MediaTechNews.com

Blu-ray movies might be beautiful to look at but they are still too expensive and, sadly, it looks like that’s how it’s going to stay for some time. According to the head of the Blu-ray Association (BDA) there’s no way that prices [of players and movies] will drop anytime soon because – and here’s the rub – we’re not buying enough of them. Chief party-pooper and BDA Chairman, Andy Parsons, commented at a recent NPD event: “There’s not enough market [volume] to lower the price. Prices will go down but, what people overlook is that you need a marketplace first before you start cutting prices. If there’s not enough awareness about [the technology] then low prices are besides the point.” Frankly, while I appreciate the economic logic of this, I can’t help but smell a little Eau De Bullshit. Blu-ray players have been knocking around for a couple of years now and are still vastly overpriced in the UK and Europe. Prices are falling at a snail′s pace for both players and movies. If Sony can produce a top Blu-ray player inside a reasonably priced games console like the PS3 then why can’t it [and Samsung and Panasonic etc] just make cheaper Blu-ray players? This market needs a few decent sub-£150 Blu-ray players and cheaper movies to create mainstream interest and the conditions needed to sustain longer term price reductions. Unless Blu-ray wants to end up as the next LaserDisc that is, and everyone opts for downloads.-Martin Lynch [TVpredictions] blu-ray movies

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