Video Asylum

Posted by David Aiken (A) on June 01, 2007 at 13:51:52

In Reply to: RE: $30.00 HD movies are going to slow down adoption.... posted by oscar on June 01, 2007 at 12:08:11

Here in Australia, HD movies seem to be selling routinely at around the $35-40 mark, but that's Australian dollars. $30 US is about $37 Australian so that's close to parity with the US price. I think the recommended retail prices here are around the $45 Australian mark but I've really only seen HD discs in the larger, specialist DVD outlets that routinely discount new discs so I don't know where to go to buy one at recommended retail price and I've never seen anyone do it.

So what, you ask. Well, new release ordinary DVDs of box office films have recommended retail prices of $35-40 Australian dollars here, so there's little difference between buying a HD movie at one of the outlets that routinely discounts prices or buying a new release standard def DVD at a store charging recommended retail price.

On the other hand, HD players here seem to be selling at prices which are the equivalent of about twice the US price. We have to pay a premium for the machines for some reason but little premium on HD discs and a greater premium on standard def DVD discs.

It's a crazy world.


David Aiken