http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=180674
"Woolworths (yes, it still exists) has become the first UK retailer to drop HD-DVD from its shelves, leaving Blu-ray as the sole hi-def format on sale in its shops.
The decision was made by Woolworths bosses after Blu-Ray outsold HD-DVD by ten-to-one at its shops over Christmas, which it says is mainly down to the success of the PlayStation
Warner Bros. bailing out of the later format probably had something to do with it as well, we reckon.
"Sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of high definition DVD," said Woolworths DVD buyer Steven McGunigel.
"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."
Woolworths will continue to sell HD-DVD online, but if you want to buy them in the shops you'll have to walk next door... to HMV.
It's not a massive blow for the increasingly bleak-looking format, but if other retailers follow Woolworths' lead it could get even worse for them that bought Xbox 360 HD-DVD players.
UPDATE: Toshiba's European Consumer Products GM, Olivier Van Wynendaele, has offered his comments to CVG:
"We have been hugely successful in expanding the number of consumers owning HD DVD players. UK consumers can now pick-up an HD DVD player for less than £150, around half the cost of other HD formats. Even before pricing reached this level, HD DVD represented more than 60% of the overall standalone high definition market.
"Just as importantly for movie retailers, HD DVD has always enjoyed greater software sales per player than any other HD format. In fact, HD DVD owners have already bought around 3.5 movies each, compared to less than one movie sold per Blu ray device."
I posted this for Toshiba's response at the end. They really put a lot of a twist on this one,
"...compared to less than one movie sold per Blu ray device" I'm assuming that includes the PS3s? "HD DVD represented more than 60% of the overall standalone high definition market" wait, this can't include PS3s, but then, why did they include it in the first quote?
"Just as importantly for movie retailers, HD DVD has always enjoyed greater software sales per player than any other HD format" -and that isn't important if there are far less players sold with a higher attachment rate, blu ray still outsells it in software. and thats what matters.
