Kmart: We're Purple

[jed]

This one's a followup to a story that was discussed here earlier this week. We'll be posting this to the HDD front page Friday am.

Here's a preview:

Kmart: We're Purple
Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 09:00 AM ET
Tags: Kmart (all tags)

Despite reports to the contrary, Kmart says it has no plans to choose to sides in the high-def format war.

In a statement released late Thursday, Kmart VP Jonathan Magasanik said the following:

There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD DVD format in Kmart stores. These statements are false. Kmart intends to support both the HD DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively.

Kmart's dual-format pledge comes on the heels of widespread reports that it had chosen to stock its HD-A2 HD DVD player as its only stand-alone high-def disc player this holiday season.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the retailer's statement meant it planned to stock stand-alone Blu-ray players alongside the Toshiba deck, but as we've previously reported, the chain already sells the Blu-ray enabled PlayStation 3 in its gaming department.

[messin18]

I get the feeling this simply means they will stock the PS3 and blu-ray movies. Toshiba only claimed as far as stand-alone players they will only be stocking HD DVD for now. Which still appears to be true.

[Metsuke]

"These statements are false." seems to be not very difficult to interpret.

But the Blu side will be well served if they have just the PS3 and software there (unless the standalones get dramatically cheaper.)

[diabolo]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=11448

Toshiba spokesperson Jodi Sally said Kmart, which is owned by Sears, would exclusively stock Toshiba HD DVD players in retail stores due to their lower price.

A clerk at the retail chain's Anaheim location confirmed the store only carried Toshiba players.

He added that Kmart also carried Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console with Blu-ray drive in its gaming department.

[irrob]

Originally Posted by diabolo

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=11448

ok, so you're going to take the word of a Toshiba talking head and a pimple faced clerk over the freakin VP of KMart?

[diabolo]

Originally Posted by irrob

ok, so you're going to take the word of a Toshiba talking head and a pimple faced clerk over the freakin VP of KMart?

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...eyword=blu-ray

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...keyword=hd+dvd

No blu-ray standalones...

[Geonosis]

Originally Posted by messin18

I get the feeling this simply means they will stock the PS3 and blu-ray movies. Toshiba only claimed as far as stand-alone players they will only be stocking HD DVD for now. Which still appears to be true.

I agree, I always thought it was SA only. I wish Jonathan was a bit clearer, he doesn't identify "We will also stock Blu-ray hardware" to make it transparent.

Originally Posted by diabolo

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...eyword=blu-ray

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...keyword=hd+dvd

No blu-ray standalones...

And I can confirm the K-mart on 34th St/7th Ave, Manhattan does not have BD SA's either. Oh yeah, but if they do decide to stock BD SA hardware, let's see how quickly those that bashed K-mart will retract their statements or change their tune. Now I bet the Big K is a vital retailer that will impact the war.

[irrob]

Originally Posted by diabolo

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...eyword=blu-ray

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/search_10...keyword=hd+dvd

No blu-ray standalones...

Oh, GOD, not that PS3 is just a game console stuff again? Good bye.

[Metsuke]

When your "business partner" makes a special press release which refutes part of your own release with "These statements are false", you know you've got:

HD DVD.... The Look and Sound of Humiliation

[HarakoMeshi]

So we can file those Toshiba reports under lies and FUD, next to things such as multiple false announcements about Spielberg movies?

[Arkadin]

I just read the "old" story regarding K-mart at TVpredictions. There is no confusion in that article at all. It states that the Toshiba spokesperson said that K-mart has chosen to carry HD-DVD standalones only. It's other articles on the web that have distorted what Toshiba said. As of now, the claims by Toshiba are correct. HD-DVD standalones and the PS3. no other bd players. So Toshiba's ACTUAL comments were totally accurate.

[Johnny Park]

I called it!

[Metsuke]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

I just read the "old" story regarding K-mart at TVpredictions. There is no confusion in that article at all. It states that the Toshiba spokesperson said that K-mart has chosen to carry HD-DVD standalones only. It's other articles on the web that have distorted what Toshiba said. As of now, the claims by Toshiba are correct. HD-DVD standalones and the PS3. no other bd players. So Toshiba's ACTUAL comments were totally accurate.

That's fair, especially given the "attributed to Toshiba" (i.e. but we're not actually accusing them of saying it) line.

[ben1080p]

I think they just realized that a PS3 plays Blurays.

[HD Guru]

Sounds like Toshiba and HD DVD are caught again in another lie just like the Transformers sales.

Does Sally and the HD DVD PG know no lows?