It seems Sony is keeping us on our toes after sending out mixed messages concerning expected price cuts for the PS3 games console.

Price cuts were expected to encourage disappointing sales, fuelled by comments from Sony chief, Sir Howard Stringer. However, Sony president, Ryoji Chubachi recently backtracked by claiming the company had 'no plans' to discount prices. But confusion still reigns after promotional material was leaked in the US revealing flyers that priced the next generation games console at $499 - £100 cheaper than the original asking price.

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Despite Blockbuster's decision to snub HD-DVD, major US retailers are continuing to stock both formats until consumers tell them otherwise. In the US, stores like Amazon, Trans World and Virgin Megastores are not willing to miss out on a market of early adopters.

“Our feeling is that we should continue to supply both until the customers tell us that we shouldn’t,” said Jim Litwak, president and chief operating officer at Trans World. “Blu-ray is outperforming HD DVD in stores, but the customer is still telling us they want HD DVD.”

A US survey taken by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has revealed that one of the main reasons for buying a HDTV is to improve movie watching and gaming – not for watching HD broadcasts.

The new study, 'HDTV: You have the set, but do you have the content?' revealed that only 44% of households owning a high-definition TV actually received HD programming. And that the majority of consumers who do receive HD programming still don't understand what programming they do and don't receive.

Toshiba has fought back after seemingly losing ground in to Blu-ray recently with an announcement that the promotional prices used to attract US consumers are here to stay.

Affordability is still HD-DVD's trump card and, in the US at least, prices have fallen to all time lows. And there is also news of firmware upgrades adding more features such as network connectivity.

Via
Endgadget

In another encouraging report from across the Atlantic, analysts have predicted that the global HDTV market is expected to cross the 50 million units mark by 2008.

The report, 'HDTV: A Global Strategic Business Report', released by Global Industry Analysts Inc, focuses on the sale of HDTV sales across major geographic markets including the UK, USA, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the rest of the world.

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Emediawire.com

If the claims and counter claims emanating from the US in recent weeks are to be believed then the format war between HD-DVD and Blu-ray has been decided. Trouble is, both camps claim to in the best position – which has only led to more confusion.

So, what's really going on?

It may not be the most imaginative marketing idea ever but simply laid plans to cut the prices of high-definition players in the US has unsurprisingly yielded increased sales - who would have thunk it?

A recent report following the rash of price cuts Stateside, particularly with standalone HD-DVD players, has boosted sales figures especially with products like Toshiba's budget priced HD-A2 and Sony's price slashed BDP-SE1.

Via videobusiness.com

It's been a tough time for HD-DVD of late. First, there were announcements that global sales forecasts of HD-DVD players were being cut and then Blockbuster decided to favour Blu-ray in its US stores. Now, Sony has added more salt to the wound by claiming US shipments of its Blu-ray players should reach 600,000.

According to Sony's Randy Waynick, the growing demand for Blu-ray players is down to the number of software titles released exclusively for the Blu-ray format. "Out of the top 20 blockbusters, there were 14 or 15 that were exclusive to Blu-ray.

It seems there's nothing like natural beauty to bring out the best in high-definition technology. The BBC's Planet Earth: The Complete Series has been wowing high-definition audiences in the States where it's been pronounced as the biggest money-spinner to ever hit the HD-DVD and Blu-ray disc market.

US consumers have spent an incredible $3.2m on the four-disc set of nature documentaries narrated by David Attenborough. That translates to about 45,000 sets or one for every five owners of next generation HD players – a ratio only a few DVDs can compete with.

The results of Hitachi's US survey, which found that 78% of consumers want their next TV to be HD Ready, isn't exactly a shocking revelation – but it does support our less than bold prediction that the HDTV market is set to explode.

We're more surprised that 22% of American consumers aren't interested in HDTV. But, according to the survey, this is probably due to continued uncertainty surrounding the technology – with nearly two thirds of consumers claiming they're still uncomfortable explaining various HD options.

