Blu-Ray Takes the Lead in DVD Battle as Blockbuster Expands Blu-Ray to 1700 Stores

With echos of the old VHS versus BetaMax war of the late 70s and early 80s, the high-definition DVD format Blu-Ray is far outpacing HD DVD. According to a press release from Blockbuster, sales and rentals of Blu-Ray discs are so heavy, that the company is expanding the Blu-Ray offerings at 1,700 of their corporate owned stores.

According to Matthew Smith, SVP Merchandising for Blockbuster, "While it is still too early to say which high-definition format will become the industry standard, we will continue to closely monitor customer rental patterns both at our stores and online, so we can adjust our inventory mix accordingly and ensure that Blockbuster is offering customers the most convenient access to the movies they want, in the format they want."

The high definition Blue-Ray Disc and HD DVD were both introduced to the market in 2006, and Blockbuster immediately began offering a large number of titles in both formats through its online rental service, and limited titles in 250 of its brick and mortar stores in larger markets. The Blu-Ray discs have proven to be much more popular with customers, leading the company to expand both the selection and availability of the Blu-Ray discs. Blockbuster's online rival Netflix also carries both high definition formats.

Even with the introduction of Blu-Ray titles into more stores, Blockbuster claims it is not giving up on the HD-DVD format. Says Smith, "While it is still too early to say which high-definition format will become the industry standard, we will continue to closely monitor customer rental patterns both at our stores and online, so we can adjust our inventory mix accordingly and ensure that Blockbuster is offering customers the most convenient access to the movies they want, in the format they want...Obviously, when customers are ready we can expand the Blu-Ray offering into more stores and add HD DVD to more locations if that's what customers tell us they want. We'll continue to work with the movie studios to ensure we have the right assortment of products."

Blu-Ray Discs and HD DVD are fighting for market supremecy and the movie studios have joined in the fight. Blu-Ray Discs are supported by Sony-owned Columbia Pictures and MGM, as well as Lionsgate, Fox and Disney. Universal Studios and The Weinstein Companies are backing HD DVD, with Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema refusing to take sides and releasing titles in both formats.

Source: Press Release: Blockbuster to Expand Blu-Ray to 1,700 Stores- (http://www.b2i.us/profiles/investor/ResLibraryView.asp?BzID=553&ResLibraryID=20345&Category=1027)