Comments on: Blockbuster Video gets Blu-rayed

By: Blockbuster Blu-ray expansion now hitting stores » Blu-ray, HD DVD, info at WesleyTech.com

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:07:06 +0000

[...] Blockbuster Blu-ray expansion now hitting stores Last month, Blockbuster announced that they would expand their High Definition disc rental services to 1,450 stores throughout the USA. This in-store expansion would only include Blu-ray Disc titles, while HD DVD titles would still be carried online and at the original 250 high definition pilot stores. Approximately one month after the announcement, these Blu-ray titles are now showing up in stores. This Blu-ray only expansion into additional Blockbuster stores has been heralded as a significant win in the high def format battle, but the HD DVD camp didn’t seem very upset by the move. It is also worth noting that even though HD DVD titles are still carried online, the HD DVD service is less than desirable. If you would like to view more photos of the new Blu-ray displays and selection inside local Blockbuster stores, have a look at these photo albums: Store #1, Store #2. Thanks to mischa316 for providing these photos and links at DVDRentalForums.com. Personally, my closest Blockbuster store still does not carry high definition discs, although another store does, which is about 6 miles from my residence. Are the new Blu-ray titles showing up at your local Blockbuster and if so, how is the selection? Share this article: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

By: Gsurface

Gsurface — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:52:28 +0000

I’ve compiled a list of BlockBuster Promo Codes:
http://www.flexdeals.net/deals/index.php?page=blockbusteronline

By: HD DVD group shrugs off Blockbuster announcement » Blu-ray, HD DVD, info at WesleyTech.com

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:01:29 +0000

[...] HD DVD group shrugs off Blockbuster announcement Ken Graffeo, the head of Universal Studios High Definition marketing, recently spoke at a press event in London. Ken believes that the Blockbuster announcement to carry Blu-ray movies exclusively in most of its’ brick and mortar stores in insignificant. “Graffeo pointed out that rental counted for less than one percent of its revenue and brushed it off as an insignificant event in the format war. Ken cited the fact that HD DVD is still being offered in the original 250 stores and through Blockbusterâ€™s online rental service. He claims that those 250 stores are stores where there are large numbers of early adopters and the latter, he believes, is Blockbusterâ€™s major growth market.” Is that the only response you’ve got? Ken Graffeo is also the Co-President of the HD DVD Promotions Group, so he can easily be seen as speaking for the entire HD DVD format as a whole. With only this minor statement, days after the Blockbuster announcement, I have to wonder what the HD DVD “Promotions” groups is doing most of the time? To be honest, I feel that this is a pretty weak response from the HD DVD camp. Blockbuster has a huge presence in the US and their decision to carry Blu-ray Disc titles in 1,450 stores really hurts the HD DVD “promotions”. Some Blu-ray supporters and sponsoring companies are crying “We win” once again after the Blockbuster announcement, but the format war has a long way to go before there is a clear winner (if any). Source: Bit-Tech via HighDefDigest. Share this article: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:11:14 +0000

Frank, are you advocating illegally copying rented movies to your hard drive?

By: Wesley Novack

Wesley Novack — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 20:16:48 +0000

I hear that. I want the ability to backup and stream high definition movies that I have purchased.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:41:31 +0000

BD+ is a requirement demanded by the movie studios, since the first line of DRM defence was compromised by hackers. It is not up to Blockbuster to make that decision. Personally, I may not want to rent HD movies if I can not make backups to my hard disk for
streamung purposes.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:51:53 +0000

I wonder if all of the HD DVD owners will now move to Netflix. Netflix could also use it as an advantage to advertise their HD DVD library. From what I’ve heard, it is easier to get HD DVDs from Netflix, but I haven’t tried it myself.

By: Wesley Novack

Wesley Novack — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:34:25 +0000

Interesting speculation, but do you really think that Blockbuster cares about people making copies? I would think that Blockbuster just cares about renting as many movies as possible, getting as many customers as possible and making money. The Hollywood studios are the institutions that really care about backups and copying abilities…

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 05:57:27 +0000

I bet the main reason Blockbuster picked Blu-ray is because of its BD+ feature, so renters will have problems making a backup copy onto their PC’s hard disks.