Exit HD DVD, Hello Blu-Ray?

[_____V_____]

Netflix is phasing out HD DVD rentals from its service due to underwhelming demand, according to Variety. Online subscription company said it will not purchase any more HD DVD discs, phasing them out entirely by year's end.

Netflix had stocked both high-def formats since their launch almost two years ago.

Time to say goodbye to HD and hello to Blu-Ray?

Netflix cited studio and customer support of Blu-ray for the decision, noting that the majority of major studios now back Blu-ray exclusively and that the majority of subscribers requesting high-def discs want them in Blu-ray.

Last month, Warner Bros. dropped its dual format approach to endorse Blu-ray exclusively; the studio will continue to release HD DVD discs for a few months at a slight delay after Blu-ray bows. Only Paramount and Universal remain soley commited to HD DVD, and neither is contractually bound to continue releasing on that format.

"Going forward, we expect that all of the studios will publish in the Blu-ray format," said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix.

The company declined to specify how many of its customers rented discs in either format.

Netflix said it would maintain its HD DVD inventory for the natural life cycle of the discs, taking them out of circulation in coming months.

Netflix stocks more than 400 titles on Blu-ray and more than 90,000 titles on standard DVD. Company, which has more than 7 million subscribers, also offers more than 7,000 titles through its online streaming service.

[Despare]

I'll wait for the next generation of video storage. Looks like HD will lose though, even though it's the better format IMO.

[Freak]

I dont have a HD tv or a blu-ray player so I couldn't care less.I don't see what all the hype of HD and blu-ray is any way.I mean do you really wanna see the picture so clearly you can count a person skin cells?I lived for many years without and will continue to live many more years without it.

[Psycom5k]

Originally Posted by Freak

I dont have a HD tv or a blu-ray player so I couldn't care less.I don't see what all the hype of HD and blu-ray is any way.I mean do you really wanna see the picture so clearly you can count a person skin cells?I lived for many years without and will continue to live many more years without it.

Amen to that brother.

[_____V_____]

Feb 17, 2008


In a near climax to the long-drawn war between rival Gen-Next video formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray, Japanese electronics giant and chief supporter of the HD DVD format has announced it may withdraw the format.

A Kyodo News Agency report said (quoting unidentified sources) that Toshiba is reviewing its operations, and will decide later on the exact time of withdrawal of the HD DVD format -- depending on US demand for its HD DVD products, among other factors.

Of late, Toshiba has had to slash prices of its HD DVD machines to be able to sell them in the US.

The HD DVD format has been steadily losing market share to rival Blu-ray which is supported by Sony Corp, along with other electronics makers, and five major Hollywood studios.

A couple of recent announcements have further succeeded in eroding consumer confidence in the HD DVD format.

Last month, Warner Bros Entertainment decided to release movie discs only in the Blu-ray format, becoming the latest Hollywood studio to reject HD DVD.

A few days ago, Netflix announced it will stop carrying rentals in HD DVD. Similar decisions were taken by major US retailers, including Target Corp and Blockbuster.

Last Friday, USA's largest retail chain, Wal-Mart Stores, announced it will sell only Blu-ray DVDs and hardware, and no longer carry HD DVD wares.

Add to this, Toshiba's decision to withdraw the format, marks its near-sure death...

Anyways, for as long as the war has lasted, analysts have been betting on Blu-ray as emerging the ultimate winner. The bias towards Blu-ray is almost reminiscent of the video format war of the 80s when VHS eventually got the better of Sony's Betamax format.