BlockBuster On-line has made some changes to their on-line website and it's all geared towards Blu-Ray.

Change #1: On their main file menu their is now a category listed as "Blu Ray DVD". In the past, you had to click on "Collections" first in the main menu to see Blu-Ray or HD DVD. You still must do this to see HD DVD movies available.

Change #2: When you create list of favorite BlockBuster stores, their is now a column that indicates whether that store carries Blu-Ray movies.

Obviously, their bias extends beyond their initial expansion of stores which unbelievably was based solely on the first quater of this year.

Screw em. I've had enough of them Netflix, with your better customer service, faster shipping times and lower prices, here I come.

Good, they carry a product that doesn't exist "Blu Ray DVD." Just goes to show you how bright they are.

This is been this way since their announcement, no?

This is been this way since their announcement, no?

Yes.

Previously, Blu Ray and HD DVD were both under "collections" Now, Blu Ray is displayed on the main page by itself. Someone new to the site would look at this and think this is all that is available since HD DVD is not displayed on the front page.

Previously, Blu Ray and HD DVD were both under "collections" Now, Blu Ray is displayed on the main page by itself. Someone new to the site would look at this and think this is all that is available since HD DVD is not displayed on the front page.

Wow that is bad.

I remember before the announcement several HD DVD users on this site canceled their BB membership because HD DVDs would sit in their queue for weeks before they received a copy. Those that were format neutral would simply change their preference to Blu-ray and low and behold the films they wanted were ready to ship on BD the next day.

I think BB is guilty of doing to HD DVD what Sony did with the 20-gig PS3. Sony made an ass-load of 60-gig PS3s and only a few 20-gig versions; I never saw any official numbers, but I read that it was about an 80/20 split. I know several people that wanted the 20-gig model, but had to buy the 60-gig because that was all they could find. So Sony made perhaps four times as many 60-gig PS3s and obviously they sold better than the 20-gigs because you could find them. Then Sony canceled the 20-gig model because they said based on sales consumers wanted the 60-gig model. That would only be a logical conclusion if equal numbers of each SKU were available to consumers, but equal numbers were not available so sales were biased towards the model that had better availability.

BB did the same thing with HD DVD by stocking more copies of BDs than HD DVDs and then saying there was more demand for BDs. Now it looks like they are taking that a step forward by placing BD prominently on their page while hiding HD DVD. We’ll see; I’m willing to bet BB is forced to back away from their Blu support before Paramount is forced to back away from their HD DVD support. In fact Paramount will probably be a factor in BB backing away from their Blu support.

Good, they carry a product that doesn't exist "Blu Ray DVD." Just goes to show you how bright they are.

This is been this way since their announcement, no?

Yep, it has been that way since the announcement and you can stop the "DVD" stuff. That battle was lost without a shot being fired.

With HD DVD sales averaging 40% the last few weeks, it would appear to me that Blockbuster is out of sync with the market. The PS3 only has a 15% and declining market share, I wonder if they are going to pull PS3 games from their shelves?

Previously, Blu Ray and HD DVD were both under "collections" Now, Blu Ray is displayed on the main page by itself. Someone new to the site would look at this and think this is all that is available since HD DVD is not displayed on the front page.


Again, no that isn't new.

It's been like that for awhile now.

Blockbuster is losing a ton of money as it continually reports in its quarterly financial statements -- such as the most recent one for Q2 on July 26th: http://www.b2i.us/profiles/investor/ResLibraryView.asp?BzID=553&ResLibraryID=20891&Category=1027

The company also, about 10 days ago, replaced four of its most senior executives including its COO. Meanwhile, a chief competitor, Movie Gallery, is in bankruptcy. It;s not exactly an ideal time to be in the video rental business.

My take is Blockbuster shifted to Blu-ray solely to avoid stocking any extra inventory and, at the time of the decision, it seemed prudent. It's quite possible the BDA also offered some promotional assistance (standard retail co-op dollars) which pushed them over the top. By the same token, however, the new bosses may be more inclined to capture Transformers and Shrek 3 rental than the crew who just left.

Universal and Paramount should simply stop distributing all DVD releases to Blockbuster. No Transformers, no Bourne Ultimation etc. - this kills BB's credibility as a rental outlet. Customers want those and will go somewhere else to get them and may continue renting and buying at that "somewhere else". HD DVD needs to play hardball and make an example of Blockbuster - period! If BB doesn't treat HD DVD the same as BD then the studios concerned don't have to treat BB the same as its competitors! Kick 'em where it hurts!

Cheers,

Grant

up here in Canada Blockbuster is still doing studies on 75 test stores (none of which are even remotely close to me) and dont offer online rentals

ohh well, sucks for them since they wont see a cent from me since i dotn rent standard DVD's anymore and im sure im not the only one with this stance

BB that rents BluRay and HD DVD in my area (Ottawa Canada) has very limited supply of both. No real catalog tiltles, just the newer movies. I have more HD DVD's then they had for rental in their Red shelf...One shelf for BD and one for HD DVD. More BD's available then HD DVD. But not sure if they are not renting but the BD shelf was more or less full and the HD DVD shelf was 1/4-1/3 empty (disc rented?). Regardless it doesnt seem to be many pple rushing out to rent any of the HDM. I didn't since I already had all the movies they had for HD DVD that I would want to see.

