Tar-zhay goes Blu-ray

[ganthc]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news..._Christmas/810

Time for PH to start drinking that Kool-Aid again.

[chlngr1970]

It is selling Blu Ray players because Sony is PAYING them too...no wonder

j

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

It is selling Blu Ray players because Sony is PAYING them too...no wonder

j

Say what you will...why didn't hd-dvd try to lock this down? It's all about marketing, and when you have the second largest retailer aligning with blu-ray along with the largest rental chain, it's starting to add up.

[dugpa]

I've come to the conclusion that the HD-DVD group couldn't market themselves out of a paper bag. Just look at their ads, which, along with blu-ray's, are playing in theaters on the Moviewatcher pre-show. HD-DVD's has that guy from the Sopranos going on about how much he loves films, and only finally at the end does he mention, oh yeah, I love Toshiba's new HD-DVD (shown with a brief clip from King Kong). It's slow and dull, and might go over with hardcore filmbuffs, but not the average person and certainly not kids. Then look at the Blu-ray ad, tons of clips from hot popular films (Spider-man, etc) moving fast and saying watch them in high definition with blu-ray. J6P is going to see the HD-DVD ad, and most likely their brain will have switched it off half way through and they'll go back to talking to the person next to them. They'll see blu-ray's add, they see something from several fiilms they like and think, "hey, I'll pay attention." Magazine ads I've seen are the same way. Blu-rays shows tons of stills from popular films. HD-DVD's has a made up image of a generic action scene, with a tiny image of the player at the bottom.
While I think for the most part it's content available that will let blu-ray win over hd-dvd, hd-dvd's lack of proper marketing certainly isn't helping them.

[Pirate]

My Target has had the same 10 BDs and HD DVDs for months. I hope this means that they'll at least get more stock.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Say what you will...why didn't hd-dvd try to lock this down?

Because they don't have to. In Q4, Toshiba & Chinese manufs will slash the prices, HD DVD group will blitz the advertising, and players will sell like mad. Target will be losing out on a ton of sales since their player will be double the price and that will require them to reconsider their stance on players.

Also, the thread title is misleading as Target continues to carry HD DVD software and 360 HDAOs - plus they have stated they are neutral in the format war, the Sony player is a result of a payoff.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by Ruined

In Q4, Toshiba & Chinese manufs will slash the prices, HD DVD group will blitz the advertising, and players will sell like mad.

I don't know about that. Prices already got down to $199 and players aren't selling like mad. Just how much lower can they go?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by dugpa

I don't know about that. Prices already got down to $199 and players aren't selling like mad. Just how much lower can they go?

In retail stores, they haven't hit $199. You only see that online, and rarely (the going price is ~$250). We will see what the HD DVD group can pull out of their hat in Q4.

[Shawn Watson]

Originally Posted by dugpa

I've come to the conclusion that the HD-DVD group couldn't market themselves out of a paper bag. Just look at their ads, which, along with blu-ray's, are playing in theaters on the Moviewatcher pre-show. HD-DVD's has that guy from the Sopranos going on about how much he loves films, and only finally at the end does he mention, oh yeah, I love Toshiba's new HD-DVD (shown with a brief clip from King Kong). It's slow and dull, and might go over with hardcore filmbuffs, but not the average person and certainly not kids. Then look at the Blu-ray ad, tons of clips from hot popular films (Spider-man, etc) moving fast and saying watch them in high definition with blu-ray. J6P is going to see the HD-DVD ad, and most likely their brain will have switched it off half way through and they'll go back to talking to the person next to them. They'll see blu-ray's add, they see something from several fiilms they like and think, "hey, I'll pay attention." Magazine ads I've seen are the same way. Blu-rays shows tons of stills from popular films. HD-DVD's has a made up image of a generic action scene, with a tiny image of the player at the bottom.
While I think for the most part it's content available that will let blu-ray win over hd-dvd, hd-dvd's lack of proper marketing certainly isn't helping them.

I agree with this 5000%.

And the article states that they WILL be supporting HD-DVD too and they are not choosing one over the other.

Shawn

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Shawn Watson

I agree with this 5000%.

And the article states that they WILL be supporting HD-DVD too and they are not choosing one over the other.

Shawn

I think there is a heavy lean towards blu when Target is not going to sell Toshiba or RCA players anywhere in ANY of their stores. That's HUGE! Especially when Toshiba wants to sell 1 million by the end of the year. Toshiba already had to drop their sales goals by almost 50% back in June. By losing a chance to sell players at the second largest retailer, they have effectively hurt their chances to reach that goal.

