NOV. 6 | The HD DVD format significantly pumped its installed base over the weekend, as dueling store clearances sold an estimated 90,000 Toshiba players, according to sources close to retailers.
That tally covers Friday to Sunday sales of Toshiba?s second-generation HD-A2 model, which Wal-Mart and Best Buy sold for about $99 on Nov. 2. That?s $200 less than Toshiba?s $299 list price and $100 off widespread retail pricing of $199.
The $99 players made up most of the 90,000 units sold, a source said.
Within three days, Toshiba corralled nearly as many sales as the best-selling stand-alone Blu-ray Disc player has sold since its launch. Sony?s dominant Blu-ray set-top, the $499 BDP-S300, has shipped about 100,000 since it bowed this summer.
However, the Blu-ray format still retains the largest overall installation base, due largely to the millions of PlayStation 3 hardware sold.
In fact, the 90,000 figure for HD-A2 sales could be even higher, as it doesn?t appear to include all retailer information. The figure does span consumer activity on HD-A2s at Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City, among others.
Best Buy also shaved $100 off Toshiba?s $299 third-generation player, the HD-A3, Friday through Sunday. At deadline, a Best Buy spokesman did not provide updated sales on the HD-A3.
