Los Angeles (CA) - The first quarter of 2008 was a huge success for Blu-ray, as sales grew by 351 percent over the same period last year, reports trade publication Home Media Magazine.

According to Home Media, increased attention to Blu-ray was a boon the the home entertainment market in general.  For the first time in two years, spending on home video was up.

In 2006 and 2007, the home video market was in decline.  Thanks to a surge in Blu-ray sales, though, the first part of 2008 saw a 1% increase in all home video, which includes HD DVD and DVD as well.

The Blu-ray Disc market has spiked recently because rival high-def format HD DVD has gone to the grave.  Now virtually all major studios are on the Blu-ray bandwagon.

In total, the home video market captured $5.51 billion in the first three months of this year.  The top five titles were, in order, I Am Legend, Enchanted, American Gangster, Bee Movie, and 3:10 To Yuma.  Four of these were released on a high-def format.  Bee Movie was the only one that came out exclusively on DVD, because a previously announced HD DVD version was canceled.

Not surprising

Apr 21, 2008 15:47     

This really isn't that surprising. Now that there is only 1 HD format on the market, people are willing to invent in it.
Overkill report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Proof that competition can be a bad thing

Apr 22, 2008 04:09     

Now that the 'format battle' is over, customer confidence has returned to this market - proof, if it were needed, that it's better for all concerned - manufacturers and consumers - if the pathetic petty wrangling is sorted out earlier rather than later. It seems that in business, co-operation is generally better than competition, in the same way that peace is better than war. Lets hope that a valuable lesson is learned for the future!

John E report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

competishen is good

Apr 22, 2008 09:00     

its y we hav low price al it tak was a lil pashens to let it sort out now we hav a winer
POPCORN report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -4