Blockbuster Stores Told to Choose Blu-ray

[davetroy]

Has anyone seen this? I think years ago, this would have signalled the end of the format war. Now I'm not so sure, but I do know that I'm reconsidering my purchase of a Toshiba HD-DVD player. I'm sure the HD-DVD people will try to spin this so it's not so bad, but it sounds pretty bad to me. Don't the vast majority of people rent DVDs rather than buy them, and don't the vast majority rent from either Blockbuster or Netflix? Am I overstating the situation, or is the format war now over?

http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=72145

Blockbuster favors Blu-ray HD DVDs over HD DVDs

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Blockbuster Inc. will rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 stores when it expands its high-def offerings next month, dealing a major blow to the rival HD DVD format.

The move, being announced Monday, could be the first step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new DVD players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and HD DVD titles in 250 stores since late last year and found that consumers were choosing Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time.

"The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbuster, told The Associated Press.

Blockbuster will continue to rent HD DVD titles in the original 250 locations and online, the Dallas-based company said.

[snip]

 

[avaserfi]

Glad to see this war getting more support on the side I have backed. Either way its good news to hopefully see this thing ending sooner as it will keep confusion away longer and hopefully speed up adoption of HD source material for everyone.

 

[Audioholics]

It's interesting to see Viacom/Dreamworks/Paramount exerting apparent influence over their daughter company BlockBuster. I seriously doubt some VP looked at the shelves one day and simply decided to stop offering HD DVDs... That doesn't seem to be very believable.

Oh well, if everyone decided to pick the same format I'd think we were closer to ending a format war and having just one niche product, but with Wal-mart still leaning HD DVD this may not be the case.

 

[admin]

Blockbuster Video stores are expanding their high definition offerings to 1700 stores by mid-July, however these offerings won't include HD DVD titles. Online rentals will still be available for both Blu-ray and HD DVD and the initial 250 stores that currently rent both formats will continue to do so. With the expansion in July, the 1,700 stores will be carrying more than 170 titles in Blu-ray and will continue to add titles in the format as they are released from the studios.

Discuss "Blockbuster Stores Told to Choose Blu-ray" here. Read the article.

 

[davetroy]

Oh well, if everyone decided to pick the same format I'd think we were closer to ending a format war and having just one niche product, but with Wal-mart still leaning HD DVD this may not be the case.

I agree, but as someone who just purchased an HD-DVD player (back-ordered to June 26th) and will now probably cancel the purchase, this has seemingly become a very bad time to buy an HD-DVD player, while a Blu-Ray purchase doesn't look so risky anymore. Of course, I'm trying to judge the winds, and they keep on shifting.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

I agree, but as someone who just purchased an HD-DVD player (back-ordered to June 26th) and will now probably cancel the purchase, this has seemingly become a very bad time to buy an HD-DVD player, while a Blu-Ray purchase doesn't look so risky anymore. Of course, I'm trying to judge the winds, and they keep on shifting.

If Walmart comes out with this new Chinese HD DVD player for $199, watch the tides turn in their favor. BD players are still too expensive for your average videophile, but a $199 HD DVD player will pull a lot of weight. If Netflix continues to offer every HD DVD release and has the capacity, I think we may see HD DVD overpower Blu ray - unless Blu ray contracts out a Chinese BD player at $199 - $249. I think that's the only thing that can save BD in the short term.

 

[markw]

Maybe, maybe not. Hard to say.

If Walmart comes out with this new Chinese HD DVD player for $199, watch the tides turn in their favor. BD players are still too expensive for your average videophile, but a $199 HD DVD player will pull a lot of weight. If Netflix continues to offer every HD DVD release and has the capacity, I think we may see HD DVD overpower Blu ray - unless Blu ray contracts out a Chinese BD player at $199 - $249. I think that's the only thing that can save BD in the short term.

Dunno about others, but I'd rather pay a little more for hardware and have access to a multitude of titles to play on it than get a bargain on a piece of hardware and have nothing to play on it.

