MUMBAI: The Blu-ray Disc has become the first high definition format to sell more than one million discs, a milestone it has achieved in less than a year, say research statistics.

Blu-ray Disc sales also accounted for 70 per cent of the high-definition movies sold during the first quarter of 2007, according to sales figures published recently by Home Media Research. Blu-ray’s sales lead has increased each month since the first of the year and nearly three out of every four high-definition movies sold in March were on Blu-ray Disc, according to the HMR sales figures.

Industry projections suggest that this steady growth trend will continue based on the fact that seven of the eight major studios are releasing an increasing number of blockbuster movies on Blu-ray Disc, most of which will only be available in high-definition on Blu-ray Disc. In 2006, 18 of the top 20 selling DVDs were released by studios that are publishing their movies on Blu-ray Disc.

Blu-ray Disc titles accounted for eight of the top 10 selling high definition titles in the first quarter of this year and since the introduction of both high definition formats, seven of the top 10 selling high definition movies are on Blu-ray Disc.

The sustained sales advantage enjoyed by Blu-ray throughout the first three months of the year will continue as studios maintain an aggressive release schedule to bring the biggest Hollywood movies to high definition.

In the coming months, Blu-ray Disc studios will be releasing blockbuster titles such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Night at the Museum, Cars and Dreamgirls.