I know it's not exactly gaming news...

[Dregor Thule]

but it still applies to the PS3/360 war.

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.

The decision was helped in large part by the lopsided availability of titles in Blu-ray, Smith said. All major studios except one are releasing films in Blu-ray, with several, including The Walt Disney Co., releasing exclusively in Blu-ray. Only Universal Studios, which is owned by General Electric Co., exclusively supports HD DVD.

Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., and Paramount Pictures, which is owned by Viacom Inc., release films in both formats.

"When you walk into a store and see all this product available in Blu-ray and there is less available on HD DVD, I think the consumer gets that," Smith said.

The rollout of Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 game console, which comes standard with a Blu-ray drive, also helped give the format momentum, Smith said.

Blockbuster's decision, while significant on it's own, could boost Blu-ray even more if other retailers follow suit.

"It will help shift the balance toward Blu-ray, clearly," said Richard Doherty, president of The Envisioneering Group, a research company.

The North American HD DVD Promotional Group said Blockbuster's decision was shortsighted and skewed by the success of films released by Blu-ray studios in the first three months of the year. The group said HD DVD has since gained momentum, selling more players and popular titles such as "The 40-Year Old Virgin" and "The Matrix" trilogy.

"I think trying to make a format decision using such a short time period is really not measuring what the consumer is saying," said Ken Graffeo, co-president of the group.

The two formats have been battling it out since they both hit the market last year. Studios hope the high-definition discs, with their sharper picture and more room for interactive special features and games, will replace standard definition DVDs.

The formats are incompatible and neither will play on standard DVD players, although standard DVDs can be viewed with either a Blu-ray or HD DVD player.

The Blu-ray camp has been helped by the release of such huge hits as "Casino Royale," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Spider-Man" coming out exclusively in its format.

As the battle has unfolded, the price of the high-definition players needed to show the movies has plummeted. Toshiba Corp., the major supporter of HD DVD, is selling its player for $299 with a rebate, down from $499 when it first went on sale.

Sony, which is pushing Blu-ray, recently slashed the price of its player by more than half to $499. The player retailed for $1,000 when it first was introduced.

Blockbuster Inc.: http://www.blockbuster.com

North American HD DVD Promotional Group: http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com

Blu-ray Disc Association: http://www.blu-raydisc.com

[Animalor]

Having Disney and Sony Pictures as exclusive to Blu-Ray is going to do great things for the Blu-Ray format. I wonder if the Toshiba 199/299 player will make a difference or even a dent in the 3-4 million PS3 Blu-Ray players out there.

[Funkmasterr]

I think the disney thing will be a lot worse then blockbuster... Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow. Even though blockbuster tries to brag that they are better than netflix because you can go to the store and get new movies - that is irrelevant because every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

[Boogahz]

I think the disney thing will be a lot worse then blockbuster... Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow. Even though blockbuster tries to brag that they are better than netflix because you can go to the store and get new movies - that is irrelevant because every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

Yeah, I tried out the Blockbuster online rental service again, and it was a joke compared to what I have with Netflix. Now they have offered a lower rate for an "online only" option without the ability to swap for in-store rentals. I think it is a dollar less than the three-at-a-time Netflix service. The biggest difference I saw in the month I tried Blockbuster was that the turn-around time was horrendous with Blockbuster when compared to Netflix. Taking the movies into the store nearest me was a pain in the ass that I gave up on after the second time. I couldn't find any movie that I wanted in-stock, and the movies were not getting scanned onto my queue as returned for a longer period of time than mailing them.

[miir]

Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow...

every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

I love Funkmasterr logic.

[Winnow]

Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow...

every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

I love Funkmasterr logic.

He's right but not for that reason. A surge in Videos on Demand is right around the corner. Even Netflix (in its present form) will hit the decline but they are aligning with Microsoft if you noticed recently that the president of Netflix is now a MS board member.

I've got a good VoD stock (owns patents that some big players are infringing on) I'm watching that might be a good buy. I hate making money on lawsuit settlements though.

[Funkmasterr]

Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow...

every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

I love Funkmasterr logic.

How is that broken logic? How is going to a store to exchange your movies an advantage when there is nothing in stock that you want to rent?

Perfect example - I went there and rented Tenchu Z on Friday after work. They only had 4 copies and by the time I was checking out, there were three people behind me with the remaining copies. This means that for another 2 weeks no one that goes there can rent that.. Couple that with the negative things that Boo mentioned and I don't see how they can stay afloat too long, Netflix gets more and more popular as time passes.

[Boogahz]

Video rental stores are going to be out of business before too long anyhow...

every time i go to a blockbuster, damn near everything I want to see is checked out.

I love Funkmasterr logic.

He's right but not for that reason. A surge in Videos on Demand is right around the corner. Even Netflix (in its present form) will hit the decline but they are aligning with Microsoft if you noticed recently that the president of Netflix is now a MS board member.

I've got a good VoD stock (owns patents that some big players are infringing on) I'm watching that might be a good buy. I hate making money on lawsuit settlements though.

