Bottom-patting supermarket Asda could be about to step in for HMV, as WH Smith looks to fill the high street CD and DVD void left by the ailing music and movie chain.
The Telegraph reports that Asda is in talks with HMV's administrator Deloitte to take over the music, movie and game retailer. Restructuring company Hilco has already bought the chain's debt and was the bookie's favourite to take over, but Asda could swoop in for the remaining stores instead.
Asda is reportedly looking to continue selling under the HMV brand rather than simply taking over the buildings owned by HMV.
One of the deciding factors in who gets to rescue HMV is likely to be the support of record labels, film studios and other suppliers. Suppliers are said to have agreed favourable credit terms with Hilco, but are also likely to be on good terms with Asda, which also sells chart CDs, DVDs and games.
Asda could be looking to the HMV brand to rival Blinkbox, the online movie and TV show streaming and download service owned by Tesco.
Pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap
Ironically, the arrival of CDs and DVDs piled high and sold cheap in supermarkets has been one of the factors contributing to the decline in record shops-- as a great man once observed -- albeit not as much of a factor as online sales and downloads.
Stationer and newsagent WH Smith is reported to be planning a return to selling CDs and DVDs in select locations, to plug the gap left by HMV for movies and music on the high street.
Just 116 HMV stores are set to remain open, roughly half the number open before the wheels fell off. HMV had 223 shops and 4,123 staff when it spiralled into administration in January, with well over 1,000 jobs still under threat.
Where do you buy your CDs and DVDs? Have you long turned your back on the high street, or is there no substitute for fondling your goods before purchasing? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
Image: Sameer Vasta
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 6
Add your comment
anonymous 12 March, 2013 19:49
WH Smiths - already do stock DVD's they never stopped in this area
DanielPrice91 13 March, 2013 00:36
Using blockbuster at the moment to buy stuff. Would be nice to return to HMV.
nicebiscuit 13 March, 2013 07:21
CDs / DVDs are a dying market and this has been shown and proven with Blockbusters and HMV. People that buy these types of media are a minority. The advantages of having a digital copy far out weights having a physical copy.
Personally I have copied my entire DVS collection to my computer and use Flex to watch them where ever I want on the go using my iPad and internet connection. Digital copies are the future and if you don't adapt to the times then you deserve to perish along with your CDs and DVDs. The Truth is hars!
nicebiscuit 13 March, 2013 07:23
CDs / DVDs are a dying market and this has been shown and proven with Blockbusters and HMV. People that buy these types of media are a minority. The advantages of having a digital copy far out weights having a physical copy.
Personally I have copied my entire DVD collection to my computer and use Flex to watch them where ever I want on the go using my iPad and internet connection. Digital copies are the future and if you don't adapt to the times then you deserve to perish along with your CDs and DVDs. The Truth is harsh.
Cat San 13 March, 2013 08:49
@nice
You ripped your entire DVD collection onto your computer to stream to your iPad. So unless you have a couple of backup copies on external hard drives, you maybe glad of the physical copies you have if you computer go's belly up. Digital maybe the future but people said that about vinyl records when c.d's came out. amazing how records atre making a comeback while CD's are the ones being replaced by downloadable content. eBooks maybe the future as well but there is something comforting about curling up in a comfy chair or in a warm bath and reading a book. Wouldn't want to the last of those in the bath with a iPad.
Darren Rees 13 March, 2013 13:18
@nicebiscuit ... I can't agree totally with your point. While you're right that the physical media market is in decline, you're wrong to say that people who buy cds/dvds are 'a minority'.
Multiple statistics have been released over the last 6 months that show that whilst the numbers are decreasing, the vast majority are still opting for physical discs across the dvd/bluray, video-game and to a lesser extent cd mediums. This is obviously unlikely to be the case 5-10 years from now, but there are still a far higher number of physical media items being sold....for now.