But don't nail Blu-ray's coffin shut just yet. A new study from Adams Media Research shows that sales of Blu-ray discs in the first quarter of 2009 nearly doubled compared to the same period a year ago, rising to nearly 9 million from 4.8 million in Q1 2008. Sales soared even though Blu-ray players and discs remain pricier than their DVD counterparts, although Hollywood studios have wisely begun to .

Does this mean Blu-ray has a future after all? It certainly appears so. Lower prices may be helping. Many Blu-ray , and Blu-ray movies sell for a little as $10. The HD format displays a prettier picture-albeit not dramatically so-than the HD content delivered by video-on-demand and online movie download and streaming services.

Consumer adoption of HDTV is certainly helping Blu-ray, although many users may never upgrade from DVD, or else they'll opt for a less expensive DVD player that upconverts DVD movies to HD quality. Or, as some believe, they'll simply ditch the discs altogether. But if they abandon movies-on-disc, much as they've already abandoned audio CDs, what explains the dramatic increase in Blu-ray disc sales?

This year should show whether Blu-ray's got staying power, or whether it'll die off like HD DVD.