I'm in no hurry. I'll wait until the smoke clears and a winner emerges.

I didn't rush into quad in the 70's. either.

 

[gmichael]

Dunno about others, but I'd rather pay a little more for hardware and have access to a multitude of titles to play on it than get a bargain on a piece of hardware and have nothing to play on it.

I'm in no hurry. I'll wait until the smoke clears and a winner emerges.

I didn't rush into quad in the 70's. either.

So, you're saying that you're not Rushin?

 

[mike c]

Dunno about others, but I'd rather pay a little more for hardware and have access to a multitude of titles to play on it than get a bargain on a piece of hardware and have nothing to play on it.

exactly the reason I'm dipping my feet in blu-ray. titles. I can live without the universal movies.

I have ordered some blu-ray discs from amazon (should arrive in a month or so) ... but I don't have a player yet ... I figure, I'll buy the player (ps3) when the discs arrive.

 

[Jim Robbins]

I personally own the Toshiba A2, and it is really pretty cheap these days. $299, and you get 5 free titles from Toshiba, and there are usually other free disc promotions going on at Best Buy or on Amazon. It's working great for me right now...

Anyway, my opinion is there won't be a "winner". In a couple of years, the dual format players will be cheap enough for anyone to afford. Sony and the others will still push blue ray, and Toshiba will still push HD-DVD. We'll all have both kinds of discs along with our original DVDs and it won't even matter.

It's like walking into the store to get blank DVDs for the computer. Do you want +R -R, etc... It doesn't really even matter what kind of disc you choose unless you have some old unit that won't take one or the other format... And new players play everything, and new burners burn everything.

The average consume probably won't even know what the difference is because they have their dvd player hooked up to their new $2000 50" HDTV with the red/white/yellow cable anyway. You all would notice, but the mass of people buying stuff won't...

Anyway, just get what works for you now, try to get it cheap, and don't feel bad if you don't "win". No ones winning anything. *shrug*

 

[sholling]

I don't see either format going anywhere for now. Both are niche products with sales volumes way too low to be profitable. We won't know who the survivor will be (if either) until the average consumer comes on board and that won't happen until the price drops so low that it becomes a now brainer have the option of playing HD videos on their 'DVD player'. In my opinion that price point is right around $100.

What Wal-Mart (with its maybe $199 player) has the power to do is signicicantly increase the size of the early adopter Niche and stave-off an early death until production numbers drive the cost of players down to Joe Sixpack prices.

All Blockbuster is doing is ticking off a small niche of heavy renters and wounding itself in its battle with Netflix. Trust me, if Wal-Mart starts moving lots of HD-DVD players then Blockbuster with do a fast 180.

 

[BGLeduc]

It's interesting to see Viacom/Disney exerting apparent influence over their daughter company BlockBuster.

Disney??????

Brian

 

[Audioholics]

Disney??????

Brian

Lol... Oops, brain says Dreamworks, hand writes Disney. I edited above...

 

[jake5717]

I don’t think HD DVD are a niche market at all, wouldn’t that be like saying HDTV is a niche market? All day long at work I hear people talking about buying flat screens and getting Hi Def TV. If people have a HDTV and are getting HD channels there’s no doubt they’ll like it and are going to want a HD Disc player. I read somewhere on this forum once where some compared HD Discs to SACD’s and said that they just won’t catch on. Prior to joining this forum I never knew what an SACD was either, but every night watching TV there is an advertisement for a new movie coming out and they all end with “Now available on HD DVD and Blu Ray”. So I think the word it out and people want it they’re just waiting for the price to come down a little more then they’ll take the dive. I paid less for my HD DVD player then I did for my first SD DVD player and I was one of the last people to got one….so maybe that price has already been met.

As an owner of a Toshiba and a member of Blockbuster online I’m sad to see blockbuster make this move……but I guess that just means I get to buy a PS3 now.

 

[mischa316]

This is my 1st post here!!

I found this link on another forums I'm on High def digest!! this is my first post and first of all I am neutral I have both a Toshiba HD-A1 & a 60GB PS3!!

