http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6537673.html

Circuit City discounts HD DVD for quick inventory sell-off
Also cuts price of Toshiba players
By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 3/3/2008

MARCH 3 | Circuit City is closing out its HD DVD stock and expects to be rid of the products within the month.

The chain is eager to start offering consumers Blu-ray Disc as the one choice for high-definition, believing that the end of format war should encourage mass customer adoption, spokesman Jim Babb said.

In one deal, valid between March 2 and March 8, Circuit City shoppers can purchase three $29.99-priced HD DVDs and get two HD DVD titles for free. Featured sale discs include Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s The Bourne Ultimatum and Knocked Up and Paramount Home Entertainment’s Transformers and Mission Impossible: III.

Additionally, at the chain’s Web site, Toshiba’s HD-A30 player is being advertised for $129, representing a $70 chop from already reduced pricing in January.

Shortly after Toshiba announced it was dropping support for HD DVD, the manufacturer started helping retailers sell off players with price credits. These cuts followed Toshiba’s widespread sales earlier in the year in an attempt to boost HD DVD following Warner Home Video’s exit from the format.

“We are in clearance mode, and we expect to go through the remaining inventory in the next few weeks,” said Babb. “We’ve said all along that it would have been better for consumers and retailers if we had started with one format. Now, the end of the format conflict will mean people can invest with a lot more confidence in gear that they know will be useful for years to come.”

Babb noted that Toshiba HD DVD players are still worthwhile products because of their ability to upconvert standard-definition DVDs to near high-def quality.

“The way they are priced makes them pretty attractive, and it upconverts your DVDs,” said Babb. “That makes them still an option for people.”

He didn’t specify whether the disappearance of HD DVD will necessarily grant Blu-ray wider berth on shelves. Yet Circuit City is hopeful that Blu-ray will catch on with mainstream customers.

“We certainly recognize that the future in this is Blu-ray,” said Babb.

believing that the end of format war should encourage mass customer adoption, spokesman Jim Babb said.
That's what they all say and are hoping. We'll have to wait and see though.

B3G2 is a terrible, terrible, terrible deal.

That's what they all say and are hoping. We'll have to wait and see though.

They all say it because they need it to happen. Do you think Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Circuit City are happy with the decline of DVD sales like the studios seem to be? They all want to sell something ... they fear Comcast, DirecTV, Disk Network, Google, MicroSoft, Apple and other up and coming content providers.

If DirecTV charges $4.99 for a HD movie, both DirecTV and the studio makes some $$ but Wal-Mart and Best Buy have NO CHANCE in that game. They want that reason for you to come to the store every Tuesday to look at the new release and buy other junk ....

Again?

That's what they all say and are hoping. We'll have to wait and see though.

Mass consumer adoption? I'd be very surprised. The majority of people aren't even thinking about BD.

Didn't they just do this a few weeks ago under the 'guise' of an error in pricing in their computer system....:D

Didn't they just do this a few weeks ago under the 'guise' of an error in pricing in their computer system....:D

That's why they are known as "Circus City"

B3G2 is a terrible, terrible, terrible deal.
At Amazon prices, it's a pretty good deal. At CC prices, it's an absolute joke.

Are we 100% sure they aren't clearing them out to make room for Divx-HD? :eek:

So CC is not going to stock the WB HD DVD's that will be released until the end of May?:confused:

So CC is not going to stock the WB HD DVD's that will be released until the end of May?:confused:

You'll have to buy Twister somewhere else.

Mass consumer adoption? I'd be very surprised. The majority of people aren't even thinking about BD.

They will be over the next two years. Look, we have been into this hobby long enough to know how it works. The retailers will start transitioning in more and more BD players and less DVD players. More and more BD software will be brought in to Hollywood Video, BB and rental chains as well as retailers to sell and DVD's will be transitioned out. This is no different than what happened with VHS and analog tvs.

