of January 2008, over 50% of Blu-ray movies are published on 50 GB dual layer discs with the remainder on 25 GB discs.[9] 85% of HD DVD movies are published on 30 GB dual layer discs, with the remainder on 15 GB discs.[10][11]

The choice of video compression technology (codec) complicates any comparison of the formats. Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD both support the same three video compression standards: MPEG-2, VC-1 and AVC, each of which exhibits different bitrate/noise-ratio curves, visual impairments/artifacts, and encoder maturity. Initial Blu-ray Disc titles often used MPEG-2 video, which requires the highest average bitrate and thus the most space, to match the picture quality of the other two video codecs. As of 2007, more and more titles have been authored with the newer compression standards: AVC and VC-1. HD DVD titles have used VC-1 and AVC almost exclusively since the format's introduction. Warner Bros., which used to release movies in both formats prior to June 1st, 2007, often uses the same encode (with VC-1 codec) for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD, with identical results. In contrast, Paramount, before they stopped releasing Blu-ray Discs, used different encodings for each format: VC-1 for HD DVD and either AVC or MPEG-2 for Blu-ray.

Whilst the two formats support similar audio codecs, their usage varies. Most titles released on the Blu-ray format include Dolby Digital tracks for each language in the region, a DTS-HD Master Audio track for all 20th Century Fox titles, Dolby TrueHD for current Sony Pictures titles and many also include a Linear PCM track for the primary language. On the other hand, most titles released on the HD DVD format include Dolby Digital Plus tracks for each language in the region, and some also include a Dolby TrueHD track for the primary language.

Interactivity

Both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD have two main options for interactivity (on-screen menus, bonus features, etc.).

Blu-ray's basic mode is known as HDMV or BDMV ("High Definition Movie Mode" or "Blu-ray Disc Movie Mode"), whilst HD DVD's is known as "Standard Content". Both offer modest upgrades from standard DVD, such as the use of more buttons on-screen, a larger colour palette, and expanded programming environment. BDMV is more powerful than Standard Content, and has been used on many Blu-ray disc titles. Standard Content has been used less on HD DVDs[citation needed]. HD DVD's Standard Content is a minor change from standard DVD's subpicture technology, while Blu-ray's BDMV is completely new. This makes transitioning from standard DVD to Standard Content HD DVD relatively simple [citation needed] -- for example, Apple's DVD Studio Pro has supported authoring Standard Content since version 4.0.3. [citation needed]

For more advanced interactivity, Blu-ray disc supports BD-J, whilst HD DVD supports Advanced Content. Virtually all HD DVD discs have been released with Advanced Content interactivity[citation needed], whereas fewer titles support BD-J.[12].

Disc construction

Blu-ray Discs contain their data relatively close to the surface (less than 0.1 mm) which combined with the smaller spot size presents a problem when the surface is scratched as data would be destroyed. To overcome this, TDK, Sony, and Panasonic each have developed a proprietary scratch resistant surface coating. TDK trademarked theirs as Durabis, which has withstood direct abrasion by steel wool and marring with markers in tests.[13]

HD DVD uses traditional material and has the same scratch and surface characteristics of a regular DVD. The data is at the same depth (0.6 mm) as DVD as to minimize damage from scratching. As with DVD the construction of the HD DVD disc allows for a second side of either HD DVD or DVD.

A study performed by Home Media Magazine (August 5 2007) concluded that HD DVD discs and Blu-ray discs are essentially equal in production cost. Quotes from several disc manufacturers for 25,000 units of HD DVDs and Blu-rays revealed a price differential of only 5-10 cents. (Lowest price: 90 cents versus 100 cents. Highest price: $1.45 versus $1.50.)[14] Another study performed by Wesley Tech (February 9, 2007) arrived at a similar conclusion. Quotes for 10,000 discs show that a 15 gigabyte HD DVD costs $11,500 total, and 25 gigabyte Blu-ray or a 30 gigabyte HD DVD costs $13,000 total.[15] For larger quantities of 100,000 units, the 25 gigabyte Blu-ray was less expensive than the 30 gigabyte HD DVD ($1.49 versus $1.55).[16]

