
...from: http://www.oto-online.com/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=284&Itemid=1
Blu-ray and HD DVD - different positions in US and Europe Wednesday, 14 March 2007 Blu-ray Disc movie sales in the US are outpacing those of HD DVD titles by a factor of 2 to 1, according to figures from market researcher Nielsen VideoScan. At the MEDIA-TECH Showcase and Conference in Barcelona last week, Blu-ray Disc Association spokesperson Frank Simonis presented figures from 20th Century Fox predicting that the ratio would rise to 3.5 to 1 by the end of this month.
Blu-ray title sales began to accelerate about two weeks after the release of the Blu-ray-equipped Sony PlayStation 3 on November 17 last year.
Meanwhile, in Europe, HD DVD has the lion's share of the third- generation equipment market - for the time being at least. Figures from GfK Marketing Services show that, during January, mainly due to Toshiba's entry-level HD-E1 player, HD DVD had an 85% share of the market for blue-laser players, recorders and drives; the remaining 15% was split between Blu-ray equipment from Samsung and Sony. Prior to the launch of the HD-E1, Toshiba had only a 58% share; however, with the PS3 due to launch in Europe at the end of next week, these figures are widely expected to swing back in Blu-ray's favour.