Front Page of the Money section in USA Today

[JasonR]

I don't know if this has been posted or not, I didn't see it.

So, I am on a business trip right now and they always put USA Today's outside my hotel door. I don't usually read them , but I happened to today and saw this. Not bad, front page second section!

[darkblueme]

Nice!

[Shaman]

[RUR]

Nothing new, but here ya go:

Prospects for a resolution to the high-definition DVD format war seemed to come into sharper focus on Monday as Best Buy (BBY) and Netflix (NFLX) separately announced plans to promote Sony's (SNE) Blu-ray format over Toshiba's HD DVD.
Best Buy, the No. 1 consumer electronics chain, said that beginning in early March it will provide more shelf space and marketing for Blu-ray players and software than it will for similar HD DVD products.

"We're trying to be a customer advocate," says Mike Vitelli, Best Buy's senior vice president for home solutions. "Consumers want some clear direction. We're stepping out and giving them that recommendation."

The change was based on the company's view that "there are more lines pointing to the blue side" in the battle with HD DVD, Vitelli says.

Home video rental service Netflix reached a similar conclusion: It has stopped buying HD DVD discs.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Sony | Toshiba | Netflix | Blockbuster | Blu | DVD | DVD players
"We expect that all of the studios will publish in the Blu-ray format and that the price points of high-def DVD players will come down significantly," Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, said in a statement.

Blockbuster (BBI) said last year that most of its stores would offer just Blu-ray discs for high-def rental.

Toshiba's Jodi Sally said in a statement that the company, which recently slashed prices for HD DVD players, "will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers."

Many consumers who want high-def home video have stayed on the sidelines while Hollywood studios and consumer electronics companies pushed the incompatible formats.

Blu-ray supporters — including Disney (DIS), Fox, Lionsgate (LGF) and Sony's film studio — say their discs can pack substantially more digital data that can be used for bonus features and games.

HD DVD's camp — including Universal, Paramount, DreamWorks Animation (DWA) and Microsoft (MSFT)— say that its format is more versatile and stable.

Blu-ray got a big boost last month when Warner Bros., the No. 1 home video distributor, said it would offer just high-def movies and TV shows in that format beginning in May.

Studios in the Blu-ray camp accounted for about 66% of all video sales and rentals in 2007.

Toshiba's strategy to win customers with low-priced players is "a Hail Mary (pass)," says NPD entertainment analyst Russ Crupnick. "It's a format that's not going to be supported much longer."

Blu-ray supporters say that the latest announcements mean the format war is all but over.

"Everyone's tired of it," says Andy Parsons, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association's promotions committee. "Both (companies) pointed to consumer preference. It's dictated by market forces."

The value is in the readership of USA today.

[Big_Rizzle]

I was ust about to read that arical I saw it when I came to work today they always have one at the desk

[iNCREDiPiNOY]

Can you post "Microsoft Rejection" on the same page please?

[CAB]

"There's a sale at Penny's! "

[Blu Titan]

Great PR! Thanks for posting Jason

[davidPS3]

Great post and to see the news on the front page! Also like the Microsoft "Rejection" there as well. Though not related news, nice to see the big M get turned down (at least for now)

[Freebster2007]

Damn beat me to it

[Blu-dock Saint]

<--- HD DVD

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Blu-dock Saint

<--- HD DVD

Some of this too....

[Salinger]

This is something I'd not seen, or at least noticed, before:

Toshiba's Jodi Sally said in a statement that the company, which recently slashed prices for HD DVD players, "will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers."

That's a very telling statement. Not total, but not far off, resignation to a total collapse.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by CAB

"There's a sale at Penny's! "

Looks like Toshiba picked a bad week to quit smoking....

[Mr Dodger Blu]

Originally Posted by Blu-dock Saint

<--- HD DVD

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ha ha! That's the sh*t!!

[CAB]

Originally Posted by Marcusarilius

Looks like Toshiba picked a bad week to quit smoking....

Thank god someone got it. I was beginning to feel very old.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by CAB

Thank god someone got it. I was beginning to feel very old.

Classic. LOL on your post! Good one!

[Mikeblu]

hmm what are the chances of me been able to get a copy of USA Today. hmmm surprisingly slim.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by Mikeblu

hmm what are the chances of me been able to get a copy of USA Today. hmmm surprisingly slim.

Getting USA today today should still be obtainable. Getting USA today tomorrow of todays copy of today seems less obtainable. Try the trash cans.

[Jeff®]