AfterDawn: Tech news

Blu-ray appears to be thriving in developing markets

Written by Rich Fiscus @ 14 Aug 2007 10:13 User comments (18)

Blu-ray appears to be thriving in developing markets

Sony is very happy with how Blu-ray technology is doing in developing markets in parts of Asia, Eastern Europe, and South Africa. Sales in those areas account for 10% of the company's home entertainment division's business.
With more than a 20% increase in Blu-ray title sales across these regions, Sony sees big potential there. Individually, South Africa represents the largest share of these markets’ Blu-ray sales, with more than 15,000 units shipped to the country to date.

“It is extremely positive to see an increase in volume of Blu-ray software sales in these markets where piracy has previously ravaged the DVD business,” said T. Paul Miller, senior VP of international at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Matt Brown, executive VP of international at SPHE, added, “This news underscores not only the demand for premium content in these markets, but also the need for a home entertainment format with an impenetrable content protection system like Blu-ray’s.”



It's easy for those of us in the US and Europe to forget the role other parts of the world play in the global economy. If these nations are going to play a major part in determining the winner of the format war though, it will likely mean that hardware prices have dropped significantly from where they are now.

Source: Video Business

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18 user comments

114.8.2007 10:26

When will Sony stop the BS PR campaign? 15,000 shipped yippie. The Middle East hope those kids in Iran love their remastered edition of the 5th Element.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 14 Aug 2007 @ 10:28

214.8.2007 10:26

sry repost

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 14 Aug 2007 @ 10:28

314.8.2007 10:30

There is no way to measure the amount of "piracy" that goes on.

Once again...piracy is blamed on loss of DVD Sales.
Maybe alot of people have come to realize that the price of DVDs are a rip off and have started to "rebel", not buy, or borrow from a friend.

Why not provide proof with your statements. I can say things too.

"Most Canadians support HD-DVD"

There you go...now u know...u heard it from me.

414.8.2007 10:45

"Most Canadians support HD-DVD"

I agree with the truthiness of this quote. I am Canadian and I support HD-DVD therefore it must be true that all Canadians support HD-DVD, no need for proof.

514.8.2007 11:41

ar·ro·gance
Function: noun
Definition:

Quote:
Matt Brown, executive VP of international at SPHE, added, “This news underscores not only the demand for premium content in these markets, but also the need for a home entertainment format with an impenetrable content protection system like Blu-ray’s.”

614.8.2007 11:51
nobrainer
Inactive

Some of the high points of sony's drm,'s blu-ray drm BD+

BD+ drm uses expiring discs, usage data collection including the unique serial number of your device and location.

The ability for individual studios to run their own drm on top of aacs and bd+ and have the ability to disable players permanently if it is found to either:

1. have had its hexadecimal code hacked and a line of players can be disabled

2. or an individual player that is found to be hacked such as a multi region code removal can be disabled and the authorities can be notified!

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 16 Aug 2007 @ 7:24

714.8.2007 11:53

Originally posted by nobrainer:
Some of the high points of sony's drm,'s blu-ray drm BD+

BD+ drm uses expiring discs, usage data collection including the unique serial number of your device and location.

The ability for individual studios to run their own drm on top of aacs and bd+ and have the ability to disable players permanently if it is found to either:

1. have had its hexadecimal code hacked and a line of players can be disabled

2. or an individual player that is found to be hacked such as a multi region code removal can be disabled and the authorities can be notified!
I already made enough Blu-Ray posts for one day, but based on this news, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO BE THE VICTOR [/sarcasm]

814.8.2007 13:44
BIGnewb
Inactive

you cant say canadians support hd-dvd.you cant make your opinion a country's opinion.im canadian and i support blu-ray and that's not proof that all canadians or all people support only one format.and once the winner is proclaimed all of this will be forgotten.so who cares anyways.

914.8.2007 13:52
nobrainer
Inactive

sony are even editing out the drm comments from wiki:

i used http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/ to track changes made by sony ip rages and stumbled across this little edit:

blu-ray drm, i'm sure there used to be more info, but hold on here is the original page, omg. here : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?titl...oldid=127146033

see the ip at the top of the page where the edit originated 64.95.24.237


http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/results.jsp?ip=64.95.24.237

Originally posted by above link:
64.95.24.237
Record Type: IP Address

Internap Network Services PNAP-05-2000 (NET-64-94-0-0-1)
64.94.0.0 - 64.95.255.255
Sony Music Entertainment, Inc PNAP-NYC-SONY-RM-03 (NET-64-95-24-0-1)
64.95.24.0 - 64.95.24.255


This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 14 Aug 2007 @ 1:59

1014.8.2007 14:09

Quote:
with more than 15,000 units shipped
Shipped does not equal sold.

1114.8.2007 14:20

In terms of the format war, this means absolutely nothing.
It's like saying people in developing countries are buying more Zunes, so it looks bad for the iPod. People in developing countries buy more record players, too. That doesn't mean vinyl's making a huge comeback.
Plus, as pointed out above, shipping ain't selling. And selling units in a place where the price point is 20 to 40% lower than in America, doesn't denote global success, either.

1214.8.2007 19:46

Keep Estamating sony. I know What sony wanted to do with betamax and i doubt there intention have changed any for those of you that dont know. Sony wanted full control of what went on betamax. back then They wanted to monitor what went on and came off betatape. what went for the law then didnt like that idea. Now with copyright bs flying in all directions the law gave up. senaters were puschased and DRM is being pushed to it fullist limits possible. Next there gonnna want to install camras in your house to make sure your living the 2007 version of the amarican dream.

1315.8.2007 07:52
24Lover
Inactive

Good to see Sony keeping up the good effort they promise before they launch Blu-Ray out side of Japan.

1415.8.2007 12:56

Originally posted by BIGnewb:
you cant say canadians support hd-dvd.you cant make your opinion a country's opinion.im canadian and i support blu-ray and that's not proof that all canadians or all people support only one format.and once the winner is proclaimed all of this will be forgotten.so who cares anyways.
I was actually being sarcastic. Of course i cannot know if all canadians support HD-DVD.

My point was just because someone says it, doesn't mean its true. All these stats from MPAA and others about piracy being the cause of HUGE Losses aren't true. Its only stands to reason that developing countries will have little effect on the outcome of BD vs HD. Its just a ploy to make people think they should buy BD if everyone else is.

Its BS. So was my line about Canadians. Sorry to confuse u.

1515.8.2007 17:42

@DXR88

Quote:
Next there gonna want to install cameras in your house to make sure your living the 2007 version of the American dream.
Sounds too much like 1984 (Orwell) to me...
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Aug 2007 @ 2:23

1615.8.2007 18:10

Its not far from the truth however. the Corparet ass wedges want maximum control. they wont stop untill they die out or untill they get what they want. i dont think they'll die out. they have to much mony to die out.

1718.8.2007 04:59

Developing countries may not have that much choice to choose from.

1818.8.2007 10:20

devloping contries are left out of the tech savy loop. not to say we need to be doing so developing are selves

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