Wow.. Blu-Ray sales are up 396% in the UK according to the Hollywood Reporter. LONDON -- The credit crunch, global financial turmoil, rising unemployment and rocketing household bills is all good news for the home entertainment industry and movie theaters in the U.K. At least at the moment, if research from the British Video Assn. is to be believed. Third-quarter figures from the group flag record DVD sales of 51.7 million units, up 6.5% on the same period last year. September was a bumper month, with video sales up 7.4% over the same month last year, the BVA said Thursday. The jump took sales through the end of September to 161.8 million DVDs. ... Blu-ray will also play a key role going forward. The research indicates Blu-ray Disc sales up 396% to just short of 1.5 million units for the year to date. I still prefer HD-DVD for well everthing, but alas it lost the war.