Sony Blu-ray player sales to fall below expectations

Blu-ray player sales to fall short of expectations: Sony The head of Sony Electronics USA said the company is unlikely to meet its sales goal of 5 million Blu-ray players worldwide in 2008, attributing this to the tough economy. In a Thursday interview, Sony's Stan Glasgow says the total sales of Sony-built Blu-ray disc players, which include units sold under Panasonic and Samsung brands, will be about 10 percent short of the projected 5 million.

As previously predicted, prices for Blu-ray disc players are expected to fall below the $200 mark, perhaps even as low as $150 per unit. Sales are likely hurt by the high price of Blu-ray movies, which are often more than $30. Glasgow himself says discounted prices of the movies themselves could jump-start sales of Blu-ray players. Compared to sales of DVD players and recorders, which totaled some 142 million in 2007, Blu-ray has a long way to go.

Glasgow also mentions the TV industry is not skyrocketing as hoped. "There are less consumers... willing to spend money. I believe 80 percent of that is just consumer confidence," he says. Glasgow believes the slow market will allow established companies like Sony that have access to credit take the time to develop new products for the long run while competitors struggle.

Filed under: industry
Other story tags: Samsung, sony, blu-ray, Panasonic