Comments on: The end of late fees? http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/1082 The Unofficial Student Publication of Missouri State University Tue, 28 Dec 2010 03:38:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Zach http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/1082/comment-page-1#comment-253 Zach Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:17:41 +0000 http://www.msu-underground.com/?p=1082#comment-253 Perhaps the format war between SACD and DVD-Audio is to blame for some of SACD's troubles, but I think the real reason you never saw a winner in these format wars is because a third competitor won -- mp3. It's small download size trumped the superior quality of SACD and DVD-Audio. You did not have to go to the store to get music anymore. Instant gratification. Obviously, Blu-Ray has experienced more success already than either SACD or DVD-Audio, but I think as online movie rental and purchasing services spread further, you might see the same thing happen again where people trade a more sound technical product for one that can be had instantly, anyplace, anytime. Perhaps the format war between SACD and DVD-Audio is to blame for some of SACD’s troubles, but I think the real reason you never saw a winner in these format wars is because a third competitor won — mp3. It’s small download size trumped the superior quality of SACD and DVD-Audio. You did not have to go to the store to get music anymore. Instant gratification. Obviously, Blu-Ray has experienced more success already than either SACD or DVD-Audio, but I think as online movie rental and purchasing services spread further, you might see the same thing happen again where people trade a more sound technical product for one that can be had instantly, anyplace, anytime.

]]> By: Nate Bassett http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/1082/comment-page-1#comment-252 Nate Bassett Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:00:59 +0000 http://www.msu-underground.com/?p=1082#comment-252 can you say... Netflix? streaming instantly and delivered in the mail, Blockbuster and other rental services are struggling to keep up with their own programs. can you say… Netflix? streaming instantly and delivered in the mail, Blockbuster and other rental services are struggling to keep up with their own programs.

]]> By: Steve http://www.msu-underground.com/archives/1082/comment-page-1#comment-251 Steve Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:31:16 +0000 http://www.msu-underground.com/?p=1082#comment-251 Blu-ray Disc won't go the same way as SACD, that's a terrible analogy. SACD never did come out of a format war, there are still SACD and DVD-Audio discs being released. SACD only provided audio. Blu-ray Discs have seen a thousand fold more sales than SACD already. SACD never got out of niche status. New blu-ray Discs are routinely seeing 30~45% of market share in units versus DVD. Had WB not pulled the plug on HD DVD (Jan 4th, 2008), effectively ending the format war, then you would have a valid point and Blu-ray would definitely be destined to remain, as DVD-A and SACD, niche. Blu-ray at the 3 year mark had an 8% total market share, that was double what DVD had in its first 3 years and quadruple what CD did by 1986. When new titles are routinely closing in on 50% of unit sales vs. DVD? Well there's no other valid assesment of the media than it's firmly entrenched and here to stay. There will always be a market for physical media...especially now with HDTV's well over 50% in US homes. Blu-ray players are now under $100 and movies on Amazon are as low as $6.99 in some cases with BLu-ray versions of new releases usually the same price as DVD. Soon you'll just see one SKU, with both DVD and Blu-ray in the box. Bandwidth is nowhere near what it takes for a decent HD stream with lossless audio and with more convenient connections like HDMI meaning joe blow can hook up his own surround sound system, as well as more technically savvy gamers, fidelity is actually become more important in the home. What we need to see now is studios taking advantage of the current market and implementing Blu-ray as an audio format. If there is additional content (interviews, videos, etc.) and it plays on all Blu-ray players then it will likely see inital adoption faster than CD. One thing I definitely agree on...vinyl will still see a market. This is because it's the only organic music experience. However high resolution Blu-ray Discs could definitely work where SACD and DVD-Audio failed, as long as they're marketed properly with additional content. Blu-ray Disc won’t go the same way as SACD, that’s a terrible analogy.
SACD never did come out of a format war, there are still SACD and DVD-Audio discs being released.
SACD only provided audio.
Blu-ray Discs have seen a thousand fold more sales than SACD already. SACD never got out of niche status. New blu-ray Discs are routinely seeing 30~45% of market share in units versus DVD.
Had WB not pulled the plug on HD DVD (Jan 4th, 2008), effectively ending the format war, then you would have a valid point and Blu-ray would definitely be destined to remain, as DVD-A and SACD, niche. Blu-ray at the 3 year mark had an 8% total market share, that was double what DVD had in its first 3 years and quadruple what CD did by 1986.

When new titles are routinely closing in on 50% of unit sales vs. DVD? Well there’s no other valid assesment of the media than it’s firmly entrenched and here to stay. There will always be a market for physical media…especially now with HDTV’s well over 50% in US homes. Blu-ray players are now under $100 and movies on Amazon are as low as $6.99 in some cases with BLu-ray versions of new releases usually the same price as DVD. Soon you’ll just see one SKU, with both DVD and Blu-ray in the box.

Bandwidth is nowhere near what it takes for a decent HD stream with lossless audio and with more convenient connections like HDMI meaning joe blow can hook up his own surround sound system, as well as more technically savvy gamers, fidelity is actually become more important in the home.

What we need to see now is studios taking advantage of the current market and implementing Blu-ray as an audio format. If there is additional content (interviews, videos, etc.) and it plays on all Blu-ray players then it will likely see inital adoption faster than CD.

One thing I definitely agree on…vinyl will still see a market. This is because it’s the only organic music experience. However high resolution Blu-ray Discs could definitely work where SACD and DVD-Audio failed, as long as they’re marketed properly with additional content.

]]>