Retailers Make More Room For Blu-ray

[BlurayManiac]

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...r_Blu-ray/1388

According to a new Video Business report, some retail chains have begun adjusting their high-def shelf space to make more room for Blu-ray discs (and less for HD DVD).

The industry trade says that Trans World Entertainment, Newbury Comics, Video Buyers Group members and Hastings Entertainment are among the retailers beginning to emphasize Blu-ray in the wake of Warner's announcement that it would abandon its support of the HD DVD format as of this coming June.

Trans World, which operates over 800 stores under several brand names (including FYE, Suncoast, Coconouts and Wherehouse), says that though it will continue to order key new releases on HD DVD, it will begin dedicating more shelf space to Blu-ray, both for new releases and catalog titles.

"As retailers, we need to simplify things for the consumers as much as we can with merchandising one format," said Trans World VP Mark Higgins. "We don’t want to be biased, but it is clearly the direction that high-def production looks to be going."

Other retailers (including Best Buy, Amazon.com, DVDEmpire.com) said they had no current plans to adjust their merchandise mix.

"Obviously, Warner’s announcement has made us a little more cautious about how many HD DVDs we bring in," DVDEmpire's Shannon Nutt told Video Business. "But that’s not going to stop us from stocking strong on what we feel will be solid HD DVD releases, like the upcoming Bee Movie. Although it looks like the writing may be on the wall, DVDEmpire will continue to push both formats equally until our customers show there is no longer any demand for one format or the other."

LONG LIVE BLU-RAY

[xwingsct]

Originally Posted by BlurayManiac

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...r_Blu-ray/1388

According to a new Video Business report, some retail chains have begun adjusting their high-def shelf space to make more room for Blu-ray discs (and less for HD DVD).

The industry trade says that Trans World Entertainment, Newbury Comics, Video Buyers Group members and Hastings Entertainment are among the retailers beginning to emphasize Blu-ray in the wake of Warner's announcement that it would abandon its support of the HD DVD format as of this coming June.

Trans World, which operates over 800 stores under several brand names (including FYE, Suncoast, Coconouts and Wherehouse), says that though it will continue to order key new releases on HD DVD, it will begin dedicating more shelf space to Blu-ray, both for new releases and catalog titles.

"As retailers, we need to simplify things for the consumers as much as we can with merchandising one format," said Trans World VP Mark Higgins. "We don’t want to be biased, but it is clearly the direction that high-def production looks to be going."

Other retailers (including Best Buy, Amazon.com, DVDEmpire.com) said they had no current plans to adjust their merchandise mix.

"Obviously, Warner’s announcement has made us a little more cautious about how many HD DVDs we bring in," DVDEmpire's Shannon Nutt told Video Business. "But that’s not going to stop us from stocking strong on what we feel will be solid HD DVD releases, like the upcoming Bee Movie. Although it looks like the writing may be on the wall, DVDEmpire will continue to push both formats equally until our customers show there is no longer any demand for one format or the other."

LONG LIVE BLU-RAY

Now only if Netflix and Blockbuster are doing the same I'll be happy.

[japuva]

Yeah the Suncoast in Cincinnati only has Blu's on their shelves now.

[ikbradley]

That's a shame. I wanted to see the dust collecting on the red cases and proceed to laugh at the last surviving AVS zealots get their hands dirty in the literal fashion, as opposed to the figurative vis. vi. spreading of FUD.

[marinelife9]

I'll be sure to look to patronize these stores first then.

[Guinness7]

We all knew this was going to happen eventually it was just a matter of when and it looks like it has already started. I would not be suprised if eventaually we start to see bigger chain stores move more to blu.

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by Guinness7

We all knew this was going to happen eventually it was just a matter of when and it looks like it has already started. I would not be suprised if eventaually we start to see bigger chain stores move more to blu.

That's all great and all. But we need major retailers like Best Buy to ensure BD players are getting sold as opposed to HD DVD. i.e. stop restocking the Toshiba units.

[Shawnsmail35]

I went to several Best Buys yesterday and spoke with different sales reps and they all pretty much told me the same thing. BB is currently trying to clear the HD DVD out of the Warehouses across America so if you see your store still stocking players and HD DVDs it is because there Warehouses havent been cleared yet. They hope to have them cleared by this summer. The earlier the better for the HD Format.

[Guinness7]

Originally Posted by sodrock

That's all great and all. But we need major retailers like Best Buy to ensure BD players are getting sold as opposed to HD DVD. i.e. stop restocking the Toshiba units.

I think places like Bestbuy have not done anything yet becasue they want to move the HDDVD stuff they have left, but like you said the question is once the HDDVD stuff is gone are the ordering more to restock.