rich_d
Senior HTF Member
What they want to do and what they can pull off may be two different things.
In the U.S., mega-chains have a lot of power. Telling them that they are going to release the Blu-Ray Bonds in advance of standard format ... not going to wash, particularly at places like Wal-mart (which for some items accounts for 30% of all U.S. sales).
The Wall Street Journal reported that when MGM was purchased the Bond franchise was valued (by itself) at over one billion dollars. This is big business where the tail can not wag the dog no matter how aggressive $ony wants to be with Blu-ray.
I haven't seen any sale numbers for Blu-ray yet, but early word-of-mouth regarding the format has been so-so (at best). One suspects that $ony could have a party for all early R1 adopters in a small restaurant, with room still for a band.