San Francisco - In another major blow against Toshiba's HD DVD format, the world's largest retailer Wal-Mart said it was shifting sales exclusively to Sony's rival Blu-ray system as the format of choice for high definition videos. Wal-Mart's decision followed similar moves by Best Buy, the largest US consumer electronics chain, and could prove decisive in shifting sentiment behind Sony's format as the industry standard for high definition DVD discs.
Netflix, the online DVD rental leader also said it would shift its high definition movie library exclusively to Blu-ray.
Wal-Mart said it would sell only Blu-ray DVDs and hardware in its 4,000 US stores and phase out HD DVD products by June.
"We have listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases," Gary Severson, head of home entertainment for Wal-Mart's US stores, said in a statement.
The retailers' moves followed a decision by Warner Bros Entertainment in January to will put out high-def movies exclusively in Blu-ray, joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Walt Disney in the Blu-ray camp. The two major studios, Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios, that have sided with HD DVD are said to be reconsidering their choice.
