HD Video: BD or not BD?

If one could have thought that with its victory over the HD-DVD format, Sony's way to the HD video Eldorado was now free. Unfortunately, several key companies are questioning the financial benefit of investing in BD format. First corporate is of course Toshiba, but Samsung recently joined the group, arguing that the lifetime of BD will most likely be short due to the development of HD video online offer, not requiring support for a media, but rather to invest in online stores. If one considers that sales of BD standalone players are not really rocketing up, and even OEM and computer manufacturers are not willing to pay premium price to integrate such drive in their computer models, one could think that BD is already EOL. Of course, Sony had to react against such campaign, and Rick Clancy, Sony CEO, went on the stage to provide his point of view and how the Japanese giant is seeing the future of BD in which it has invested massive amount of money for both developing it and lobbying Hollywood majors to adopt it. Hereafter are his arguments:
- Every PS3 sold is a BD player, in other words the amount of BD players is increasing worldwide everyday. Of course, if Sony would be selling as much PS3 as Nintendo Wii game station, this would be even more impressive.
- He argues that in the coming weeks and months, the number of movies available in BD format will increase massively, as well for TV shows and series
- He postulates that linked to the expect explosion of sales of TV HD, customers will further invest in a HD media standalone player to enjoy the HD capabilities of their recently purchased HD 1080p TV.
Of course, such plan can indeed turn true if TV HD manufacturers such as Sony, but also Samsung or Toshiba, decide to massively cut the price of 1080p TV models, Christmas period approaching we will quickly know if such strategy will be applied or not.