Post by dkennedy on Jun 4, 2007 6:56:38 GMT -5
Sony Confirms $499 Blu-ray Player
TVPredictions.com first reported the price cut on Friday.
June 4, 2007
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
Sony today confirmed that it will launch a second generation Blu-ray this month for $499.
TVPredictions.com on Friday reported that at least one electronics chain in the Washington, D.C. area had been notified that the player (Model: BDP-S300) will be priced at $499.
Until then, Sony was expected to sell the new player for $599. In fact, the company's web site, SonyStyle.com, was still listing the BDP-S300 at $599 yesterday.
But Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony Electronics' home products division, told the Associated Press today that the player will cost just $499.
He attributed the lower price to falling production costs and an increased demand for Blu-ray products.
Fawcett said the new player will ship this week, meaning it should be available in stores in the next 7-10 days.
The lower price is not too surprising considering that Toshiba recently introduced a $399 HD DVD player with hints that it will be reduced even further this summer. (In fact, Toshiba is now offering a Father's Day promotion selling the HD-A2 HD DVD player for $299.)
Consequently, Blu-ray manufacturers are under great pressure to drop player prices faster than previously scheduled; Sony is the chief supporter of the Blu-ray format.
Sony President Stan Glasgow said in February that his company would cut Blu-ray player prices by 50 percent by year's end. (Sony's first generation Blu-ray high-def player, BDP-S1, now carries a suggested retail price of $999, although it's now priced at $799 at most stores.) Glasgow added at that time that the company would launch a $599 player in mid-summer.
TVPredictions.com first reported the price cut on Friday.
June 4, 2007
By Phillip Swann, tvpredictions.com
Sony today confirmed that it will launch a second generation Blu-ray this month for $499.
TVPredictions.com on Friday reported that at least one electronics chain in the Washington, D.C. area had been notified that the player (Model: BDP-S300) will be priced at $499.
Until then, Sony was expected to sell the new player for $599. In fact, the company's web site, SonyStyle.com, was still listing the BDP-S300 at $599 yesterday.
But Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony Electronics' home products division, told the Associated Press today that the player will cost just $499.
He attributed the lower price to falling production costs and an increased demand for Blu-ray products.
Fawcett said the new player will ship this week, meaning it should be available in stores in the next 7-10 days.
The lower price is not too surprising considering that Toshiba recently introduced a $399 HD DVD player with hints that it will be reduced even further this summer. (In fact, Toshiba is now offering a Father's Day promotion selling the HD-A2 HD DVD player for $299.)
Consequently, Blu-ray manufacturers are under great pressure to drop player prices faster than previously scheduled; Sony is the chief supporter of the Blu-ray format.
Sony President Stan Glasgow said in February that his company would cut Blu-ray player prices by 50 percent by year's end. (Sony's first generation Blu-ray high-def player, BDP-S1, now carries a suggested retail price of $999, although it's now priced at $799 at most stores.) Glasgow added at that time that the company would launch a $599 player in mid-summer.