Hybrid discs

At the January 8 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, Warner Bros. introduced a hybrid technology, Total HD, that would reportedly support both formats on a single disc.[17]The new discs would overlay the Blu-ray and HD DVD layers, placing them respectively 0.1mm and 0.5mm beneath the surface. The Blu-ray top layer would act as a two-way mirror, reflecting just enough light for a Blu-ray reader to read and an HD DVD player to ignore. But the following September, Warner President Ron Sanders said that the company was putting the technology on hold due to lack of industry interest. [citation needed]

As of January 4, 2008, Warner Bros. announced that they will be supporting the Blu-Ray format exclusively after June 1, 2008. This news suggests that the hybrid discs once announced by Warner Bros. will not be put into production.[18]

Security features

The primary means of copy prevention on both formats is the Advanced Access Content System (AACS). Use of AACS is optional for HD DVD, but mandatory for Blu-ray, which can add thousands of dollars to production costs.[19] Other copy-prevention strategies include:

Blu-ray Disc HD DVD
  • HDCP encrypted digital output
  • ROM-Mark watermarking technology (physical layer)
  • BD dynamic crypto (BD+)
  • HDCP encrypted digital output

Region coding

Main article: Blu-ray Disc - Region codes

The Blu-ray specification and all currently available players support region coding. As of December 2007, about 68% of Blu-ray discs are region-free and 32% use region codes.[20]

The HD DVD specification has no region coding, so an HD DVD disc from anywhere in the world will work in any player. The DVD Forum's steering committee has discussed a request from Disney to add it, but many of the 20 companies on the committee actively oppose it.[21].

Many film titles that are exclusive to Blu-ray in the United States such as Sony's xXx, Fox's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Disney's The Prestige, are available on HD DVD in other countries due to different distribution agreements. Because of this, film titles that are exclusive to Blu-ray in the U.S. can be bought on HD DVDs by U.S. consumers purchasing them online from Europe or Asia. Since there is no region coding in HD DVDs, there are no restrictions playing these foreign-bought HD DVDs in an HD DVD player.[22] Similarly, European customers can obtain HD DVD discs from American online retailers for titles that are Blu-ray exclusive in Europe.

Comparative support

Studio support

North America: major studios

Current and announced release formats v. 2007 US box office share[23]
File:Spiderman3bluray.jpg
File:Transformers hddvd.jpg

In North America, all of the Big Six film studios release their movies on Blu-ray or have announced plans to do so, with three of the six releasing on Blu-ray exclusively; no major studio exclusively supports HD DVD. Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros. currently plans to release on both formats, Universal Studios HD DVD plans are in 'flux' and the company is deciding whether to cancel the two releases scheduled and go straight to exclusive Blu-ray support [24], Warner Bros HD DVD titles are delayed three weeks behind the street dates of their Blu-ray and DVD counterparts.[25][26] Warner will become Blu-ray exclusive on 2008-06-01.[27][28]. Paramount is comitted to non-exclusive [29] HD DVD support until at least April 08, 2008 according to announced releases.[30] On the same day that Toshiba announced it was ending the format, Paramount announced a new upcoming HD DVD title 'There Will Be Blood' due for release on April 08, 2008.[31] It is not known if this will be the last Paramount HD DVD title but the studio will eventually have to focus on releasing it's titles on Blu-ray.

June, 2008 is seen as the major end of HD DVD support, the month that Warner will no longer release new HD DVD titles and the month that Wal-Mart will no longer sell HD DVD titles or players, in addition it is likely that Paramount will stop releasing titles on the format by this date and even more likely that Universal will (as early as March, 2008 according to some reports). (see above text)

These alliances have shifted over time. Prior to October 2005 and before the release of either format, each had the exclusive support of three of the Big Six. Then HD DVD supporters Warner Bros. and Paramount added support for Blu-ray.[32] But in August 2007, after supporting Blu-ray for over a year, Paramount announced it would release all high-definition content (except titles directed by Steven Spielberg) exclusively on HD DVD. At the same time, DreamWorks Animation SKG, which had not released any high-definition discs, announced it would release exclusively on HD DVD. Explaining their decisions, the companies cited perceived advantages to HD DVD's technology and lower manufacturing costs. The companies together received about $150 million in cash and promotional guarantees, including a Toshiba HD DVD marketing campaign with a tie-in to Shrek the Third.[33][34] Paramount reserved the right to switch back to Blu-ray under certain circumstances.[35]

