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Topic: Anyone consuming HD or Blu-ray?
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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."
Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001
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posted 02-15-2008 10:49 AM
Wal-Mart puts stake through HD DVD's heart
quote: C|Net News Article
Things have gone from bad to worse for HD DVD in the space of one week.
Wal-Mart announced Friday morning that it, too, has chosen a side in the battle for high-definition video supremacy: by June it will only stock Blu-ray Disc players.
A buyer in Wal-Mart's video division wrote this morning on her Wal-Mart Checkout blog that the retail giant had made the decision following Netflix and Best Buy's high-profile announcements that they will exclusively stock Blu-ray products.
Wrote Susan Chronister of Wal-Mart: "By June Wal-Mart will only be carrying Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, and of course standard-def movies, DVD players, and up-convert players."
"So," she continues, not mincing words, "if you bought the HD (DVD) player like me, I'd retire it to the bedroom, kid's playroom, or give it to your parents to play their John Wayne standard-def movies, and make space for a BD player..."
That might be the best option at this point, as the dominoes keep falling in Blu-ray's favor. While Netflix and Best Buy were pretty damning evidence that the end was near, now it's glaringly obvious: it's over for HD DVD. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that consumers will automatically start buying Blu-ray players. As mentioned many times before here, prices will have to continue to fall on both Blu-ray players and packaged media for there to be any sort of mainstream adoption of the format.
There are rumors that Toshiba might soon be declaring defeat: The Hollywood Reporter has sources telling it that Toshiba, the main backer of the HD DVD, might drop its allegiance with the format in the next few weeks.
Toshiba denies it, but stay tuned. There's likely much more to come in this drama.
This news isn't exactly along the same lines as an official press release from Wal-Mart, such as the announcements on Monday by Best Buy and Netflix. Therefore the C|Net article may need to be taken with a few grains of salt.
The story does seem logical in the context of Wal-Mart removing the Venturer and RCA branded HD-DVD players from their online outlets. They're handling fewer Toshiba A3 players (if certain locations are even restocking any at all).
The two Wal-Mart Supercenter locations here in Lawton previously had a just few Blu-Ray titles locked behind the counter, and only 1 title (Close Encounters) on the floor. This week they moved a couple dozen BD titles onto a display rack on the sales floor. The store on Sheridan Rd. is getting remodeled and its electronics dept. was relocated and re-arranged in a different part of the store. It's rack of BD titles is positioned at the front of the department (in good view of security cameras). A handful of HD-DVD titles (some Harry Potter movies and The Kingdom) are off to the right of all the BD movies.
Additional Edit:
Wal-Mart has confirmed reports it plans to phase out all HD-DVD player and HD-DVD movie stock by June in a statement to Blu-Ray.com this morning.
quote: Blu-Ray.com
Wal-Mart has confirmed with Blu-ray.com that beginning in June the world's largest retailer will only stock Blu-ray players and movies. Over the next few months, they will phase out all HD DVD products and reorganize their stores to focus on Blu-ray. This move comes days after similar statements of support for Blu-ray by Internet movie rental site Netflix and retailer Best Buy.
Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. commented, "We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases. With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term. We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home."
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![[puke]](graemlins/puke.gif)
Translated into English, this says: "We can make a lot more money if we focus on one format." The only reason Wal-Mart "cares about the customers" is to the extent that they enrich Wal-Mart.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[bs]](graemlins/bs.gif)
hit the fan. I love how Wal*Mart managed to move tons of the cheaper HD players only to drop the format a few months later. Forward thinking at its best (ie, most profitable).
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