Now that HD DVD is considered an ‘also ran’, the Blu-ray Disc supporters are aiming to position themselves as the format to beat DVD as well as broadcast.

According to Video Business, HDTVs with PS3 units are set up in 1000 Blockbuster stores, with the aim to demonstrate Blu-ray titles - such displays are slated to roll out to all Blockbuster outlets in the next couple of months.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. “Going forward, the messaging will be that Blu-ray is the best possible experience. It’s six times superior in picture quality to [standard] DVD. And it’s just the flat-out best high-def experience when compared to cable or satellite.” Sony also is working with retail to offer discounts on Blu-ray product bundles.

The Blu-ray studios are also looking to get endorsements from established directors. “In order to get consumers on board on a broad level, to have directors that are well-known [approve BD] will add validation to the format,” said Bishop.

Sony’s Bishop said the studio will be releasing its largest selection of BD titles yet in 2008. Sony plans to street slightly more than 100 titles during the year, marking a 54% increase from its 2007 output.

Meanwhile Panasonic is taking their message directly to ‘the people’ with 40- to 50-inch high-def plasmas at the Auto Club (formerly California) Speedway in Fontana, CA. By August, Panasonic TVs will be spread throughout the entire venue. Panasonic also used the giant NASCAR event last weekend to showcase its ongoing yearlong partnership with United Artists to celebrate the 90th anniversaries of both companies, which will include an upcoming film festival and other events.

Pansonic’s Eisuke Tsuyuzaki believes Blu-ray is a fundamental driver for many of Panasonic’s high-def products and is therefore a primary component in the company’s marketing and advertising of plasma displays and other products. Tsuyuzaki also understands that even as the war with HD DVD has ended, there is even more work ahead to make Blu-ray successful, and the first step is accelerating marketing and steering the message to mainstream consumers. What better place to accomplish that, he says, than NASCAR, from the more than 200,000 fans who showed up for a weekend of racing near Los Angeles, where Panasonic showcased Blu-ray and its full line of high-def products in the “Fan Zone,” to on-air mentions of United Artists’ 90th anniversary celebration during Fox’s telecast of the race.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Players, Studios, US Releases. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.