Blockbuster only to stock blu-ray?

[Andy]

Blockbuster to focus on Blu-ray Blockbuster says customers are opting for Blu-Ray Film rental firm Blockbuster is to rent high-definition DVDs only in the Blu-ray format at 1,450 US stores. The move is viewed as a blow for the rival Toshiba-backed HD DVD format - which has been battling against the Blu-ray format, supported by Sony. Blockbuster said that consumers have chosen Blu-ray over HD DVD in the 250 stores where both were available. The limited choice of titles in the HD DVD format was also a factor in focusing on Blu-ray, Blockbuster said. "The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," Matthew Smith, senior vice president of merchandising at Blockbusters, told the Associated Press news agency. Mr Smith added that most studios were offering films on Blu-ray, with the exception of Universal which has been supplying films on HD DVD alone. The North American HD DVD Promotional Group said Blockbuster's move was short sighted, and had been prompted by the success of films released exclusively in the Blu-ray format in early 2007 such as Casino Royale and Spider Man. "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 HD DVD format will still be available at Blockbuster in 250 of its stores as well as via the internet.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Blockbuster is making the worst move possible. The Blu-Ray format is insuperior to HD-DVD. The sound is still compressed on Blu-ray as opposed to HD-DVD tru HD sound. The video compression is still mostly Mpeg 2, which is what standard def DVD's use. Why would I pay $500 for a base line Blu-ray player with compressed audio support and compressed video support when for $249.99 at Amazon or $299 at Circuit City I can buy and HD-DVD player with tru uncompressed video and audio inclduing the new DTS-HD? Even if Blu-ray takes over the US, most EU and international territories are supporting HD-DVD and those blu-ray films come on HD-DVD overseas, so I will just buy from overseas sellers.

[Danny]

thats not what a blockbuster employee told me when i was in there last month ,to quote him "sony have payed us a big load of cash to only stock blu-ray and not stock hd-dvd", straight from an employees mouth sony have payed them to do so. which they have been over here since before the ps3's release.

[darth los]

thats not what a blockbuster employee told me when i was in there last month ,to quote him "sony have payed us a big load of cash to only stock blu-ray and not stock hd-dvd", straight from an employees mouth sony have payed them to do so. which they have been over here since before the ps3's release. That's exactly what i was going to say. Why else would they back a soposedly inferior format? I think the days of a certain chain carrying your product making or breaking it is over. With the internet you can get hd-dvds from any where in the world. Who cares what blockbuster is carrying. Once again the train wreck that is sony has badly overplayed their hand.

[MinionZombie]

What a numpty move on CockBlocker's part. Oooooh, Sony bribary? *inhales through teeth in that "ooh" manner*

[jdog]

thats the stupidest thing i ever heard

[Andy]

thats not what a blockbuster employee told me when i was in there last month ,to quote him "sony have payed us a big load of cash to only stock blu-ray and not stock hd-dvd", straight from an employees mouth sony have payed them to do so. which they have been over here since before the ps3's release. Why would a store clerk know this? surely if blockbuster had entered into such a deal they would want to keep it underwraps and not announce it to low level staff. Im on the fence here, having seen both blu-ray and HD-DVD in action, i can see pro's and con's for both. i dunno...

[Danny]

the dudes a manager who ,according to a freind who works there, only got the job cus his dad works high up in the uk portion of blockbuster. and apparently hes a big headed sell important prat, dont you hate that type of guy?

[darth los]

Im on the fence here, having seen both blu-ray and HD-DVD in action, i can see pro's and con's for both. i dunno... Do you think that hd-dvd will try and counter this move with an exclusivity deal with some other chain? I think sony is scrambling. Hd-dvd already has a leg up in terms of pricing for their players. Couple that with the fact that there's no porn on blu ray and that's a pretty steep hill to climb. Although, i really don't know anybody who buys porn dvd's any way. They do it the old fashioned way,through the internet.

[DjfunkmasterG]

Why would a store clerk know this? surely if blockbuster had entered into such a deal they would want to keep it underwraps and not announce it to low level staff. Im on the fence here, having seen both blu-ray and HD-DVD in action, i can see pro's and con's for both. i dunno... Trust me, there is no con for HD-DVD, especially if you own a kick ass home theater sound system. I have all the top tier HD-DVD's and I watched The same film on two fo the same Tv's one being on Blu-ray the other being on HD-DVD and let me tell you the HD-DVD won hands down. Go rent Superman Returns or The matrix films in HD-DVD, any argument about quality is squashed after watching 10 minutes of each film. Blu-ray is just using the same old tired compression format that is already being used on standard DVD's. Why blow the cash on a $500.00 DVD player when the $69 one will give you the same quality as Blu-Ray? Spend $249.99, buy some HD-DVD's and go to town enjoying your mind being blown away from the look and sound of perfect.

[darth los]

Trust me, there is no con for HD-DVD, especially if you own a kick ass home theater sound system. I have all the top tier HD-DVD's and I watched The same film on two fo the same Tv's one being on Blu-ray the other being on HD-DVD and let me tell you the HD-DVD won hands down. Go rent Superman Returns or The matrix films in HD-DVD, any argument about quality is squashed after watching 10 minutes of each film. Blu-ray is just using the same old tired compression format that is already being used on standard DVD's. Why blow the cash on a $500.00 DVD player when the $69 one will give you the same quality as Blu-Ray? Spend $249.99, buy some HD-DVD's and go to town enjoying your mind being blown away from the look and sound of perfect. Is the compressed format the blu rays use the major con for you, or is it something more? How does the image quality stack up?

[acealive1]

man...... i swear its like seeing whos gonna fight over last place. this beta dvd crap isnt gonna work. costs too much and man if the picture got any clearer you wouldnt have a picture cuz of the format changes to hd or blu ray. anyone that doubts me can look no further than sony's last attempt at reinventing the wheel....the UMD. no ones gonna $149 to look at a 5 inch screen. u can buy a tv for the same price. 44 whole inches.

[darth los]

man...... i swear its like seeing whos gonna fight over last place. this beta dvd crap isnt gonna work. costs too much and man if the picture got any clearer you wouldnt have a picture cuz of the format changes to hd or blu ray. anyone that doubts me can look no further than sony's last attempt at reinventing the wheel....the UMD. no ones gonna $149 to look at a 5 inch screen. u can buy a tv for the same price. 44 whole inches. *ducks down and hides as an avid psp owner*

[mista_mo]

who the hell would spend 250 bucks on dvds at one time anyway..it's still a waste of money. I'm not even goign to get into anouther game debate. Each side is clouded by fanboys who see faults in one system and make a huge fuss out of it, while ignoring the actual good qualities of the system... The psp is good The Ds is good People buy them and are happy with what they have who cares?

[darth los]

who the hell would spend 250 bucks on dvds at one time anyway..it's still a waste of money. I'm not even goign to get into anouther game debate. Each side is clouded by fanboys who see faults in one system and make a huge fuss out of it, while ignoring the actual good qualities of the system... The psp is good The Ds is good People buy them and are happy with what they have who cares? i don't even listen to fanboys anymore because their judgement is clouded by the total disdain for any other system than the one they support. I agree that as long as you're satisfied with your purchase it's nobody elses business. *go psp *!!