Wal-Mart to drop HD DVD in June
02-15-08 | 10:43 AM
#1
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Wal-Mart drops HD-DVD
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/tech...ion=2008021511
Wal-Mart on Blu-ray bandwagon
Retailer will only sell Sony's hi-def movie discs, phasing out Toshiba's HD-DVD discs in its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores this year.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- National discount retailer Wal-Mart announced Friday that it had decided to only sell Sony's Blu-ray hi-definition movie discs, and will phase out Toshiba's competing HD-DVD formatted discs over the next several months.
Wal-Mart said that by June, its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores would sell only Blu-ray discs and Blu-ray hardware players. Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD format are not compatible.
"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 Vice President of Home Entertainment in a statement.
Apple TV vs. Blu-ray: How do they stack up?
Wal-Mart said it would continue selling HD-DVD products, but over the next 30 days, customers will see a significant shift in emphasis to Blu-ray in both brick-and-mortar stores and online. The retailer said it will continue to sell DVDs and standard-definition hardware.
Wal-Mart is the latest movie vendor to choose Blu-ray over HD-DVD. Earlier this week, online movie rental company Netflix (NFLX) announced its support for Blu-ray, and said it would phase out HD-DVD as well. Video publishers Walt Disney (DIS, Fortune 500), Sony's Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s (NWS, Fortune 500) Twentieth Century Fox, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have all endorsed Blu-ray.
In a rivalry that mirrors the Betamax-VHS dispute of the 1970s, Sony (SNE) and Toshiba have been battling each other to define the industry's hi-definition video standard. The winner will see a boost in the sale of hardware needed to play the hi-definition discs.
Retailer will only sell Sony's hi-def movie discs, phasing out Toshiba's HD-DVD discs in its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores this year.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- National discount retailer Wal-Mart announced Friday that it had decided to only sell Sony's Blu-ray hi-definition movie discs, and will phase out Toshiba's competing HD-DVD formatted discs over the next several months.
Wal-Mart said that by June, its 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores would sell only Blu-ray discs and Blu-ray hardware players. Blu-ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD format are not compatible.
"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 Vice President of Home Entertainment in a statement.
Apple TV vs. Blu-ray: How do they stack up?
Wal-Mart said it would continue selling HD-DVD products, but over the next 30 days, customers will see a significant shift in emphasis to Blu-ray in both brick-and-mortar stores and online. The retailer said it will continue to sell DVDs and standard-definition hardware.
Wal-Mart is the latest movie vendor to choose Blu-ray over HD-DVD. Earlier this week, online movie rental company Netflix (NFLX) announced its support for Blu-ray, and said it would phase out HD-DVD as well. Video publishers Walt Disney (DIS, Fortune 500), Sony's Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s (NWS, Fortune 500) Twentieth Century Fox, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have all endorsed Blu-ray.
In a rivalry that mirrors the Betamax-VHS dispute of the 1970s, Sony (SNE) and Toshiba have been battling each other to define the industry's hi-definition video standard. The winner will see a boost in the sale of hardware needed to play the hi-definition discs.
02-15-08 | 10:50 AM
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Walmart goes Blu only in June
02-15-08 | 10:51 AM
#4
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I don't think this is news. I couldn't find either a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD disc at several of the closest Wal-Mart stores by me.
02-15-08 | 10:52 AM
#5
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Can't we just start a "Death Nail for HD-DVD News Thread" for all of these?
02-15-08 | 10:54 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by Deftones
I don't think this is news. I couldn't find either a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD disc at several of the closest Wal-Mart stores by me.
02-15-08 | 10:54 AM
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From: Greenville, South Cackalack
Originally Posted by Deftones
I don't think this is news. I couldn't find either a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD disc at several of the closest Wal-Mart stores by me.
The two stores in my neck of the woods -- and remember, I live in the not-so-tech-savvy state of South C'lina -- carry both formats. One has a handful of title on a small endcap, and the other has a much more extensive selection but keeps them locked away with the video games. Wal-Mart actually used to be my go-to place for HD DVDs and BDs (they always had day-and-date titles on the first Tuesday and at the same exact price as Amazon), but the lack of accessibility now has kind of killed my interest.