Universal and Paramount should simply stop distributing all DVD releases to Blockbuster. No Transformers, no Bourne Ultimation etc. - this kills BB's credibility as a rental outlet. Customers want those and will go somewhere else to get them and may continue renting and buying at that "somewhere else". HD DVD needs to play hardball and make an example of Blockbuster - period! If BB doesn't treat HD DVD the same as BD then the studios concerned don't have to treat BB the same as its competitors! Kick 'em where it hurts!

Cheers,

Grant



Paramount would never ever do that. Paramount and BlockBuster are both own by VIACOM.

Paramount would never ever do that. Paramount and BlockBuster are both own by VIACOM.

Blockbuster separated from Viacom back in 2004.

Blockbuster separated from Viacom back in 2004.

just goes to show that viacom makes great choice's in business, Dropping dead weight like blockbuster and now blu.

It's quite possible the BDA also offered some promotional assistance (standard retail co-op dollars) which pushed them over the top.

Somebody paid for all those giant BD posters hanging in the windows of every Blockbuster.

Somebody paid for all those giant BD posters hanging in the windows of every Blockbuster.

It's been established in quite a few articles I read back then when the deal was made that BDA and BB have co-op dollars going back to BB's account in exchange for their exclusivity. BB has been going downhill for a few years already, this is just one of their last heartbeat before the flatline.

up here in Canada Blockbuster is still doing studies on 75 test stores (none of which are even remotely close to me) and dont offer online rentals

ohh well, sucks for them since they wont see a cent from me since i dotn rent standard DVD's anymore and im sure im not the only one with this stance

As the poster notes above with Sony and the 20-60 GB PS3 models and as it occured with BB rental stores in the US, the test stores were severely skewed to BB's favor as they stayed right on top of Blu Ray releases. I've been to our test store and except for 300 and Hot Fuzz they have been woeful in putting out day and date releases and indeed I see the same old HD DVDs since last year! An absolute joke with implementation. BB Canada needs to wash their hands of the US process and get into both formats fully and completely. Enough of this child-like conservative gameplaying with High Def.

Wow that is bad.

I remember before the announcement several HD DVD users on this site canceled their BB membership because HD DVDs would sit in their queue for weeks before they received a copy. Those that were format neutral would simply change their preference to Blu-ray and low and behold the films they wanted were ready to ship on BD the next day.

I think BB is guilty of doing to HD DVD what Sony did with the 20-gig PS3. Sony made an ass-load of 60-gig PS3s and only a few 20-gig versions; I never saw any official numbers, but I read that it was about an 80/20 split. I know several people that wanted the 20-gig model, but had to buy the 60-gig because that was all they could find. So Sony made perhaps four times as many 60-gig PS3s and obviously they sold better than the 20-gigs because you could find them. Then Sony canceled the 20-gig model because they said based on sales consumers wanted the 60-gig model. That would only be a logical conclusion if equal numbers of each SKU were available to consumers, but equal numbers were not available so sales were biased towards the model that had better availability.

BB did the same thing with HD DVD by stocking more copies of BDs than HD DVDs and then saying there was more demand for BDs. Now it looks like they are taking that a step forward by placing BD prominently on their page while hiding HD DVD. We’ll see; I’m willing to bet BB is forced to back away from their Blu support before Paramount is forced to back away from their HD DVD support. In fact Paramount will probably be a factor in BB backing away from their Blu support.

I cancelled my netflix membership because it was taking me 3 months or more to get a new hd-dvd release. Now that I have switched to blockbuster, I have not experienced any delays. I got TMNT right after it came out, and the last start fighter came on saturday. I assume blockbuster will stick me in the back of the line in a few weeks, then I'll re-open my netflix account. Every couple months I switch, it's the only way I can get the movies I want.

Check out these definitions from Blockbuster online help:

"HD: "'high definition digital versatile disks". This new, high-capacity format is capable of playing and storing high-definition images--up to five times the amount of data and detail that can be stored on a standard DVD. This means HD discs feature higher definition video and audio, as well as advanced interactive features. As soon as high definition movies are released, BLOCKBUSTER will make them available to our subscribers. The very first HD DVDs were available on our site April 18, 2006.

Blu-RayTM: the highest of the HD resolutions. Its new, high-capacity format is capable of playing and storing high-definition images up to five times the amount of data and detail that can be stored on a standard DVD. This means Blu-rayTM DVDs feature higher definition video and audio, as well as advanced interactive features."



Hmmm.... I thought they were both 1080p. How is it that BD is the highest of the HD resolutions?

The press release along was enough to show that BB was paid in some way to go exclusive.

I had a BB and Netflix account for the last few months and things have been good until the last 3 weeks.. All of a sudden I quit getting BB movies, after a week with no movie I contacted them and they suggested I not choose the HD DVD version and instead choose the DVD or Blu Ray version... I said screw it and canceled my account.

I have been really happy with Netflix so far and I upped my subscription with them. I will probably open an account in my wifes name if Netflix starts to throttle me.

I do hope that BB keeps their business going, it helps to keep Netflix prices down. I actually think there is room for a 3rd player in the online rental business...

I cancelled BB soon after the news about the lack of HD DVD support...was a customer for years...they still send me e-mails with offerings about coming back...I continuesly reply with ,"not until I can rent HD DVD's in store"

Can we get someone w/ marketing experience at the HDDVD promotions group please.... I mean why not partner with..... Netflix or Hollywood Video.... maybe set up a program to rent HDDVD players and movies for $10 or $20 a month.... get people to try the product.

I mean this whole blockbuster fiasco is so ripe for an effective countermove....