Retailers Emphasizing Blu-ray

In the wake of the Warner announcements, major retailers are shifting focus to the Blu-ray format in hopes of accelerating the end of the format war. Trans World Entertainment, Newbury Comics, Video Buyers Group members and Hastings Entertainment are all beginning to emphasize Blu-ray as the next generation high definition format in hopes to spur growth in the relatively small market.

Mark Higgins, Trans World VP of DVD, videogames and consumer electronics merchandising commented, "As retailers, we need to simplify things for the consumers as much as we can with merchandising one format. We don't want to be biased, but that is clearly the direction that high-def production looks to be going."

Many retailers, especially online retailers with no shelf space limitations, will continue to offer both formats, but have been and will continue to order more copies of Blu-ray titles versus HD DVD titles due to demand. "Although it looks like the writing may be on the wall, DVDEmpire will continue to push both formats equally until our customers show there is no longer any demand for one format or the other," remarked DVDEmpire editorial director Shannon Nutt.