Target To Promote Blu-Ray Over HD-DVD

Target Corp., the nation's second-largest retailer, will start selling a Sony Blu-ray high-definition DVD player during the critical holiday shopping period and feature the player along with Blu-ray discs in store displays, dealing a potential blow to the rival HD DVD format.

The move, which the companies will formally announce Thursday, is another step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Target said it will sell the Sony BDP-S300 for $499 in October and display it along with Blu-ray DVDs from three studios, including Sony Corp. and The Walt Disney Co. at the ends of store aisles.

Target does not sell high-def DVD players in its stores.

Target stores do sell an HD DVD add-on for the Microsoft Xbox 360. They also sell Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3, which comes with a Blu-ray player built in.

[sonarus]

na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye. I want this to be over quicly i am totally missing out on some excellent movies. The fact that 300 hd-dvd has the most extra features pisses me off. Also where the hell is the matrix trilogy. I will soon go on ma hid def spendin spree. get pirates the complete set as soon as disney releases the blu ray 4 the next 1 and then matrix and then 300 those are pretty much the only movies at least for now i wanna see in hi def. They keep droppin their prices and dropping their prices and keep saying they sell more stand alone players its unfortunate gamers tend to watch hi def movies too. Right now they should jst strike a deal so fox can do the halo movie and it can come out on blu ray(jst felt like tickin some ppl off lol)

[AznSniper]

It's clear already unless HD-DVD makes some kind of huge comeback I don't know what will really happen for it.

[Fan Tastic]

Blockbuster
Denon
Target
tons of smaller studios switching to blu

what is left aside from Microsoft (who really doesn't care) and Toshiba? Sorry Toshiba, littel 15" laptops aren't going to have the same effect as the most advanced console on the market the PS3. 360's will not do it, the hardware is flawed from the beginning and can never be bandaid enough to support the minimum HD DVD specs even.

[macalatus]

To be specific, MS had a "quick disconnect" strategy when it came to promoting HD-DVD. Right before the PS3 was launched, many supporters of HD-DVD and 360 felt confident that the Blu-Ray was just another of Sony's "dead before arrival" formats, a la Betamax and MiniDisc. Now with the tides turning against HD-DVD, MS simply hit that "quick disconnect" button and pretended as if they never really cared the whole time. They silently but quickly changed gears saying that they believe in the possibily of downloadable content winning the "next-gen" DVD format.

As for Europe having more HD-DVD sales, at the risk of being called a "cultural imperialist" American, Hollywood (main center of the world's most popular movies) is in the US, and what Hollywood says does have a strong sway in this format war.

@tethered,
I'm hoping you're not confusing MiniDisc with UMD (two different formats, my friend). And for the "failed formats issue", I was presenting "their" (hint: Sony haters) thoughts, and not mine. You made me laugh a bit after reading your reply, but I guess you read my post a little too fast before closely comprehendinging it. It's okay, "+" bubble from me.

[tethered]

@ macalatus

I agree with everything you said except the fact that UMD (Universal Media Disc) failed.

UMD was never intended to take over any other format therefore it can’t be a failure.
It was first and foremost a media used to store game data for the PSP. The whole “movie thing” is more of an after thought on Sony’s part. It may have lost a lot of support but I don’t really believe Sony was banking on that format to really go anywhere. They talked it up like all companies do with a new product but they really didn’t expect it to take off.

The whole Hollywood thing I agree with 100%. They drive the whole thing.

My thoughts:
I believe the end is a lot closer than the HD-DVD camp want to admit because the more big companies (such as Blockbuster and Target)that make an announcement such as this the more it will influence other big companies to make the jump to blu-ray.

@ macalatus again,
Haha!

***I'm hoping you're not confusing MiniDisc with UMD (two different formats, my friend). And for the "failed formats issue", I was presenting "their" (hint: Sony haters) thoughts, and not mine. You made me laugh a bit after reading your reply, but I guess you read my post a little too fast before closely comprehendinging it. It's okay, "+" bubble from me.***

You are right. I got them confused, so I guess now I agree 100% with all you said. lol
Anyway, + bubble back at ya my friend.

[RareNomad]

Dont forget Dell :)

[Kyur4ThePain]

Hopefully my local Target will now have a better selection.
Right now they have almost jack.

[Lord Anubis]

well, there were a lot of recent announcements about blu-ray from Dragon Ball Z to IMAX movies being available to blu-ray.It clear a group of collected companies want to end the war.

[MACHone]

Dual-layer HD DVD = 30 GB max. Dual-layer Blu-ray Disc = 50 GB max. That's all I needed to hear when I chose sides.

