Best Buy to Recommend Blu-ray over HD DVD

The nation's largest consumer electronics retailer says it will recommend Blu-ray as its preferred high-def format.

According to a just-issued press release, Best Buy says that in endorsing Blu-ray, the company hopes to take a step forward in addressing consumer confusion about high-definition formats

"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."

The news amounts to a one-two punch on the heels of this morning's announcement from Netflix that it would drop HD DVD support.

Though Best Buy says it will continue to carry an assortment of HD DVD products, beginning in early March it says it will more prominently showcase and recommend Blu-ray hardware and software products.

"Best Buy has always believed that the customer will benefit from a widely-accepted single format that would offer advantages such as product compatibility and expanded content choices," explained Dunn. "Because we believe that Blu-ray is fast emerging as that single format, we have decided to focus on Blu-ray products."

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