The rise and rise of Blu-ray

New Zealand’s favourite online DVD rental service, Fatso, is reporting a big increase in demand for Blu-ray titles this year. The demand for Fatso’s new release titles in Blu-ray format grew a staggering 96% in 2011.

“A large proportion of our new release titles are sent out in Blu-ray format these days and by the end of the year we expect demand for Blu-ray and DVD formats to be evenly split for new releases,” says Rob Berman, Fatso’s General Manager.

Other markets, including the USA, are reporting a significant increase in Blu-ray disc sales, with over $2 billion in Blu-ray product sold since its release in2006. Nearly 40 million households in the USA have Blu-ray players and in New Zealand prices for a Blu-ray player have dropped dramatically recently to as low as $99 so their popularity looks set to increase.

Blu-ray discs differ from DVD discs in that they can store 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs (50 GB) being the norm for feature-length video discs. Blu-ray players use a blue laser to read the disc, allowing information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs.

Fatso’s hot new release titles such as The Smurfs, Cowboys & Aliens, Abduction and Friends with Benefits are available in both Blu-ray and DVD format.