Best Buy Picks Blu-ray Over HD DVD
It was the second victory of the day for the Blu-ray format after online DVD rental service Netflix said it plans to stock high-def movies exclusively in Blu-ray.
Starting in March, Best Buy plans to "prominently showcase" Blu-ray products in its stores and online. While the retailer will still carry HD DVD products, it will recommend Blu-ray as the preferred format, according to a company statement.
Best Buy said it is responding to customer demands for clarity in the high-def DVD format war. The battle between the two formats, Sony-backed Blu-ray and Toshiba-backed HD DVD, has been blamed for slow consumer uptake of high-def DVD players and movies. Consumers have been reluctant to plunk down cash for high-def gear until a single format emerges as the winner.
That question seemingly has been answered in Blu-ray's favor. Best Buy and Netflix made their choice to throw in with Blu-ray after watching several major studios side with the format. Warner Bros. Entertainment in January said it will put out high-def movies exclusively in Blu-ray, joining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Walt Disney in the Blu-ray camp. Two major studios, Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios, have sided with HD DVD.