http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/ Engadget HD Comments for http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 7:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Noone rents from them and guess what? They have a blue ray agenda!
Netflix is putting them out of business, and I have been renting HD DVDs for months!! I rarely BUY movies, but when I do..they are usually warner bros or Univeral movies anyway! Disney is the only downside for owning HDDVD. For those movies that my children watch, I just buy the regular dvd and let my toshiba HD player upconvert to 1080I!! Who cares about Sony movies anyway? They are the lowest on the totem pole in the way of content!]]>Jun 18th 2007 1:20PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 7:43PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 7:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 8:04PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Way to go Blockbuster.]]>Jun 17th 2007 8:15PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Also, let's not forget that Pixar movies only appear on Blu-Ray (Apple supports Blu-Ray as you all know).

If I had to choose one, I would definitely choose Blu-Ray.]]>Jun 17th 2007 8:15PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 8:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
I think it really would be a shame to see Blu ray and I am still holding out for the HD DVD's; but I am very pessimistic.
I really hope to see the HD DVD group pull together some major cash for one all out blitz to try to save the day. The prices for the equipment are becoming very reasonable and I still honestly believe the majority of the public doesn't even know there is a format war.

I really don't want to have to say Blu Ray for the next ten years either, what a terrible name.]]>Jun 17th 2007 9:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/preleaseindex.html]]>Jun 17th 2007 9:46PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.blockbuster.com/corporate/newReleases]]>Jun 17th 2007 10:08PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 10:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Initially the 1500 are Blu, dont you think the rest will follow? They are not going to go back to HD-DVD after they only had 30% interest.

If you think any different you are a dilusional fanboy and im sorry. If you cant admit it im sorry.]]>Jun 17th 2007 10:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
That still doesn't mean the 'vast majority' of stores, like was posted in the article. Who here is the "blind fanboy" that they dont want FACTUAL reporting? I feel sorry for you because you exist.]]>Jun 17th 2007 11:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 10:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 12:12PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
And to some of the guys happy with upconverting DVD players. I can see a significant difference between an upconverted DVD and a BRD (I'm sure HD DVD is the same). However, it's better than nothing.]]>Jun 19th 2007 12:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 10:46PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 17th 2007 10:52PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
I would refrain from any "death knell for HD DVD" rhetoric based on this announcement. Seriously, have you seen the lines at Blockbuster on Friday and Saturday nights? They're probably not going with HD DVD because they don't want the headaches or confusion from frustrated renters who may leave the store angry and empty-handed when they can't get "Breach" or "Spider-Man 3" on their format of choice. Save it for when Spielberg announces "Close Encounters" and "E.T." for HD DVD exclusively or something along those lines. Frankly, it's tiresome to keep hearing about this thing being "over" when it's only just begun. ]]>Jun 17th 2007 10:54PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Besides, right around the time when the HD DVD Forum jumped the gun announcing a bunch "Spielberg" titles from Universal, he made them take down his movies off the release list. He also stated that he wouldn't give the studio his "OK" while a format war was going.]]>Jun 17th 2007 11:39PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Without the competition, Sony may well have stuck with MPEG2, leaving everyone scratching their heads wondering why "true 1080p" barely looks better than DVD regardless of the movie. And we'd probably never see a Fifth Element reissue. And most importantly, HD discs probably never would have taken off at all.
]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:01AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
I'm going to cancel my crutchfield order of the h2-a2 player.


]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:30AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
:p]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:51AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
HD DVD had DRM too. Crappy DRM, but DRM nonetheless.

Besides, its not like some enterprising boy genius won't figure out a workaround for BD+ 2 minutes after its released.

I'm about to try to Ebay my HD-A1. I no longer have any faith in the HD DVD format. It was great while it lasted, but I can get more movies (and better movies) on Blu-ray. I use my PS3 for movies 99% of the time, and my Toshiba gets used when I want to watch Serenity or King Kong, which is nowhere near as often as when I watch Pirates of the Caribbean or Superman Returns.]]>Jun 18th 2007 1:28AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 2:14AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 2:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 11:29AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 3:27AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 11:32AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 4:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 6:07AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Let's apply this to the PS3, which was nothing more than a trojan horse for this format. Whether it is or isn't being used in homes as a dedicated movie player, two things are certain: it's being soundly beaten by the Wii and 360 (which are cheaper alternatives); and many developers and games have migrated to the 360 due to cost and development issues. As a result, there's a dearth of games on the system that doesn't seem to be overcome anytime soon, and the buzz surrounding Halo 3, GTA IV, Mass Effect, and BioShock are NOT helping the situation.