I think that Netflix has also started in on the VoD as well, with their "Watch Now" system with paid memberships being able to stream videos online. Might they begin to stream to the 360 in the future? Interesting idea! They also have both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD available which it appears Blockbuster will have. The only difference is that Blockbuster is not rolling out HD-DVD to any more locations.

[miir]

How is that broken logic? How is going to a store to exchange your movies an advantage when there is nothing in stock that you want to rent?

Are you retarded?
No, really...


In one comment you said they would be going out of buisness.
In a comment following you said that they are always sold out of movies you want to rent.

So it's pretty obvious that SOMEONE is renting (and paying) for those movies.
Being sold out of their product is not exactly an indication that a business is doing poorly... it usually indicates the exact opposite.

A surge in Videos on Demand is right around the corner.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I totally don't disagree with that.

[Animalor]

Isn't Microsoft the biggest or second biggest online movie rental service right now with the XBox Live Video Marketplace at the moment?

I just wish that service would come to Canada. I would rent stuff to stream through my 360 if I could..

[Funkmasterr]

How is that broken logic? How is going to a store to exchange your movies an advantage when there is nothing in stock that you want to rent?

Are you retarded?
No, really...


In one comment you said they would be going out of buisness.
In a comment following you said that they are always sold out of movies you want to rent.

So it's pretty obvious that SOMEONE is renting (and paying) for those movies.
Being sold out of their product is not exactly an indication that a business is doing poorly... it usually indicates the exact opposite.

A surge in Videos on Demand is right around the corner.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that I totally don't disagree with that.

I knew that was the point you were getting at and I meant to address it directly but forgot to. The reason why I don't think this indicates what you stated is because I don't necessarily take blockbuster having all 10 copies of pirates or whatever checked out at once.

Here is the reason I say that:
There are people like my dad who are scared by new technology. He would not so much as touch a computer and he blamed all sorts of stuff on them. Now he owns a computer, and operates a business from home in which he is on it all day long.

You will have these same people with movie rentals - it doesn't matter that there is another service out there which you could use and never worry about movies not being in stock, with overnight shipping to you - because they just want to use the store, apparently the experience of looking through a bunch of checked out shit and finally finding something you don't really want, just to be greeted at the checkout by someone who couldn't possibly like their job any less is an experience some people can't let go of.

The thing is, at some point, just like my dad buying a computer, these people will all just start using the most reliable net based rental service too, because it makes more sense in the end.

That is what I think at least.. I could be wrong though.

[noel]

Like Winnow said... Funkmasterr is right... It has nothing to do with what is and is not checked out. The fact that new releases are checked out doesn't mean there's a high demand for Blockbuster's service. It means there's a high demand to watch new releases.

REAL Video on Demand... not the utter shit services that are available in most markets is going to be crashing down like a tsunami in the next 5 years. Video on demand will be less expensive than rental, you won't have to leave your house, you won't have to return shit, you won't have to mail shit, and you won't have to put up with wanting to see a movie that isn't available because they'll ALL be available any time of day or night.

[miir]

Like Winnow said... Funkmasterr is right... It has nothing to do with what is and is not checked out. The fact that new releases are checked out doesn't mean there's a high demand for Blockbuster's service. It means there's a high demand to watch new releases.

REAL Video on Demand... not the utter shit services that are available in most markets is going to be crashing down like a tsunami in the next 5 years. Video on demand will be less expensive than rental, you won't have to leave your house, you won't have to return shit, you won't have to mail shit, and you won't have to put up with wanting to see a movie that isn't available because they'll ALL be available any time of day or night.

My cable service (Rogers) already offers VOD with a pretty good selection of titles. The price is a little more expensive than renting from a brick and mortar store but you cant beat the convenience. They also have sports, multicultural and kids programming. During last years winter olympics, I watched all the Canadian hockey games when I got home from work, uninterupted and in their entirety (for free) on their VOD service.

[Winnow]

More related news:

HD On-Demand Coming to Verizon's FiOS
Posted by Christopher Vendemio on 19 June 2007

With consumers buying high definition televisions in droves, the demand (no pun intended, really) for high definition video content has gone through the roof. After spending a decent chunk of change on these televisions, people simply want to take advantage of their purchase. While Sony and Toshiba are battling it out to quench the HD thirst via optical media, Verizon plans on taking a more practical approach through it's fiber optic internet and video service, FiOS.

In a recent interview, Verizon Chief Technology Officer Mark Wegleitner said the company has plans to combine HD video content and it's On-Demand service allowing FiOS customers to get their HD fix whenever they want. While no date was given for deployment, Wegleitner did say they were already testing the service in their labs.

Verizon's FiOS service is a big undertaking for the company. In an effort to get a leg up on other telecommunications companies that still rely on copper cabling, Verizon has dedicated over $18 billion to expanding their fiber optic network through 2010.

[Zamtuk]

Insight cable company already has HD on demand =/

[Fash]

Comcast's HD on demand is pretty nice, even the premium channels provide hd content...

