HTSA Confirms Blu-ray Support
By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 9/24/2007
Chester Springs, Pa. — Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), the $500 million buying group for A/V specialty dealers and installers, has formally confirmed that it is backing Blu-ray Disc technology based on sales trends among its 62 members.
The group announced during the recent CEDIA Expo that it will make Blu-ray its exclusive format choice for high-definition disc players. According to the results of an internal study released today, 92 percent of category sales by HTSA members were in Blu-ray players, with the balance comprised mostly of dual-format players that combine BD and HD-DVD playback capability.
HTSA said it expects its exclusive support of Blu-ray to “strengthen retailer commitment to providing more BD-based devices to meet growing consumer demand.”
“The industry looks to HTSA as an expert for custom home theater, built upon a foundation of the top consumer electronic retailers across the country,” said executive director Richard Glikes. “Based on our member research and observations in the field, it is clear that HTSA customers have made Blu-ray Disc their preferred HD format for movies and other packaged video content.”
Glikes cited greater device capacity, better resolution, larger manufacturer adoption and content availability as deciding factors for consumers in choosing one high-definition disc camp over the other.
In a statement, Jay Vandenbree, president of consumer sales for Sony Electronics, Blu-ray’s chief proponent and developer, lauded HTSA’s move. “At a time when ever-changing technology tests just how much one can know about everything, HTSA has chosen Blu-Ray Disc as the format they support. I think it speaks volumes when support comes from those who specialize in home theater, and are closest to the consumer.”
-
What this version of the article fails to mention is that the HTSA does no even carry Toshiba brand products! It is remarkable they are getting 8% HD DVD business. This is equivalent to saying that "our customers choose Blu-Ray because we don't carry HD DVD." Their press release is ridiculous, and they need to be called out in regards to this misleading information.
Marty A - 2007-26-9 02:30:00 EDT -
What this version of the article fails to mention is that the HTSA does no even carry Toshiba brand products! It is remarkable they are getting 8% HD DVD business. This is equivalent to saying that "our customer choose Blu-Ray beacaue we don'r carry HD DVD. This is ridiculous, and they need to be called out about this misleading information.
Marty A - 2007-26-9 02:29:00 EDT -
I think an organization like HTSA backing BluRay is at the very least foolish on their part. Essentially what it adds up to is someone telling their customer what they can and can''t have.
I work for a retailer carrying both formats, and we''re doing well in both, with HD DVD consistently outselling BluRay players. For people who think it''s because of price, I should add that we sell more of the HDXA2 at $999 cdn than we do of the BDPS1 at $799 cdn.
Why do our customers buy more HD DVD? They ask questions like "is this player going to give me all the features on the disc? or "is this player going to become obsolete because of a format change?" If you can''t give a customer a definitive absolute yes, why would they spend money on a Blu Ray player that might be semi useless once the format is finalized?
We''ve got the HDXA20 and the BDPS300 set up to a/b in a theatre room ith a 1080p Sony projector, both setup with the same output. Customers are consistently more impressed with the HDDVD.
It''s not my job to say one format is better than the other, and I don''t. I answer questions and help the customer decide what format is better for them, rather than handing them a player without educating them or offering them a choice.
Kol - 2007-25-9 13:06:00 EDT
No related content found.
VIEW ALL GALLERIES