Bedtime Stories on Blu-ray before DVD

Disney will offer high-def version for limited time

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 2/26/2009

FEB. 26 | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is staggering the DVD/Blu-ray Disc launch of a second title, Bedtime Stories. The high-definition version bows on Sunday, April 5, two days before its standard-definition editions street on April 7.

Disney will similarly roll out Bolt on Blu-ray March 22 and on standard DVD on March 24.

In the case of Bolt, studio sources earlier indicated that they wanted to give the Blu-ray format a boost with this head-start approach. The thinking is that, by holding back the DVD, consumers who want to see Bolt early will be encouraged to trade up to Blu-ray.

Perhaps also adding a must-have aspect to Bedtimes Stories, Disney has announced that the Blu-ray version will be available only for a limited time. It’s unclear the exact length of its availability at retail.

Disney did not comment on its Bolt or Bedtime Stories strategies.

Bedtime Stories (prebook Feb. 24) will be priced at $29.99 for the single disc, $34.99 for the two-disc special edition and $39.99 for Blu-ray.