CES: CC and BBuy Chiefs Comment on WB

[gadgtfreek]

CES: Retail chiefs on the economy, HD DVD - MediaFile

Shapiro: Will the next-gen DVD war go on now that Warner Bros. has sided with Blu Ray?
Schoonover: We are very excited to see progress of any type and we see this as significant progress.
Brad Anderson, Best Buy CEO: It makes it a lot easier to see the likelihood that we get to one format, and it makes it easier for us as retailers to help push it to that one format. It’s time to get that (problem of movies not being on one format or another) solved.

 

[teamerickson]

This quote is better because it's nicer to HD DVD

While there's no doubt Warner Bros.' decision to support Blu-ray exclusively is a major setback to the HD DVD camp, retailers say it's too soon to declare "game over."

Circuit City CEO Philip J. Schoonover, who has had precious little to be happy about of late, said the move is a sign that the battle is starting to shake out.

"We're very excited to see progress of any type," Schoonover said. "We see this as progress."

The head of consumer electronics merchandising at Target said the move "probably moves things a little bit," but said consumers are still largely sitting on the sidelines until there is a single choice. "By no means do we think we are ready to declare a winner."

Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson said the decision will help the company decide where to put its energy. "It makes it easier for us as a retailer to push it to one format." But he said, it's still a tough sell as long as retailers can't promise a customer that the next hit release will play on their pricey new player.

Retailers mixed on impact of Warner's HD DVD snub | Beyond Binary - A blog by Ina Fried - CNET News.com

 

[gadgtfreek]

Im not worried about which ones nicer, Im just glad to see that they are glad this is HOPEFULLY resolving.

Some retailer is going to have to make a stance and support only one to help move this along. I have a feeling BBuy will be the first.

Strike while the iron is hot.

 

[Zookster]

In related news:

Shapiro: The transition to digital television comes in 2009. How do you see that playing out?

This is one of the biggest risks our industry has.

The number of converter boxes that are going to be required, the potential impact on television manufacturing in such a brief window of time could put tremendous pressure on all of us trying to solve those problems for our customers.

Hello, brief window? We've known about this transition for over 2 years already and still have a year to go. You can hardly even find a new TV over 20" without a digital tuner thanks to the laws that were passed.

 

[gadgtfreek]

In related news:



Hello, brief window? We've known about this transition for over 2 years already and still have a year to go. You can hardly even find a new TV over 20" without a digital tuner thanks to the laws that were passed.

Come on, we all waited till the last day to write term papers. These guys just get paid million dollar bonus's to do it.

 

[Zookster]

More on this from an AP story published today:
SignOnSanDiego.com > News > AP News

 

[Mdvalenz]

The retailers should be happy since the Blu-Ray players and Movies give them a higher profit.

 

[gadgtfreek]

The retailers should be happy since the Blu-Ray players and Movies give them a higher profit.

Now dont go making sense around here, some cant handle it.

 

[vurbano]

The retailers should be happy since the Blu-Ray players and Movies give them a higher profit.

The consumer will be thrilled. And before the BD brain trust responds in predictable fashion, the software has been given away at half price. That aint gonna continue for long.

 

[BobMurdoch]

Ironically, this will make me buy less HD Media. Titles like Ratatouille will still be standard DVDs so the kiddies can watch them in their rooms and in the car.

The only things I will buy in HD will be the big event films or action titles, maybe those titles geared towards adults.....