Wal-Mart catches up to Best Buy in blu sales

[Batman1980]

Wal-Mart Blu-ray Catches up with Best Buy
Posted December 19, 2009 05:24 AM by Juan Calonge

According to the NPD Group, Wal-Mart has now caught up with Best Buy in Blu-ray Disc software market share, thanks to its aggressive merchandising of the format during the fourth quarter of the year. Best Buy is losing the dominant position it has been holding for all the existence of high-definition optical media.

Wal-Mart has been continuously expanding its Blu-ray market share. In October 2007, it was third, behind Best Buy and Amazon. By May 2009, Wal-Mart had overtaken Amazon, but was still far behind Best Buy, with a BD market share of 20% to 30% for Wal-Mart and 40% to 50% for BB.

Now, NPD estimates that, in September through November 2009, the market share for Wal-mart and Best Buy was about even, at 30% each.

During that time frame, the market position of Amazon and Target didn't change: Amazon is third with 15% BD market share, and Target is fourth, with 10%.

NPD attributes Wal-mart's surge to the chain's unique ability to target women and other new-to-Blu-ray mainstream consumers, and also to Wal-Mart aggressive software pricing, which started a software price war this holiday season. Wal-Mart also beat other retailers in the hardware arena when it offered a $78 Blu-ray player on Black Friday.

“We're seeing it as more of a horse race with Blu-ray,” said Russ Crupnick, senior entertainment industry analyst for NPD. “I think Walmart has made a strong effort over the past year, being aggressive with price. They are very specifically targeting an untapped market. They are saying this isn't just a high-tech product. It's something that women and families can enjoy.”

Source: Video Business | Permalink
Am I the only one stunned by this?