Blu-ray market set to explode

Sales of high-definition DVDs are expected to increase significantly in Britain during 2008 following the resolution of the ‘format war’ which had left customers confused, according to a new survey.

The 2008 Digital Entertainment Survey conducted by Entertainment Media Research said the consumption of high-definition content was expected to grow faster than any other form of entertainment this year.

The expected sales increase follows the decision by Japanese electronics manufacturer, Toshiba, to pull out of the high-definition war with rival Sony.

Toshiba had been backing the HD DVD format, a format that was cheaper to produce though technically inferior to the Blu-ray Disc format backed by Sony.

Sony’s Blu-ray technology emerged as the winner in the format war in February after Toshiba lost the support of key studios and retailers.

Over 60 per cent of British consumers said they had been put off buying next-generation discs due to the presence of two formats in the market.

Of the 1,600 consumers questioned in the survey, 24 per cent said they intended to watch high-definition movie discs in the next six months and nearly twice as many said they already have access to an HD-ready TV set.

One of the report's authors said that Blu-ray can expect huge consumer support in the year ahead.

"It's great news for Sony who can expect its PlayStation 3 (with Blu-ray capability) to become the must-have gift this Christmas," said Charles Moore, TV and film partner at media law firm Wiggin, who commissioned the report.

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