The final nail in HD-DVD? Walmart chooses Blue Ray
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/technology/wal-mart_blu-ray/index.htm?cnn=yes
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.
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.
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Wow! I'm amazed!
I always assumed the average Walmart shopper was still embracing VHS.0 -
what next? something else to get your money 0 -
it's not about toshiba vs sony, the players are made by several manufacturers, its a war between studios, sony pictures use blue ray others use hd dvd, and hd player will play regular dvd's, blue ray will not, hd players are cheaper
ether way, i'm not running out, and buying ether till the war is over0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
it's not about toshiba vs sony, the players are made by several manufacturers, its a war between studios, sony pictures use blue ray others use hd dvd, and hd player will play regular dvd's, blue ray will not, hd players are cheaper
ether way, i'm not running out, and buying ether till the war is over
Actually, it is about Sony vs Toshiba. Sony owns Blue Ray and Toshiba owns HD DVD technology. The 2 could not agree on a common format so the war ensued. Sony obviously is a better lobbyer than Toshiba since they have convinced more sources to drop HD-DVD.
You can stop waiting, Blue Ray is the winner.0 -
we'll see, wal-mart's electronics does not make up a majority of their success, just like you'll never see them dictate the hardware industry 0
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