Wal*Mart to back Blu-ray exclusively in June

dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=980

Wal-Mart To Exclusively Support Blu-ray
Posted February 15, 2008 by Josh

Wal-Mart has confirmed with Blu-ray.com that beginning in June the world's largest retailer will only stock Blu-ray players and movies. Over the next few months, they will phase out all HD DVD products and reorganize their stores to focus on Blu-ray. This move comes days after similar statements of support for Blu-ray by Internet movie rental site Netflix and retailer Best Buy.

Gary Severson, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Wal-Mart, U.S. commented, "We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases. 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."

This is just the latest in a series of shifts towards either Blu-ray support or exclusivity since Warner Brothers announced in January that they would go Blu-ray exclusive in June.

Earlier today, sources reported that Toshiba would soon be announcing that they would drop support for HD DVD. No official statement has come from them, but without support from retailers, it will probably come sooner than later.
 
aberkowitz

aberkowitz

Audioholic Field Marshall
Hey-it will be a great buying opportunity between now and June. Depending on how much inventory they have, there could be some amazing deals at Walmart on those movies.

I'm curious if they will also drop BD prices as well to entice people to buy into the "winning" format and develop future customers.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Wow. Wal-Mart is my number ONE store for everything. This is truly the END OF HD DVD!

The embarrassment for HD DVD keeps on coming hard and fast!
 
stratman

stratman

Audioholic Ninja
I'm just waiting for Circuit City to jump on the bandwagon.
 
dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
Either Paramount, Dreamworks, Universal or Toshiba will be hot on their heels!

If Toshiba drops HD DVD, any contracts between studios and the HD DVD PG will be immediately rendered null and void.

Hello Steven Spielberg movies. I'm very much looking forward to Minority Report on Blu-ray with dts-ma.

:eek:
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Either Paramount, Dreamworks, Universal or Toshiba will be hot on their heels!

If Toshiba drops HD DVD, any contracts between studios and the HD DVD PG will be immediately rendered null and void.

Hello Steven Spielberg movies. I'm very much looking forward to Minority Report on Blu-ray with dts-ma.

:eek:
You think Spielberg will go with DTS-MA, instead of TrueHD or LPCM?
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Either Paramount, Dreamworks, Universal or Toshiba will be hot on their heels!

If Toshiba drops HD DVD, any contracts between studios and the HD DVD PG will be immediately rendered null and void.

Hello Steven Spielberg movies. I'm very much looking forward to Minority Report on Blu-ray with dts-ma.

:eek:
Well, Paramound & Dreamworks Animation will look like idiots the most because they just jumped ship to HD DVD!
 
A

allargon

Audioholic General
Hello Steven Spielberg movies. I'm very much looking forward to Minority Report on Blu-ray with dts-ma.
Doby, I generally ignore your anti-HD DVD/pro Blu rants even when they contain factually incorrect information. However, Paramount's exclusivity contract specifically did not include Spielberg movies. Spielberg, like Lucas, likes for formats to have critical mass before releasing his movies. Before you bring up Close Encounters, you and I both know that was a movie he made before he went big time.

Paramount and DTS-MA? Please tell me you meant Dolby TrueHD or PCM.
 
dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
Doby, I generally ignore your anti-HD DVD/pro Blu rants even when they contain factually incorrect information. However, Paramount's exclusivity contract specifically did not include Spielberg movies. Spielberg, like Lucas, likes for formats to have critical mass before releasing his movies. Before you bring up Close Encounters, you and I both know that was a movie he made before he went big time.

Paramount and DTS-MA? Please tell me you meant Dolby TrueHD or PCM.
You seem unfamiliar with Spielberg's involvement/investment with dts.
The only reason there is one Sony title with dts-ma is because Steven requested it; that was Close Encounters of course.

The folks at the THX Booth at CES said they are already working on the Blu-ray release of Indiana Jones 4. What do you think the chances are it will have dts on it?

How many Paramount HD releases have Dolby TrueHD on them? I think it's none. Many have Dolby Digital Plus and a few have dts.

I'm not quite sure what your point is, if there is one at all.
 
darien87

darien87

Audioholic Spartan
So when the hell is Indiana Jones coming to Blu-ray?!?!?
 
dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
You think Spielberg will go with DTS-MA, instead of TrueHD or LPCM?
Of course, he's the only reason why there is a dts-ma track on Close Encounters.

Spielberg was an original investor in dts back in 1993. He is a huge supporter. Almost all his flicks are avaliable on DVD with a dts edition.
 
dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
So when the hell is Indiana Jones coming to Blu-ray?!?!?
I would expect 4 to be here sometime in Q4/08.

Hopefully by then they might have the trilogy ready (or quadrilogy rather) all on Blu-ray.
 
dobyblue

dobyblue

Senior Audioholic
Agreed - I haven't seen any animation look as good as Cars does on Blu-ray.

I can't wait for Finding Nemo and hope that The Incredibles will be announced soon enough.

From what we've seen on Blu from Pixar so far, they're always going to present an amazing product, just like they have on DVD.
 
AcuDefTechGuy

AcuDefTechGuy

Audioholic Jedi
Of course, he's the only reason why there is a dts-ma track on Close Encounters.

Spielberg was an original investor in dts back in 1993. He is a huge supporter. Almost all his flicks are avaliable on DVD with a dts edition.
Spielberg, you Bastard!:D

I can fully understand Spielburg choosing DTS over DD. I would too. But DTS-MA is not superior to uncompressed audio LPCM 24-bit or TrueHD 24-bit.

But I guess since his money is already tied in with DTS-MA, huh?

Oh well, another reason to get that new Panasonic DMP-BD50!!!
Can't get here soon enough!
 
aberkowitz

aberkowitz

Audioholic Field Marshall
Agreed - I haven't seen any animation look as good as Cars does on Blu-ray.

I can't wait for Finding Nemo and hope that The Incredibles will be announced soon enough.
I personally thought Cars knocks Ratatouille well out of the park when it comes to PQ.
 
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