When the only DVD player Best Buy has to sell cost 69.00 and Best Buy has several BD players that are 150.00 and up to go with that HDTV they bought and the majority of discs in stores and rental are BD's, it will change and mass adoption will happen.
Why anyone who is in the know thinks this won't happen is maybe just a bit more cynical and a naysayer than I am. :)

"In one deal, valid between March 2 and March 8, Circuit City shoppers can purchase three $29.99-priced HD DVDs and get two HD DVD titles for free. Featured sale discs include Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s The Bourne Ultimatum and Knocked Up and Paramount Home Entertainment’s Transformers and Mission Impossible: III."

Seriously, they think this is a sale: 5 movies for $90 ($18 each). Is it any wonder CC continually loses money and Best Buy makes over a billion dollars per year now. I might consider buying Atonement for $21 at BB (probably with the intention of watching and re-selling), but I'm not ponying up $90 at this point in time.

Amazon has the Bourne Trilogy for $30 (3 movies).

They will be over the next two years. Look, we have been into this hobby long enough to know how it works. The retailers will start transitioning in more and more BD players and less DVD players. More and more BD software will be brought in to Hollywood Video, BB and rental chains as well as retailers to sell and DVD's will be transitioned out. This is no different than what happened with VHS and analog tvs.

When the only DVD player Best Buy has to sell cost 69.00 and Best Buy has several BD players that are 150.00 and up to go with that HDTV they bought and the majority of discs in stores and rental are BD's, it will change and mass adoption will happen.
Why anyone who is in the know thinks this won't happen is maybe just a bit more cynical and a naysayer than I am. :)

because that is exactly how sacd and dvd-a were adopted by the masses.

because that is exactly how sacd and dvd-a were adopted by the masses.
Because that's what happens when you have two competing formats instead a single one.

because that is exactly how sacd and dvd-a were adopted by the masses.

UGH! How many times do we have to cover this. The fact is there is NO comparison to video, but if you want it to fail that is your issue.

Because that's what happens when you have two competing formats instead a single one.

God could come and strike some dead and they will still be diehard naysayers.

You'll have to buy Twister somewhere else.
Just buy an XA2, upconvert Twister SD DVD and call it a day.

So CC is not going to stock the WB HD DVD's that will be released until the end of May?:confused:

My local CCs have not had a new HD DVD release from any studio or restocked the HD DVD section for at least 6 weeks. They just waited until well after the fact to send the memo.

UGH! How many times do we have to cover this. The fact is there is NO comparison to video, but if you want it to fail that is your issue.

Blu-Ray is AUDIO and video, so there is clearly SOME comparison. For Blu-Ray to take the market it will have to be available to transport. I believe they are already working on this with a digital copy being available on some (Fox) Blu-Ray discs (i.e. the upcoming Juno), which is iTunes/iPod-compatible. So, as far as I can tell, Blu-Ray has already one-upped SACD and DVD-A in that area (could you burn either of those formats to MP3 to transport?). There are obviously SOME differences, since less people like to transport video compared to audio.

Blu-Ray requires a large HDTV (and stereo system) to be truly appreciated -- SACD and DVD required a stereo system to be truly appreciated. I think you'd be surprised how many people buy a HDTV for $1000 or more dollars and then use the television's speakers (you know some people actually do use those speakers -- a lot more than you think).

I guess that means I am Legend HDDVD won't be sold at CC as it comes out April 8.

I hope that the Blu-ray titles take over the HDDVD space movies will be much easier to find and they may sell better. They have about 70 spaces but carry more than twice the number of titles so you have to look behind them to find many movies which I have heard people complaining that they didn't have the movie. It was the same for HDDVD until recently they have the same alloted space but they now have only 200 discs left as some spaces only have one title and some empty spaces.

God could come and strike some dead and they will still be diehard naysayers.

You are going to pretend to know the future? The only thing I would say is that we should all be rooting for Blu-ray. But the assumption that a given technology is going to replace 120,000,000+ players that have spent over $140,000,000,000 for their DVD libraries is a MIGHTY BIG assumption.

Blu-Ray is AUDIO and video, so there is clearly SOME comparison. For Blu-Ray to take the market it will have to be available to transport. I believe they are already working on this with a digital copy being available on some (Fox) Blu-Ray discs (i.e. the upcoming Juno), which is iTunes/iPod-compatible. So, as far as I can tell, Blu-Ray has already one-upped SACD and DVD-A in that area (could you burn either of those formats to MP3 to transport?). There are obviously SOME differences, since less people like to transport video compared to audio.