I'm quite pleased with it, and really pissed off about all the DirecTV commercials bashing cable and talking about how "SOON" they will have more HD capacity. I'd rather be able to watch my TV when it's raining or cloudy out.

[noel]

I agree with everything you guys said about the current offering, but I'm talking about VoD on a MUCH grander scale. I'm talking about... you want to watch... The Bridge Over the River Kwai as part of your Sir Alec Guiness memorial film marathon, and you simply look for it then watch it.

I'm talking about not just the top 50 or 60 movies available whenever you want, but ALL of them available whenever you want. As I said before, it's coming in the next 5 or so years.

[Funkmasterr]

I agree with what you are saying noel, what I am looking for is the ability to get any movie I want on demand any time.

However, fash.. I think your comment about satellite is a little bit off. My parents have satellite, and it rarely goes down - and generally when it does it is not related to the weather. They had service through all the rain storms, snow storms, etc that MN can throw at you.

However, it doesn't really matter to me which one I use, as I watch very few channels as it is. If you ask me, the best thing for people like me would be for cable companies to stop being so damn greedy, and allow people to pick what channels they want (like say I just want 15 specific channels) and pay per channel at a reasonable price.

I know that won't happen because they won't ever stop being greedy and will continue to make people pay for 200 channels they don't watch just to get the 20 that they do, but I can hope.

[Animalor]

If a services ever comes along that allows me to pick and choose stations I want out of the list at a reasonable price, I will be all over that!!

Until then, I'll be sticking to gold ole analog cable(which incidentally is much MUCH simpler to setup with my Windows Media Player DVR).

[Lynks]

I'd rather be able to watch my TV when it's raining or cloudy out.

I have a dish and my service got interrupt 4 times in 3 years. 3 Were during a storm that took the power out. I wasn't sure what caused the other time though.

I know that won't happen because they won't ever stop being greedy and will continue to make people pay for 200 channels they don't watch just to get the 20 that they do, but I can hope.

I wish someone would come up with a "you chose your own channels" package instead of a "Choose a package that has 1 station you really want to watch and 5 others that suck" package.

[Fash]

I'd rather be able to watch my TV when it's raining or cloudy out.

I have a dish and my service got interrupt 4 times in 3 years. 3 Were during a storm that took the power out. I wasn't sure what caused the other time though.

I was just trolling...

[Winnow]

The best option for VoD atm is a fast connection to the Usenet and Newsleecher SuperSearch! Your movie is ready to watch in less than seven minutes. TV episodes in about 3.5 minutes!

[miir]

The best option for VoD atm is a fast connection to the Usenet and Newsleecher SuperSearch! You're movie is ready to watch in less than seven minutes. TV episodes in about 3.5 minutes!

Believe it or not, people probably don't feel all that comfortable stealing their TV and movies.

[noel]

I agree with Miir.

I can have most TV episodes (*shakes fist at HBO*) from the Itunes store in a very short period of time. Why would I steal it?

Don't get me wrong... if they weren't available for instant download like that *cough HBO*, I would definitely hit the newsgroups to find them, but it's more about the instant gratification than the money. I'm VERY happy to pay for it... if they'll let me HBOSUCKSMYASSPUTENTOURAGEANDDEADWOODONITUNESYOUFUCKINGBASTARDS!!!!

[Funkmasterr]

The best option for VoD atm is a fast connection to the Usenet and Newsleecher SuperSearch! You're movie is ready to watch in less than seven minutes. TV episodes in about 3.5 minutes!

Believe it or not, people probably don't feel all that comfortable stealing their TV and movies.

miir.. don't you fucking get started on this again!

[Deward]

I switched to DirectTv and everytime it rains I lose my signal. I have lost it at least twice in just the past month. The HD selection is complete crap too. I got suckered into a two year commitment for 7 HD channels ($10/month) that are worse quality than the regular channels. It is still a hell of a lot cheaper overall than cable but it is starting to annoy the fuck out of me.

[Sylvus]

I don't have satellite but I do go to happy hour at this one bar every Thursday that does, and rain storms often knock their service out. It's kind of a bitch, as there are often games on on Thursday nights that I'm trying to watch.

Cable is better.

[Zamtuk]

I have often wanted a service where I could pick my own channels, however, I fully understand the reason why that would never happen.

And if there was an on demand service like the one you are all wishing for, where you could watch any movie anytime, it would either be pay per movie, or at minimum 25-30 bucks a month for it. (yeah, it would be a lot more expensive than Netflix) A package that not a vast majority of people would get. Not to mention that it would have to have an interface capable of allowing a standard remote sift through hundreds of thousands, if not millions of movies. I really don't see any cable company coming up with a remote with a keyboard on it.

p.s. noel, spend the 8 bucks a month (13 including VoD!) on HBO you cheap fuck!

[miir]

In the time it would take me to scan through all the titles on my VOD service, I could probably walk to the video store and back.
Yesterday I spent a good 15 minutes just browsing menus.