Blockbuster to favor Blu-ray over HD-DVD

[DPyro]

The video retailer will not carry HD DVDs in 1,450 stores.

Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2007) -- Video rental giant Blockbuster will only rent HDTV DVDs in the Blu-ray format in 1,450 stores next month when it expands its high-def service. That's according to an exclusive report today from the Associated Press.

The retailer has tested both formats in approximately 250 stores for the last several months. But Blockbuster officials say 70 percent of the high-def rentals are Blu-ray. "The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," Matthew Smith, Blockbuster's senior vice president of merchandising, tells AP.

Blockbuster is expected to announce the decision to favor Blu-ray over HD DVD on Monday, AP reports. However, the retailer will continue to carry HD DVD titles in the original 250 test locations.

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[jmendes]

score sony!

[mnuhaily22]

lol^^^

[pibs]

doesn't look like a smart move because what problem would having both formats cause.....

[lmtlmt]

well it means more money spent by the video store to get the titles in and less profit with not as many people renting them pibster.

[pibs]

so its really the same case with beta vs vhs, except this time sony seems to have the upper hand.

[lmtlmt]

exactly

[mnuhaily22]

VHS :rofl:

[royvedas]

Kinda sucks. I believe that HD-DVD is region free and Blueray is region locked. I would hate to see the regionlocked format win.

Correct me if I'm wrong concerning region free/locked.

[mnuhaily22]

^^^I do believe all PS3 games are region free, but I am not so sure about the movies...and HD-DVD is only for movies, games can't be played with it...