Netflix to Offer High-Definition DVDs Only in Blu-Ray Format

[Digital Puppy]

Netflix to Offer High-Definition DVDs Only in Sony's Blu-Ray Format

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- Netflix Inc., the online movie rental company, said Monday it is switching exclusively to the Blu-ray format for high-definition DVDs, following four major movie studios in selecting the Sony technology over one pushed by Toshiba Corp.

Toshiba and Sony have been vying to set the standard for high-definition DVDs for several years. The stakes are high because the winner will also get a boost in sales of DVD players needed to read the new format.

The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have endorsed Blu-ray. Paramount and Universal Studios publish their high-definition DVDs in Toshiba's HD DVD format.

Netflix has stocked both formats since they became available in 2006, but said the decision of four of the six major studios to issue films only in Blu-ray format made it likely that the Sony format will prevail.

"From the Netflix perspective, focusing on one format will enable us to create the best experience for subscribers," the company said, adding that not many customers order high-def DVDs.

Many consumers have held off on buying a high-def DVD player until the dominant format is decided.

[KnightRid]

Sux that Sony is going to win *sigh*

Mike

bet blu-ray wont come down in price as fast as HD was either Sony = money hungry bastards that make great consoles and some good tvs

[Digital Puppy]

Sux that Sony is going to win *sigh*

Mike

bet blu-ray wont come down in price as fast as HD was either Sony = money hungry bastards that make great consoles and some good tvs

Well, I think the Blu-ray prices are pretty low already. Amazon even has a bunch of them for under $14 right now.

We will see how willing the studios and retailers will be to support either HD-DVD or BR or both. Not sure you can blame Sony for finally making a winning format.

[stereo55]

Oh the pain of having Sony win out . Personaly I think down the road the consumer is really going to get hurt by Blu-Ray winning the format war ; as the Sony will have free reign to do as they please (DRM , Copy-protection , etc) . I though people might have learned thier leason with Sonys exploits ....guess not . Iam sure the music and movie indusrty luvs it it though .

*super sigh

[Apoptosis]

well Wal-Mart took back my Toshiba HD DVD player that I bought in November with no questions asked.... I'm out the purchase price of three movies, so this HD War burnt me for less than $100. Not bad and in the end I've been watching HD 1080i/p content at home for over a year now.

[stereo55]

Yeh , Iam debating on returning my A3 to CC ($100.04) . As as upcovert player its great though , as I have 400+ SD movies atm .

Its just hard to give Sony any $$$ (imo) , and who knows what the future price(s) of BR will be . Most think it will go down sooner then later , but this is Sony we are talking about , of which they have us all by the proverbial balls now . OUCH !

[Apoptosis]

I still have my XBox 360 HD-DVD player that I wrote about here - http://www.legitreviews.com/article/532/1/

I have 10 or so HD DVD movies, so I still have something to play them on.