02-15-08 | 10:55 AM
#8
DVD Talk God
No, they weren't there. I tried to find them during the HDA2 deal around Christmas. I asked, they didn't have them. Not a single disc or player.
02-15-08 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
This is yet another gigantic nail in the coffin. It certainly makes those Toshiba rumors more legit now. Everyone should finally accept reality and shift their HD focus on Blu-ray.
02-15-08 | 11:03 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by matome
Walmart was only relevant when we heard stuff about the 90,000 HD-DVD players it sold or that it's not counted in Nielsen sales.
the simple truth is, this is another domino very near the end of the whole line for HD DVD.
02-15-08 | 11:05 AM
#12
Originally Posted by Qui Gon Jim
To me, this is the biggest nail in the coffin, aside from Toshiba backing out as rumors suggest.
Walmart is all about bargains. Now that they are putting full support behind BD, I think they may be able to carry some off brand BD players at least by this Christmas. I think Funai is supposed to release a $300 player? The new Philips player is supposed to debut at $350. I think those are the ones they may be able to sell lower this Fall.
02-15-08 | 11:07 AM
#13
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My Walmart always had equal space with Blu and HD movies. So they were out there, at least in some places
02-15-08 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
Some may disregard this news, but when the world's largest retailer says they are choosing BD as their HD format to support, I think it is big news.
Walmart is all about bargains. Now that they are putting full support behind BD, I think they may be able to carry some off brand BD players at least by this Christmas. I think Funai is supposed to release a $300 player? The new Philips player is supposed to debut at $350. I think those are the ones they may be able to sell lower this Fall.
Walmart is all about bargains. Now that they are putting full support behind BD, I think they may be able to carry some off brand BD players at least by this Christmas. I think Funai is supposed to release a $300 player? The new Philips player is supposed to debut at $350. I think those are the ones they may be able to sell lower this Fall.
02-15-08 | 11:17 AM
#16
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Originally Posted by Deftones
I don't think this is news. I couldn't find either a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD disc at several of the closest Wal-Mart stores by me.
Guess one of those is coming down.
02-15-08 | 11:24 AM
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From: A far green country
Originally Posted by stingermck
My Walmart always had equal space with Blu and HD movies. So they were out there, at least in some places
It may be true that store managers have the option to not carry or prominently display the product, but that has nothing to do with a corporate decision that does affect all stores.
This is huge news.
02-15-08 | 11:27 AM
#19
DVD Talk God
Originally Posted by RoboDad
Same here. I don't understand why people people making pointless comments about Walmart as a company not carrying either format.
02-15-08 | 11:32 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by RoboDad
This is huge news.
I expect all major B&Ms to make the transition, or at least plan for the transition, by the end of June.
02-15-08 | 11:50 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by Qui Gon Jim
To me, this is the biggest nail in the coffin, aside from Toshiba backing out as rumors suggest.
BTW: I agree that a "Death nail HD-DVD thread" would be good
02-15-08 | 11:55 AM
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From: Mastic, NY
Originally Posted by kvrdave
Even places that have both or one, barely have any, and the prices suck.
Where the hell are the blowout sales to get rid of stock, though?
Where the hell are the blowout sales to get rid of stock, though?
In all likelihood, studios will destroy discs rather than blow them out. They don't want to de-value their IP by blowing out big name titles, especially in high definition.
02-15-08 | 12:00 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by wewantflair
In all likelihood, studios will destroy discs rather than blow them out. They don't want to de-value their IP by blowing out big name titles, especially in high definition.
02-15-08 | 12:03 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Deftones
I don't think this is news. I couldn't find either a Blu Ray disc or HD-DVD disc at several of the closest Wal-Mart stores by me.
02-15-08 | 12:06 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by rexinnih
Wallmart is the largest seller of software out there (SD) that is, and I agree it's hard to find a good selection of HD titles. Maybe this will help them to increase their selection.