Sony ceases the production of virgin blu-ray discs after 18 years
The end of an era. Sony announces the cessation of the manufacture of virgin Blu-ray discs for the Japanese market, as well as Minidisc and Minidv, physical formats dedicated to obsolescence. “We want to express our sincere gratitude to our many customers for their loyalty,” concludes a laconic press release.
The Blu-ray, born 18 years ago with the PlayStation 3, seduced with its high binary speed and its ability to store high definition hours of video. Many still preferred streaming services, often accused of excessively compressing video quality. In addition, physical supports offer sustainability that digital platforms do not guarantee, which can at any time withdraw content from their catalog.
The Blu-ray did not say his last word
But this decision does not sound the immediate death knell for Blu-ray. Sony is content to stop the production of virgin records intended for the domestic market. Amateurs will always be able to obtain disks from other manufacturers. Cinema studios also continue to edit physical copies of their new features, even if the lifespan of this economic model remains uncertain.
In Japan, where streaming services later imposed themselves, physical supports remained privileged. This trend, Sony has decided to stop the production of its own virgin discs.
Globally, the DVD is endangered. Sales collapse, supermarkets cease to market them and automatic rental distributors are now more interesting for scrap metal.
Streaming services offer unrivaled accessibility and flexibility, and most people are satisfied with quality and accept the lack of property. The data is clear: for the majority of consumers, comfort prevails on the possession of sustainable physical support. In France, in 2021, DVD sales rowed up At 31.29 million units, generating a turnover of 164.45 million euros. By comparison, Blu-ray sales reached 7.89 million units the same year.
On the other hand, the Subscription Video Market (SVOD) has experienced dazzling growth. In the first half of 2023, this sector has generated A turnover of nearly one billion euros (991.4 million euros), representing 83 % of the overall video market in France.
