AfterDawn: News

Wal-Mart increases Blu-ray market share

It appears that giant retailer Wal-Mart’s aggressive Blu-ray sales over the last quarter has paid off, with the company now about tied with Best Buy for BD market share.

The numbers, via the NPD Group, show that Wal-Mart now commands 30 percent market share of Blu-ray disc sales, about even with Best Buy at 35 percent. In May, Wal-Mart had around 20 percent while Best Buy had an impressive 45 percent.



Despite usually having better prices than BB, Amazon and Target remained in third and fourth place, with about 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.

Overall, consumer spending on BD movies was up 83 percent year-on-year, and retail chains are actively fighting for market share.

“We’re seeing it as more of a horse race with Blu-ray,” adds Russ Crupnick, senior entertainment industry analyst for NPD, via VB. “I think Walmart has made a strong effort over the past year, being aggressive with price. They are very specifically targeting an untapped market. They are saying this isn’t just a high-tech product. It’s something that women and families can enjoy.”


Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Dec 2009 21:19

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• 9 comments

• ydkjman

  Quote:Despite having better prices, Amazon and Target remained in third and fourth place, with about 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.
  So is the article saying the Amazon and Target has better prices on their Blu-ray movies than Wal-Mart?

  27.12.2009 00:48 #1

• xnonsuchx

  Quote:Quote:Despite having better prices, Amazon and Target remained in third and fourth place, with about 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.
  So is the article saying the Amazon and Target has better prices on their Blu-ray movies than Wal-Mart?Yes...that's what it looks like.

  27.12.2009 02:44 #2

• Andy7472

  Despite having better prices, Amazon and Target remained in third and fourth place, with about 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.
  
  Read as: Despite Wal-mart having better prices...
  
  It does sound like it should be the other way, but it wasn't the intent of the article. Gotta love the english ( American ) language.
  
  Wal-mart's new releases are closer to $20 (usd) Anywhere from 23-28 at BB , Target & amazon. On average; there may be and will be exceptions.

  27.12.2009 03:21 #3

• av_verbal

  so what is the market share compared to DVD?
  
  Commands 30% is meaningless sales flabble. you could command 30% of 10 movies or hardware, etc.
  
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/200...-christmas-list
  
  Quote:
  Blu-ray players could top the Christmas list, but the format has a long way to go
  
  Sales of Sony's premium product have disappointed so far, accounting for just 12% of DVD player sales in Europe
  
  
  Two years ago, Sony was brimming with confidence: in April 2007 it produced an internal presentation of sales projections which reckoned that by the end of 2009, 27m players would be in use, and 85m discs sold.
  
  Blu-ray player sales have grown rapidly this year , but they still make up less than 12% of DVD player sales in western Europe, according to data released recently by the analysis company GfK Group.
  
  "Sales have been disappointing for the industry," said Richard Cooper, senior video analyst at the media analysis company Screen Digest. "They were expecting that it would be adopted more quickly. But you wouldn't choose to launch a premium upgrade product in the middle of a recession."12% is like, pathetic......

  27.12.2009 06:00 #4

• DVDBack23

  Sorry for all the confusion with that one paragraph, it has been updated to reflect my original intent (it was missing words).

  27.12.2009 10:12 #5

• klassic

  I think its amazing that ~90% of the blu-ray movies sold are by only 4 companies.

  27.12.2009 15:32 #6

• ydkjman

  Originally posted by klassic: I think its amazing that ~90% of the blu-ray movies sold are by only 4 companies.Didn't look at it that way but good point.

  27.12.2009 23:40 #7

• SProdigy

  Quote:Quote:Quote:Despite having better prices, Amazon and Target remained in third and fourth place, with about 15 percent and 10 percent respectively.
  So is the article saying the Amazon and Target has better prices on their Blu-ray movies than Wal-Mart?Yes...that's what it looks like.Amazon had some good lightning deals and multi-package discounts.
  
  On the other hand, Target slashed many of their Blu-Ray discs to $10-15 for the holidays and those that had the $5 off any Blu-Ray coupon were able to pick up alot of $5 movies! (I doubled my collection personally.)

  28.12.2009 10:47 #8

• LissenUp

  Increases market share????????????????
  
  I ask all my peeps on here HOW THE F IS THAT POSSIBLE???
  
  I live in Chicagoland and visit about 4 different Walmarts fairly routinely and NONE of them have more than 25 disks for sale. They are on a small endcap with 7-9 of those 25 being 10.00 ones like "Blazing Saddles and a couple older ones mixed with a couple newer(ish) ones.
  
  BB has literally 10x more DVDs and when I'm looking for blu-rays or looking to make a Christmas wish list, I head over there or jump on Amazon.com for selection.
  
  Correct me if I'm wrong but the sheer size of Walmart's petty and tiny selection of BDs just can't gain "market share" over those others. Target's pricing is even better than Walmart with most averaging less than 17.00 bucks and a selection that is 3x larger.
  
  These are the facts...............however, I have not been to every Walmart in the country.
  
  The only thing I can think of is that little Mexico's (aka Walmart's) greater clientele have all gotten blu-ray players. Mexicans (GOD love 'em as do I) barely have modern TVs much less blu-ray anything. And Walmart's second greater clientele, black people, more than generally don't buy this stuff.

  28.12.2009 17:25 #9