Blu-ray Disc rapidly gaining popularity in Japan

Shipments of Blu-ray Disc-based video recorders and players are increasing fast in Japan as the market rallies around the format after the end of its battle with the defeated HD DVD format.

Shipments of recorders and players based on Blu-ray Disc hit 122,000 in June marking the first time that monthly shipments have broken into six-figures, according to data published on Tuesday by the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA). The data is gathered from member companies, which include all the major consumer electronics manufacturers in Japan.

That figure is a healthy jump on the 82,000 units shipped in May and is likely due to anticipated demand for the devices going into July, when millions of Japanese workers receive a mid-year bonus, and August, when the Olympics are held in Beijing. Both events typically provide a boost to the consumer electronics sector.

The sector was also boosted by the July 4 launch of a new system called "Dubbing 10" that allows consumers to make copies of TV shows they have recorded. In the past consumers were able to make one digital recording of a TV show but not make subsequent copies of that recording. The new system, which required new firmware or updated machines, allows up to 9 additional copies to be made and its arrival had some consumers holding back on purchases.

Because of the widespread availability of high-definition digital TV Japanese electronics makers are pushing Blu-ray Disc recorders that, in many cases, are combined with hard-disk drive recording capability.