A double whammy today for HD DVD backers. Earlier today, Netflix announced it would cease stocking new HD DVD titles. Now, Best Buy has gotten on the Blu-ray bandwagon, too. According to a report in Twice, Best Buy will actively showcase Blu-ray hardware and discs in stores; the company stated this move is in line with the format its customers want, but it did not state it would stop selling HD DVD discs and hardware.
A retailer like Best Buy wields tremendous power in the consumer electronics industry. In the case of today's Netflix and Best Buy announcements, I simply see further signs of format war fatigue: That the HD DVD format continues to plug away, drawing out consumer confusion, is, I'd imagine, a source of frustration for retailers. I fully expect that Best Buy's move won't be the last we hear of along these lines.
