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HD DVD Should Re-think PR After Beatings From Netflix and Best Buy

by Wayde Robson last modified February 13, 2008
Blu-ray doesn

Blu-ray doesn't stand a chance!

When you work for the HD DVD Promotions Group you look forward to Friday.

So far this week - online retailer Netflix announced it’s dropping HD DVD and will begin exclusively stocking Blu-ray. Then Best Buy, the country’s largest consumer electronics retailer, says it’s going to begin endorsing the Blu-ray format.

Best Buy endorses Blu-ray!

What does Best Buy think it is – Ted Kennedy?

Consumers have told us that they want us to help lead the way. We've listened to our customers, and we are responding," said Brian Dunn, Best Buy's president and chief operating officer. "Our decision to shine a spotlight on Blu-ray Disc players and other Blu-ray products is a strong signal to our customers that we believe Blu-ray is the right format choice for them."

Best Buy's Blu-ray endorsement doesn't mean the retailer will stop carrying HD DVD. Now we'll see Best Buy employees pimp the format on the sales-floor.

Great news! Now Blu-ray is right up with there with overpriced cables and extended warranties. People should know better than to take electronics advice from a teenager wearing a name tag.

The HD DVD Promotions Group fired back to the press against the swirling tide taking it deep into the plumbing. But instead of socking John Q. Public between the eye with some of that horseradish and habanero mustard that says: This is WAR, baby!

HD DVD only gave out a meek whimper.

"We have long held the belief that HD DVD is the best format for consumers based on quality and value, and with more than 1 million HD DVD players on the market, it's unfortunate to see Netflix make the decision to only stock Blu-ray titles going forward. While the Best Buy announcement says they will recommend Blu-ray, at least they will continue to carry HD DVD and offer consumers a choice at retail."

HD DVD seriously needs to work on its public relations strategy. The last time I heard a speech that passive I was probably napping.

Let’s see – the first thing HD DVD should do is find someone with experience doing PR for a lost cause. The format needs someone that can pull off the unswerving conviction shtick and make it so believable it’s actually a bit scary.

What the heck is Bagdad Bob up to these days anyway?

by Wayde Robson last modified February 13, 2008

Recent Forum Posts:

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Buckeye_Nut posts on February 17, 2008 12:21
To me it read a little like Rush Limbaugh touting Conservatism... Best Buy has ALWAYS pushed Blu-ray. For them to make this statement is clarifying what was obvious to the rest of us from the start.
Nicely put....

Circuit city is also pushing BD pretty darned hard even though they haven't officially declared it in a press release.
Buckeye_Nut posts on February 17, 2008 12:17
admin;374716
When you work for the HD DVD Promotions Group you look forward to Friday. So far this week - Netflix announced it’s dropping HD DVD and Best Buy, the country’s largest consumer electronics retailer, announced its endorsement for Blu-ray. What does Best Buy think it is – Ted Kennedy?


Discuss "HD DVD Should Re-think PR After Beatings From Netflix and Best Buy" here. Read the article [audioholics.com].


LOL........very funny!
Johnd posts on February 16, 2008 11:17
croseiv;376481
Yeah. I don't understand why they would be phasing out HD DVD altogether. I was about to get an HD-DVD player just so I could rent titles from Netflix. Seems like a bad business decison sort of. The HD-DVD format was appealing to me since the prices are cheaper. I guess it's still too early yet. SD-DVD still looks good to me...


Well...it's not over til it's over croseiv. Toshiba is not the only manufacturer of HD players, and import HD movies, some of which are stellar over US versions, are compatible on all HD players because they do not have that region coding nightmare that BD has. Additionally, soem BD fanboys will have you believe we can't watch "their" movies. Untrue. Some "exclusively BD" movies can be had in HD European or Japanese versions.
croseiv posts on February 16, 2008 10:35
westcott;375419
I could care less what BB says or does. I am FAR more upset with the NetFlix decision to stop providing HD DVD's. I never planned on buying either format. My goal was to rent what I wanted, when I wanted it for all the studio releases.

Well, that is no longer an option and to add insult to injury, my BR player refuses to play many of the BR titles. No such problems with my HD DVD player.

And for what? A marginal video performance difference that is more dependant on the quality of the video transfer than the technology used to display it.

Save your money!!!!


Yeah. I don't understand why they would be phasing out HD DVD altogether. I was about to get an HD-DVD player just so I could rent titles from Netflix. Seems like a bad business decison sort of. The HD-DVD format was appealing to me since the prices are cheaper. I guess it's still too early yet. SD-DVD still looks good to me...
westcott posts on February 14, 2008 12:06
I could care less what BB says or does. I am FAR more upset with the NetFlix decision to stop providing HD DVD's. I never planned on buying either format. My goal was to rent what I wanted, when I wanted it for all the studio releases.

Well, that is no longer an option and to add insult to injury, my BR player refuses to play many of the BR titles. No such problems with my HD DVD player.

And for what? A marginal video performance difference that is more dependant on the quality of the video transfer than the technology used to display it.

Save your money!!!!
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