Netflix Phases Out HD DVD

[Chris Beveridge]

Linkage (http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSWEN388420080211)

They're not buying new releases now and will phase out product over the year. This is interesting on a few levels, but for an "old timer" like me, it's a fascinating blow because Netflix was *the* company that put DVD rentals into the market when they went online back in 1998. I remember the huge discussions about the impact such a company could have with "mail order rental" for the fledgling format.

[Hielostar]

Hmmm. I'll have to tell my parents about this one. My mom would sometimes rent HD DVD titles from Netflix, but I guess that's going to have to stop. I can't say I'm surprised about the announcement, though.

[bluesilo]

Yeah makes me happy I didn't decide to break down and buy an HD DVD player. Now I can just wait a few months and start collecting my list of blu movies I've made. Now if only Paramount and Universal could back out sooner.

[JimMcH]

Another nail in the coffin.

[porkchopexpress]

I hope they start selling offtheir used HD DVDs. I wouldn't mind picking some up cheap.

[slerch666]

Good. Hopefully anyone else renting HD-DVD will follow suit and we soon see the death of the format.

[Hielostar]

Yeah makes me happy I didn't decide to break down and buy an HD DVD player.

Well, my parents figured that even if the HD DVD format were to bite it, they still have a DVD player. (Their old DVD player died on them last year, and they picked up an HD DVD player for cheap on Black Friday.)

[JeffDM]

I guess I'll have to pick up the pace on renting current HD DVD exclusives before they're all damaged, lost or stolen.

[Rhodes]

if you dont mind them being scratched and may not play or skip from time to time... you can buy hddvd media brand new at 50% off already... i am sure with bogo free deals... you pay even less. for that reason i would avoid buying used, if your gonna buy at all.

[Kaikou]

I'm thrilled to see Netflix drop HD-DVD. This should mean an increased speed in HD-DVD's production being stopped altogether. (another year, if that)

[bluesilo]

Yeah makes me happy I didn't decide to break down and buy an HD DVD player.

Well, my parents figured that even if the HD DVD format were to bite it, they still have a DVD player. (Their old DVD player died on them last year, and they picked up an HD DVD player for cheap on Black Friday.)



Yeah I just got an oppo player last christmas since I didn't want to go either way. When I buy a PS3 the oppo will still be used quite frequently for the features it provides.

[GundamWingMan]

Well, I'm glad this latest format war seems to be finally over. You'd think everyone would've learned their lesson from the VHS/Betamax scrum from the early 80's, but that wasn't the case. For whatever it's worth, I have both machines, but I use my HD-DVD (Toshiba HD-A30) as an upscalling deck and it works quite well. Now to find out how long it'll be before Universal and Paramount get the hint and jump ship, especially the latter since they own the Star Trek franchise and I'm jonesing to see the original series and the movies in high definition.