Blockbuster Chooses Blu-Ray Over HD
Filed under: Home Entertainment
What happens when your exclusive deals with two different companies are no longer compatible? This has apparently happened to The Weinstein Co. now that Blockbuster Video has chosen to expand its availability of Blu-Ray discs, making the format the single high-definition video option in most stores. TWC, which formed a shocking exclusive rental agreement with Blockbuster last fall, does not distribute its titles on Blu-Ray; the independent studio favors HD-DVD (as does Universal). Perhaps the Weinsteins will have to rethink their video distribution? At least the movies they've already released on HD-DVD will remain in Blockbuster stores, which won't be getting rid of whatever HD-DVD titles they are already renting, and through Blockbuster.com, which reportedly won't be part of the Blu-Ray 'exclusive'. In fact, Blockbuster claims they would also expand its in-store HD-DVD distribution if enough customers want them -- so this isn't exactly an exclusive deal.Supposedly the decision was made because Blu-Ray is outselling HD-DVD titles in stores thanks especially to the popularity of the Spider-Man films and the Pirates of the Caribbean series, both of which are only available on Blu-Ray. But this supply to the demand strategy is likely going to also create demand for only Blu-Ray, since customers tend to go with what is available to them rather than what is not. Some people claim that even the online rentals will be affected because members of Blockbuster's Total Access won't be able to return HD-DVDs to stores, and so won't be interested in them as much as in Blu-Ray. But there's a good chance that Blockbuster's new lower-priced services, which aren't 'total access', will become the company's online standards and therefore customers probably won't actually care about which format they choose. Still, with the influence of Blockbuster stores and the Blu-Ray compatible Playstation, we may very well have a front-runner, if not winner, of the hi-def format race. Maybe Blu-Ray will replace DVDs by 2010 after all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-18-2007 @ 5:56PM
pete said...
title is misleading, bluray is hd. you mean bluray over hd-dvd.
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6-18-2007 @ 6:13PM
CapAmerica said...
This doesn't mean a whole lot really.
They supported UMD movies too and look where those are now.
My Dad even recalls that our local Blockbuster uses to carry laserdisc for a short while.
I would really take this with a grain a salt. They are just supporting it in stores right now cause PS3 owners are asking for them. I say give it a year and Blu-Ray will fizzle out just like UMD movies did.
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6-18-2007 @ 6:27PM
bgdc said...
CapAmerica,
As PS3 sales continue, so does the trojan horse of Blu Ray. By this time next year we'll see many millions of people with Blu Ray players. Most people forget that Sony's PS2 having a DVD player built-in was a big deal as the DVD was nascent in 2000 also.
Come October when GTA IV hits the PS3, you're gonna see a jump in two things: PS3 sales and blu ray movie sales.
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6-18-2007 @ 6:28PM
Inwa said...
I don't know why i couldn't return an HD-DVD to the store with Total Access. I bring the disk back sealed in the envelope. It could be a CDR for all they know. That part didn't make sense to me.
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6-18-2007 @ 6:29PM
LordPaul said...
>>I would really take this with a grain a salt. They are just supporting it in stores right now cause PS3 owners are asking for them. I say give it a year and Blu-Ray will fizzle out just like UMD movies did.
That doesn't make much sense. In respect to "the war" there are evidentally less people asking for HD-DVD, so you're either wrong or suggesting that neither format will win.
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6-18-2007 @ 7:17PM
William said...
Looks like they chose too quickly. Sorry Blockbuster. Maybe this is payback for editing all those films.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/16/blu-ray-disc-coatings-starting-to-rot/
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6-18-2007 @ 9:13PM
Mr. Anderson said...
We're not talking about UMD's here buddy. UMD's were only playable on a PSP. I doubt Sony was ever trying to phase out DVD's with UMD's. And the comment about Blockbuster only carrying Blu-ray movies because that's what PS3 fans want!? This decision was based on current HD-DVD and Blu-ray rental sales at the 250 Blockbuster stores that carry them. Blu-ray currently has 70 percent of the HD rental sales. Plus Blu-ray movies are outselling HD-DVD 3 to 1. Plus there are 4.1 million Blu-ray players sold which is including the PS3. Funny how Toshiba recently announced how in North America there have been more "dedicated" HD-DVD players sold then "dedicated" Blu-ray players. This is true. There have been 300,000 "dedicated" HD-DVD players sold and only 100,000 "dedicated" Blu-ray players. This isn't including the PS3 which has sold 1.5 million consoles in North America and 4 million worldwide. This would bring the number of Blu-ray players in North America alone to 1.6 million. The proof is in the movie sales and we are already seeing the affects of this. In my eyes this format war is already over. Blu-ray can be crowned the winner. Once Spiderman 3 comes out on Blu-ray, HD-DVD will have no choice but to call it quits.
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6-19-2007 @ 3:14AM
Larry said...
Blu-ray the winner? Blu-ray and HD Dvd sales combined account for less than 2% of the dvd market right now - wake me up when either one gets to 50% market share.
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6-20-2007 @ 10:27PM
Mr. Anderson said...
Yes Larry. Blu-ray is the winner. We are talking about the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD. The HD format war. Regarding your wake up call, I'll be waking you up in 2012.
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7-07-2007 @ 6:39AM
Al said...
Iron fisted Sony would just love that. Then they can go back to charging us 1000 for a player and the discs to around the 40-50 dollar mark (some blu rays are already that prices around my neck of the woods.
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