This is my take on the Blockbuster rental situation!!

Luckily I've been using Netflix for almost a year now!! I have not had a problem with them. I will put the new release HD DVD or Blu Ray to the top of my queue on Fri or Sat and when they recieve my movie's on Monday they will send out the new release for Tuesday!! Plus if I rent a dual format supporter like warner I would rent the Blu Ray before the HD DVD since the ps3 is much faster than my HD A1!! The only one I own that is on both formats on HD DVD is We Were Soldiers, Enter the Dragon, since they came out on HD DVD before Blu Ray. Plus the PS3 was not out when these were released and payback since that is when we were having the HD Buy day.

I also thought it was funny that Weinstein is exclusive to Blockbuster. So pretty much Blockbuster is Saying to Weinstein oh screw your HD DVD's were not going to carry them!! Aren't they slapping themselves in the face on that one?

Luckily I just rent SD DVD's that either 1. I dont want to see on HD or 2. They are not out on hd yet. Like pretty much a comedy I will not buy or rent on HD or Blu Ray I dont see the sense of it!! I'd rather watch an Action or Adventure film in hd not something like Being John Malcovich I already own most comedy's on SD DVD anyways.

Mischa.

 

[darien87]

As an owner of a Toshiba and a member of Blockbuster online I’m sad to see blockbuster make this move……but I guess that just means I get to buy a PS3 now.

Actually, Sony has a Blu-ray player out now that is $500. So, if you're not interested in playing games, you can save a bit of cash by going with the stand-alone player.

 

[davo]

Dunno about others, but I'd rather pay a little more for hardware and have access to a multitude of titles to play on it than get a bargain on a piece of hardware and have nothing to play on it...

I couldn't agree more. When you consider that Pirates of the Carribbean 3, Spiderman 3 and Casino Royale are going to be Blu-ray exclusives, coupled with the fact that there is only ONE studio (Universal) that doesn't support Blu-ray, then I think the format war is closer to been over than most people think.

The Blu-ray consortium probably know this and explains why they are not to fussed on chasing down the price on a Blu-ray player to match the HD-DVD camp.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I do think that the BDA, and individual companies have responded to Toshiba price cuts, but not to the point where they are willing to subsidize players. Just that they have likely ramped up cost cutting measures and have cut profitability a bit more than they would have liked to at this early juncture in the 'game'.

Yet, it is CE and studio support, as it always has been, which will drive the format war. Those two items lead to greater product visibility through greater shelf space in stores and on retailers shelves. You get far greater consumer willingness to buy in when their favorite brands endorse a specific player.

I don't think this will kill HD DVD, but I don't know if HD DVD ever was 'alive' either. HD DVD and Blu-ray have both been fighting to gain just marginal market penetration, yet Blu-ray has managed to do a lot more at this point. Both formats are 'dead' but fighting for life, Blu-ray seems to be fighting a lot harder and it is actions like this move by Blockbuster that can help shift consumer perspective.

That is, it isn't one thing that will end this war, but a series of events, one after the other, which will let people know that one format is clearly a safer choice than the other. Articles will be written about this, it will be in newspapers, it will be online, on the radio. It will be followed up with reasons why BB has made this move. In the most recognizable, and most (or least) respected media outlets, this is just one more piece of news indicating Blu-ray as being the winner - or on the way to being the winner over HD DVD.

Of course, the actual competition is not HD DVD, but DVD.

 

[jake5717]

Well the GF plays Guitar so Im thinking I could but HER a PS3 with Guitar Hero.......and then while reading the setup manual "Oh wow look we can watch movies with this thing too!"

 

[Audioholics]

coupled with the fact that there is only ONE studio (Universal) that doesn't support Blu-ray, then I think the format war is closer to been over than most people think.

Reminds me... There's these two guys who have been fighting in the streets of South Dakota for over a year now. Bill and Jerry... What? you never heard of them? Hmm... that's odd. It seemed so relevant to me cause I'm interested, but no one I talk to really cares of knows about the fight.