So, is the PS3 a failure given these facts? Many people who own the system say no and blindly defend it and Blu-Ray because of their investment. Spider-Man 3 and Pirates 3 are inferior sequels that will not gross more than the first two movies did. Should these movies (and Shrek 3) be called failures as well? The point is, as long as consumers are snatching up players and movies for EITHER format, money is being made. From what I understand, money generated from purchased products equals succe$$.

The day studios and other companies realize this is the day I can buy the movie I want on any format I choose. Blockbuster is indeed short-sighted and won't realize their mistake until subscribers who want HD DVDs begin cancelling their store memberships and defecting to NetFlix or some other site. Like Glenn Close once said, "(We) will not be ignored!"]]>Jun 18th 2007 7:38AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/Jun 18th 2007 5:25PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
And wanting BD to win simply because it would impact Microsoft is pretty deluded. Never mind the fact that Microsoft is the single least committed member to the technology, but this presumes that Sony is, in some way, different or more altruistic than Microsoft or any other large corporation that would like to dominate the industry. I mean, it's your money to spend as you wish, but if you think that HD-DVD's failure will register more than a blip on MS's radar, I think you're only fooling yourself.]]>Jun 18th 2007 9:01AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
I do have one question, how much is Sony paying blockbuster for this? Sony's marketing team is the best in the business.]]>Jun 18th 2007 9:03AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Any other BB employees have stories to tell on high def player sales?]]>Jun 18th 2007 9:28AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/It's the same in every store. There are no HD-DVD players for sale and the HD-DVD section has been scaled down by 50%/Blu-ray section doubled.]]>Jun 18th 2007 10:08AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
The number of movies of each format sent to each store is based on the number of players sold last fiscal year, so if your store sold more BD players in significantly larger quantities than HD-DVD, yeah it may have lost a bay, but this can change at any time.

All Best Buys sell both current HD players, but not all Blu-Ray players (Pioneer's and the high-end Panasonic are MHT products only)

Since the start of summer I've sold 16 HD-DVD players and 3 Blu-Ray players, however all of those HD-DVD players are to women or families over 35, who seem to pick HD-DVD for the catalogue titles, the Blu-Ray players are sold to men under 35, who pick CG laden new releases.

It's tit-for-tat. Neither format's picture quality is any better than the other, as it comes down to the source material anyway. The extra capactity of BDR is really only good for special features, and until one of the formats cuts $5-$10 off the cost of the movies themselves, it's going to be just like it has been: HD-DVD sells more players, BD sells more movies.]]>Jun 19th 2007 12:15PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
As for the PS3 being hurt by the 360 or Wii. I would agree with you on the Wii, but in general (mostly compared to the 360), if you want to get your 360 comporable to the PS3, you actually spend more money. Sony's BR diode costs went from 125 to $8-10 per unit. They haven't lowered the price because they're trying to make "some" money back on their units. Expect something near the end of this year.]]>Jun 18th 2007 10:55AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Blockbuster's announcement is bad press for HD-DVD, no doubt. However, Blockbuster is a paper tiger. It is also losing money and market share. Its stock is at about $4.65 per share. I worked there at one time and it used to be incredibly busy, but its obvious that their fortunes have dwindled.

So, bad news, but probably a pretty small impact worldwide on the format war. I believe it's too early to tell who comes out on top, but Sony is hurting and so is their new "benefactor," Blockbuster. Microsoft and Toshiba both are quite profitable. Toshiba's profits have trippled. They are facing challenges in memory sales, but overall they are pretty healthy. With Toshiba and HP ($4.5 BILLION in Net Op Income) putting HD-DVDs into their laptops, economies of scale will be to kick in and a sub $100 HD-DVD player can't be far behind. This will be without giving away the bank.

The content will follow. Transformers will probably make a dent. So will reissues of LOTR. I'd put my bets on companies that make money and have cash vs companies losing money and who are laying off workers (Sony computer entertainment) any day of the week. Eventually, with highly paid executives getting laptops with HD-DVDs, the sales of the movies will grow. Even Sony Pictures will be put in a precarious position of having to support HD-DVD when faced with a choice of selling movies.

Fundamentals drive the corporate world, no fanboy wishes and dreams.