On January 4, 2008, Warner Bros. announced plans to drop HD DVD support completely as of the beginning of June 2008, a move that some analysts predicted would prove the tipping point in the format war in favor of Blu-ray. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, some HD DVD-related events and private meetings with analysts and retailers were cancelled, including an event scheduled for the eve of the show sponsored by the North American HD DVD Promotional Group. Toshiba management expressed disappointment over Warner's decision but said that Toshiba would continue promoting the competing format.[36][37] The following Monday, Toshiba reduced the price of its HD DVD players by 40 to 50 percent, calling price a "deal breaker for the mainstream consumer".[38] Analyst Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates likened the price cut to the high-stakes Blackjack bet of "doubling down" in an effort to increase market share and "win back the studios".[39] Richard Greenfield of Pali Capital called the move a gimmick and predicted that HD DVD would not become widely adopted.[40] Gartner analyst Hiroyuki Shimizu predicted that while the price cut might extend HD DVD's life somewhat, the limited title library would ultimately "inflict fatal damage on the format", leaving Blu-ray the victor by the end of 2008.[41]

On 19 February 2008, Universal Studios announced it will release its titles in Blu-ray Disc format for the first time after 2 years of HD DVD support. No release schedule has been announced. Universal is expected to release more details on its website shortly.[42] However, a Universal representatives has said that the remaining HD DVD release plans are in flux, leaving it possible that it may not release any more titles to the format, therefore Universal may go straight to being Blu-ray exclusive unlike Paramount and Warner Bros.[43]

On 19 February 2008, The Weinstein Company through their distributor Genius Products are hinting that they will release all future titles only on Blu-ray. Weinstein hasn't released any new HD DVD titles since June 12 2007.[44] “Whether its Blu-ray or HD DVD…that was solved today that HD DVD backed out,” said Genius CEO Trevor Drinkwater during the company’s presentation at the Roth Capital Partners event. “Blu-ray is the last format in, and that has cleared the way for the industry to get aggressive around next generation DVD.”[45]

On 20 February 2008, Paramount Pictures announced it would be the last major studio to switch to the Blu-ray format. No release schedule for Blu-ray has been announced, however they are expected to release more details on its website shortly.[46]

At the end of 2007, 388 titles had been released on Blu-ray in the United States, and 376 titles had been released on HD DVD.[47] This count excludes 33 Blu-ray titles released by Paramount but discontinued in August 2007.

Blu-ray Disc HD DVD

NBC Universal

News Corporation

Sony Pictures

Time Warner

Viacom

DreamWorks Animation

Walt Disney Co.

Lionsgate

Weinstein Co.[50]

NBC Universal

Time Warner

Viacom

DreamWorks Animation (commited until March 11, 2008 at least)[57]

Note: The bold letter indicates that the studio is a member of Big Six

European independents

European independent films account for a 30% share of the market in the UK, 35-40% in Spain, 40% in Germany and 50% in France.[58]

Talking during an IFA 2007 press conference held with Toshiba, Ken Graffeo - vice president for marketing at Universal Studios Home Entertainment and co-chairman of the HD DVD Promotion Group - said that the HD DVD format at that time had the support of 75% of European independent film studios.[59] These include 2 Entertain Video, Ascot Elite, Concorde Video, DeA Planeta, DVD International, EMS, Filmax, Galileo, Highlight, Imagion, Monolith Films, Moviemax, Nixbu, Optimum, Pathé, Pinnacle Vision, SHV, SPI and Studio Canal.[60][61]

German film distributors Constantin Film AG and Highlight Video have announced that they will release high definition films exclusively for the Blu-ray format, Constantin Film AG and Highlight will drop HD DVD and distribute all future releases solely on Blu-Ray beginning March 1, 2008, Constantin Film AG citing "the international trend" in picking Blu-Ray in the format war.[62][63]

Spanish film distributors Cameo, Filmax and Tripictures have announced that they will release high definition films exclusively in the Blu-ray format (Filmax is the official Spanish distributor for New Line). [64].[65]

Swedish film distributors SF and Scanbox have announced their intentions to support Blu-ray exclusively. Following the Warner Bros.'s announcement, SF and Scanbox have announced that they are scrapping all plans to release films on HD DVD, and will release exclusively on the Blu-ray format. Scanbox is expected to release their first BD titles in April.[66]

Asia

As of 2008-02-13 in Japan, 319 Blu-ray titles have been released while 252 HD DVD titles have been released.[67].

