Although many experts are predicting that the ability to "rent" or buy movies via the Internet will result in the demise of DVDs and Blu-ray discs, new research by Media Central GFK International indicates that Blu-ray sales alone are expected to increase 150 percent this year to $2.9 billion. At the same time, cable video-on-demand and broadband will generate only $1.5 billion in revenue, the study indicated. The problem, experts agreed, is inherent in broadband services -- the virtual impossibility of delivering 1080p high-definition content to customers given the limitations of the Internet. "The bandwidth required to stream any type of HD video is way beyond what most households have," Michael Paxton, an analyst with In-State Scottsdale, AZ told Home Media magazine.

28/01/2009