UK retailer confirms Blu-Ray as next-gen winner
One of the UK’s biggest retailer, Woolworths, has announced today that it will be the first major retailer to completely drop the HD-DVD format from all of its stores nationwide.
Announcements in recent weeks, including the switch to Blu-Ray of several leading film companies, have suggested that the HD DVD was losing the war but today’s announcement is the most serious blow yet in an increasingly one-sided market.
Woolworths stated that over the festive period they were selling 10 Blu-Ray films to every one HD-DVD. According to their figures, around 750,000 homes in the UK are capable of playing Blu-Ray films – the vast majority via their PS3. The number of HD-DVD users is a fraction of this.
The changes will be introduced in March this year in every one of Woolies 820 stores.
PlayStation owners will be smirking today, but history was always on our side. The PlayStation 2 was the single biggest driver of the introduction of the original DVD format and began the revolution which has led to us ditching the VHS video tape.
The next generation format for movies WILL be the Blu-Ray. You can continue building up your collection now here
Woolworths are a class act. Not long before many other retailers follow.
Yay woolworths, Its about time the HD-DVD camp tucket their tail between their legs and left the building.
Fantastic news. It won’t be long before HD-DVD is consigned to the history books. I pity those XBox owners who went out and bought an add-on drive! Ha!