Filmstalker: UK retailer drops HD-DVD

Woolworths has announced that it is dropping HD-DVD from its product line and going Blu-ray only. Their official response states that the contributing factors are the higher sales of Blu-ray and the saturation of the marketplace by the PS3 with the inbuilt Blu-ray player.

It seems there's more and more bad news for the format, and it's looking more likely that there's going to be an end to this format war before long.

According to Woolworths DVD buyer Steven McGunigel speaking through Digital Spy:

"Sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of high definition DVD...The main reason is the success of Sony’s PlayStation 3 machine. Because it plays Blu-ray discs, there are over three quarters of a million homes in the UK that can view the new high definition format. There is nowhere near that number of HD-DVD players around. Switching to Blu-ray only will provide one clear offer to customers in the format they want to watch high definition movies in."

This certainly is a big blow, and although Woolworths are by no means the largest retailer of high definition films, it does show growing economic business reasons why a move toe Blu-ray might be better for the retailers. I wonder if this is an isolated move or will be see more retailers following?

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HD-DVD's days are unfortunately numbered. I've outlined before why HD would be my personal preference to win the war, but I'd be more in favour of just ONE of these formats exisitng so we could all just get on with it.

The HD-DVD Group (pretty much Toshiba) hit back at Woolworths todays saying:

"While we are disappointed by Woolworths' decision, it is extremely early to spot which format will eventually win," said Olivier Van Wynendaele, European assistant general manager at HD-DVD backer Toshiba.

Is it really? As the days go by, the outcome appears to be coming more and more clear. BD have Sony/Columbia/MGM, Warner Bros, Fox, Disney and New Line to name just a few, whereas HD have Universal and Paramount "exclusively".

Couple the "Blu-ray exclusive" support of Blockbuster and now Woolworths, a gap between the availability of titles is evident.

Couple all of that with the two announcements today:
1.) Sonic Solutions are ditching their HD-DVD authoring software in favour of BD.
2.) National Geographic also dropping HD-DVD and going Blu-ray exclusive.

I find it hard to see any logic in the HD-DVD Group's latest statement. One must admire their courage, but surely they must feel themselves that they are not fighting a losing battle.

Posted by: James | January 31, 2008 6:23 PM

BD: This HD is Non-sense
HD: Non-sense? This is Spartaaaa!

Spoiler for HD (& 300 though it is available in both formats):
They all died! :P

Posted by: _ram-jaane' | January 31, 2008 7:53 PM

Well written up James, thanks for that.

Ram I had to read that a few times, but I got there! Very good!

Posted by: Richard Brunton | February 1, 2008 12:33 PM

HD will live on(especially in Pcs), but as long as sony keep giving away(err selling), the ps3 its an uphill battle.

Woolworths et al are able to change suppliers relatively quickly so i don't this as a huge development, but the list of "little" things are starting to heavily sway towards BD, which is nice as my ps3 plays them sweetly :)

Posted by: pablo | February 4, 2008 1:13 AM