If Warner Bros. decision to go exclusively with Blu-ray was an industry-rattling earthquake, Monday's news that Netflix would begin to phase out HD DVD rentals is an inevitable aftershock: much smaller impact, potentially damaging, and still leaves everyone feeling unsettled.
By the end of the year Netflix will no longer offer HD DVD movies to customers, opting to exclusively stock Blu-ray Discs in its online rental service. In the company's announcement, Netflix said it made the decision based on Blu-ray's recent momentum -- Universal and Paramount are the only remaining major Hollywood studios with agreements to release titles exclusively on HD DVD.
For HD DVD backers like Toshiba, Microsoft, and the studios, Netflix is probably yet another sad loss, but it won't have the demoralising repercussions the Warner decision did.
But for the average consumer, in reality, not much changes. That's because the overwhelming majority of Netflix's DVD renters don't rent high-definition discs. But those who did were renting Blu-ray more than HD DVD, hence Netflix's decision.
Sure, Netflix is one less place to rent HD DVD, but finding copies of the beleaguered disc format is not impossible -- Blockbuster stores don't offer HD DVDs to rent, but its online rental service still stocks both formats.
In all, the announcement doesn't do much to make the muddled format picture any less murky for consumers right now. High-definition video players and discs are still too pricey for most buyers, and the quality improvement over DVD aren't as apparent to anyone but the hardcore videophile crowd. Plus, standard DVD players that can convert discs to high-def resolution get the job done reasonably well. Until any of that changes, high-definition video will be stuck in neutral no matter which studio or rental service makes an offer of exclusivity.
The HD DVD Promotional Group's response: "We have long held the belief that HD DVD is the best format for consumers based on quality and value, and with more than 1 million HD DVD players on the market, it's unfortunate to see Netflix make the decision to only stock Blu-ray titles going forward."
Like this article? Click below to send it to your mobile for free!
dvdwatcher
12/02/2008 01:10 PM
DVD is the present. HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are useless anyway unles you have the appropriate panel to display it. My sons PS3 plays Standard DVD as well as Blu-Ray discs but on our 42" HD Ready 1366x768 panel, there is really no difference in picture quality. Definately not enough to justify spending even more money on a Full HD panel, yet.
Report offensive content
Full HD rules
12/02/2008 02:21 PM
Dvdwatcher, you see no differences cause your tv is not full HD its just HD ready hence why you cannot tell the difference...get a Full HD tv and you will be blown away
Report offensive content