[dodgefate]

I am same more size on a disc = more everything for everyone not just games an movies but also personal use.

[ReBurn]

I'm more interested in content than technology. I think that Blu-ray movies are awesome on the PS3, but it seems to me that HD-DVD has more titles that appeal to me. It doesn't really matter to me which of the two wins. I just want all movies available to me, and that won't happen until someone bows out.

[razer]

Wal-Mart is declaring HD-DVD the winner and is supporting that format. I would bank on Wal-Mart over target anyday..

And it's not like Target won't sell HD-DVD, they are just going to promo Blu-ray to the grandmas and wierdos that shop there..

I'm still not buying either format, well I have Blu-ray player but I did not buy the HD-DVD add-on.

[LSDARBY]

lol talk about desperate

[Kyur4ThePain]

What makes you say Wal*Mart is declaring HD-DVD the winner?
Surely not the until-now unconfirmed rumor of a cheap player, right?

*EDIT*
This system is still f**ked up.
How can someone be allowed to disagree without stating why?
Actually, how do you disagree with a question in the first place?

[tethered]

@ Kyur4ThePain

****EDIT*
This system is still f**ked up.
How can someone be allowed to disagree without stating why?
Actually, how do you disagree with a question in the first place?***

They hit disagree and don’t reply because they can’t come up with a logical argument.
It’s just an easy way out I guess.

Edit:
See.
Already a disagree without an explanation.

pfft!

[Rageanitus]

I thought walmart was going to stop selling the media of hdvd next year...

[Phantom_Lee]

Wal-Mart already said that they support both, the Wal-Mart HD-DVD rumor was debunk long times ago

[MarioFromTexas]

They have a phillips blu ray player for $499 on display and no HDDVD

[trueltie5]

Razer you try and represent the HD-dvd/Xbox camp like Johnny Cochran and OJ...You're a buffoon if you think HD-DVD is even going to come close in this war....I believe it's only ONE major movie studio that's holding off to jump ships to blu-ray...Razer you are something else my friend....Justify the underdog...Why is it you have it our for Sony ? Do you need a "Sony" hug ?

[power of Green]

People care about this sh*t still?. lol what eevvveeeerrrrr! happend to the PS3 outsells the 360 again post from VG-charts.

[Fan Tastic]

Must be painful to see your dreams wiped away.

[DJ]

VG Chartz's Xbox 360 sales figures were actually inflated. POG spent all that time hating on a site that was actually making the 360 look Better! (lol)

[DJ]

A lot of retailers are backing Blu-ray, and for good reason; it sells a lot better than HD-DVD, and shelf space is limited.

[Lex_Yayo_407]

I don't give a f___ about extra features. I bought a movie to watch a movie not to watch commentators talk about the movie. Blu-Ray looks better anyways. So im gonna get the movie that's got a better picture quality, not more features

[eLiNeS]

You must have not done a side by side comparison as this article has. You can read it and see who is better really.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/...

I don't support any side just yet. Maybe that because M$ didn't force me to make a decision bundling the HD-DVD player in to my Xbox 360. Maybe next year I will get a PS3 when games I am more interested in playing will hopefully come out, maybe then I will be forced to take a side but my up-conversion DVD player is doing my 100's of DVDs justest at the moment.

@Rageanitus below
Well I guess movies aren't that important to me as gaming. I do have a nice theater system with a 56" HDTV so all good there. I just can't bring myself to spending the money on one format or the other to see one loose and my money is lost. I have such a huge DVD collection that it just seems silly to take a side now just to see it crumble. All I am saying is up-converted DVDs are better then what DVDs where and even though the HD-formats are even better I am waiting for the winner and the price to drop and the video stores to change over. Nobody knows what format is going to win until they have won. Saying Blu-ray is better is a fan rooting for the side they picked or was forced into. If I had gotten a PS3 I would probably be doing the same thing.

[Rageanitus]

Quite honestly DVD is FAR inferior to hd-dvd and blu-ray.

Trust me I have a 300 dollar upconverting DVD player, and compared it to blu-ray. The image quality is simply not comparable

Ive invited many friends, and 1) they never really heard of blu-ray or hddvd 2) Assume that it is not a big deal and upconverted dvd's are just as good

They were amazed when I plopped "Crank" in the drive

The only time you dont really notice the diff is if you have a 27 inch monitor or less,, or your have an old crt tv. But you still notice the color is not as vibrant.

Plus on blu-ray and hd-dvd you have the option to have dolby digital true, dts hd, and uncompressed audio.... (depending on the studio who remasters the disc.

