BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) - Netflix Inc., the online movie
rental company, said Monday it is switching exclusively to the
Blu-ray format for high-definition DVDs, following four major movie
studios in selecting the Sony technology over one pushed by Toshiba
Corp.
Toshiba and Sony have been vying to set the standard for
high-definition DVDs for several years. The stakes are high because
the winner will also get a boost in sales of DVD players needed to
read the new format.
The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures, News Corp.'s
Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have endorsed
Blu-ray. Paramount and Universal Studios publish their
high-definition DVDs in Toshiba's HD DVD format.
Netflix has stocked both formats since they became available in
2006, but said the decision of four of the six major studios to
issue films only in Blu-ray format made it likely that the Sony
format will prevail.
"From the Netflix perspective, focusing on one format will
enable us to create the best experience for subscribers," the
company said, adding that not many customers order high-def DVDs.
Many consumers have held off on buying a high-def DVD player
until the dominant format is decided.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-02-11-08 0954EST
