LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in
Las Vegas, the companies of the HD DVD Promotional Group recapped a
breakthrough year for the high definition format, reaching nearly one million
dedicated HD DVD players sold in North America and delivering on the promise
of affordability, quality and a consistent experience on every machine. With
a leading install base of dedicated players, there are now more than 400
titles available in the US and more than 1,000 titles available worldwide.
During the key five week holiday selling period,
HD DVD software sales grew at
nearly twice the rate of Blu-ray, which was consistent with increased player
growth.
"Our focus from day one has been to deliver the highest quality hardware
and the best, most immersive home entertainment experiences for consumers at
affordable prices," said Jodi Sally, vice president of marketing, Toshiba's
Digital A/V Group. "With nearly one million dedicated players in the market
in North America, and a leading position in the PC market worldwide, we're
seeing software growth follow suit."
As the industry looks for a format that can break into the mainstream
consumer market, HD DVD continues to be the affordable, high quality leader,
setting the bar for a positive consumer experience. Through a combination of
quality and price, HD DVD meets the essential requirements for any format to
successfully reach the mass market.
Strong Hardware and Title Growth
In 2007, HD DVD reached a broader group of consumers than ever before,
showing strong movie title sales and high attach rates stemming from the major
influx of dedicated HD DVD players on the market.
Based on Nielsen data, when
comparing first week consumer sales, "The Bourne Ultimatum" on HD DVD outsold
"Spiderman 3" on Blu-ray. Among all high definition formats, HD DVD still
maintains the highest attach rates -- more than twice the rate of Blu-ray.
"The HD DVD camp has always stuck to a simple set of principles," said
Ken
Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal
Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group.
"Give consumers who buy into HD DVD what they paid for. In fact, give them
more than they expected. Show them that quality and value go hand in hand
with HD DVD. Show them what advanced interactivity really means and how it
can enrich your favorite movies that you watch over and over."
To this point, Toshiba's HD DVD players received several Editor's Choice
and Product of the Year awards from respected media outlets, including Sound &
Vision, Electronic House, E-Gear, and Ultimate AV.
On the PC front, the HD DVD Promotional Group announced that by the end of
2007, HD DVD-enabled PCs represented more than 80% of all high
definition-capable PCs. The HD DVD companies expect notebook PCs in particular
to be the variable that helps keep quality high, but prices low, by driving
down manufacturing costs for drives across all HD DVD players.
Global Studio Support
A critical milestone for HD DVD in helping to drive strong sales across
the board was the strong support from Hollywood studios and global content
providers. In 2007, HD DVD went from being supported by 41 studios and
distributors worldwide to 65.
Groundbreaking Interactive Features
Using Microsoft's HDi technology, HD DVD led the way in 2007 with
never-before-seen interactive experiences that have changed how consumers
interact with their favorite movies. HD DVD was the first to offer true
picture in picture director's commentary in 2007 with Warner's "300". This
feature was not included in the Blu-ray version, and showcases a key HD DVD
feature that caters directly to the fan community. Universal's "Heroes" and
Paramount's "Transformers" also included picture in picture features than
enhance the experience for fans.
HD DVD was also the first to deliver web-connected content, offering bonus
material on titles such as "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Heroes: Season 1," and
"Transformers" -- all offering downloadable content that's continually updated
so fans of the movie can return for new features. The interactive elements
are all designed to promote an enhanced "second look" environment and to rally
the fan communities around key titles. In addition, Universal launched
U-Shop, an extension of the U-Control feature, letting you buy items related
to a movie directly through the guaranteed internet connection on every HD DVD
player. Universal's "Evan Almighty" was the first title to showcase this,
illustrating what can be done when every player on the market can access these
features.
As the official successor to DVD, HD DVD has added to the heritage of the
most successful consumer electronics format ever, bringing the highest quality
HD experiences to consumers at the most affordable prices. The HD DVD Booth
at CES 2008 is located in South Hall 1 (booth #21266).
About HD DVD
HD DVD is the next generation, post-DVD standard for high capacity, high
definition optical discs, approved by the DVD Forum. The DVD Forum develops
and defines DVD formats. Its more than 200 strong membership brings together
leaders in movies and entertainment, computing, consumer electronics and
software. HD DVD is fast becoming the primary visual medium for the age of
high-definition TV. The North American HD DVD Promotional Group, Inc. is an
organization established to promote the HD DVD format and educate consumers in
North America. For more information and a complete listing of HD DVD launch
titles please visit
www.TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com.
SOURCE North American HD DVD Promotional Group, Inc.
