Blu-ray Disc (BD) News

BluFocus first Ultra HD Blu-ray test center in North America
Oct 29, 2015 – BluFocus has announced that it has been approved as the first BDA 'Ultra HD Blu-ray' Test Center in North America for Movie Player Verification, Application Software Verification and Commercial Audiovisual Content Verification.
News categories: BluFocus, Juan Reyes, Blu-ray, Content Distribution, Digital TV, North America, USA

Global streaming media device sales to hit 86 million units in 2019
Oct 22, 2015 – Parks Associates research has found that global annual unit sales for streaming media devices, including both player and stick form factors, will increase from 30 million units in 2013 to 86 million units in 2019.
News categories: Parks Associates, Stuart Sikes, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA, Worldwide

Digital TV Research Newsletter October 2015
Sep 30, 2015 – Digital TV Research has announced the publication of its October 2015 market research newsletter. According to the newsletter, the connected TV set boom is set to continue, and the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa OTT TV and video market is to grow by $2.2 billion.
News categories: Digital TV Research, Africa, Blu-ray, Brazil, Digital TV, Europe, Gaming, Korea, Market Research, Middle-East, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Subscribers

Half of U.S. internet homes own a connected TV device
Aug 26, 2015 – According to The NPD Group, the CE industry reached a milestone in the second quarter with half of U.S. Internet homes now owning a Connected TV device. This includes connected TVs, video game consoles, streaming media players, and Blu-ray Disc players.
News categories: NPD Group, John Buffone, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Connected TV set boom continues
Aug 12, 2015 – The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 876 million by 2020, up from 105 million at end-2010 and the 415 million expected at end-2015, according to a report from Digital TV Research.
News categories: Digital TV Research, Simon Murray, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, Worldwide

Blu-ray Disc Association to begin Ultra HD Blu-ray licensing
Aug 5, 2015 – The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) will commence licensing the Ultra HD Blu-ray format starting August 24, 2015. The format will enable delivery of Ultra HD content to the growing number of Ultra HD households.
News categories: Blu-ray Disc Association, IHS Technology, Victor Matsuda, Paul Erickson, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Licensing, Media Player, Worldwide

U.S. OTT TV viewing is higher in Gen X, Kid households
Jul 22, 2015 – According to a report from GfK, U.S. households with at least one member of Generation X (roughly ages 35 to 49), and those where children (ages 17 and under) are present, are much more likely to stream video and view other content using an Internet-connected device attached to a TV.
News categories: GfK, David Tice, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Connected TV in more than half of U.S. households
May 27, 2015 – Research from Leichtman Research (LRG) has found that 56% of all US households have at least one television set connected to the Internet via a video game system, a smart TV set, a Blu-ray player, and/or a stand-alone device.
News categories: Leichtman Research, Bruce Leichtman, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Gaming, Market Research, Set Top Box, Smart TV, Streaming, USA

Ultra HD Blu-ray specification and logo released
May 12, 2015 – The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has announced completion of the Ultra HD Blu-ray specification and released the new logo that will delineate Ultra HD Blu-ray products. The Ultra HD Blu-ray specification will enable delivery of Ultra HD content via Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc to UHD TV households.
News categories: Blu-ray Disc Association, Victor Matsuda, Blu-ray, Digital TV, Licensing, Worldwide