Wal-Mart Chooses Blu-ray
16002
The company is the third retailer this week to turn its back on HD DVD, backed by Toshiba, in favor of Blu-ray high-definition movie format, which was developed by Sony.
374783
Invent a standard. Collect a check. That's what Blu-ray is about.
534453
Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Friday said it plans to exclusively back the Blu-ray high definition movie format, the latest blow to the rival HD DVD camp backed by Toshiba Corp.
763987
U.S. video rental chain  Blockbuster Inc.  has come out in favor of the Blu-ray  DVD format disc, tipping the balance against the rival HD DVD  in the battle over next-generation discs.
380833
This morning, the US' leading retailer is rolling out what it calls a "beta" of its pay-per-download video service, though the "pay" part is clearly turned on. What immediately differentiates Wal-Mart's Video Downloads Store from its competition - other than undercutting their prices by about 11 cents - is that it features new and recent releases from every major Hollywood studio.
184271
Amazon.com Inc announced its support  for Sony Corp's Blu-ray format on Wednesday, days after Toshiba  Corp pulled the plug on the rival HD DVD format, as key studios  and retailers also took Blu-ray's side.
30931
Sony on Monday said it is lowering the cost of its upcoming Blu-ray player to $499 USD. Although it claims the $100 price drop is due to falling production costs and growing demand, Sony's move is likely more in response to rising sales of HD DVD players.
19427
High-definition DVD died Friday after a brief illness. The cause of death was the decision by Wal-Mart to stock only HD DVDs and players using the Blu-ray format.
565797
Top US retailer Wal-Mart on Friday drove another nail a coffin for Toshiba's HD DVD video disks by announcing it would shift to exclusively selling Japanese rival Sony's format Blu-ray.
104520
NEW YORK - Hollywood's love affair with DVDs will face its biggest test beginning Tuesday as Wal-Mart unveils a movie and TV-show download service with participation by all major studios. New releases will be available at    www.walmart.com/videodownloads on the same day they come out on DVD and will cost up to $19.88. Older films will go for up to $9.88. TV episodes will be $1.96 the day after they air. Networks on board include Fox, CW and Viacom's MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Logo and VH1.
394186
Disney announced yesterday that it would release its films on Sony&#39;s Blu-ray DVD format - a week after three other Hollywood studios backed rival Toshiba&#39;s HD-DVD.
630881
Time Warner Inc's Warner  Bros studio on Friday said it would exclusively release  high-definition DVDs in Sony Corp's Blu-ray format, dealing a  big blow to Toshiba Corp's rival HD DVD technology.
75927
In the second hit to HD DVD in less than a day, retailer Best Buy announced Monday afternoon that it will begin showcasing Blu-ray to customers and recommend it as the "preferred format" over HD DVD.
677245
Wal-Mart lowers the bar in the online movie rental war by slashing prices on its basic rental service.
499672
Sony has won Disney&#39;s support for its Blu-ray Disc (BD) hi-definition video optical format. Disney&#39;s home video operation, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, said it will ship &quot;popular new releases and classic
75708
With dominance of the market for high-definition movie discs still up in the air, Sony Corp. said Monday it is including a small surprise with the new Blu-ray disc player it is shipping this week: a price tag $100 lower than previously announced.
22499
Toshiba will discontinue its HD DVD products, it said Tuesday, handing victory to rival high definition disc format Blu-ray Disc.The company will no longer develop, manufacture, and market HD DVD players and recorders.It will reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail markets and aims to cease the businesses altogether by the end of March.But the Japanese electronics giant pledged to provide full product support and after-sales service for owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.Recent changes in the market prompted the decision, Toshiba said. Early this year,&#160;Warner Bros. said it would stop issuing movies on HD DVD&#160;in the coming months and rely exclusively on Blu-ray Disc. The Hollywood studio was one of three major studios remaining in the HD DVD camp, and its defection created widespread belief that the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc was now over.More recently, major U.S. retail chain&#160;Wal-Mart announced it would phase out the sale of HD DVD products, moving to exclusivity with Blu-ray Disc. Electronics retailer Best Buy also said it would back Blu-ray Disc, but it did not say it would stop offering HD DVD.Warner made its decision based on consumer confusion and indifference to high definition movies, an indifference that cost Hollywood in lost revenue, it said. Wal-Mart said U.S. customers preferred Blu-ray Disc movies and hardware. Blu-ray Disc is the high definition disc format championed by Sony.&quot;This once again shows why incompatible and mutually exclusive formats should be avoided at all cost by the industry,&quot; said Carl Gressum, a senior analyst at Ovum. &quot;It reduces profitability and delays customer adoption.&quot;&quot;The big question is, however, the impacts on Toshiba as an electronics company,&quot; he added. &quot;It has after all bet its disc media business on HD DVD, as well as gone for HD DVD integration into some of its laptop PCs. The channel has inventory to clear, and demands from owners of HD DVD players.&quot;Toshiba said its decision came after careful analysis of the long-term impact of continuing the format war, and said a swift decision was called for to help the high definition market develop.The company also pledged to remain a player in the high definition market. Developing HD DVD created many assets for Toshiba and its partners, which include Microsoft, Intel, HP, and Universal Studios, the company said. Toshiba plans to work with these companies to seek future business opportunities.&#160;&#160;