Blu-Ray requires a large HDTV (and stereo system) to be truly appreciated -- SACD and DVD required a stereo system to be truly appreciated. I think you'd be surprised how many people buy a HDTV for $1000 or more dollars and then use the television's speakers (you know some people actually do use those speakers -- a lot more than you think).


Anecdotal yes, but what I have seen with J6P and many who are cost conscious over the last year has shocked me. My ex who is not into theatre or the like bought a 1500.00 plasma and a surround sound system. Believe me or not she was not the type to spend this kind of money on a tv. Many want these big screen tv's. Listen to people in the general public talking about them and not just people in stores where HD is sold.

There is an influencing effect I have had on some as well who didn't have setups. They have come over and seen what I have done with my dedicated media room and they have started their own. It is catching on big time. People who have bought a tv and sound system are asking me to help set it up correctly. These are friends of friends who know I am into this. This is in a lower to middle income area here in Oregon.


SACD and DVD A are only sold on the net and back in the day B&M stores had very little display and promotion dedicated to those formats. They weren't sold or rented like movies are with Net flix, BB and Hollywood video. You really only heard about the HI res audio formats if you went to the stores and stumbled upon them. BD is visible everywhere in comparison.

Just buy an XA2, upconvert Twister SD DVD and call it a day.

Isn't Twister one of the Worst PQ DVDs of all time?

how can cc be phasing out hd dvd when they never really carried them at all. you had to bring an archeological team with you to find any hd dvd players at their stores. their support was rather tepid to say the least.

has several BD players that are 150.00


$150 for a BD player, where?

B3G2 is a terrible, terrible, terrible deal.
Agreed, lets see some real price cutting!:D

God could come and strike some dead and they will still be diehard naysayers.


ah....now I understand you believe in God :eek:

oops.....please no religious debates :D

:DYou are going to pretend to know the future? The only thing I would say is that we should all be rooting for Blu-ray. But the assumption that a given technology is going to replace 120,000,000+ players that have spent over $140,000,000,000 for their DVD libraries is a MIGHTY BIG assumption.

The future is now! Isn't that a BD quote?

How can fact be assumption?

The retailers are starting to do what I have said they are doing. It is not happening because I said it will. I am saying it will because it is happening.

Stores are bringing in BD in both hardware and software. How long has it been around? A little over a year? How long did DVD take to mass adopt? DVD started in 97-98.

The biggest selling point will be what you mentioned. All of us rooting for BD which is really synonymous with word of mouth. Actually experiencing BD will make it sell. You and I will be the sellers as we talk it up just like DVD and other tech.

ah....now I understand you believe in God :eek:

oops.....please no religious debates :D

I don't have to believe in something simply because I use it for hyperbole. :D

Anecdotal yes, but what I have seen with J6P and many who are cost conscious over the last year has shocked me. My ex who is not into theatre or the like bought a 1500.00 plasma and a surround sound system. Believe me or not she was not the type to spend this kind of money on a tv. Many want these big screen tv's. Listen to people in the general public talking about them and not just people in stores where HD is sold.

There is an influencing effect I have had on some as well who didn't have setups. They have come over and seen what I have done with my dedicated media room and they have started their own. It is catching on big time. People who have bought a tv and sound system are asking me to help set it up correctly. These are friends of friends who know I am into this. This is in a lower to middle income area here in Oregon.


SACD and DVD A are only sold on the net and back in the day B&M stores had very little display and promotion dedicated to those formats. They weren't sold or rented like movies are with Net flix, BB and Hollywood video. You really only heard about the HI res audio formats if you went to the stores and stumbled upon them. BD is visible everywhere in comparison.

