Wal-Mart Chooses Blu-Ray Exclusively
Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer has decided to call it quits on Toshiba’s HD-DVD format, signaling what seems to be the end of the hi-def format war.
“We’ve listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases,” Gary Severson, head of home entertainment for Wal-Mart’s U.S. stores, said in a statement.
Just last week, online rental service Netflix Inc. has said that they will no longer carry rental for HD-DVD, allowing them to go exclusively with Sony’s Blu-ray disc.
With recent support from most studios and retailers, Blu-ray looks to be paving the way for HD-DVD’s grave. Studio support such as Disney, who supported Blu-ray from its early stages and Warner Bros, who has jumped ship to Blu-ray, are major reasons for the recent support.
Although Blu-ray may look to be the only hi-def format in the near future, HD-DVD still has an exclusive contract with Paramount Pictures, who also own DreamWorks and Universal Pictures.
According to the Associated Press, consumers are holding off buying hi-def DVD players until the format war has finally been decided.
Certainly the format war hasn’t completely ended, but with recent events, consumers are able to see which one will stay and may finally decide to go hi-def.
