Wal-Mart's -style bargain for the Magnavox NB500MGX player begins June 14, and the deal runs through June 20. It's part of a larger Father's Day promotion that includes two-for-$20 Blu-ray movie bundles.

As of June 11, Wal-Mart's website wasn't offering the Magnavox NB500MGX, so it's unclear what the player will cost once the sale ends. Another Magnavox model, the , goes for $168. Ten of 17 user reviews on the Wal-Mart site gave the NB530MGX player 4 or 5 stars on a five-star scale.

Given the Magnavox model's ultra-low price, it's doubtful the NB500MGX will rival that sell for $100 to $300 more. That probably won't matter to the Wal-Mart throng that'll scoop up the players in a hurry. Let's hope there are this time.

As first-generation LCD and plasma panels get moved to the bedroom to make way for newer and larger HD sets, the market for cheaper, no-frills Blu-ray players will rise. Internet streaming, high-end audio decoders, and Ethernet connectivity won't matter as much as whether the Blu-ray plays HD movies without any hiccups.

In fact, recent reports indicate a trend toward , and entry-level boxes may cost as little as $99 by this year's holiday shopping season. Combine that with the fact that Hollywood is cutting the prices of many , and there's a good chance that video-on-a-disc will survive the onslaught of services--at least for a few more years.