And many of thsoe people, like your ex, will spend the money on an HD set, even less will spend the money on a surround sound system, and even fewer will even think aboutr upgrading to BD after spending all that money on an HD set. Most will be happy with their upconverted DVD, HD from Cable/satellite, and their usually crappy surround system they bought. Plus the expensive Monster cables they were tricked into buying. They don't want to spend anymore money.
eople
I have plenty of friends who have more than enough money to buy any set they want(people that make 225K to 325k between both spouses). But in the end they are frugal and might buy an HD set, but have no desire at all to spend the money and get a BD player and pay alot for the discs. They are happy with Comcast On demand from their cable box and their DVDs. An dthey listen with teh TV speakers or a cheap surround system.
People on this forum don't come anywhere close to representing the masses.

So CC is not going to stock the WB HD DVD's that will be released until the end of May?:confused:

To be honest, I'm starting to worry that Warner will stop releasing HD DVDs long before the end of May. If no stores, except maybe amazon.com, are willing to stock HD DVDs, why would they even bother to press any discs at all?

I've preordered both Bonnie & Clyde and Twister, so I really hope they release all the titles they've announced, but it doesn't look good, I think.

You are going to pretend to know the future? The only thing I would say is that we should all be rooting for Blu-ray. But the assumption that a given technology is going to replace 120,000,000+ players that have spent over $140,000,000,000 for their DVD libraries is a MIGHTY BIG assumption.

You are reciting the numbers from when DVD overcame VHS....

And many of thsoe people, like your ex, will spend the money on an HD set, even less will spend the money on a surround sound system, and even fewer will even think aboutr upgrading to BD after spending all that money on an HD set. Most will be happy with their upconverted DVD, HD from Cable/satellite, and their usually crappy surround system they bought. Plus the expensive Monster cables they were tricked into buying. They don't want to spend anymore money.
eople
I have plenty of friends who have more than enough money to buy any set they want(people that make 225K to 325k between both spouses). But in the end they are frugal and might buy an HD set, but have no desire at all to spend the money and get a BD player and pay alot for the discs. They are happy with Comcast On demand from their cable box and their DVDs. An dthey listen with teh TV speakers or a cheap surround system.
People on this forum don't come anywhere close to representing the masses.


Completely agree. My friends (who do drink beer) have all bought HDTVs, differing sizes and resolutions, depending on what they value. Some observations :

1. Main reason to buy: TV Sports for the men. To many this is the ONLY reason.
2. Most of the women could care less about HD. As long as their shows are on and look good, fine. My wife started being sold on HD when she saw "Desperate Housewives" and others, but she still has no issue watching it on SD. Content is king.
3. Watching movies, especially for busy families is a tough fit. My family usually watches movies at the theater first, on VOD second and DVD third. Introducing HDM into this was great for me, but my family did not make a beeline towards the HD-DVD player (HD-A35). My kid, who loves DVD's will watch DVD's on her 20" SD TV on a $40 player because she can see all of the indie movies she loves. Again, content is king.
4. My mother in law, who lives with us, is scared by surround sound. She prefers the two speaker setup, even when I put in the wiring in her in-law apartment for it, she wasn't interested.


Seeing this, the step up to HDM when the basic functions are already being filled is hard to justify unless there is some great new feature that sells it to everyone, not just me.

Blu-Ray requires a large HDTV (and stereo system) to be truly appreciated -- SACD and DVD required a stereo system to be truly appreciated. I think you'd be surprised how many people buy a HDTV for $1000 or more dollars and then use the television's speakers (you know some people actually do use those speakers -- a lot more than you think).

You are correct in saying that audio quality takes a back seat to video for most people, which is why I think we should qualify your statement by saying that SACD needs a "REALLY GOOD" stereo system to be truly appreciated. Even though SACD and DVD-Audio are clearly superior in sound quality to CD, that fact is lost on most consumers simply because they don't have an audio setup capable of revealing the improvement in an easily noticeable way. It's small wonder these formats never took off.

This is why the SACD/DVD-A analogy as applied to HDM has never worked for me. The perceivable difference between even an entry level HDTV and a top-of-the-line model of the same size and resolution will always be smaller than the difference between an entry level stereo or surround system (which could cost just a couple of hundred dollars) and a megabuck "audiophile" setup that could show off the improvements that SACD/DVD-A have to offer.

