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 ...
I have canceled my NetFlix account this morning. No HD-DVD, no NetFlix. I realize that they couldn't care less but they have eliminated my need for NetFlix.
I'm having a hard time deciding which I hate more - the decision itself or they way they are trying to sugar coat it...
Please explain how dropping HD-DVD is going to "enhance my user experience"... If NetFlix had 5000 physical stores to stock I would understand how they could save a lot of money but there is nothing forcing them to stock HD-DVD's in EVERY shipping center.
And why they PR announcement? Couldn't they just have stopped buying new HD-DVD's and kept quiet? No, clearly they are trying to help "finish off" HD-DVD by publicly announcing their support. But why would they do that? My guess is that they have some deal with Sony that won't show up until their next quarterly report.
I must say I am VERY disappointed in their decision - As a NetFlix customer and HD-DVD owner this is a MUCH bigger loss that when Warner went Blu-ray only...
Unfortunately I also think it will hurt HD-DVD much more too
This report is incomplete, thank god... otherwise my recent $500 investment would have been 100% worthless along with my parent's $1000 investment in a combo...
It didn't make any sense to take all those HD DVD's they have and throw them in the trash. I see no reason for them to not continue renting what they have until it dies off. The greater concern are the new movies to be released. It begs the question if the studios are going to be forced to complete their HD DVD contracts considering no one seems interested in rental or distribution.
Even though Dale's note didn't have all the details the real fact here is significant - NetFlix is going on record as saying BluRay will win. NetFlix is considered enough of a maverick that their statements carry weight in the mass media and, more importantly, with people's perceived reality. You will hear "NetFlix picked BluRay" from now on...
At the end of the year the ONLY way you will be able rent HD discs is on Blu-ray. So either you buy all your own HD-DVD's or you buy a BluRay player...
I'm hoping that MS offers an Blu-ray option at a reasonable price...
The only way this makes financial sense for Netflix is if it too received a large payment from Sony. This is so unlawful... I am so aggravated...I just may come out of retirement...
Of course it couldn't POSSIBLY be that NetFlix thinks keeping both formats alive will eventually lead to studios publishing movies in both formats which would then mean that NetFlix has to stock both formats since most consumers would have one or the other but probably not both players. And that would most certainly be a financial impact for NetFlix. Not to mention it's just a lot simpler and they don't have to worry about consumers renting the wrong format for their player.
I got an email today, that I knew would come, but I didn't want to see. As a HD-DVD user, another nail in the coffin from Netflix. At least I am 50/50 on formats, having had VHS before this. I still think HD-DVD is the best and will continue with it until the BR machines get better and the HD-DVD supply dries up. It will probably be for the best to have one HD format that everyone can rally around. Still............I can listen to Roy Orbison in Dolby TrueHD. So far, you BR guys can't.
Not even with the PS 3 units ? ( never have been able to understand why the BLU RAY units ever were purchased? ... And, STILL more revisions on the way !)
eli whitney
You're receiving this email because you have asked to receive high-definition movies in the HD DVD format. As you may have heard, most of the major movie studios have recently decided to release their high-definition movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. In order to provide the best selection of high-definition titles for our members, we have decided to go exclusively with Blu-ray as well.
While we will continue to make our current selection of HD DVD titles available to you for the next several months, we will not be adding additional HD DVD titles or reordering replacements.
Toward the end of February, HD DVDs in your Saved Queue will automatically be changed to standard definition DVDs. Then toward the end of this year, all HD DVDs in your Queue will be changed to standard definition DVDs. Don't worry, we will contact you before this happens.
You can click here to change your format preferences.
What I don't get is the forced change in my Queue now...
That is only in the Saved section at the bottom of the Queue. I interpret that as meaning since they haven't got the saved movies in HDDVD now and they are not buying any more, that you would never get them anyway. So they are changing them to DVD so that you will get them when they come in instead of just having it continued as a HDDVD listing in the Saved section that you will never get.
dave
PS, I don't like it either, but in their defense, they have been carrying both formats and in my small town area, they are the only source of either format for rental. And I can watch a dozen movies a month for $17. instead of $4. a movie locally, and have the best selection of old Classic movies almost anywhere.
But, alas, I too just bought an HD A30 in December, on "sale" for triple, or more, than what they are on eBay now!
Of course it couldn't POSSIBLY be that NetFlix thinks keeping both formats alive will eventually lead to studios publishing movies in both formats which would then mean that NetFlix has to stock both formats since most consumers would have one or the other but probably not both players. And that would most certainly be a financial impact for NetFlix. Not to mention it's just a lot simpler and they don't have to worry about consumers renting the wrong format for their player.
And I presume this is why Netflix intends to increase its prices for BR rentals when they stop stocking HD DVD....
I received the e-mail from Netflix to inform me that they would move to "exclusive" Blu-Ray. I sent them an e-mail to let them know I will be moving to "exclusive" On Demand for my HD movies in the future. I was happy with Netflix, and was about to upgrade my service, but now I will take my business away and I won't be coming back. I was also very unhappy with the fact that they didn't allow this situation to play out, and instead they are switching my HD DVD movies to DVD format. I am not interested in DVD, and I won't buy BD for years to come. I will not reward any company that took away my choice in this matter.
Blockbuster still rents HD-DVD movies. So all those people who feel cheated you should quit NetFlix and join Blockbuster Online. Besides, I quit NetFlix a while back and they still keep offering me incentives to come back. So if Blockbuster stops renting HD-DVD movies and you want to go back to NetFlix it won't hurt you.
