Target expanding Blu-ray shelf space

by Chris Powell { Sep 19th 2007 at 7:00PM }

After hearing the great news that we're getting 13 new Blu-ray releases this week, even more good news has leaked out. Target is reportedly doubling its Blu-ray shelf space as the retail giant continues to favor Sony's HD format.

According to Video Business, Target has upped its previous 12 Blu-ray title slots to 24 slots and even more at some stores. "You're going to get a clear message when you see more Blu-ray than HD DVD, and you're going to think something is up," said Andy Parsons, from the Blu-ray Disc Association. "The message to the consumer is that one of these [formats] is dominating. You'll go with the masses and pick titles from the one that is likely to win."

We certainly hope Parsons is right. It's time to end this senseless battle!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ruibing @ Sep 19th 2007 7:17PM

Some promotions would be great to go along with that. All the new releases are pretty good.

Luke @ Sep 19th 2007 7:29PM

Man, I hope Blue ray wins, it just sounds so much better than HD DVD. There is just so many D's in the latter.

Random1448 @ Sep 19th 2007 7:31PM

Not only that but Intel just announced they will now also support blu ray. (before they were HD-DVD exclusive) I guess people are starting to realize who the true blu winner will be ;)

Tim Parsons @ Sep 19th 2007 7:35PM

GO BLU-RAY!!!

Geoff Gibson @ Sep 19th 2007 7:39PM

I'm sorry but first. . . when did gamers start giving a rats ass about this stuff?

And second didn't Paramount and Dreamworks side exclusively with HD DVD? How can this even compare to that?. . . Apparently the former got much more media attention since this is the first I ahve heard about this.

HD formats are lame. . . DVD is fine.

Otsego_Undead @ Sep 19th 2007 7:42PM

I totally noticed this last night at my target.. i thought it was just a fluke! thats awesome!

railven @ Sep 19th 2007 7:49PM

@5 Gamers have always followed the technology trends.

When PS launched people where iffy about CDs as the medium but then started to realize the benefits versus cartridge. The same with DVD versus CDs as some first gen PS2 discs still used CD-ROMs.

Now with the PS3 generation it is important because of the same reasons CD and DVD were. If Developers realize this sooner then later we'll see benefits from BluRay discs such as:
More textures, more levels, more features, more etc.

We those who own are PS3fanboys care specifically about BluRay because of its inclusion in the PS3.

I'm all Blu and am glad I can upscale DVDs so screw Paramount/Dreamworks as they care more about money than rep.

Nathan @ Sep 19th 2007 7:59PM

All paramount cares about is the money. That was HD DVD's last ditch effort at staying alive. Paramount knows they screwed up. Bay and Speilburg are strickly blu ray and they let them have it. This target deal may even make them rethink about transformers and then we can all say good buy to HD DVD once and for all.

DownwardMonkey @ Sep 19th 2007 8:19PM

@5 Anyone that thinks DVD is fine hasn't watched a Blu Ray on my TV. Not that you're all invited.

stirlo @ Sep 19th 2007 8:38PM

yeah, some dvd's can look -ok- on a hdtv, but you really need a good 1080p source to really see the full potential....

kingofwale @ Sep 19th 2007 8:52PM

anybody who thinks DVD looks `fine` obviously doestn`t have a 1080P (or even 1080I) TV. the first time I watched DVD on my big screen tv made me feel like watching a VHS tape back in the day.

John Q Sample @ Sep 19th 2007 9:14PM

Let's not all forget that fateful day when Toshiba and Sony failed to make an agreement and decided to make 2 seperate formats instead of 1 combined one. A simple "ok" from both sides would have ended this mindless battle. They are super noobs for not doing that.

I believe the disagreement was whether to put Toshiba's or Sony's name on the disc first, but that's just a hunch.

troy @ Sep 19th 2007 9:56PM

TO GEOFF-

I totally agreee! if im watching a movie, i just want to sit down and watch a casual movie, i dont need to spend more money to see every pore on the characters skin. DVd is just fine. Its just not worth it, and i spend too much on games already to even care about blu ray movies.

Andy @ Sep 19th 2007 10:27PM

This target news will have a much bigger effect on the format tussle than any studio support.

If the stores are stocking only a handful of HD DVD/ Blu-Ray movies it doesn't matter if one has 10 000 more. Consumers only see 12.

Also just a side note, I had a peanut butter and jam sandwich and it was awesome.

Andy @ Sep 19th 2007 10:30PM

@12

I blame this one on Toshiba. Sony gave in to the DVD because it was superior, this time around Toshiba is to blame.

Jason @ Sep 20th 2007 1:35AM

I work for Target and am currently over the Movies, Music and Books departments for a store.

Yesterday I had a visit from one of my regional higher ups, he told me that this October when we trasition getting ready for the holidays we will be expanding our current hd format section to 8ft and it will be mainly Bluray. While we will still carry HD-Dvd for it won't be very many. We will also start carrying a stand alone bluray player in the electronics department this fall. I haven't heard yet if we'll have an HD-dvd player though.

Also seeing as I am the department lead over movies I will tell you that Bluray out sells HD-dvd 3 to 1. At least in my store anyways. But that would be my guess as to why Target is expanding its Bluray selections this fall. And I believe that it will be Retail stores that ultimately decide the fate of the HD wars. Let Paramount/Dreamworks put their movies out on HD-dvd only, we just won't sell them and they'll lose all that money they recieved to sign exclusively with HD-dvd!

GO SONY!!! GO BLURAY!!!