Blu-ray Sales Start to Cover DVD Losses – The NPD Group CE market Analysts have issued a report showing that Blu-ray sales are beginning to offset the declines in consumer DVD player and content sales. 15% of U.S. consumers reported using a Blu-ray player in the prior six months in March 2011, up from 9% the prior year. 57% of U.S. consumers reported using a standard DVD player in 2010, which was unchanged from 2009. 49% of PS3 owners viewed Blu-ray movies on their game consoles at least once a month, and year-over-year sales of Blu-ray players increased 16%. In 2009 there were 128 million buyers of physical discs in the U.S., which is now down to 116 million. However, the nearly 26 million Blu-ray buyers helped keep that number from sliding further. Blu-ray owners are also beginning to buy more discs than they did in 2009 or 2010. Eight out of 10 current and prospective owners of Blu-ray players cite high-definition quality and technology as the reason they purchased or intend to purchase. An analyst observed “While Blu-ray may not be the replacement for DVD that many once hoped for, it certainly is adding strength to the physical video-disc market.”
Suit by Florida Dealer on Fixing LCD TV Pricing – Dealer BrandsMart USA in Florida is suing 15 Asian TV manufacturers for fixing the prices of LCD panels. Among those named are Epson, Hitachi, LG, NEC, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp and Toshiba. They are accused of conspiring to “fix, raise, stabilize and maintain” panel pricing, affecting billions of dollars of U.S. commerce. The suit is based on recent successful price-fixing prosecutions by the U.S. Justice Department, which obtained over $890 million in fines from eight of the LCD producers. BrandsMart is seeking damages for panel overpayments during a 10-year period on all products sold with LCD panels, large or small.
Live Streaming Video Jazz Party This Saturday – The Awards Gala of the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards will be streamed from City Winery in NYC from 1 to 5 PM EDT June 11. Anyone with an Internet connection can access the four-hour telecast via Ustream.com. Among the performers will be Marc Ribot, Randy Weston, Gregory Porter, Jane Bunnett, Hilario Duran, and the Hammer Klavier Trio from Germany. Recipients of the 2011 Jazz Awards for excellence in music-making and music documentation will be announced. A long list of well-known musicians will attend the special event.
Philadelphia Orchestra Struggles – The Philadelphia Orchestra is in trouble. It has distributed a 69-page strategic plan among board members as part of its goal to raise $160 million, $100 million for the endowment, and $60 million to finance the orchestra’s bankruptcy. The Orchestra plans to reduce subscription concerts by 15%, perform lighter fare such as film scores, reconsider concert dress, use theatrical lighting, offeer post-concert receptions, and continue negotiation for major concessions from musicians (that must mean lower pay…).
OTA Reception Losing Viewers – A recent Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) study found only 8% of Americans currently are receiving their TV programming via over-the-air broadcasts (which, by the way, was the original idea for free broadcasting in this country). With the proliferation of cable TV, OTA viewing has steadily declined since 2005. The survey asked if those who use pay-TV services would abandon it for OTA broadcasts or Internet video. 76% said no, but 10% were likely or very likely to cut their cable. The survey also reported more people viewing Internet content on their TVs. CEA used the report to call on the government to reduce the amount of spectrum allocated to TV broadcasters via incentive auctions. Some cities have a much larger percentage of OTA viewers – for example, Portland, Oregon. (Bear in mind also that all pay-TV is data-reduced, and only with OTA reception does one get the highest resolution possible from 720p telecasts.)
Wayne Shorter – In Memoriam
Rememberance of the artist