So I am assuming you dont have a home theatre system, or you have a small monitor.

I currently have the blu-ray player connected to a 105 inch projector at 1080i ( which is not using the full potential) and it still looks astonishing

[beast]

Your article dates 8/4/2006 enough said.

[eLiNeS]

has a better picture then you are just taking sides with your PS3 not the format. The picture you get with HD-DVD and Blu-ray are basically the same so choosing a side over picture is a toss up. If you have an newer article, lets see it!

Take the PS3 and the Xbox 360 out of this and go buy a HD format player, who would you choose? It's a little hard to say since we all have either a 360 or PS3 but try.

[Says you]

Yourself when you type razer considering your not making any sense what so ever why wouldnt people buy Blu Ray in Target when they will just because you say people wont buy Blu Ray in Target doesnt mean it will happen seriously I think its time for you to have a brain transplant since you used up all of your IQ to just think up that dumb remark

and again if you think Wal mart declared HD DVD the winner than why did you buy Blu Ray that doesnt make any sense? and yet you said you wont buy either format when you already did isnt it amazing that you cant make up your own mind on what sentence your trying to type?.

[aiphanes]

Walmart is rumored to be stocking this christmas the $299 bluray stanalone player...(which might be around $199 when it is all said and done)

Most places are saling the Sony $499 stanalone bluray player for $449...so around Christmas that player is going to be $399.

Plus there are still rumors of a $399 40GB PS3 with 5 free bluray movies comming out the end of november for black friday.

Once universal goes neutral...HD-DVD is dead...but they are really already dead...How many PS3s were sold this month? A lot!

The PS3 is better than any HD-DVD player out there...and is probably the best bluray player....those cheap ass sub $300 HD-DVD players dont even have HDMI 1.3!!

[Maddens Raiders]

Boo!

P.S. - POG nice work on the bubble upgrade my man. That's like three w/i the last 10 hours despite all of your dicombobulated ramblings. Not only Interesting, but Impressive.

LOL - nevermind, POG I guess you can thank Dusty for the new lease on life. By the looks of it though it won't last long.

cheers

[Anego Montoya FTMFW]

I absolutly love that pic of BLURAY crushing HD-DVD.

So....
1.Blockbuster
2.Target

whats next?

[Jamaicangmr]

I hope people still don't have doubt of Blu-ray becomin the standard. Specially after this news, if so then you need to know when to accept that HD-DVD has failed and Sony has succeeded.

[mikeslemonade]

I pity HD-DVD response. They dare to keep saying HD-DVD players keep selling more than Blu-ray. Who gives a damn if you're selling more on something that you are losing money on. Also it's software that matters. PS3 is a blu-ray player. It pisses me off that they don't say standalone hd-dvd players.

[Rageanitus]

my friend who is a huge xbox fanboy was bashing sony like crazy about hd-dvd vs blu-ray... now he says their is no need for both formats because streaming video is the future....

[ApocalypseShadow]

while gamers like elite gamer were saying hd-dvd was going to win.that bluray built in the ps3 would be sony's downfall.bloodmask saying it was a trojan horse.sony said games,movies and data storage.but all we heard was "BETA."

peter dille from sony said straight up"hd-dvd is dead this fall."

i didn't say it.he said it.but the truth is in our face.the only reason bluray hasn't already won is because of microsoft.it was a strategic move to slow bluray down.to slow sony down.but it didn't work.

and now almost all companies are stepping up to support bluray.why?what movies will be showing up THIS FALL?every big hit film that came out at the theaters that will be exclusive on bluray only.movies like spiderman 3 and pirates 3.hd-dvd has no counter to all the bluray releases that will hit.even walmart is in on it. http://www.ipodobserver.com...

and the fact that every ps3 owner is a potential bluray movie buyer,means sony wins.the bluray backers win.this isn't just about ps3.THIS IS ABOUT BLURAY TECHNOLOGY.every bluray disc sold is a win for bluray.bluray games,bluray movies and bluray data storage discs for pc.home consumers can use it.and businesses can use it.

it has gone on long enough.one disc that has better tech since both came out.and that's BLURAY.

[Tsukasah]

The format war will not end until Universal switches to BluRay, after that, its over. Until then, BluRay and HDDVD will always be around. :(

Digital Distribution is not the NEAR future. Say you're on a normal broadband modem. Thats around.. 512kb modem download rate. Movies nowadays in HD are over 20GB at times. Would you want to wait that long, just for a movie? I know I wouldn't. Yes, digital distribution will take its hold sometime in the future, but that will be after atleast 2010, when everyone in the world will probably have something going as fast as T3, and download movies in mere minutes.

