I have emailed blockbuster weekly since the announcement concerning Blockbusters support of Blu ray. In all replies up until last week I was simply told that HD DVD's wont be carried in stores as Blockbuster has decided to support Blu Ray in store rentals exclusively. This week (following the Paramount deal) this is the reply that I received:

David,

Thank you for your feedback regarding our decision to expand our Blu‑ray
inventory in more than 1,700 corporate‑owned stores nationwide. Please
note that this expansion will not impact the current inventory of HD‑DVD
titles in store or online. Blockbuster continues to carry HD‑DVD in about
250 stores and also offers HD‑DVD titles online.
We are not endorsing either format and have no desire to lead customers to
a certain format choice. Our goal is to offer customers the most
convenient access to the movies they want and that means giving them the
best availability and the best selection possible in the formats they
prefer.
Blu‑ray rentals have been outpacing HD‑DVD rentals in our stores where
we’ve been offering the high‑definition format 70 to 30 percent in 2007.
Additionally, because more studios support the Blu‑ray product, there’s a
wider selection of titles available on this format to offer to our
customers.
While it is still too early to say which high‑definition format will
become the industry standard, we will continue to closely monitor customer
rental patterns both at our stores and online, so we can adjust our
inventory mix accordingly and ensure that Blockbuster is offering
customers the most convenient access to the movies they want, in the
format they want. That may mean in the future that we will add HD‑DVD
titles to additional stores
We appreciate your business and thank you for making BLOCKBUSTER and BLOCKBUSTER.com your choice for home entertainment.

Sincerely,
Heather
BLOCKBUSTER Customer Care

**********************************
DONATION
Dear Valued BLOCKBUSTER Customer,

Thank you for your request for BLOCKBUSTER to provide support for your organization.

While we cannot fulfill all requests, we will be glad to review your particular case. Your request must be submitted on appropriate letterhead and submitted to our office of Corporate Contributions.

Please mail to:
BLOCKBUSTER Inc
Office of Corporate Contributions
1201 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75270
Or fax to: 1-214-854-3822

Please allow 4-6 weeks for a reply.

Sincerely,
Heather
BLOCKBUSTER Customer Care

I am now format neutral having bought a PS3 recently, but have always preferred HD-DVD. I dont really have anything against Sony, I just prefer the cost and the uniform requirements that are already in place for HD DVD. I think this clearly illustrates that Blockbuster realizes that they may have jumped on the Blu Ray bandwagon a few weeks early.

It's their standard reply. It's been the same lines since the announcement. But it does prove that they aren't 100% behind Blu Ray, just that it was business. They'll adjust their stance on HD DVD when the time comes.

Canned mail, but I bet they are second guessing ttheir decision now after the Parmount announcement. They'll regret it even more after Warner goes HD DVD exclusive [rumor]...

I often wonder how many BR discs are mis-purchased and rented because the name is associated with HDM, due to its memorable name. Even Leno referred to HDM as "the BluRay"--and I doubt he really meant BR as a format. I see this as a huge reason BR discs are sold and rented at such a large gap. Sort of the "Kleenex" effect, where "let's go get us a BluRay" means renting/buying an HD disc of any sort.

Anyone ever post return rates at retailers and Amazon detailing how many BRs are purchased on accident?

I do wish Blockbuster would stop lying to it's customers and the public though.

We are not endorsing either format and have no desire to lead customers to
a certain format choice. Our goal is to offer customers the most
convenient access to the movies they want and that means giving them the
best availability and the best selection possible in the formats they
prefer.

This is a lie. I know I couldn't rent either format at my local Blockbusters, so I had no chance to get my input in. And now I'll only be able to get the format I don't have?

Paramount wanted to influence the war by going HD DVD exclusive. Blockbuster is trying to do the exact same thing by not allowing HD DVD customers access to movies at most of it's stores. The difference is that Paramount said that, and Blockbuster is lying to everyone about it.

This is a lie. I know I couldn't rent either format at my local Blockbusters, so I had no chance to get my input in. And now I'll only be able to get the format I don't have?

Paramount wanted to influence the war by going HD DVD exclusive. Blockbuster is trying to do the exact same thing by not allowing HD DVD customers access to movies at most of it's stores. The difference is that Paramount said that, and Blockbuster is lying to everyone about it.

Well put, Michael. When Blockbuster made it's announcement I canceled my online membership and told them that I would not support any company that was in bed with Sony. I am sure I am not the only one that blasted them. I think that as a rental company it was a bad mistake on their part and from what I have heard, they can ill afford to make such costly blunders.

That is most certainly a lie. At my Blockbuster they have big displays saying "Blu-Ray, the future of High Deffinition". If that's not trying to push a format I don't know what is.

