Blu Ray wins format war, does anyone care?
Toshiba’s abandonment of HD-DVD is the final nail in the format’s coffin. Like most so-called format wars it was brief, brutal, and a million people got burned.
This was always about two industry’s interests. The consumer electronics industry wants to sell huge HD televisions (which happen to make DVDs look shabby). The film industry wants movies to cost £20 again.
Who stands at the intersection of those industries? Sony does. They have a portfolio of blockbusters (e.g. Bond) that will appeal to the early adopter demographic. They have a worldbeating console platform to put the Blu Ray format in living rooms.
It was a foregone conclusion.
Meanwhile, the mass market will stick to DVD until films and players are cheap.
Today’s announcement that the BBC iPlayer will be available on iPhone / iPod Touch within the next few weeks is far more interesting. I expect 4oD to follow suit.
Let’s face it, this was all a bit of a red herring. What we all really want is content on demand. To push a button on your computer / TV remote / mobile device and start watching what you want / where you want / when you want. That’s a generation away though, so Sony get to make some money until the rules are changed.
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February 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
The problem is with all these formats they’re pushing the technology constantly, which is fine, but I think a lot of people are happy with crap quality video, look at youtube, pirated DVD’s. I watch stuff from the iPlayer on my Mac, while the quality at the moment is poor I don’t mind because the content is so good, as is the ease of use. You are absolutely correct in what you say, people are going to stick with DVD until the costs come down.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I was cynical about iPlayer at first and I’m still not happy about the reduced functionality on the mac, but being able to watch Ashes to Ashes, Life in Cold Blood, Torchwood etc when I want to is brilliant.
I think I’ll buy an iPhone this summer, and to have access to that content sweetens the deal even more.
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Me too, to be able to watch Ashes To Ashes on it has been pretty awesome really. Me too for the iPhone but the problem is I hate O2 with a passion (long story) so that’s the only thing putting me off getting one.