In a story that swept across the web Tuesday afternoon, Target has announced plans to help promote the Blu-ray format during this year's critical holiday shopping season.
The nation's second largest retailer already sells software on both next-gen formats in its stores, along with both the Blu-ray enabled PS3 and the Xbox 360's HD DVD add-on player.
But starting in October, the retailer says it will begin stocking its first stand-alone high-def disc player -- Sony's BDP-S300 Blu-ray player, which will be displayed along with a selection Blu-ray discs at the ends of store aisles.
According to press reports, the Sony Blu-ray player will the only stand-alone high-def disc player sold by the chain in its 1,500 physical stores. Although Sony is reportedly paying a fee for the aisle displays (called "endcaps"), the manufacturer says Target initiated discussions to carry the Blu-ray player.
Target declined to comment on the rationale behind the decision, but in a statement released to the Assiciated Press, the retailer emphasized that it has not chosen sides in the high-def format war.
"We are not proclaiming one format vs. the other as the preferred consumer technology, and software will continue to be available to our guests in both the Blu-ray and HD DVD format," said Target spokeswoman Brie Heath.