Currently, the DVD forum plans to introduce CH-DVD into the Chinese market to tie in with the Bejing Olympics, since it has been projected that in China alone HDTV sales will soar 40% in anticipation for the olympics.

Toshiba had announced plans in early 2007 to bring out Bollywood movies on HD DVD, although HD DVD players have been launched in India already, no details have been released on any local HD DVD movie releases[1][2], although some distributors have hinted that they may press HD DVD movies in the near future [3]

Hardware support

See List of Blu-ray Disc devices and List of HD DVD devices. As of February 19, 2008 Toshiba announced that it "has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market."[68]

Rental company support

Blockbuster, the largest U.S. movie rental company, offers Blu-ray exclusively in 1450 stores. Previously, the company test-marketed both formats at 250 stores and found that more than 70% of high definition rentals were Blu-ray discs. Blockbuster continues to offer both formats at those initial 250 stores, as well as on its online rental service.[69][70]

Netflix, the largest online video rental service, is phasing out its HD DVD inventory and will offer only Blu-ray titles in its high definition library by early 2009. The company, which had stocked both formats since early 2006, cited support for Blu-ray by "four of the six major movie studios". Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer, predicted that all of the studios will eventually publish in the Blu-ray format and that price for high definition players will drop significantly.[71][72] In September 2007, Netflix had released statistics collected the previous June through August showing that customers viewed the available Blu-ray disc catalog nearly twice as often as the HD DVD catalog but were 2.4 times more likely to set HD DVD as their preferred HD format[73].

Retailer support

United States

On 11 February 2008, Best Buy announced that beginning March 2008, they will take a step forward in addressing consumer confusion about high-definition formats by recommending Blu-ray Disc as the customer's digital format choice.[74]

On 15 February 2008, WalMart and Sam's Club have announced that they are phasing HD DVD out completely by June 2008, thus supporting Blu-ray Disc exclusively. [75]. Customers are expected to see more pre-dominant move towards Blu-ray Disc in less than thirty days. The move by Wal-Mart, the largest DVD retailer in the United States, prompted the New York Times to run a mock obituary for the HD DVD format. The newspaper quoted technology analyst Rob Enderle's contention that if Wal-Mart "says HD DVD is done, you can take that as a fact." [76]

Europe

UK retailer Woolworths Group plc will stock only Blu-Ray discs in its 820 stores beginning in March 2008, while still offering HD DVD through online sales. Woolworths, the largest DVD retailer in the country, began selling high definition titles in both formats beginning in October 2007, but made the move after Blu-Ray DVDs outsold HD DVDs by ten-fold over the 2007 Christmas shopping season. The chain credited the disparity to the 750,000 Sony PlayStation 3 game consoles sold in the UK. The retailer will carry current Blu-ray titles in all stores and catalog titles in its larger stores.[77]

Scandinavian retailer Hi-Fi Klubben has announced that from this point forward they will no longer support the HD DVD format, and now focus all their resources on providing their customers with the best Blu-ray experience.[78]

Market research

2008

According to a report from research firm DisplaySearch, gaming consoles account for 85% of worldwide high definition media players currently in consumers' homes. [79]

2007

According to a survey published by The Diffusion Group on December 12,2007, one third of households that do not currently own a high-definition TV are interested in purchasing one over the next six months. Of those from the same households that are also likely to purchase a high-definition media player, 43% prefer HD DVD, 27% prefer Blu-ray and 30% are undecided. [80]

According to research by DisplaySearch and NPD Group, Blu-ray players could fall in price to $200-$250 by Black Friday 2008, and HD DVD players to far less than $100.[81]

According to a study by Forrester Research, 22% of Americans say they will not buy a next-gen player until one format wins over the other, and 25% say they'll never buy a next-gen player. [82]

According to a market report by Understanding & Solutions, the manufacturing costs for basic high definition players of both formats should be below $150 by early 2008. [83]

Sales promotions

Blu-ray

From October 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008 the Blu-ray Disc Association offered five free Blu-ray movies with the purchase of an eligible Blu-ray player or Playstation 3 console. This mail-in rebate was available to customers in the United States and Canada. (Movie selection was limited. Choose five titles by categories from a total list of 18.)[84]

HD DVD

From October 1 2007 to February 28 2008, Toshiba and Microsoft have offered five free HD DVD movies by mail with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player, Toshiba HD DVD notebook, or Xbox 360 HD DVD player. (Movie selection is limited. Choose five titles by categories from a total list of 15.) This offer is available to customers in the United States and Canada.