Even if you match specs on paper (wattage, distortion, frequency response, dynamic range, speaker size, etc.), there are many more variables that can screw up the quality of playback from an SACD or DVD-A disc than there are for playing back an HD video disc. Room size, reflectivity, damping, speaker placement, listener placement, air conditioning noise and other excess environmental sounds can all snowball to overwhelm any improvement offered by the hi-rez audio formats to the point where it's no longer noticeable. These are all factors completely independent of the playback chain. On the other hand, assuming a TV's basic setting are reasonably correct, most of the external factors that can mess up an HDTV picture can be solved simply by turning down the lights.

People just are more sensitive to differences that they can see than they are to what they can hear. It's easy to say that people don't care about the difference between SD-DVD and HDTV now because most viewers haven't reached the stage where their minds have accepted HDTV as the standard for how TV "should" look. It's still a cool novelty. And like all novelties, people are happy when they can get it, yet they can accept it when they can't. But this won't last forever. Eventually, the novelty of HD images will wear off and it will be accepted as the status quo. Once this condition does set in, it'll be interesting to see how long people continue to be satisfied with SD-DVD.

You'll have to buy Twister somewhere else.


That's actually a release I am looking forward to :)


I hope I am still able to buy it somewhere and Warner doesn't pull a Paramount.

You are reciting the numbers from when DVD overcame VHS....

dvds didn't require HDTV

not everyone has an HDTV, and it's going to take years before HDTV adoption hits 100%.

BR will be lucky to hit mainstream. It looks like laserdisc going forward until downloads/flash media replace it.

BR will be lucky to hit mainstream. It looks like laserdisc going forward until downloads/flash media replace it.

I agree. It wasn't just the format war that got in the way of mainstream adoption of HDM, although some would have liked us to believe that was the case. When I looked at the post-format-war BD player and media prices at Best Buy and Magnolia, it was as if I had gone back in time. The format war is over, but I don't see studios and manufacturers rushing to get mainstream adoption. Mainstream adoption will be a long slow process and may be overtaken in the meantime by other ways to get content. In the meantime, how many releases will we see this year? Sony has promised to double their number, but I remain skeptical about the other studios.

Stores like Circuit City really believe that the end of the format war will facilitate Blu-ray's mainstream adoption. They are getting ready for BD players and media to "fly off the shelves." I'm not sure what they expect with the recession and the "incredible shrinking dollar." It will be interesting to see what the sales numbers really amount to. At present, I don't see how the few HD DVD players and the dwindling HD DVD media on Circuit City's shelves have really gotten in the way of BD sales. It's as if they believe, "If we can just get rid of the rest of this HD DVD stuff, Blu-ray will really take off."

You are reciting the numbers from when DVD overcame VHS....

Bluray is in its what second year on the market ?

how many stand alone (not counting consoles or bd-rom ) did it sell in its first year ? How many is it tracking to sell in its second ? I'm talking in the usa btw

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/cemadvdsales.html

IS bluray on track to sell over 1m units this year alone ? If it can't keep up with dvd's numbers than it wont ever replace it

Mass consumer adoption? I'd be very surprised. The majority of people aren't even thinking about BD.

+1

B3G2 is a terrible, terrible, terrible deal.

I agree,$90 for 5 HD DVD's?...that's $18 a piece.
Call me when they are <$12.

Anecdotal yes, but what I have seen with J6P and many who are cost conscious over the last year has shocked me. My ex who is not into theatre or the like bought a 1500.00 plasma and a surround sound system. Believe me or not she was not the type to spend this kind of money on a tv. Many want these big screen tv's. Listen to people in the general public talking about them and not just people in stores where HD is sold.

There is an influencing effect I have had on some as well who didn't have setups. They have come over and seen what I have done with my dedicated media room and they have started their own. It is catching on big time. People who have bought a tv and sound system are asking me to help set it up correctly. These are friends of friends who know I am into this. This is in a lower to middle income area here in Oregon.


Your anecdotal evidence leaves out the reason why "most" people are buying the "Flat" screen TV's. It is not for increased quality in picture. It is for the simple form factor that takes up less room and provides a larger screen than most people are used to from years past. People can no get a screen size that used to require a large amount of real estate in something they can hang on a wall or put on a small stand. Many of these people also only watch SDTV on their HDTV's and could care less about adding extra speakers.

