Blu-Ray or Digital Downloads? Will The Disc Die?

[dolfan16]

I'm just going post the link because the article is four pages long. Interesting read, nonetheless.
http://www.cepro.com/article/blu_ray...tors_weigh_in/

[dmiller68]

Interesting article...

[Jon Liu]

Interesting article indeed. I am a firm believer that they will coexist, much like MP3's and CDs. They cater to different crowds.

[aaronwt]

I think they will coexist, but digital downloads are eventually the future. I would hope that by 2020 that there would be no physical media anymore.
It can make things so much easier by not having to mess around with a disc.

[dolfan16]

We talk a lot about VOD and digital downloads. So does everyone else. But the reality is that, according to a new survey, consumers preferred Blu-ray over downloading or streaming 10 to 1. That's huge!
The survey was conducted by SmithGeiger for the Digital Entertainment Group, an organization made up of movie studios and manufacturers. It should be noted that the studios have just as much interest in downloading.
"The results of this global study clearly show that HDTV owners are enthusiastic about high-definition content and are familiar with a variety of HD delivery systems," DEG executive director Amy Jo Smith said. "The research further shows that HDTV is transforming the home-entertainment landscape and is paving the way for other emerging platforms such as Blu-ray Disc."
The survey asked . . .

1,600 owners of HDTVs in three countries: The U.S., the U.K, and Japan.
According to a story in the Hollywood Reporter, studios are planning an "unprecedented number of Blu-ray titles for release this holiday gift-buying season."
Looks like this might truly be a Blu Christmas. —Leslie Shapiro

Bitstream: Blu-ray Scores Big

Some proof that the disc isn't dead yet..

[Jon Liu]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I highly doubt that it will die. I strongly believe that they will coexist, much like CD's and MP3's. There's a market for both... I will buy the discs and I know people who will buy MP3's almost exclusively. Different crowds.

[aaronwt]

I don't buy CDs anymore but I also rarely listen to MP3s. 95% of my music is WMA.
I never like how MP3s sounded, especially in the mid 90's when I was big into minidisc. and once that died I went to WMA since it sounds so much better at the same bitrate as MP3 songs, or equal at around half the bitrate.