Blu-ray delayed until August

Filed in archive Announcements on June 8, 2006

I was reading that Sony Electronics' Blu-ray hi-def disc player will be delayed until August. For those of you that may have missed the modern replay of the old VCR vs. BetaMax standards of the past, Blu-ray is one of two competing standards for delivering ultra high resolution video to today's hi-def TV's.

But the reason that I am writing this posting has to do with extra features of the box that makes me wonder about Blu-ray's prospects. It appears that some in the advertising world believe that the design is well suited as a "platform for advertisers" because using their Internet Connections, and advanced software, players can also show current commercials delivered live.

One quote particularly brought a smile to my face: "These things look great [and] if they can get the balance right between shows and spots, it might be a fun way to watch TV."

Excuse me but most people are going to think that the right balance is 100% shows and 0% commercials. I do not believe that people will willingly connect the disc player to the Internet if its main purpose is to give them ads.

Call me crazy, but I subscribe to an old-world view of advertising. People will accept ads it if they get something for it like free content. That is what happens in television. And the ads had better happen automatically because, if given a choice, most people will opt to skip them.

What do you think?

Read the article about Blu-ray from an advertising angle >>