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Wal-Mart to drop HD DVD [U]

updated 01:45 pm EST, Fri February 15, 2008

 

Wal-Mart Dropping HD DVD


(Updated with official announcement) Wal-Mart will join a string of major retailers in being the next to drop HD DVD as a format, according to a post by an associate writing on an official company blog. The staffer claims that the store chain will echo the same Warner Bros. plans that triggered the sudden fall of HD DVD and will gradually phase out HD DVD movies and players, leaving only Blu-ray devices and titles on Wal-Mart shelves by June. Prices may also drop on Blu-ray equipment as consolidation around the single standard goes up, the writer speculates.

The change is already claimed to have been inspired by similar moves at Best Buy and Netflix, both of which have said they will either promote Blu-ray ahead of HD DVD or else drop it entirely, as Netflix intends once its existing HD DVD titles exit circulation. Wal-Mart was an unintentional backer of HD DVD by selling $100 players during the holidays.

Wal-Mart has since confirmed the leak and says it will pull HD DVD from both its self-branded stores and its Sam's Club stores by June. The shift towards Blu-ray will become evident within about 30 days, according to the company. Senior Home Entertainment VP Gary Severson describes the justification as a reflection of customer bias towards Blu-ray.

"We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," he says.


By Electronista Staff

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industry, blu-ray, HD DVD, Wal-Mart, Warner, Best Buy, Netflix
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Previous Comments

  1. danviento

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2005

    0

    Small Surprise

    If you want to make money on units at discounted rates, you've got to sell more of them. HD-DVD units aren't going to be selling when no one wants them. I wonder which resalers is going to be caught holding with the most of these left in their inventory.

    Right now it's a race! a race to see who can get rid of all of their units before no one buys them anymore or won't pay prices above comparable DVD players.


  1. danviento

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Dec 2005

    0

    Let's not forget

    that X-Box sales numbers reflect sales to retailers that are often inflated to begin with, whereas you'll usually see PS sales on the by-consumer basis.

    MS has been loosing money and inflating sales numbers on 360 for years. The fact that even their skewed numbers aren't giving them the lead anymore is a stronger symptom of the disease. Can you guess what that disease is?


  1. King Bob On The Cob

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Apr 2002

    0

    XBox

    Not to continue down this off-topic discussion, but Sony doesn't report by-consumer sales. They report shipments to stores, but that's it. It's how they sold so many PlayStation 3s and PSPs.

    XBox and Wiis are still not staying on shelves, the PS3 is.


  1. itguy05

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Apr 2005

    0

    Shortages

    If you make an artificial shortage (Xbox 360) or a "real" shortage (Wii) it will look like you're selling tons.

    If you look here:

    http://www.joystiq.com/page/3/

    Wii #1 PS3 #2 Xbox360 DEAD LAST.


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