Best Buy receives Blu-ray exclusives

PHYSICAL: Universal, Anchor Bay give retailer three-to-four week head-start on select titles

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 8/28/2009

AUG. 28 | PHYSICAL: Best Buy has scored an exclusive, approximately one month release window with Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s Blu-ray Disc titles Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

The two titles bowed at the chain on Aug. 25, confirmed the studio, and won’t spread widely to sell-through and rental outlets until Sept. 22.

A Universal spokeswoman didn’t elaborate on why Best Buy was granted a head-start with the titles.

Best Buy is considered to be the top retailer of Blu-ray titles. The chain’s key fanboy consumer demographic also matches well with the cult hit status of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, both of which star popular British comedy actor Simon Pegg.

Additionally, Best Buy appears to have been granted a three-week exclusive on Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Blu-ray Grace, distributed through Starz Entertainment. The title has similarly been available at Best Buy since Aug. 25 but is scheduled to street at other retailers on Sept. 15.

Although Universal's releases are catalog titles bowing on Blu-ray for the first time, Anchor Bay's Grace is debuting on both formats, but Best Buy's exclusive window only covers the high-def format.