If the retailers want the format war to end, then why don't they simply end it?

[DaViD Boulet]

We all keep hearing how the major retailers want the format war to end (no need to cover that or go into detail why, we all know).

So why don't they just end it? Why should they be begging "the industry" to hand the final blow when they hold the weapon?

If the major retailers dropped HD DVD... even from only their B&M locations (ie, leaving it available on-line for on-line shoppers), the war would be OVER. Not just "dying", but literally OVER.

I'm talking about dropping both HD DVD hardware *and* software from physical stores.

It wouldn't matter even if P. and U. kept on releasing exlusively on HD DVD for all of 2008; if consumers walked into Best Buy and only saw Blu-ray Discs for sale, HD DVD would be gone from the game.

IMO, here are the chains that would need to make the shift to make it real:

Best-Buy
Walmart
Target
Circuit City

Thoughts?