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Blockbuster Chooses Blu-ray

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the nailing-the-coffin-shut dept.

s31523 writes "The format war between HD-DVD and Blu-ray has posted another battle, this time the victor seems to be the Blu-ray side. Blockbuster has announced it has chosen Blu-ray as the HD format to rent out in the majority of its stores. This decision comes after rental data was looked at for the 250 stores that carry both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray with the majority of rentals being Blu-Ray. Blockbuster now plans to stock Blu-ray only in 1450 of it's stores, but says the 250 stores with the HD-DVD movies will be kept on the shelf."

3 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wow, this is huge by brewer13210 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Easy...shelf space. Stocking both would essentially require them to stock two of everything, which isn't optimal if you're trying to provide a wide selection to your customers.

  2. Re:someone's getting paid off by DrXym · · Score: 4, Informative
    Someone's getting paid off. With no clear winner in the format war, it doesn't make sense that they would want to stock both.

    Define clear winner. Toshiba has been heavily subsidizing its players to make them sell, yet it's still had to slash its 2007 sales estimates almost in half. Sales of Blu Ray discs outstrip HD DVD almost two to one and the format has the support and backing of the majority of electronics companies and every major studio except one.

    It's not a question of if HD DVD will fail but when. Now perhaps some cheap HD DVD players will charge over the hill and save the day, but I think it may be too late for that.

    That doesn't mean Blu Ray has set the world alight - it's still transitioning from early adopter to mainstream. But it looks inevitable that in a few years the only things selling in your local store will be DVDs and BDs.

  3. One format means no more price wars by Templar · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's a shame it's going this way. I was an early supporter of Blu-ray, but now I'd be much happier to see HD DVD win (or at least live on for a while).

    Reasons to support BD:
    - Sony & Disney catalogs
    - More storage

    Reasons to support HD DVD:
    - Universal catalog
    - Less DRM, no region codes (imports!)
    - Easier to author your own content
    - No censorship by factories

    Reasons to hope both stay alive:
    - Price wars