Independent Distributors Closing the Gap Between DVD and Blu-ray
A handful of independent distriubtion companies, including The Criterion Collection, First Look Studios, Cinevolve, and E1 Entertainment are debuting Blu-ray titles at the same (or within $1 of) their DVD counterparts in an effort to close the price gap between the two formats. Check this out:
Although consumers and retailers have expressed interest in seeing the pricing gap disappear, the major studios so far have only used equal or near-equal pricing for DVD and Blu-ray on a handful of titles. New movies frequently carry Blu-ray list prices of $34.99 to $39.99, and the high-definition version is usually priced $5 to $10 above the standard DVD version of the same title.
In June, E1 will release two films on DVD and Blu-ray, thriller Elsewhere (June 2) and Heather Graham-starring comedy Baby on Board (June 9), each at a $24.95 price point on either format.
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Cinevolve is releasing some films on Blu-ray at $24.95, including upcoming releases of comedySisterhood (May 19) and filmmaker Jim Killeen’s documentary Google Me (July 21). However, the Blu-ray prices are still at a premium over the company’s standard DVDs. Sisterhood is priced at $22.95 on DVD, for example.
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Treston is forging ahead with Blu-ray even though he doesn’t expect the format to last nearly as long as standard DVD has. Cinevolve also is working on digital download efforts. “We want to be as future-ready as we can be,” he said.
Yet Treston encourages other independents to get into Blu-ray to keep production costs down. “With more on board, it will lower the cost,” he said.
With Blu-ray prices falling, there are surely more shoppers out there ready to make the leap to compliment their new HDTV purchases. It is good news for Blu-ray, as the price premium for the optical disc has been the biggest obstacle for the new format to break into the majority market. (We’re still waiting for VOD to take over completely, but that will come in due time).
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