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Wal-Mart to Sell Only Blu-ray Players, Movies
The mega-retailer will soon drop HD DVD hardware.
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Wal-Mart is the latest in a long line to announce its siding with Blu-ray.
February 15, 2008 | by Rachel Cericola

It’s been a tough week for HD DVD. Wal-Mart announced this morning that it will only stock Blu-ray Disc players and movies starting in June. This comes on the heels of similiar announcements by Best Buy and Netflix.

According to a company press release, the change will take place quickly over the next several months. Wal-mart will phase out HD DVD offerings and reorganize shelf space.  By June, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs will offer only Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, as well as standard definition movies and DVD players, and up converts.

“We’ve listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases,” said Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. “With the customers best interest in all we do, we wanted to share our decision and timeline with them as soon as possible, knowing it will help simplify their purchase decision, increase selection, and increase adoption long term.  We anticipate enhancing our selection with continued great values in hi-definition Blu-ray products, so our customers can further enhance their entertainment experience at home.”

While many thought that the Woolies announcement wasn’t news, this has surely got to sting.

Wal-Mart’s news comes hot on the heels of a slew of announcements, including the rumor that Toshiba might pull the plug on the format in coming weeks. Stay tuned.



Rachel Cericola - Contributing Writer
Over the past 15 years, Rachel Cericola has covered entertainment, web and technology trends. Check her out at www.rachelcericola.com.



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Comments (23) Most recent displayed first.
Posted by Jeff Kalman  on  02/15/08  at  10:06 PM

“LOL @ HD DVD. Twice in one day…”

Don’t you feel a little sympathy for the HD-DVD supporters?  Even if you didn’t want them to win, you have to feel a little bad for them now that HD-DVD is so far gone that there is nothing left to fight about.  I know I do….

Posted by OVC  on  02/15/08  at  02:46 PM

LOL @ HD DVD. Twice in one day…

Now I can truly say, “it’s over”, there’s pretty much nothing they can do now. That means I don’t have to buy Iron Man on regular DVD when it comes out.

Posted by Dave C  on  02/15/08  at  02:14 PM

YEAH!!!! I admit, I have been a blu fan boy from day one and knew this would happen. HELLO!! HD-DVD had ONE manufacturer, much less studio support and the discs were the same price?!?! What gives?
Time for HD-DVD people to wake up and smell the flowers and ADMIT they were wrong.
Buy your cheap discs and hardware now, what fun in years to come to tell your friends choosing a movie at your home,’ oh, hang on a minute, if its in a red case, it means I have to pull the old HD-DVD player out from the closet and hook it up. Isnt there any blu movies your would prefer to watch….’ hehe.
Bring on the Blu baby!!
Everone picks on Sony! Why was Toshiba the only CE co that was too stuburn not to join ALL the other CE to make just one HDM to avoid consumer confusion.  I love compatition but not with media! “this movie is red, that one only blue etc etc” Crap!!
They make great computers, hey, then again, so do Sony. Im done :-)

Posted by Jeff Kalman  on  02/15/08  at  02:06 PM

“I GUESS SONY PAID THEM OFF TOO!!”

I HEARD THAT SONY PAID OFF JOHN MCCAIN ALSO!!! ;=oB

Posted by TIM NELSON  on  02/15/08  at  01:51 PM

I GUESS SONY PAID THEM OFF TOO!!


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