Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/26/walmart_hdvdvd_buy_in/
US retail giant Wal-Mart is to fill its North American store shelves with a 2m low-cost HD DVD players, a move that could help kick up a gear consumer interest in the next-gen optical disc format.
According to a report (http://www.udn.com/2007/4/16/NEWS/STOCK/STO5/3804769.shtml) by the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, local operation Fukuhiko Electronic will make the players, which will be sold for around $299.
That's around $100 less than the list price of Toshiba's entry-level HD-A2 player, though we've seen it on discount for as little as $330.
The 2m players won't arrive at once - the deal calls for delivery by the end of 2008. But it does suggest Wal-Mart favours HD DVD over rival format Blu-ray Disc - though the retailer currently offers both formats online and in its stores.
Even with an extra 2m HD DVD players in the market - assuming, of course, they're destined for the US, a point that's by no means certain at this stage - that's still likely to leave HD DVD hardware sales well behind Blu-ray's. However, Wal-Mart's move will help drive down HD DVD prices and establish the format as the consumers' choice.
Blockbuster puts its money on Blu-ray (18 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/18/blockbuster_bluray_stocks/
China's largest ecommerce site set to float (1 May 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/01/china_ecommerce_float/
Wal-Mart denies cheap HD DVD deal (27 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/27/walmart_hddvd_saga_continues/
Blu-ray builds big lead in US, mag claims (24 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/24/bluray_leads_in_us/
Sony signals fall in Blu-ray, HD DVD hardware prices (24 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/24/sony_ramps_blue-laser_diode_output/
HD DVD player sales pass 100k mark in US (18 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/18/hd_dvd_player_sales_stats/
LG launches first foray into dual-format HD arena (18 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/18/lg_blu-ray_hd_dvd_player/
Samsung says 'yes' to dual HD DVD, Blu-ray player (13 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/13/samsung_readies_dual-format_hd_player/
Hack exposes AACS 'hole' (10 April 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/10/aacs_hold_exposed/