Friday, February 15th 2008

Wal-Mart to Exclusively Support Blu-ray

Feb 15th, 2008 12:37 Discuss (69 Comments)

Online giant Wal-Mart is taking the steps of many other big players, by confirming that in the beginning of June the world's largest retailer will only stock Blu-ray players and movies. Over the next few months, Wal-Mart will phase out all HD-DVD products and reorganize their stores to focus exclusively on Blu-ray. Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. commented, "We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases. 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. We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home." The win of Blu-ray over HD-DVD becomes a step closer to undeniable, with Netflix and retailer Best Buy already commited to Blu-Ray. Now Wal-Mart and soon Toshiba if all reports become true.

Source: Blu-ray.com

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69 Comments on Wal-Mart to Exclusively Support Blu-ray

Namslas90

I have a feeling these decisions are going to bite these retailers in the arse. In my area the only people that can realy afford video media are in the same income bracket that can afford Blu-Ray. For the most part 70% of the population in my area is not buying video media at this time due to the crapped out economy. Once the economy recovers these people will not want to upgrade to Blu-Ray(due to cost), but will not be able to get the media they want in retail stores, so they will purchase it online. Media producers are also going to loose as they are no longer planning on producing the media in the cheaper format. It will take years (and that means years of loss of sales) before the price is reduced and the sales of Blu-Ray stabalize to match that of previouse sales years of media. Some say that this is normal when technology changes, but this time around it will take longer than previously.

Jimmy 2004

Looks like HD DVD truly is dead now. Big movie companies are starting to exclusively back it, and now it has possibly the largest retailer in the world on its side.

Ravenas

In my area it's very different, the majority of people with HDTVs that I've met all seem to be having Blu-Ray, and most of them never realized there was another format untill you tell them. Many people, of all different income brackets, have HD technology in their houses. Prices haven't increased on media technology, it's been the same as always.

Anyhow, that should be all from HD-DVD. Toshibia will be dropping HD-DVD support soon, sources say:

www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib77125d96b22e86027d0bfb0c25aa58d?pn=2

Namslas90It will take years (and that means years of loss of sales) before the price is reduced and the sales of Blu-Ray stabalize to match that of previouse sales years of media. Some say that this is normal when technology changes, but this time around it will take longer than previously.

In my opinion this is a misconception. Studios like Lionsgate are getting sales revenues that are seven times higher than the same time last year.

www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=959

ManofGod

I wonder if Sony will sell the license to use Blu-ray on the Microsoft XBox 360?

Joe

Hawk1

ManofGodI wonder if Sony will sell the license to use Blu-ray on the Microsoft XBox 360?

Joe

Good question. I think if MS abandons the format, they will have to take a bath on it and have to do without HD on the xbox. LOL I wonder if they could sue Sony if they refuse to license it to them for being monopolistic with the technology (that would be the pot and kettle:laugh:)

DaMulta

My stars went supernova

I think that the company's that sell this stuff want one brand so people start buying it. That's the only reason for them to all go to blue ray in my eyes.

There is no way in hell that I would buy a BR player as of now. The first ones don't even work anymore with today's disc. Why should I take a risk that it could happen again?

Hd-DVD was the way to go in my eyes. Upconvetivng CHEAPER, who cares if you put the extra stuff on an extra disc?

+++ we all know how walmart works, if you don't give them a good deal the next year they drop selling your stuff. They did it to rubber made so why wouldn't they do it to this?

Ravenas

Hawk1Good question. I think if MS abandons the format, they will have to take a bath on it and have to do without HD on the xbox. LOL I wonder if they could sue Sony if they refuse to license it to them for being monopolistic with the technology (that would be the pot and kettle:laugh:)

I don't think Sony would have any reason not to liscence a standalone Blu-Ray player to MS.

Hawk1

RavenasI don't think Sony would have any reason not to liscence a standalone Blu-Ray player to MS.

Well, while it would provide them with quite a bit of revenue, which will keep their sharholders happy, they could really hurt MS and their xbox sales if they with held it (thereby boosting PS3 sales). So I guess Sony's number crunchers would have to see what their cost/beneit would be in either case.

Snipe343

i hoe they do, this is also very good for Blue Ray, looks like we were all right about the winner of the war, Sony most likly will sell it, it would be microsoft who says no to it if anyone

#10

mdm-adph

Namslas90I have a feeling these decisions are going to bite these retailers in the arse. In my area the only people that can realy afford video media are in the same income bracket that can afford Blu-Ray. For the most part 70% of the population in my area is not buying video media at this time due to the crapped out economy. Once the economy recovers these people will not want to upgrade to Blu-Ray(due to cost), but will not be able to get the media they want in retail stores, so they will purchase it online. Media producers are also going to loose as they are no longer planning on producing the media in the cheaper format. It will take years (and that means years of loss of sales) before the price is reduced and the sales of Blu-Ray stabalize to match that of previouse sales years of media. Some say that this is normal when technology changes, but this time around it will take longer than previously.

Or people could, I don't know, keep using DVD's.

(This also makes me wonder why Wal-Mart spent all that time and money selling those kabillion or so cheap HD-DVD players a couple of months back...)

#11

Ravenas

Hehe, that's what I was about to say. Toshibia took a "last stand" type approach and tried to push 150$ HD-DVD players in various retailers...Guess it didn't work out.