Via Ecoustics.com

US high-definition guru, Philip Swann, believes that Blockbuster's decision to back Blu-ray is the beginning of the end for HD-DVD – unless it can pull off at least one of his three suggested steps for survival.

In his video post on tvpredictions.com, Swann discusses three possible actions that HD-DVD supporters like Toshiba can take to fend off these latest developments across the pond.

Since we posted news of Blockbuster's decision to almost exclusively stock Blu-Ray films in its US stores, Sony has unsurprisingly hailed the choice for sharpening its competitive edge in the HD format war.

"The availability of movie titles is very important. The move by Blockbuster is very positive," said Daichi Yamafuji, spokesperson for Sony Corp. in Tokyo.

Blu-Ray has dealt another hefty blow in the battle being fought between HD disc formats. Blockbuster has chosen to stock Blu-Ray instead of rival HD-DVD films in the majority of its 1450 US stores. Some HD-DVD films will still be available online and in 250 selected stores Stateside, but the decision is another high-profile disappointment for HD-DVD advocates like Toshiba and Universal.

According to Blockbuster Vice President, Matthew Smith, the decision in favour of Blu-Ray was based on customer preferences and not prices. In a test market taken from 250 stores that stocked both formats, Blu-Ray accounted for 70% of all the HD titles rented.

Whether or not Sony want porn on Blu-ray, several adult movie studios are already working on titles for the high definition format.

The LFP Video Group has claimed that it will distribute the first adult Blu-ray film, starring Jenna Haze, to be released in the US this summer.

According to TVPredictions, Sony and Panasonic have scooped brand loyalty awards for their high definition TVs.

The 2007 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index is based on telephone interviews amongst men and women aged 18-60.

Sony's LCD TVs and Panasonic's plasma TVs have the most loyal customers.

Toshiba is planning to cut the US prices of its HD-XA2, HD-A20, and HD-A2 players by as much as $200, from 1st April.

This is not surprising given their recent rhetoric about undercutting Sony.

Whether Europe and the UK sees similar price cuts remains to be seen.

A new round of statistics shows that Blu-ray discs are outselling their HD DVD rivals by a ratio of 2:1 in the US.

That's according to figures from Nielsen VideoScan for the week ending 18th February.

Unsurprisingly, Nielsen note that the surge in Blu-ray sales began about two weeks after the US introduction of the PS3.

With Blu-ray sales in the UK outpacing HD DVD by 4 to 1 - of course what I meant to say was that HD DVD is outpacing Blu-ray by 4 to 1 in the UK. (I've got Blu-ray on the brain, evidently), but the launch of the PS3 could swing that statistic as it has done in the US.

Sunday February 4 sees the most-watched live sporting event of the year take place at the Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The NFL’s Super Bowl XLI is also being screened live in the UK by Sky Sports in HD for the first time (as well as with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound).

The Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears are contending for the big prize. It’s the first time the Bears have been in the Super Bowl since winning Super Bowl XX in 1986, while the Colts are making their first appearance since they beat Dallas in Super Bowl V, when the game was held in in Baltimore.

TVPredictions picks up on the news that next weekend's Super Bowl will be shot using 47 different high definition TV cameras.

It's all out high definition, with CBS deciding not to use their "CBS Eye Vision" feature partly because it's not available in HD.

From next month, ESPN in the States will be covering NASCAR motorsport.

Both the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series will be the most technologically advanced programming in the history of televised motorsports, according to ESPN, and includes true high definition in-car cameras.

“In-car cameras are probably the most dynamic facet of motorsports coverage and taking that into the high-def world is huge,” said Rich Feinberg, senior coordinating producer for NASCAR on ESPN. The camera systems had to be re-engineered for HD, as did the camera power and transmission systems within the race cars, all while maintaining a delicate balance to not add weight to the cars and possibly affect their performance.