Blockbuster to favor Blu-ray HD discs over DVD format

[PeruvianSkies]

Another factor that seems to be overlooked is that most consumers don't know what the advantages of hi-def are. Better picture quality is all that most people I talk to in the store can think of. Interestingly, better sound isn't all that important to 90% of the consumers out there, and so it really comes down to what people are getting for the extra expense. I'm not saying it's worthless, I'm just saying that most people who don't own a hi-def player have no idea what the format will offer. Likewise, people who do own them aren't bowled over and shouting the virtues of hi def from their rooftops (don't know why, but it's scaring people away from taking a side in the format war).

If I was a studio pushing a hi def format, I'd work something into the contract with Blockbuster to advertise the virtues of the new format. I think that would go a whole lot further than just offering the disks and asking people to buy into something new they hardly understand. Maybe giving Blockbuster a slew of players and screens showing pre-edited demos of all the features during scenes of the latest block buster flick? If that's too expensive to implement, how about large color displays showing the differences and new features in easy to understand charts? Remember those life-size Luke Skywalker cutouts that we used to take pictures with at the entrances of video rental stores? Now picture The Fantastic 4 holding up TV screens showing off the many benefits of the new format.

On that note, I think that Toshiba is doing a better job of marketing its format in places like BB, CC, Walmart, etc. I don't know why, but it just seems like Toshiba is trying a bit harder and this may be why the individual player sales are higher. Maybe it's just SoCal, but I see more Toshiba HD-DVD ads than Sony Blu-ray ones. That said, both companies could do more and to me it seems like it's a half-hearted effort all around, almost as if the companies themselves are not entirely behind their respective formats. Maybe they expect the virtues of the formats to carry the sales figures, but personally, I think they are under-estimating what average consumers know about them.

Just out of curiosity, are there any TV ads about either format yet? That would be the place I'd focus on, especially on HD channels. Consider this ad during the season finale of Lost: "Like seeing this in your cable company's HD format? Wait until you see it in Blu-ray - Get all the performance out of your new TV with the best it can do: Sony the best picture, period." (interchange HD-DVD/Toshiba, if you want).

Thank you for bringing up a very interesting angle on things. I am often amazed at how people are mainly interested in the picture size, resolution, etc, but couldn't care less about the sound quality delivered. It's astonishing to me that people in general desire for a pristine picture with crappy sound. It makes no sense, as Larry the Cable Guy would say...it's like whiping before pooping.

[kexodusc]

Thank you for bringing up a very interesting angle on things. I am often amazed at how people are mainly interested in the picture size, resolution, etc, but couldn't care less about the sound quality delivered. It's astonishing to me that people in general desire for a pristine picture with crappy sound. It makes no sense, as Larry the Cable Guy would say...it's like whiping before pooping.

I'm not surprised that the sound quality isn't a major selling point. Quite honestly, the difference between Dolby Digital 5.1 and Lossless DVD-A or whatever isn't nearly as big as most of us here (present party included) would make it out to be. We have a way of, err...exaggerating the little things in the world of audio.

Considering the visual sense is primary on the vast majority of the population, such a noticeable improvement (especially on larger screens) in the video quality area is a natural to be the biggest selling feature.

Just for giggles - I wonder, if I walked into a room and heard a 5.1 sound track, I doubt I could tell right away if it was Dolby Digital, DTS, or something hi-rez without doing an A/B and spending a bit of time. I'd probably be an above average guesser, and I'm smart enough to focus on a few limitations of Dolby, DTS, etc, but there's some good sounding mixes out there that'd make it pretty tough. (hey, I might try this experiment soon).

I'm pretty sure on a 42" screen or larger I could spot HD pretty fast.