|
|
Posted by Richard C. on 10/05/49 11:37
X-No-archive: yes
"Allan" <Spamsucks@finallykantica22admitstobebrianlamb.org> wrote in message
news:s4fls1tiqmm04e22biajgecj1dv97flrqp@4ax.com...
> http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6299476.html
>
> Retail preps for high-def
> But initial ordering appears limited
> By Susanne Ault 1/13/2006
>
> JAN. 13 | Retailers are scrambling to merchandise high-definition
> discs following Warner Home Video’s unveiling of the industry’s first
> high-def releases.
>
> As of last week, stores knew street dates for Warner’s HD DVD
> titles—Batman Begins and Million Dollar Baby on March 28 and Harry
> Potter and the Goblet of Fire on April 11—though not much else. Warner
> spokeswoman Pamela Godfrey said formal solicitations for the HD DVD
> titles, including pricing and order due dates, would be sent to
> retailers shortly.
>
> HD DVD cases are likely to be the same size as standard disc boxes.
> The new format should be distinguished by clear, color-coded HD DVD
> banners, Godfrey said.
>
> But despite lingering unknowns, retailers are starting to decide how
> they will display titles—for those that will order them at all, that
> is:
>
> • Best Buy, Circuit City, Virgin and others plan to stock titles in
> both high-def formats. Some of which are ordering 5% to 10% of the
> copies they order of standard DVD versions.
>
> “We did a survey of 3,000 people, and 68% of them can’t even tell you
> what HD [DVD] is,” Video Buyers Group president Ted Engen said. “We’re
> going to be a bit conservative. If we have a guy that brought in 100
> copies of Batman Begins, he’ll probably take eight to 10 copies of it
> on HD DVD.”
>
> • New England chain Newbury Comics won’t stock titles on either format
> in 2006, and even some national retailers say they might hold back
> title ordering until player sales are robust.
>
> Said Newbury buyer Ian Leshin: “We don’t think there will be a wide
> market for this in the next three years. We’ll let big-box stores
> fight over what happens [with the formats].”
>
> • Retailers’ promo budgets for HD DVD and Blu-ray will be led by
> studio initiatives or not at all. At the least, retailers hope for
> some consumer education materials on the next-generation hardware.
>
> “Our marketing support will be guided by what we believe to be the
> most durable consumer solution,” Best Buy spokesman Brian Lucas said.
> “Best Buy … does believe one format will live and one will die.”
>
> • Packaging details remain under discussion, but early rentailing
> plans call for blue rental cases for Blu-ray titles. HD DVD and
> Blu-ray stickers might be stamped on sell-through boxes.
>
> “We can see consumers picking up [a copy] and not realizing what they
> have,” National Entertainment Buying Group president Todd Zaganiacz
> observed.
>
> • With few titles officially set for spring, many retailers plan to
> slot HD DVD editions next to their standard DVD counterparts on
> shelves. Already juggling multiple DVD versions, stores are concerned
> about introducing yet another SKU to customers.
>
> “New releases will be side by side as widescreen, fullscreen, Blu-ray,
> HD-DVD,” Hastings director of marketing Mason Goodfellow said. “It’s
> going to take more time to work up a buy. We already have a jumble of
> SKUs, [so] what’s a couple more?”
>
> Days following Warner’s HD DVD slate announcement, Amazon.com did
> carve out a specific HD DVD section, highlighting coming players and
> titles. It’s likely the site would do the same for Blu-ray, coinciding
> with other retail decisions to make both formats available.
>
> Announcements at the recent Consumer Electronics Show confirmed that
> studios will release high-def titles in either HD DVD or Blu-ray
> formats, or in both. But Warner was alone in setting street dates.
>
> Warner’s HD DVD films are timed to the launch of Toshiba’s compatible
> player. Suppliers, including Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, will
> launch Blu-ray titles when players for the format debut, expected to
> be in the spring at the earliest.
>
> Most retailers have measured hopes for early sales.
>
> “It’s important to recognize that high-def video will initially appeal
> to only a small percentage of the video consumer base,” Virgin buyer
> Chris Anstey said. “Most people are perfectly satisfied with the image
> quality of standard DVDs. Although the potential for high-definition
> is very exciting, we shouldn’t expect huge numbers out of the gate.”
>
====================================
The ONLY way that HD discs will sell in any quantity is if they have a
standard DVD readable layer.
Do they?
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|