Woolworths backs Blu-ray Disc, drops HD DVD

February 07 , 2008

UK high street retail chain, Woolworths, reportedly the UK's biggest retailer of nextgen
DVD discs, is to exclusively back Blu-ray Disc moving forward this year. The chain has announced it is only to stock Blu-ray discs in store from March, with HD DVD movies being dropped from shop shelves, only to be sold online.

The move is apparently the a result of a decision made after Christmas sales stats
were studied - it seems Blu-ray discs outsold HD DVDs by ten-to-one in “Woolies”
stores over the festive sales period. "Sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of High Definition DVD," says 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 no where 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."

From March, Woolworths stores will have a Blu-Ray Disc chart and back catalogue
in all 820 stores.

For more information visit Blu-ray Disc Association Website.
To read the press release in its entirety visit the Blu-ray Disc News 2008-02-07.

About the Blu-ray Disk Association

In February 2002 a group of nine leading electronics companies formed what is now known as the Blu-ray Disc Association. The Association’s primary aims are to develop and promote the Blu-ray standard. Since then the Association has grown to more than 250 supporters. Visit the Blu-ray Disk Association website for more information.

Blu-ray Disc is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

More Blu-ray News . . .