Sony doesn't......samsung phillips and all of the players still get royalties.  Besides royalties, retailers are in the BDA as well, because they stand to gain money if the product grows, and because the BDA works kind of like congress does- the retailers, distributers, software companies, production companies and studios all want their interests voiced, their "vote" counted.                     

ok, so because apple has merely added support to their operating system, they get to join the board of directors and therefore get a percentage of the royalties?  doesn't make sense.   

Of course, but you'd think that the people who made the discs would get a little more......

Sony isn't the only one that makes the discs........there are other manufacturers out there that make BD discs like TDK and Verbatim and the manufacturers get their cut too or they wouldn't be making the discs in the first place.   And the thing of it is that liscencing fees aren't meant to be high.  They are meant for the IP owners and creators of the technology to gain from its adoption, not to be set so high that the technology is strangled and stamped out before it gets mature.

One more thing, keep in mind that liscencing is a separate cost than the cost for manufacturing.  It's not the same thing.

Good i just hope blue ray production costs lower.

But who actually invented the blu-ray disc? Surely that company gets some sort of kickback for basically making other people money.  Sorry for my ignorance.

NYANKS--

That is Sony, and that is why Sony gets the liscencing fees for the discs and this is just Sony's first success really so I'm glad for them  Remember the failed beta or the short lived Laserdisc?  Those were sony creations that went nowhere.

Those on about price. Well the problem is often these studies include PS3 sales. Whereas DVD hardware does not. For instance 360 isn't included in DVD hardware sales. Or none that Ive seen. And if you look at Software of DVD and Blu Ray the gap is very extensive indeed.

Because of this the price just isn't falling.

Thank you so much for pointing that out.  Remember folks, source or it didn't happen :)

The own the biggest share... but it's not a major one.  NPD says it's around 30%.

As for how much sony could make... depends on the costs.  Which are unknown.   Factors seem to suggest less the what Toshiba made though... since they own less of a share and in general people were unhappy with their DVD deals.  Then again China went through on their claim of getting their own format... either way... it won't be toshiba money.  Still will be a fairly nice amount of change.  Should makeup for PS3 losses in anycase.

Also... just i'm sure i've got the OP right... we're talking about DVD Players vs Blu-ray players this year...

that stat seems.... kinda meaningless... I mean.... DVD has been on the market how long now?

Makes me wonder if PS3's (and PS2's) are counted in this analysis.  Surely 360's aren't.