Despite active promotion by the Blu-ray Disc Association and China-based makers of optical discs and optical disc drives, sales of BD players and BD movies in China have so far fallen significantly short of expectation, according to China-based online media 21st Century Business Herald.

In China, just over 10,000 BD players have been sold since September 2009, as retail prices have dropped from 4,000 yuan ($586) to 1,500-2,000 yuan. A Blu-ray movie currently sells for 76-179 yuan ($11-26).

In early 2010, nine China-based vendors launched 20 BD player models for the domestic market, and another 27 makers had obtained licensing for making BD players from the BD Association, the report said.

China Hualu and Shanghai Epic Music Entertainment, two main producers of pre-recorded optical discs in China, have made large investment to each set up a production line with a monthly capacity of 500,000 BD discs.

China Hualu showcassed its new BD player model, the BDP1001, at the 2010 China Content Broadcasting Network Expo in Beijing last week and will launch the machine in the domestic market at a recommended retail price of 1,499 yuan ($220), according to China Economic Net. The manufacturer has launched a series of BD players and this BDP1001 model carries the lowest price so far.
China Hualu has also released more than 100 Blu-ray movies (Source: DigiTimes).

Story filed 28.03.10