With Sony’s Blu-ray format all-but claiming victory in the protracted HD war with Toshiba’s HD-DVD platform, the migration of exclusive support from HD-DVD to Blu-ray continues this week with online movie rental outfit Netflix Inc. announcing that it will be embracing Sony’s format exclusively from today (Feb 11).
Netflix announces its exclusive support for Sony\'s Blu-ray HD format. Credit: Netflix.
The sudden move by Netflix Inc. to drop HD-DVD in favour of Blu-ray comes hot on the heels of major media distributor Warner Bros. having recently abandoned its twin-format content straddle to join the growing list of movie studios supporting Sony’s platform.
Presently, Blu-ray has exclusive support from the likes of Sony Pictures, the Walt Disney Company, Twentieth Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., and New Line Cinema. By way of contrast, HD-DVD is supported by Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios -- although persistent rumours suggest both studios will follow Warner Bros. to Blu-ray in the near future.
The Associated Press reports that, although Netflix has stocked HD movies in both HD-DVD and Blu-ray since the formats first appeared in 2006, the recent shift of focus exercised by four of the world’s leading movie studios has painted Blu-ray as the most likely winner in the ongoing HD battle.
“From the Netflix perspective, focusing on one format will enable us to create the best experience for subscribers,” the California-based company said regarding its decision.
Although HD-DVD proponents continue to maintain that the HD war is far from over regarding Toshiba’s (cheaper) hardware, growing studio support for Blu-ray could see hesitant consumers passing over the higher price associated with Sony’s platform as they begin to display more of a willingness to embrace HD player technology.
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