Blu-ray has outsold HD-DVD by almost 2-to-1 in the first nine months of the year, but analysts expect additional HD-DVD support and new hit releases to extend the format war.
Home Media Research stated the total U.S. sales of Blu-ray discs, using a Sony-backed technology, and totalled 2.6 million units from Jan. 1 through Sept 30, versus 1.4 million HD-DVD discs sold.
Gerry Kaufhold, analyst with In-Stat research firm, believes that HD-DVD titles with enhanced features will help the HD-DVD camp in the fourth quarter.
Tom Adams, President of Adams Media Research, also stated that the Paramount exclusivity would help HD-DVD in the 4th quarter.
"This definitely smooths out the edge that Blu-ray had in exclusive titles and it very much strengthens HD-DVD’s hand in the fourth quarter," he said. Despite all this, he still expects Blu-ray will lead for the year and after.
He believes that for 2007, consumers will spend a total of $186 million purchasing Blu-ray discs, versus $91 million for HD-DVD.
Source: Informationweek