Netflix to Carry HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc Videos
Netflix Inc. online movie rental service has announced it will carry the first HD DVD and Blu-ray discs when these new high-definition formats launch, which should help Netflix continue its online DVD dominance. Toshiba will launch HD DVD videos in late March, while Sony's Blu-ray disc format is expected to be launched later this year. Netflix Continues Online DVD Dominance.
"High-definition DVD is the next wave of excitement in home entertainment and we'll be there at its inception," said Netflix Chairman and CEO Reed Hastings. "With far sharper images, better sound and more features, we expect high-def will greatly enhance DVD's consumer appeal and extend its popularity over the next decade or more."
With Toshiba's new high-def DVD player now available to be ordered for March delivery at several leading online and big-box retailers, a number of Hollywood studios have announced plans to launch both new and catalog titles on HD DVD beginning late that month. Warner Home Video said at the recent Consumer Electronics Show that it will introduce 24 titles in HD DVD on March 28. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment and The Weinstein Company made similar announcements.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate and Paramount also said at the Consumer Electronics Show that they have each selected between 10 and 20 Blu-Ray video titles to launch concurrent with the debut of Blu-ray hardware later this year.
Netflix said it will make the high-def DVD titles available at launch as a way of supporting the next-generation DVD format and signaling its belief that while initial adoption may be limited the market will eventually migrate to high-definition.
"For those subscribers who have an immediate interest in renting movies in high-def, we're committed to making the full range of titles available at Netflix the moment they're introduced," said Mr. Hastings.