One more factor: XNA. Game developers will develop for XBOX 360 more and more because of it's easy portability to Vista (same guys with HD-DVD loaded up laptops will buy "Games for Windows" to play with while they travel). ]]>Jun 18th 2007 11:24AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
further more blu ray is
pioneer
sony: twice the size of Toshiba
LG: about the size of toshiba 25 billion
SAMSUNG:over 5x the size of size of toshiba at 150 billion in sales 9.5 billion in net profit, sharp, mitsubishi
matsushita: panasonic jvc et al twice the size of toshiba by itself at 52 billion)
onkyo ]]>Jun 22nd 2007 2:23PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
As for Best Buy .. all my local stores have two racks of each. I thought that one of them had cut their HD DVDs in half, but they just had them on both sides of an aisle end. I note that the BD racks are fuller and neater, and the HD racks look like 100 hands have been through them recently.

And again, I note that the titles for BD appeal mostly to teen-age boys of all ages, probably because of the PS3. Content cuts both ways.]]>Jun 18th 2007 11:24AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/means people want what Universal, Warner, and Paramount have to offer. And don't sleep on The Weinstein Company or upcoming releases like "Hot Fuzz" or "Dawn of the Dead" (or "Shaun of the Dead," for that matter).

Ask yourself this: If the format is dying and has less studio support than its rival, why are HD DVD players still selling out in record numbers? Trust me on this: even if HD DVDs are phased out, consumers will STILL have a quality hi-def player that upscales regular DVDs beautifully to 1080i/1080p. And, while this isn't a substitute for true high definition, it will suffice for those who aren't interested in Blu-Ray. I plan to use mine until a newer format arises or digital distribution becomes the norm. Lionsgate films on Marketplace anyone?

I'd even wager that, with the upswing in HD DVD players, if Universal and, say, Fox or Disney announced they were going format-neutral TOMORROW, sales for the latter's films on HD DVD would soar past Universal's on Blu-Ray. I'm sure the studios know this, but I suppose there's too much riding on them NOT to defect. Sometimes, I wonder if it's nothing more than sheer spite.

]]>Jun 18th 2007 11:51AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
The biggest line of defense that HD-DVD groups say, "well if it werent for the PS3 surge" is like saying "well if HD-DVD never lowered their prices". Honestly, quit using that as a line of defense, it's ridiculous. And I wont deny the fact that HD-DVD sales are doing great, but I'm still not convinced from the longterm perspective... it remains a lost leader in my eyes.]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
This one is going to hurt. ]]>Jun 18th 2007 12:59PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
]]>Jul 17th 2007 8:01AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/
Point taken, and thanks for your earlier comments, but it's not a "line of defense," it's a point of fact. I'm also a little confused by your "lost leader" comment. You can't be both, which makes this an oxymoron. : )

@ Ken

i think you have your definitions crossed. Defending your position with valid information does not make one a fanboy. This is what debating is all about and why we contribute to blogs like this. Fanboys are the immature guys who scream and yell on forums in defense of something without anything to substantiate their claims. Everyone with the exception of Dave (News flash: "HD DUD" is infantile; you can do better.) has contributed to this post without any "fanboyism," so what's your point?]]>Jun 18th 2007 1:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/06/17/blockbuster-chooses-blu-ray-is-the-war-over/The GAMES division lost 2 billion dollars. Sony still MADE 500 million in the same period of time. Mostly on the strength of is MEDIA and HD-TV divisions. Media and TV's are exactly what the blueray format war involve.

Media is part of a major loss at MS the Xbox project ALONE has lost over 10 billion dollars since it was made. Zune and HD-DVD are also adding to their losses. They have not figured out how to get ANY ROI on any media investment, ever.

Toshiba is loosing the format war in a big way. The whole point of HD-DVD was to recoup the razor thin margains that they were making on dvd. Cheap players mean that they have all but given up on making a profit on players. While they flood the market with cheap players that means only chinese oem players will be able to make a profit putting the industry right back in the position it was with DVD, the position of NO PROFIT.

Universial is the only company that can benifit at this point because their media is still released on multiple formats.

Toshiba is KILLING hd-dvd with their cheap players. MS-media divisions are "loss leaders" for MS with huge losses and no return on investment on the horizon.

Universial will continue to make money on media with the lowest attchment rate,DVD. At least until the prices of DVD and HD dvd go down to the point where there is no room for profit there either.

]]>Jun 18th 2007 1:57PM