Wal-Mart goes Blu, wallops HD DVD
By Susanne Ault and Danny King -- Video Business,02/15/2008
FEB. 15 | Wal-Mart Stores dealt what may well prove to be the fatal blow to HD DVD, saying its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores by June will merchandise Blu-ray Disc as their only high-def format.
The decision, made public in a statement on the merchant’s corporate Web site on Feb. 15, capped a week in which both Netflix and Best Buy also threw their support behind Blu-ray.
Netflix, like Wal-Mart, said it will phase out HD DVD titles completely this year. Best Buy stopped short of dropping HD DVD, but beginning in March will merchandise and market Blu-ray as the preferred format.
“We’ve listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases,” said Gary Severson, Wal-Mart’s senior VP of home entertainment, in the statement. “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.”
Wal-Mart said it will “continue to sell through remaining HD DVD product, but in less than 30 days, customers will see a more predominant move toward Blu-ray in stores, clubs and online.”
After Warner Bros. stops HD DVD production in May, Universal and Paramount will be the only studios publishing titles in HD DVD.
The HD DVD camp had no response to Wal-Mart’s decision at press time.
“Retailers have a tremendous impact on consumer preferences, and as the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart’s reach and leadership are unparalleled. Their decision to support only Blu-ray, particularly in light of the string of similar announcements from the content and retail communities over the last six weeks, seems to us to be a very clear statement that Blu-ray Disc has emerged as the format of choice for high-definition home entertainment,” said Andy Parsons, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Assn. U.S. Promotions Committee.
Marcy Magiera contributed to this report
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| Submitted by: | tony allen (videogold.tanning@yahoo.com) 2/15/2008 8:35:27 PM PT |
| Location: | murray ky |
| Occupation: | video store owner |
I DONT UNDERSTAND THE PREVIOUS COMMENT,BLU RAY IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE,SO UNLESS HE HAS ALOT OF HD,HIS LIBRARY WILL WORK FINE ON BLU RAY.
| Submitted by: | bill norris (bnchile@yahoo.com) 2/15/2008 6:44:46 PM PT |
| Location: | eugene, or |
| Occupation: | retail sales |
The only reason all of these companies are backing Blu-ray is the fact that they can sell all of us collectors another version of the movies we already have. Pretty soon we'll all have to have the bluray super special edition of Army Of Darkness.
At least with HD-DVD I can play my existing 15 versions of Army of Darkness. And if I find a european version of it I can play it as well.
There's no way Ill buy Blu-ray till it's compatable with my already huge collection. Ill just keep buying dvd players at pawnshops till they all dry up. If they wanted to make consumers happy they would come up with a system that plays all formats, but then again why would they want to make us happy.
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