A second body blow to HD DVD also came early this week when big-box retailer Best Buy announced from its Minneapolis headquarters that by early next month, America’s largest consumer electronics retailer will begin to “prominently showcase” Blu-ray hardware and software products at its brick-and-mortar stores, as well as on its Web site. (Translation: It will use prime shelf space in its stores’ heavily trafficked areas to offer Blu-ray products that otherwise would be devoted to music CDs and standard DVD titles.)
“Consumers have told us that they want us to help lead the way. We’ve listened to our customers, and we are responding,” Best Buy said in a statement. “Best Buy will recommend Blu-ray as the preferred format. Our decision to shine a spotlight on Blu-ray…players and other Blu-ray products are [sic] a strong signal to our customers that we believe Blu-ray is the right format choice for them.”
On Feb. 12, the HD DVD Promotion Group responded: “While the Best Buy announcement says they will recommend Blu-ray, at least they will continue to carry HD DVD [discs and players] and offer consumers a choice at retail.”