You can safely criticize the hd-dvd promotional group for not getting some sort of deal with Target. You can snidely comment that Sony is paying for the spot on the shelves, but really it's all about marketing. So not only will people just see Blu at Blockbuster, they will also just see blu at Target. Yes, the hda0 will still be sold along with the 360, but those are not counted in the 1 million goal, nor is it likely to be featured as well. Mix in the blu lean at Best Buy as well, and the BDA is really starting to freeze out the hd-dvd group. There are still some chances for hd-dvd to score some key victories, but they can't keep waiting to November. This is, of course, what I have been saying since the beginning of the year.

[ganthc]

Um, I just noticed that Target.com is not selling hd-dvd players on its website anymore:

http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html...node=295368011

Instead there is a Sony upconvert player and a Phillips DVD recorder.

[Ruined]

Fixed.

Originally Posted by ganthc

I just read on my favorite PS3/BD fansite that Target's online system is not selling HD DVD players at the moment and I'm reposting it here for full BD-loving glory and to help the BD FUD train along!!!! And I'll pretend that I noticed it myself too so it looks better!

http://www.target.com/gp/browse.html...node=295368011

Instead there is a Sony upconvert player and a Phillips DVD recorder.

Unless you typically spend your nights searching Target's website for HD DVD players

[Taxi]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Fixed.

Unless you typically spend your nights searching Target's website for HD DVD players

Ruined, if you don't want people to put words in your mouth, then stop putting words into theirs.

I'm getting really tired of this, from both sides. If people can't argue their side without resorting to this kind of tactic, then your argument is probably already lost.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Ruined

Fixed.

Unless you typically spend your nights searching Target's website for HD DVD players

Actually I saw it on eproductwars.com when I was checking how BD is kicking hd-dvd's ass in almost every category. But whatever...

[Derb]

Where I live (cavemanada) I don't see any of these stores. What would be the closest nemesis to this chain? IE Sears, Wallymart, Best Buy, Zellers?

[ganthc]

Target is like Walmart or K-Mart, if y'all have that one, though K-Mart is losing stores all over America too.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Target is like Walmart or K-Mart, if y'all have that one, though K-Mart is losing stores all over America too.

Definelty good than to show more awareness for the JSP crowd. K-Mart morphed into Zellers in Canada. On the west coast anyway.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Target is like Walmart or K-Mart, if y'all have that one, though K-Mart is losing stores all over America too.

Target is a bit more upscale than Walmart though. The stores are usually cleaner, more employees speak English, and not every product in it was made by 5 year old slave labor in China.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Target is a bit more upscale than Walmart though. The stores are usually cleaner, more employees speak English, and not every product in it was made by 5 year old slave labor in China.

True, and it's made even more upscale when you say it as "Tar-zhay"

[SilentBob]

Originally Posted by Derb

Definelty good than to show more awareness for the JSP crowd. K-Mart morphed into Zellers in Canada. On the west coast anyway.

Well K-Mart just disappeared from all of Canada really (around '94-'95) and Wal-Co became Wal-Mart and they keep showing up everywhere. Zellers has supposibly been looked at by Target as a purchase for the company. Still doesn't matter as Zellers doesn't carry any BR/HD-DVD movies at all.

[Derb]

Originally Posted by SilentBob

Zellers has supposibly been looked at by Target as a purchase for the company. Still doesn't matter as Zellers doesn't carry any BR/HD-DVD movies at all.

If that happens, & Target has long term plans to support HD in the US, then titles may become more available up north. Wishfull thinking.

[ganthc]

Another retailer goes blu-only. This one in Australia:

http://www.insideretailing.com.au/ar...articleId=1105

Of course, this is just another success for the hd-dvd format, and it has been part of the game plan all along for Toshiba to lose retail shelf space. It's all in line with the strategy to hope to sell more players in November and December and not market or make deals with retailers.

Unless those deals are to desperately cling on to Universal so that they don't go dual-format.

[SilentBob]

Originally Posted by Derb

If that happens, & Target has long term plans to support HD in the US, then titles may become more available up north. Wishfull thinking.

Well funny thing today. I went to with my friend to get some Wings for tonight and check to see if Zellers got The Tick Vs Season 2 in. Which they didn't BUT they did have a very small display with both HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies. Mostly Fox (of all companies for BR) and only a very few amount of HD-DVDs. Everything was also $30 or more to boot as well, but its a small step forward

[ganthc]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news..._Unchanged/968

The blu-lean of Target continues, now with double the shelf space!

[Ruined]

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000W7O43U

The plot thickens

edit: this thread should be in High Def Hardware, not software - as the OP is in reference to hardware only. Had a problem finding it as a result.

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Ruined

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...sin=B000W7O43U

The plot thickens

edit: this thread should be in High Def Hardware, not software - as the OP is in reference to hardware only. Had a problem finding it as a result.

Does the thickening plot mention the fact that this player is higher priced than the hd-a2? Seems funny to me that this was supposed to be the low price saviour for hd-dvd, right?