A similar offer is available in western Europe, although details vary from country to country.[4] United Kingdom and Ireland buyers can choose five titles from a total of 13 in three categories.[5]

Sales data

Discs/titles

United States

US top ten HD titles (aggregate) for
the week ending 17 February 2008[85] 		Sales Index
Blu-ray HD DVD
1 We Own the Night 100.00
2 Gone Baby Gone 62.68
3 Across the Universe 36.75
4 Planet Earth: The Complete Series 32.15 7.38
5 Transformers 31.37
6 The Bourne Ultimatum 29.04
7 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford 26.21
8 No Reservations 24.76 3.13
9 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 24.12
10 3:10 to Yuma 23.49
Sales of high definition media in the United States. Week of 2008-02-10. Source: Nielsen VideoScan[86]

According to a market research company Nielsen VideoScan, U.S. sales of Blu-ray discs were ahead of HD DVD with 73% of the market for the week ending February 17, 2008. In 2008 U.S. sales, Blu-ray leads with 76% of the market. Since inception, US market share was 65% for Blu-ray and 35% for HD DVD.[87] Nielsen also releases normalized sales data (presented in the table to the right).

Europe

In Europe, a study by Gfk revealed that Blu-ray lead with 70% of units sold with 650,000 units for Blu-ray and 332,000 units for HD DVD.[88] On November 27, 2007, the Blu-ray Disc Association cited independent Media Control GfK International figures showing its share of European disc sales was 73% and that over 1 million Blu-ray movies had been sold.[89][90][91]

Japan

In Japan, according to Nikkei, the sales figure as of October, 2007 is approximately 9:1 in favor of Blu-ray Disc. [92]

Australia

As of December 2007, according to Gfk, more than 102,000 Blu-ray movies have been sold, compared to less than 18,000 HD DVD, giving the ratio of approximately 5:1 in favour of Blu-ray.[93]

Players

United States

On November 27, 2007, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group said that 750,000 HD DVD players had been sold, including stand-alone players and the Xbox 360 external drive.[94][95]

As of the end of 2007, Sony has stated that 3.4 million Blu-ray equipped PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold in North America.[96]

Asia

As of January 27, 2008, Blu-ray has 90% of the market share of high definition media players in Japan. HD DVD has a 4% market share.[97] Although HD DVD and Blu Ray players are also available in China and India, there has been no announcment on sales figures of the players.

Europe

In August 2007, a study by Gfk concluded that HD DVD leads the stand-alone market (i.e. excluding games consoles and computer drives) with 70% with 83,000 players sold.[88]

As of December 16, 2007, over 2.6 million PlayStation 3 consoles, with Blu-ray video playback capabilities, have been sold in Europe.[citation needed]

Australia

As of December 2007, according to Gfk, 2,241 Blu-ray Disc players have been sold (excluding 100,000 PlayStation 3 sold), compared to 609 HD DVD players (excluding 2461 Xbox 360 HD DVD add-ons).[93]

As of January 2008, according to Gfk, 180,000 PlayStation 3 consoles have been sold in Australia.[98]

Retail price of consumer-writable discs

Disc BD-R BD-R DL HD DVD-R HD DVD-R DL DVD-R
Capacity 25GB 50GB 15GB 30GB 4.7GB
Bulk-Bought Cost $10.99 [99] $23.61 [100] $9.99 [101] $18.68 [102] $0.47
Cost Per GB (full disc) $0.44 $0.47 $0.67 $0.62 $0.10
Price/Cost Per GB (as of 21.02.2008) $11.99 / $0.48 [103] $36.81 / $0.74 [104] $7 / $0.47 [105] $17.60 / $0.59 [106] $0.47 / $0.10
Disc being compared 1 non-rewritable single-layer disc (Verbatim 25GB 2X BD-R) 1 non-rewritable dual-layer disc (Panasonic 50GB 2x BD-R) 1 non-rewritable single-layer disc (Verbatim 15GB 1X HD DVD-R) 1 non-rewritable dual-layer disc (Verbatim 30GB 1X HD DVD-R DL) generic pack of discs

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