Josh F.

Your anecdotal evidence leaves out the reason why "most" people are buying the "Flat" screen TV's. It is not for increased quality in picture. It is for the simple form factor that takes up less room and provides a larger screen than most people are used to from years past. People can no get a screen size that used to require a large amount of real estate in something they can hang on a wall or put on a small stand. Many of these people also only watch SDTV on their HDTV's and could care less about adding extra speakers.

Josh F.


Yup , if my dad were to upgrade from his 60 inch projection tv he would gain most likely 3 feet in depth and much more in the surrounding area of the room.

his problem is he wants to go bigger than 60 inches and right now there aren't enough good choices

dvds didn't require HDTV

not everyone has an HDTV, and it's going to take years before HDTV adoption hits 100%.

BR will be lucky to hit mainstream. It looks like laserdisc going forward until downloads/flash media replace it.

HD adoption will never be 100%. Telephones and analog TVs never reached 100%.

Good :)

I agree,$90 for 5 HD DVD's?...that's $18 a piece.
Call me when they are <$12.

*ring*----*ring*
www.deepdiscount.com & www.frys.com would like to talke to you. :)

*ring*----*ring*
www.deepdiscount.com & www.frys.com would like to talke to you. :)

Its already starting...
Amazon has The Bourne Trilogy: Set of 3 HD DVDs for $30 with Free Shipping.
The Discovery Store has the Planet Earth & Sunrise Earth HD DVD Set for $50 with Free Shipping.

There are going to be some amazing deals for the people who are lucky enough to have a spot in their AV rack for an HD DVD player.

Bluray is in its what second year on the market? how many stand alone (not counting consoles or bd-rom ) did it sell in its first year ? How many is it tracking to sell in its second ? I'm talking in the usa btw
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/cemadvdsales.html

IS bluray on track to sell over 1m units this year alone? If it can't keep up with dvd's numbers than it wont ever replace it


Everyone is in agreement that most homes do NOT have HDTV sets. How many homes had DVD ready TV sets when DVD rolled out? How much competition did DVD have other than VHS where it offered vastly superior PQ/AQ and no more “Please be kind, rewind” messages? Hint: no VOD or downloading then. If its keeps pace with DVD adoption then it’s doing MUCH better than DVD did.


Originally Posted by webphilosopher
I agree. It wasn't just the format war that got in the way of mainstream adoption of HDM, although some would have liked us to believe that was the case. When I looked at the post-format-war BD player and media prices at Best Buy and Magnolia, it was as if I had gone back in time. The format war is over, but I don't see studios and manufacturers rushing to get mainstream adoption. Mainstream adoption will be a long slow process and may be overtaken in the meantime by other ways to get content.

At the minimum, the end of the HDM format WAR removed the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) from getting in to the HDM market for many that did not want to jump into the middle of a VHS/BETA type war. While it’s true the economy has seen better times, more people will begin to enter the market because of the FUD factor is gone. I do not expect to see “studios and manufacturers rushing to get mainstream adoption” at the cost of profits. I do expect to see price decreases over time as they move toward the main stream, but it’s not going to happen over the few weeks since Toshiba bailed, but over months and years.


Originally Posted by Hughmc
Anecdotal yes, but what I have seen with J6P and many who are cost conscious over the last year has shocked me. My ex who is not into theatre or the like bought a 1500.00 plasma and a surround sound system. Believe me or not she was not the type to spend this kind of money on a tv. Many want these big screen tv's. Listen to people in the general public talking about them and not just people in stores where HD is sold.

There is an influencing effect I have had on some as well who didn't have setups. They have come over and seen what I have done with my dedicated media room and they have started their own. It is catching on big time. People who have bought a tv and sound system are asking me to help set it up correctly. These are friends of friends who know I am into this. This is in a lower to middle income area here in Oregon.
People often forget that a lot of products were sold and will be sold on their perceived value. A more crude way to put it, is everyone wants to win the pissing contest (including me)


Originally Posted by SugarBowl
You'll have to buy Twister somewhere else.

COW