the Netherlands’ largest home entertainment retailer goes Blu

[Tekman]

Earlier this summer, Blockbuster made the strategic decision to back Blu-ray Disc
as its preferred next generation High Definition format. This decision is indicative of a strong trend that sees increasing numbers of retailers worldwide choosing to promote Blu-ray Disc in their store chains.
The latest news from Europe sees Free Record Shop, the Netherlands’ largest home entertainment retailer, announcing that they view Blu-ray Disc as the High Definition format of the future. In the announcement Free Record Shop said that Blu-ray Disc offers the ultimate in High Definition picture and sound.
Blu-ray Disc has the overwhelming support of most consumer electronics
companies and the majority of Hollywood studios. Free Record Shop Netherlands now also gives its support to Blu-ray Disc as the successor to DVD by giving the format a more prominent place in their stores.
Hans Breukhoven, CEO of Free Record Shop Holding says this announcement fits in their strategy for new trends: “More and more consumers have an HDTV. Bluray Disc offers the opportunity of watching movies in the highest possible High Definition quality. Sales results clearly show that by far the largest percentage of High Definition discs are Blu-ray Discs. Based on the quality, support from the industry and the sales figures we strongly feel Blu-ray Disc is the HD format of the future.”
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) was the first Hollywood studio to
release Blu-ray Discs in Europe and managing director Benelux Pieter Swaelens is
delighted about Free Record Shop’s announcement: “We are thrilled that Free
Record Shop, like us, is convinced of the format’s great future. SPHE has already sold over 250,000 Blu-ray Disc units in Europe and the launch of the
PLAYSTATION 3 with its built-in Blu-ray Disc player has had a positive effect on sales. Since its introduction last March in the Netherlands, sales of Blu-ray Discs have on average been 4 times higher than sales of HD DVD Discs. It is clear that there is a demand for High Definition content and it is clear that Blu-ray Disc is the format of choice.”