Netflix Chooses Blu-Ray Over HD DVD

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSWEN388420080211' target='_blank'>http://www.reuters.com/article/rbss...WEN388420080211</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>&quot;Online video rental company Netflix Inc said on Monday it would exclusively stock Blu-ray high-definition DVDs after a decision by some the world's biggest movie studios in favor of the Sony Corp developed format. Netflix has stocked DVDs using both Blu-ray and the competing HD DVD format developed by Toshiba Corp since they first came on the market in early 2006. Four out of six major Hollywood studios have recently decided to publish high-definition DVDs only using Blu-ray. Netflix said that with such a clear signal from the industry, it will only buy Blu-ray discs going forward and will phase out stock of HD DVD by about the end of the year.&quot;</em></p><p>&nbsp;<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/dht/auto/1202859476.usr14.jpg" border="1" alt="" /></p><p>Hmm, I wonder whether this happened because there weren't enough takers for the HD DVD format. Given Netflix is the leader in movie rentals, I wonder if this really signals the demise of HD DVD. I know Microsoft has backed this format very strongly and the XBox 360 (which has support for HD DVD) has been doing very well. So I wonder whether this also signals that not enough people are using the XBox 360 has a high definition media extender?</p>

[Chris Gohlke]

I was actually considering switching over to Netflix, but since I rent lots of HD DVD's, this knocks them back some. I'm still on the lookout for their rumored Xbox 360 streaming. Depending on how that looks, I still might consider the switch.

[Eriq Cook]

HD-DVD is on its way out the door. Period. That's why many online retailers like Amazon are selling HD-DVD players for less than $90 these days. I wouldn't even buy one to be honest. It's pointless I think. I thought HD-DVD would win the "war" a year ago and backed it myself, but Blu-ray is in for the long-haul until digital downloads take over--within 3-5 years I predict :rolleyes:

[Jeremy Charette]

There's still a very good reason to buy an HD DVD player: they make fantastic upscaling DVD players. :)

As for the 360 not being used as a high definition media player, well, about 3% of 360 owners have purchased the HD DVD add-on drive. Not a huge percentage, but still around half a million units or so.

However, enough people are using XBLVM to perk up ears over at Netflix. They're surveying customers to see if they would want to stream Netflix movies to the 360. This is something I'd personally love to see.