Blu-Ray making money hand over fist. Sales overtake hotcakes.

Blu-Ray.  What comes to mind when you hear “Blu-Ray”?  An awesome high-def format or a medium that has outlived its prime?  Recent numbers from the NPD group suggest that it’s anything but the latter (even though we’d love to beg to differ here at TNR).

NPD’s retail tracking service found Q1 sales of standalone players up 72 percent over last year.  400,000 units were sold, representing a 14% increase in dollar sales.

Using our analytical skills, we project these numbers to increase even more in the coming months and years, as prices of both the players themselves as well as Blu-Ray disks (the medium) are expected to drop, with increased level of production efficiency as well as being able to take greater advantage of economies of scale.

It looks like I was wrong (again) about Blu-Ray.  Boy how much do I not understand the success of a physical format in today’s entertainment environment.  I still stare with disbelief at these numbers and ask myself, why would anyone buy into Blu-Ray when almost all programming can be acquired over the web, without leaving one’s home?  Without being tied to a particular device/screen?  And being able to take the said content with you on the road on your iPod/iPhone or any other mobile device.  Looks like old habits die hard and people still like the physical format after all.  I, personally, choose to take the red pill (and go all IP).  How about you?