• Posted February 14th, 2008 at 05:59 EDT by Mike Harradence
• 11 Comments

Sales of Sony Corp’s Blu-ray movie format have passed the two million mark throughout Europe this week, reports the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee.

According to data obtained by Media Control Gfk International, Blu-ray sales in the region totalled 2.4 million, with 79 per cent of all high definition movie sales so far this year attributed to the Sony platform.

The BDA commented: "DVD-Video was first introduced into Western Europe in 1997, and the following year some 230,000 DVD players were installed and 2 million discs were sold through.”

"In comparison, Blu-ray Disc made its first tentative launch in Western Europe in 2006, and the following year some 3.2 million PlayStation 3 consoles and 34,000 standalone players were installed, while 2.3 million Blu-ray discs sold through."

Further research has revealed that Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End proved to be the biggest Blu-ray release over Christmas, selling over 100,000 copies. The Simpsons Movie and Casino Royale also enjoyed strong sales over the festive period.

Frank Simmons, Chairman of the BDA European Promotions Committee, commented, "News from Warner Bros. at CES last month caught the headlines, but what this news proves is that the tipping point in the format war in Europe happened several months prior to CES and the tide has been running strongly in favor of Blu-ray Disc for many months.”

"Our challenge now is to move Blu-ray Disc into the mainstream."

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