Woolworths in the UK to go Blu-ray exclusive

[joeorc]

Woolworths go Blu-ray exclusive. Drop HD-DVD.

I was in Woolworths on Saturday looking for a copy of Harry Potter (for my girlfriend) when I bumped into one of the store managers. I know him through a mutual friend and we got chatting about games and stuff.

Anyway when I mentioned the new Blu-ray display he told me that the company had been trialling both the high-def dvd formats in their flagships stores. They found that sales for both HD-DVD and Blu-ray had been virtually non-existent, however since the PlayStation 3 release, Blu-ray movie sales have seen a modest but steady increase, and they are now rolling out Blu-ray movies across all their medium to large stores. The company believe this market will increase as the proliferation of HDTV across the UK becomes more widespread over Christmas. However they will be dropping HD-DVD lines completely.

http://www.playthree.net/2007/07/woo...e-drop-hd.html

if true this is awsome...

[MozartMan]

Was it posted on AVM$?

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by MozartMan

Was it posted on AVM$?

i do not think so..thats why i have a ....? ,can anyone confirm this ?

[Blubaru]

Originally Posted by joeorc

i do not think so..thats why i have a ....? ,can anyone confirm this ?

Post it up anyway.

[159753]

Originally Posted by joeorc

Woolworths go Blu-ray exclusive. Drop HD-DVD.

I was in Woolworths on Saturday looking for a copy of Harry Potter (for my girlfriend) when I bumped into one of the store managers. I know him through a mutual friend and we got chatting about games and stuff.

Anyway when I mentioned the new Blu-ray display he told me that the company had been trialling both the high-def dvd formats in their flagships stores. They found that sales for both HD-DVD and Blu-ray had been virtually non-existent, however since the PlayStation 3 release, Blu-ray movie sales have seen a modest but steady increase, and they are now rolling out Blu-ray movies across all their medium to large stores. The company believe this market will increase as the proliferation of HDTV across the UK becomes more widespread over Christmas. However they will be dropping HD-DVD lines completely.

http://www.playthree.net/2007/07/woo...e-drop-hd.html

if true this is awsome...

Remember, that when you say Woolworths, that it is Woolworths UK as Woolworths also exist under that name by several companies including Woolworths Australia, Woolworths NZ (both supermarket chains), Woolworths South Africa, Woolworths Germany & Woolworths USA.

HD-DVD isn't going anywhere in the UK, as most media is in blu-ray and most people are not buying any HDTV products until the format war is over.

[Shin-Ra]

Great news if true but I'm not celebrating this one just yet.

[richteer]

I've just read this story about UK retail chain, Woolworths, going Blu-exclusive: http://www.playthree.net/2007/07/woo...e-drop-hd.html. They used to be neutral with lacklustre sales on each format, but since the launch of the PS3 over there, Blu-ray movies sales have significantly increased so they've decided to drop ALL HD DVD products and software. Interesting, 'cause we all know that PS3 owners don't buy movies on Blu-ray: Uni's Geffen says so! :-)

Cue the music: Another one bites the dust!

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

Great news if true but I'm not celebrating this one just yet.

i am not also..though the NEWS from TARGET just may push other retailers to do the same. if Walmart does the same as Target. that will pretty much be the death knell for HD DVD. in my OPINION thats if it happens.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by MozartMan

Was it posted on AVM$?

someone already did. i wonder how long it will stay open...

[NutsAboutPS3]

This is great news for Blu-ray in the UK, high street retailers might not be selling as much as they used to compared to online, but this will still have a big impact in terms of brand awareness.

Woolworths is very family and youngster oriented, and this will tie in very nicely when movies like Spiderman 3, Pirates 3 and Cars come along on Blu-ray later this year.

Hopefully we'll see a PS3 price cut before Christmas too, even if it's just to get the price down to the same as in the US, and families will be able to afford to buy a PS3 and some of the big hitting Blu-ray movies for Christmas.

[blublublu]

So you give this more creedance than "I was talking to the manager at my local best buy" threads? This is getting a lot of mileage (too much) for an anecdotal report that has no official sources.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by blublublu

So you give this more creedance than "I was talking to the manager at my local best buy" threads? This is getting a lot of mileage (too much) for an anecdotal report that has no official sources.

At least it has pics of the new display in question, which does look pretty slick in my opinion.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Originally Posted by blublublu

So you give this more creedance than "I was talking to the manager at my local best buy" threads? This is getting a lot of mileage (too much) for an anecdotal report that has no official sources.

It sounds credible to me, but I will certainly be going into the local Woolworths where I work and at home to have a look.

[NutsAboutPS3]

Have any forum members seen Blu-ray on sale first hand in a Woolworths store?

I looked in Woking just now and there were no Blu-ray discs displayed.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by NutsAboutPS3

Have any forum members seen Blu-ray on sale first hand in a Woolworths store?

I looked in Woking just now and there were no Blu-ray discs displayed.

With the upto date new's about more studios going to blu-ray and the stance from Target. i would if this is indeed true , wonder how long its going to take for the stores to start stocking BLU-RAY disc's.

i live in OHIO in the states. a little place in Columbus , called GROVEPORT the funny thing is in my Walmart They have been stocking BLU-RAY before Stores in COLUMBUS , and were less than 10 miles from another Walmart Store in South end of COLUMBUS. We had BLU-RAY on the shelves 3 months prior to them getting their's and now both have them and are selling good. since the price drop of the PLAYSTATION 3..and the BDP-300.

so I WOULD NOT COUNT THIS RUMOR out NOT IN THIS DAY AND AGE i am not saying its a fact . no far from it i am just saying when a store like TARGET just did what it did. it is going to have an effect or other retail chains. i expect news from Walmart soon .

[mmmhome]

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/10507.cfm

[mmmhome]

Woolworths will be dropping its HD DVD line completely before Christmas.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by joeorc

Woolworths go Blu-ray exclusive. Drop HD-DVD.

I was in Woolworths on Saturday looking for a copy of Harry Potter (for my girlfriend) when I bumped into one of the store managers. I know him through a mutual friend and we got chatting about games and stuff.

Anyway when I mentioned the new Blu-ray display he told me that the company had been trialling both the high-def dvd formats in their flagships stores. They found that sales for both HD-DVD and Blu-ray had been virtually non-existent, however since the PlayStation 3 release, Blu-ray movie sales have seen a modest but steady increase, and they are now rolling out Blu-ray movies across all their medium to large stores. The company believe this market will increase as the proliferation of HDTV across the UK becomes more widespread over Christmas. However they will be dropping HD-DVD lines completely.

http://www.playthree.net/2007/07/woo...e-drop-hd.html

if true this is awsome...

Looks like your store manager acquaintance was quite in the know after all.

[Freis968]

Woolworth's is still in business? There are none left in Florida that I am aware of.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Freis968

Woolworth's is still in business? There are none left in Florida that I am aware of.

This is in the UK, entirely different than the Woolworth's stores that used to be in the US. I think those went out of business over 20 years ago. Do the UK ones have a lunch counter?