Sony predicting Blu-Ray dominance within a year
When Toshiba announced that its HD-DVD
players would not arrive until next year, they pretty much shot themselves in the foot. Support of the format had already been waning while the Blu-Ray, which will most definitely be in a large number of households (compliments of PlayStation 3), has received more and more support for the successor of choice to the not-so-dated DVD. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president Benjamin Feingold believes, with much justification, that "in 12 months it's going to be clear...the combination of Blu-Ray and PlayStation 3 is going to overwhelm any HD-DVD presence and all studios will have to support Blu-Ray."
It seems Sony has the right idea calling the PlayStation 3 not just a game console – when it arrives, no matter how high the price it may still be cheaper than a standalone Blu-Ray player. If that is the case, gamers and videophiles alike will be standing in line to pick up their console – and despite the cost to Sony for adding the Blu-Ray drive,
since Sony owns the technology they will more than make up for it long term.