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After Beating Back HD DVD, Blu-Ray Hardly in Clear

Satellite, cable, internet offers enough HD options to keep buyers on fence

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 15, 2008 2:43 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Blu-ray might have won the battle against Toshiba’s HD DVD, but it may still be losing the high-definition war as it is forced to compete with other sources of HD content, the Wall Street Journal reports. With cable and satellite TV providers offering more HD channels and video-on-demand services, some viewers are holding off on buying expensive players.

Hardware makers are trying to change the “expensive players” part. Sony and Samsung have shaved $100 from the price of their entry-level versions since last month. Internet services provide another source of competition: While Apple TV and Vudu’s HDX devices for Internet streaming provide slightly worse resolution than Blu-ray, downloadable or streaming movies are much cheaper than Blu-ray discs.

There are so many ways to get HD content, one potential Blu-ray customer tells the Wall Street Journal, it's not necessarily about just buying a DVD player anymore.
"There are so many ways to get" HD content, one potential Blu-ray customer tells the Wall Street Journal, "it's not necessarily about just buying a DVD player anymore."   (AP Photo)
Though Blu-ray is now the movie industry's preferred high-def disc player, offerings from satellite, cable and the web have kept many from buying the players, despite price cuts.
Though Blu-ray is now the movie industry's preferred high-def disc player, offerings from satellite, cable and the web have kept many from buying the players, despite price cuts.   (AP Photo)
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cable TV • Apple • video on demand • Sony • AppleTV • high definition • Samsung • Blu-Ray

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