Back when DVD came out one of the main factors that got me into the format was that I could buy new releases on DVD that were only released for rental on VHS. DVD would be available in the store same day they were released on VHS in rental stores but the VHS wouldn't show up to buy for around 6 months (if I remember correctly)

Don't you think some of these releases would do much better if you could get them a week early on Blu-ray.

I'm surprised no one ever thought of this before.

I agree 100% but its not going to happen anytime soon.

While I certainly wouldn't complain, I'd think it'd make marketing tougher.

It would save Disney from having to put a flyer for $10 off the Blu-ray version... but then a potential instant double-dip is what they want...

If the studios are truly looking to replace DVD with Blu-ray, it'd be just the thing to do. The marketers are already heading that direction: in every recent TV Spot I've seen for a new DVD/HDM release, the picture at the end always places the Blu-ray disc in front of the DVD, and in the case of Warner Bros., the BD pic is placed in front of both the DVD and HD DVD.

And speaking of Warner Bros., there's a prime example of delayed releasing of the format they're trying to kill off: day/date with DVD and Blu-ray, but wait 3 weeks for the HD DVD.

Still, with DVD holding the vast majority of home video sales, I'd suspect this sort of approach (BD released first, DVD later) will be a long time coming. We'll see, though.

Blu-ray cases are smaller then DVD cases...makes sense to place the smaller one in front of the big one otherwise you wouldn't see the Blu version. Just a theory.

I think prices are still a little too high to give the "offending" format the priority.

Yeah, I can see the practical reason behind the arrangement, but I suspect it wouldn't be pictured at all if they weren't trying to push it pretty hard. And I highly doubt that the placement of the BD in front of the HD DVD is any accident.

On a completely trivial note, as I recall, prior to their announcement in January, Warner's TV Spots all placed the HD DVD in front of the BD. That they've since switched positioning to place the BD up front would indicate to me that there's at least some correllation between placement and priority.

Correct on all accounts. Warner favored HD DVD before 1/4/08. Placing HD DVD in front now would be stupid.

To quote the great Homer J., "Yeah, stupid like a fox!"

Call me crazy but I think it'd be kinda funny if they still put the HD DVD out front. Can you imagine the ruckus they'd raise?

ive still seen all the 3 week delay titles on normal release week at Fry's too.

I just don't think getting a title up to a week early is going to compel someone to buy a BD player. In a case where someone buys some titles on DVD and others on BD (like the typical anti-comedy bias) it might cause that person to buy the BD instead, but even that is questionable. Unless it was around 3 months early, I don't see this having much effect, and it wouldn't be worth complicating the marketing and potentially confusing the retailers.

I'm sure the retailers would also get annoyed at having to answer the "where's the regular DVD of this?" question over and over.

I doubt an extra week would do all that much to push sales. You'd need more time in between to really make a difference, IMO. But no one wants to delay releases too long for anything that will make money. Plus, it'll be a big headache for retailers to put out one version of a film one week, and a different version the next week. I can just imagine all these retailers put stuff out on the wrong date.