Netflix has finally chosen a side in the battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray. The online video rental company announced today that it has dropped support for HD DVD and will stock high-def DVDs exclusively in the Blu-ray format.
With the industry now having picked a winner in the face-off between the two competing high- definition DVD formats, Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX), the world's largest online movie rental service, today said that it will move toward stocking high-def DVDs exclusively in the Blu-ray format.

Citing the decision by four of the six major movie studios to publish high-def DVD titles only in the Sony-developed Blu-ray format, Netflix said that as of now it will purchase only Blu-ray discs and will phase out by roughly year's end the alternative high-def format, HD DVD, developed by Toshiba.

Since the first high-definition DVDs came on the market in early 2006, Netflix has stocked both formats. But the company said that in recent months the industry has stated its clear preference for Blu-ray and that it now makes sense for the company to initiate the transition to a single format.
Netflix will not be dropping HD DVD immediately. While the company won't be purchasing any new HD DVD titles, it will continue to offer its current inventory until the discs' natural life cycle takes them out of circulation. If you'd like to read more, Netflix's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
While there have been rumors that Microsoft is thinking about supporting Blu-ray on the Xbox 360, the company still hasn't given up on HD DVD. To give the format a much needed boost, Microsoft has dropped the price of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player from $179.99 to $129.99. Best Buy has taken this one step further, lowering the price of the player to $119.99. And yes, the player still qualifies for the "Perfect Offer" program, which gives you 5 HD DVD movies by mail. Add a comment
While most anime companies have been slow to go high-def, ADV Films has thrown their weight behind Blu-ray. According to ICv2, ADV will begin releasing some of its newer titles on Blu-ray as early as this spring.
ICv2 has learned that ADV Films has chosen the Blu-ray high definition format and plans to begin releasing high def versions of some titles as early as this spring. A highly placed source at the company told us that "frontlist is more important than catalogue right now," so the first high def releases will be the company's newest titles. The move to begin releasing Blu-ray versions of some new titles may have an impact on ADV's release schedule, as high def transfers will have to be prepared.
If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
According to TradingMarkets.com, Toshiba will be staying out of the Chinese HD DVD player market. By doing so, Toshiba hopes to encourage companies in the China to produce their own HD DVD players.
As a matter of fact, plenty of domestic companies in the China High Definition DVD Industry Association are preparing to rollout HD-DVD players in the Chinese market during 2008, said Lu Da, an official of the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center. Some of the products, priced at no more than CNY 3,000, will be available in the market in the coming March.

Therefore, the largest HD-DVD player supporter is not going to make a foray into the Chinese market in order not to affect the sales of the Chinese manufacturers, citing sources.
If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
In a last ditch effort to save HD DVD, Toshiba has paid nearly $3-million to run a 30 second commercial during the Super Bowl. According to Home Media Magazine, the ad will highlight Toshiba's HD-A3, HD-A30 and HD-A35 players.
Toshiba Corp. will feature HD DVD in a scheduled Super Bowl XLII ad during the Feb. 3 telecast from Glendale, Ariz.

Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for the Toshiba Digital A/V Group, confirmed the Japanese consumer electronics giant will run the 30-second ad as part of a marketing strategy intended to reinvigorate HD DVD.

She said the spot would highlight the HD-A3, HD-A30 and HD-A35 players, which Toshiba recently cut the retail prices.
The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) will not be running an ad during the Super Bowl. However, retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City will be running their own to promote HDTV with specials that include a free Blu-ray player. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment