Blu-ray in retail stores - reports and anecdotes

[alpinewiz]

I have a contact inside Wal Mart and have found out their stance on the format war.

"Blu-Ray is our primary format but we are still keeping HD DVD around since the two formats are still new."

What do you guys read into this statement?

[mnelsoneorm]

Hey, I don't know if this has been posted already but costco.com has a much better selection than I thought they would. Single movies all seem to be $27.89

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?ec=BC-EC10601-Cat50129&pos=2&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=62892&eCat=BC|5 0129|56452|62892&lang=en-US

[MATTYBLU2]

my best buy here in NH expanded the blu ray movie section from 3 4ft sections to 6 4ft sections, this is so great to see to see them double the section.

meanwhile HD is still at 3 4ft sections with no expanding

ha ha ha!!!

[Marcusarilius]

I know we speculate the Hell out of every little thing here, but from all indication: this is not such a little thing! Will Universal follow suit and quietly slip out the HD DVD back door while the getting's good? It would be a perfect time to save face with Paramount's ridiculous short sightedness. The only thing I can truly see happening if Warner does drop HD DVD, is that another studio will follow suit. Especially if Spielberg directed Universal films are off limits to HD DVD or HD DVD exclusivity. This is like musical chairs. When the song abruptly stops, you don't want to be the last one standing. i.e. the loser….

[JadedRaverLA]

If Warner drops HD DVD, it's essentially game over. With only two major studios left releasing discs, there's not enough of a library to sustain the format. And those two remaining studios will jump ship as soon as possible... Universal would go neutral or BD within a month Paramount would go as soon as their commitment is up.

[powersfoss]

When Warner finally drops HD DVD, it's game over. I look to hear more from Dan Silverberg and WB. It's only a matter of time now.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

If Warner drops HD DVD, it's essentially game over. With only two major studios left releasing discs, there's not enough of a library to sustain the format. And those two remaining studios will jump ship as soon as possible... Universal would go neutral or BD within a month Paramount would go as soon as their commitment is up.

I'm not even sure with the current two studio supports that HD DVD can go on much more than a year from now. Once the library has been depleted, that leaves only new releases to count on and that still isn't going to be enough. I think its like the deer running on pure adrenalin after it gets shot. It's dead, but it just dosn't know it yet. If Warner leaves, Universal isn't going to want to look rediculous hanging on to that sinking format. Paramount execs must be just going crazy about now. They just dug there own grave and there is no way out for a while. Not to mention how the share holders are going to demand an explanation in the coming months. Heads will roll on this one.

[aristotles]

Warner going Blu-ray exclusive would be hiroshima for HD DVD. The moment that happened, one of two things would happen:
1. Universal would go neutral and Paramount would give back the 50 million they took to go HD DVD exclusive but ultimately, HD DVD would be dead within 6 months.

2. Both Universal and Paramount would go Blu-ray exclusive and Toshiba would beg for membership in the BDA after the current CEO of Toshiba's CE division committed Subuku.

[Mystique]

Originally Posted by aristotles

Warner going Blu-ray exclusive would be hiroshima for HD DVD. The moment that happened, one of two things would happen:
1. Universal would go neutral and Paramount would give back the 50 million they took to go HD DVD exclusive but ultimately, HD DVD would be dead within 6 months.

2. Both Universal and Paramount would go Blu-ray exclusive and Toshiba would beg for membership in the BDA after the current CEO of Toshiba's CE division committed Subuku.

I agree!

[Beta-guy]

I would give Universal 6 months to switch, they don't want to appear to be following Warner but they don't want to stay longer then they have to so I suspect if warner leaves HD-DVD the war will be all but over within a year and think back to that Universal slideshow, we could be seeing Back to the Future trilogy, Jaws, and Jurassic park come to BD!

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by aristotles

2. Both Universal and Paramount would go Blu-ray exclusive and Toshiba would beg for membership in the BDA after the current CEO of Toshiba's CE division committed Subuku.

You mean Seppuku, right?



And the answer to the OP, we'd see a slow and gradual disappearance of HD DVD and there would be major parties going on all over the globe by supporters of Blu-ray.

[powersfoss]

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

I would give Universal 6 months to switch, they don't want to appear to be following Warner but they don't want to stay longer then they have to so I suspect if warner leaves HD-DVD the war will be all but over within a year and think back to that Universal slideshow, we could be seeing Back to the Future trilogy, Jaws, and Jurassic park come to BD!

I would buy Jaws and Jurassic Park just as soon as my Prius could get me to my local Best Buy. (Armed of course with printouts from walmart.com and amazon.com for the price matching. )

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

So if Warner Drops HD DVD, then what happens?

My HDDVD stuff goes on Ebay

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

I would give Universal 6 months to switch, they don't want to appear to be following Warner but they don't want to stay longer then they have to so I suspect if warner leaves HD-DVD the war will be all but over within a year and think back to that Universal slideshow, we could be seeing Back to the Future trilogy, Jaws, and Jurassic park come to BD!

3 months, not 6 months. Universal will know that so long as they do it next in line after Warner that they will garner that opinion of the industry... but, ultimately, what's so bad about that? Everyone knows that WB is the powerhouse when it comes to home media anyways. It's not like Universal is trying to become the "top dog" in the kennel. If anything, the should announce format neutrality RIGHT AWAY after a WB BD exclusivity decision is publicized and only THEN begin to prepare for a complete phase out of HD DVD over the next 3 to 6 months. At least that way it wouldn't seem like a "follow the leader" scenario as they would simply be making a decision to capitalize on the growing market for BD software revenue.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

I would give Universal 6 months to switch, they don't want to appear to be following Warner but they don't want to stay longer then they have to so I suspect if warner leaves HD-DVD the war will be all but over within a year and think back to that Universal slideshow, we could be seeing Back to the Future trilogy, Jaws, and Jurassic park come to BD!

It's becoming very apparent to me that the the death of HD DVD is only a matter of time now. The desperate business moves by Toshiba with player prices and payoffs to gain exclusive support is just one final thrust to the surface to gasp that last bit of air before going under. This game is over. BD has already won. It's obvious to me and others here. When I see the intelligent threads, comments and opinions of all who venture on this site, it makes me very proud to be in such good company. It's been an honor to share this much deserved victory with you one and all.

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by BTBuck1

My HDDVD stuff goes on Ebay

Good kindling for some party bonfires.

[Maxell]

it's game over. Joe six pack will see hd-dvd players on clearance for $99 with only Bee Movie and Transformers to pick from. And then eventually next to the Atari and SNES in some hobby shops.

[powersfoss]

Originally Posted by Mericalis

Good kindling for some party bonfires.

Eeiooouu...gross. The smell of burning fecal matter.

[devonthedude]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

It's becoming very apparent to me that the the death of HD DVD is only a matter of time now. The desperate business moves by Toshiba with player prices and payoffs to gain exclusive support is just one final thrust to the surface to gasp that last bit of air before going under. This game is over. BD has already won. It's obvious to me and others here. When I see the intelligent threads, comments and opinions of all who venture on this site, it makes me very proud to be in such good company. It's been an honor to share this much deserved victory with you one and all.

It's been an honor serving you gentlemen...

[devonthedude]

Originally Posted by Maxell

it's game over. Joe six pack will see hd-dvd players on clearance for $99 with only Bee Movie and Transformers to pick from. And then eventually next to the Atari and SNES in some hobby shops.

It will be like the virtual boy, it will go from $250 down to $25 clearance. It will become an electronic antique, only worth money since no one owned em' (they will be rare, especially the xbox 360 ones)