Total Blu-ray Disc movie sales across Europe have topped one million units. Of the High Definition movie discs bought by consumers year-to-date in Europe, 73 per cent were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27 per cent were HD DVD, according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.

The only High Definition packaged media universally supported by the film, music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the number one High Definition packaged media. The one million unit milestone relates to movies only.

If BD game disc production is added into the equation, then total number of discs produced for sale in Europe already exceeds 21 million units. The so-called ‘PlayStation effect’ is important since it is creating major economies of scale and makes BD disc replication cost effective.

“The extremely strong performance of Blu-ray in Europe in a relatively short period of time is no surprise and clearly demonstrates that consumers are embracing Blu-ray as the high definition format of choice. As in the United States, Blu-ray continuously outsells HD DVD by a ratio of more than more than two to one, and 3:1 since the launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe. Consumer spending is sending an obvious message and this growing sales margin leaves little doubt that Blu-ray is on-track to ultimately win this format war worldwide,” says Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s worldwide president David Bishop.