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Blockbuster Bets on Blu-Ray

It's Betamax all over again as rental giant abandons rival HD DVD format

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2007 6:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – Movie rental giant Blockbuster picked sides today in the hotly contested battle over high-definition DVDs. Starting in July, Blockbuster will buy all of its new high-def DVDs in Sony's Blu-ray format, a damaging blow to rival Toshiba's HD DVD, which the rental company had stocked jointly until now.

The decision marks an early victory for Sony in the format war that's been scaring consumers away from the high-def DVD market. But Blockbuster says it's merely heeding demand: Blu-ray rentals at the chain were 70% higher than HD DVD's, thanks to Sony's exclusive contracts with several major studios, and the company's secret weapon—a built-in Blu-ray player that comes standard in each new Playstation 3.

2007 Consumer Electronics Show Showcases Latest Tech Products
2007 Consumer Electronics Show Showcases Latest Tech Products   (Getty Images)
A model for Toshiba Corporation introduces the new Vardia series...
A model for Toshiba Corporation introduces the new Vardia series...   (Getty Images)
Consumer Electronics Show Set To Begin In Las Vegas
Consumer Electronics Show Set To Begin In Las Vegas   (Getty Images)
Casino Royale Blu-ray Disc Box Art. (Graphic
Casino Royale Blu-ray Disc Box Art. (Graphic   (Associated Press)
(FILES) This file photo dated 13 September, 2006 shows Japanese...
(FILES) This file photo dated 13 September, 2006 shows Japanese...   (Getty Images)
(FILES) This file photo dated 03 October, 2006 shows models posing...
(FILES) This file photo dated 03 October, 2006 shows models posing...   (Getty Images)
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