And if anybody mentions NetFlix, the thing about them is, you don't download the movie. It buffers like youtube videos do. Just higher quality.

I have always supported BluRay, but HDDVD still has a chance. Remember when everyone thought the PS3 would never sell at the rate it is now? Look at it now! HDDVD probably wont have a comeback in the format war like PS3 did in the console wars. There is still a small amount of hope for HDDVD, but this ones going to have to be alot bigger. Only company supporting it is Universal. We'll see how things end up in about a year from now.

[ReBurn]

I agree about digital distribution. Downloading HD movies to the 360 takes a long time, and I have the fastest cable connection you can get. With speeds like that people aren't simply going to get behind broadband distribution. I would much rather pop a Blu-ray into my PS3. If the rumored HD-DVD player for $99 hits I'll pick one up just so I don't have to miss anything.

[Infernus]

Sony did it with the PS2 and they'll do it with the PS3.

They tend to equip the Playstation with the next capacity standard and come under fire, only to be proven right later on.

The PS3 is currently the same price as standalone blu-ray players and it does more than just play films. The storage capacity, printer keyboard and mouse compatibility, the ability to upscale CD's and DVD's, and of course it can play Blu-Ray games too.

This slow transition will be like the move from VHS to DVD. VHS was bigger at first as there weren't many people with DVD players. However as more and more people bought into the DVD market it flourished into what we have today. You can expect to see the same thing with the DVD to BD transition which is already getting underway.

DVD players will be replaced on the shelves with Blu-Ray players and slowly but surely the blu-ray market will expand. Because of this the HDTV market will grow as people seek out the true HD movie experience.

[specialguest]

Sales were not going anywhere due to the majority of consumers playing the waiting game. It was a logical decision to solely support Blu-ray due to its larger library of titles and more exclusive movie studio support.

[ITR]

Basically they are going to do an end-cap for Sony.
Sony has been giving Target incentives to display Sony product all yr long.
PS3 end-cap/PSP end-cap/ special PSP end-cap/ PS2 end-cap.
I've set so many Sony end-caps at Target it's not even funny. They tend to get a new one every 3-4 weeks.
Former Elec Dept Manager.

I hope the new BD player from Sony is better then the old BDPS1's(it took forever to turn on then it would take more time to load the movie).

Also during X'mas time Target does exclusives. Like last yr we sold signed guitars from KISS and Weezer and few other bands. I'm betting it's one those timed exclusives. If you visited Target back in Dec. you saw the end-caps with clocks on them...those were all timed exclusives.
I got my Star Wars Imperial Shuttle from there during that timed exclusive.

[cdzie1]

Let's see what happens this holiday season. HD DVD has a few tricks up their sleeve as well. Let's not forget that a $500 Blu-ray player is still out of the budget of the average American family.

This is good news for Blu-ray, I'm not going to deny that, but it is not the final verdict. Let's wait until after the new year.

[Chava]

that could easily happen, it could all swing the other way

i hop it doesn't (not only cos i have ps3) but also because i want this stupid war to be over

[cmrbe]

I guess this is another nail in HD-DVD coffin. I still believe though that this next gen format war won't be over until the HD-DVD group concedes or All the content providers support Blue ray exclusively. It is obvious that the HD-DVD group won't backdown anytime soon which sucks but understandable. I hope Blue ray wins and not because i have a PS3 but because according to most sources i read its the superior format.

[darkside]

I see Blu!!! lol

[Fighter]

Blu-ray has more studios supporting them exclusively. Fox is 100% committed to Blu-ray and Star Wars in HD will probably be out by Christmas 07. HD-DVD only has Universal-NBC as their exclusive supporters and can't compare to Disney, Fox, Lions Gate and of course, Sony.

Good luck finding Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men, and Star Wars on HD-DVD.

To tell you the truth, I want this war to end sooner than later so consumers don't get ripped off. Toshiba should give up now before they lose more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[solidt12]

Smart Move on Targets part. I go in there all the time to buy Blu-ray Movies and I wondered when they were going to expand that section. Currently the Blu-ray and Hd-dvd sections are connected and the same size.

[Chava]

just think in a couple of years (even if ps3 loses to 360 and wii), more blu ray players will b in ppls homes than hddvd, so it looks like blu ray have already won...

[Rama26285]

Who else wishes this would all be over already? It looks like Blu-Ray is starting to take strides to being the choice so let's just go with it. Not to mention, what would every PS3 owner do if HD-DVD won??