Lets not forget how long it took Blockbuster to adapt DVD. It was a few years. So I wouldn't hold Blockbuster to being the best at making decision either. If anything this move could be good for HD DVD. Simply based on Blockbusters history.

reply back and ask where the hell is Heroes on HD-DVD? Not in stores, not online either

As I said I send an email weekly, because I like total access vs Netflix (the in store rentals are a good deal for me). I always add something that I want so Heroes and Transformers will be added to next weeks email. The most interesting thing was the change in direction that this email illustrates. I highly recommend regular emails from all HD-DVD supporters.

While it is still too early to say which high‑definition format will
become the industry standard, we will continue to closely monitor customer
rental patterns both at our stores and online,
How can they monitor rental patterns of HD DVD discs if some stores don't even have any?

They've upped the in-store rental fee at my Blockbuster so I refuse to rent HD-DVD's from them anyway. Yes, my store carries both but $4.99 for a rental is WAY TOO MUCH. I'll continue to order them in my queue and get shipped standard def titles by mistake. Makes me want to scream.

They are just covering their asses. They basically went BR exclusive for the most part and now that they see HD-DVD has a good chance of beating BR, they change their stance so they don't loose potential customers to Netflix.

On their online rental site, they only have a section for BR (http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/brDvdPackage) and no HD DVD area. All of the search options feature BR but no HD. I just canceled Blockbuster Online over it.

I emailed them and got a very short answer last week. The answer had the same footer but with a different girl's name. The email thanked me for my interest, stated they are not supporting either format, and then stated that HD DVD is found in some stores and to call local stores for ones that might have HD DVD. THat's it, maybe 6 sentences or so.

It was short and matter of fact. It was promising because their was no mention of Blu-ray or which format was supported. So hopefully they are getting wind of the situation and may reverse their stance.

Especially since Netflix has announced that their High Def disc rentals are about 50%/50%. http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Sales/Netflix/Netflix:_Demand_for_Blu-ray_and_HD_DVD_Evenly_Split,_But_Tiny/895

fritzilla

On their online rental site, they only have a section for BR (http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/brDvdPackage) and no HD DVD area. All of the search options feature BR but no HD. I just canceled Blockbuster Online over it.

They have HD -

http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/collections/hdDvdPackage


It is buried though, you can get to BD from the first menu, for HD you have to go to "Collections" then HD.

My blockbuster in Mississauga Ontario has both formats and Hd dvd out paces BR by about 65%-35%. Heros is in only in hdvd:D

Actually that is not what Jay Leno said its, "You know Blu-Ray its like High Def but better"..

Even my wife noticed Jay Leno's remark about BR. She thought it was stupid and misinformed, dah:D

Actually that is not what Jay Leno said its, "You know Blu-Ray its like High Def but better"..

Hmmm. Why would Leno say that? Isn't his show runned by NBC/Universal? That's odd that they are advertising Bluray. :confused:

Deleted

So between all this, and now seeing that Blockbuster buries their HD DVD section while Blu-ray is out in front, how many people by show of hands believe for a second that Blockbuster isn't picking sides now?

Blockbuster is flat out lying to the public and needs to be called out on it.

They have HD -

http://www.blockbuster.com/browse/collections/hdDvdPackage


It is buried though, you can get to BD from the first menu, for HD you have to go to "Collections" then HD.
I see in the menu that BB is renting Blu-Ray DVD's. I wasn't aware that format exists. ;)

I think if things progress as they have of late ,soon BB will only be renting about half of the available titles.:o

Art

I call BS. Two BBs near me, one didn't have ANY HDDVD or BRD and the other had 12 HDVD and 3 BRD but ended up with a HDDVD ONLY display and those 3 BRD movies were gone. So, two stores locally had 100% HDVD rentals. I'm not sure how they get this 70/30 in favor of BRD unless in a few cities they just have more BRD than HDVD? All things even, I'd expect them to be more even unless they are getting the PS3 crowd.

Could be that retailers that sell PS3s and 360s push BR so they can send back fewer defective consoles?:mad:

BTW - I own a 360. Just sayin' the PS3 is less trouble on the defective tip.:cool:

I just wonder if the Blu-ray exclusive support will last much longer. Here is why. With Paramount going HD-DVD exclusive why would their parent company VIACOM owner of Paramount AND BlockBuster Video want to keep their own exclusive product out of their very own stores. Maybe we can expect something big to be announced soon about it

Whenever I rent an HD DVD from Blockbuster, I get a little receipt that urges me to rent BDs.

With Paramount, Dreamworks, and Universal being HD-DVD exclusive I'm waiting for some advertising from Netflix saying what use is Total Access of only 72% HiDef titles when we give you 100% (use whatever the % of exclusive HD-DVD titles are, I just took past HD market share and extrapolated)