#12

HousERaT

The fat lady is singing her a$$ off right now...... :D

#13

jocksteeluk

$40 for blu-ray films coming to a store near you soon.

#14

Hawk1

jocksteeluk$40 for blu-ray films coming to a store near you soon.

That will be my short term fear.

#15

DaMulta

My stars went supernova

I will continue to buy DVDs that are easy to backup so the original stays in the case unscracted. DVD upconverting FTW

#16

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

the price will come down so calm down. im willing to bet that most of you werent around for the transition to VHS. they cost a small fortune and the players were crazy expensive. the same happened with the transition to dvd but the price wasnt as quite as high thanks to better technology so people adopted it faster than VHS. now we have the HD format. the same thing is happening. the price will come down, especially now that companies are satisfied with the blu-ray choice. that means more players and more producers of blu-ray discs. but if you want to keep buying dvds go ahead, but to me that is just a waste of money since a blu-ray looks 100 times better and only costs twice as much.

#17

JacKz5o

Whatever Wal-Mart chooses will always win. Looks like the beginning of the end for HD-DVD.

#18

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

JacKz5oWhatever Wal-Mart chooses will always win. Looks like the beginning of the end for HD-DVD.

the beginning of the end was when warner bros decided to go blu-ray exclusive

#19

wazzledoozle

Blu Ray/HD-DVD really doesn't matter. By the time it reaches the price level that DVD was at, streaming video will have replaced all physical media.

Just look at what cable companies are doing with "On Demand" services. You can order and instantly watch 720p movies from your tv remote, never leaving your couch. Americans love anything that can save even a wee bit of time, and the savings of on-demand services are immense.

It's cheaper for the movie studios as well. No more physical media to mass produce, distribute, and produce players for. All they need is bandwidth and a set-top box.

The next generation of consoles probably won't even have disc drives.

#20

bruins004

Here comes more PS3 sales

#21

Ravenas

wazzledoozleBlu Ray/HD-DVD really doesn't matter. By the time it reaches the price level that DVD was at, streaming video will have replaced all physical media.

Just look at what cable companies are doing with "On Demand" services. You can order and instantly watch 720p movies from your tv remove, never leaving your couch. Americans love anything that can save even a wee bit of time, and the savings of on-demand services are immense.

It's cheaper for the movie studios as well. No more physical media to mass produce, distribute, and produce players for. All they need is bandwidth and a set-top box.

On demand through cable isn't the way to go. It's far too expensive and not worth the money. Apple TV gives you the ability to buy movies and stream them. Furthermore you can watch HD movies in 1080p. All that and they have a greater library than the cable companies.

It's true that Digital Media is about to be Blu-Ray's main competitor, but I doubt that digital video media will have a very large market share anytime soon.

#22

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

DaMultaThere is no way in hell that I would buy a BR player as of now. The first ones don't even work anymore with today's disc. Why should I take a risk that it could happen again?

I'm pretty sure they first gen players still work with todays discs, and still play the movies just fine, they just don't play all the extra features that he updated Blu-Ray specs allow.

jocksteeluk$40 for blu-ray films coming to a store near you soon.

I doubt the price of Blu-Ray will go up once HD-DVD is off the market. It probably won't decrease as fast, but it won't go up. Right now, Blu-Ray still has to compete with regular DVDs, so the price needs to stay within reason for it to do that. People aren't going to pay twice the price just for HD, consumers simply aren't that confident in it and don't really care that much about the difference.

DaMultaI will continue to buy DVDs that are easy to backup so the original stays in the case unscracted. DVD upconverting FTW

I agree to a point. DVD up converting doesn't come close to true HD, but personally I don't need true HD right now. I am perfectly happy watching the movie off a regular DVD.

#23

wazzledoozle

RavenasOn demand through cable isn't the way to go. It's far too expensive and not worth the money. Apple TV gives you the ability to buy movies and stream them. Furthermore you can watch HD movies in 1080p. All that and they have a greater library than the cable companies.

It's true that Digital Media is about to be Blu-Ray's main competitor, but I doubt that digital video media will have a very large market share anytime soon.

Itune's 'HD' moves have been shown to be really shoddy quality. Because of the compression, they are about on-par with standard DVD quality. Typical Apple product there.

HD Cable is different. Everyone has cable already. The set-top box is free with the service (vs $300 for apple tv). Much better value overall, especially considering you get TV in hd as well.

Apple and Cable aren't going to be the people who really capitalize on streaming movies though. Microsoft will. They already have a set-top box, the 360, in millions of homes. All they need to do is provide the service (Which they already do to a certain degree).

#24

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

I think digital downloads on demand are a long way off. It is convienient, but not currently practical for most consumers.

#25

wazzledoozle

newtekie1I think digital downloads on demand are a long way off. It is convienient, but not currently practical for most consumers.

And $400 for a Blu-Ray player and movies at $30-40 a pop are more practical?

Streaming is definitely more practical right now, and will only get more practical as time goes by. Even if in 4 years you can get a blu-ray player for $50 and movies for $15, everyone will have a super fast broadband connection and some form of set-top box.

And in four years, everyone who doesn't have an HDTV right now will be upgrading. Those people are going to go for the most convenient way to get HD movies, which means skipping the disc player.

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Wal-Mart to Exclusively Support Blu-ray

69 Comments on Wal-Mart to Exclusively Support Blu-ray

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