Blockbuster Entertainment has picked a winner in the in the struggle of the high-def discs, choosing Blu-ray over HD DVD. Could this be the decisive moment in the format war?

The software giant had already been carrying both formats at 250 of its stores. Blu-ray was outselling HD DVD. So when Blockbuster decided to extend high-def discs to more stores, it decided to focus on Blu-ray. BD will be carried in between 1450 additional stores, bringing the total to 1700. HD DVD will continue to be sold in the original 250 stores and online.20.nohddvd-1.jpg

"The consumers are sending us a message. I can't ignore what I'm seeing," said senior VP Matthew Smith to the Associated Press.

Toshiba responded that Blockbuster is "limiting a choice for consumers."

Whether the move will establish a winner in the eyes of consumers, effectively ending the format war, remains to be seen. But software has been the weak link for both formats, with each one boasting only a few hundred titles in circulation. If Blockbuster is making shelf space for Blu-ray, the studios have a stronger motivation to release in BD. All eyes are now on Netflix.
 
Writer :Mark Fleischmann


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