Netflix Drops HD-DVD Support in Favor of Blu-Ray

[Wondermonkey]

Yeah, who didn't see this coming?

MS, get your ish in gear and get a Blu-Ray add-on in production.

[A SpecialFriend]

Damn, I was just gonna post this. Here is the e-mail I got from Netflix..

We're Going Blu-ray

Dear Nick,

You're receiving this email because you have asked to receive high-definition movies in the HD DVD format. As you may have heard, most of the major movie studios have recently decided to release their high-definition movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. In order to provide the best selection of high-definition titles for our members, we have decided to go exclusively with Blu-ray as well.

While we will continue to make our current selection of HD DVD titles available to you for the next several months, we will not be adding additional HD DVD titles or reordering replacements.

Toward the end of February, HD DVDs in your Saved Queue will automatically be changed to standard definition DVDs. Then toward the end of this year, all HD DVDs in your Queue will be changed to standard definition DVDs. Don't worry, we will contact you before this happens.

You can click here to change your format preferences.

We're sorry for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call us at 1 (888) 638-3549.

-The Netflix Team

[supafreak]

This sucks. That PS3 sitting under my Christmas tree next year is looking more like a possibilty every week.

[BrewCityUpstart]

I just got that email and I was gonna post it. Damn you for being fastar!

[Peench]

So if a movie is released on HDDVD and no on BluRay I won't be able to watch it in HD? That sucks arse Netflix.

[WormholeXtreme]

I got it to. I will be sending my rentals back tonight and once I receive confimation of receipt I will be cancelling my Netflix service after 9+ years with them.
I will still purchase select Hd DVD and BD titles from Amazon but all my rentals will be from VUDU(75%) Xbox Live(20%) and FIOS(5%).
No more Netflix for me.

[A SpecialFriend]

Yeah, this is highly disappointing. I am considering getting rid of Netflix as well.

[lovekeiiy]

I'm not planning ditching Netflix. I've been with them since they started the no late fees thing. Although it's disappointing, I still like the service and I enjoy the instant watch feature as well.

[BiffCo]

Not disappointing at all. It's pretty much the beginning of the end of HD-DVD. Microsoft and Toshiba need to stick a fork in it. It's done.

I can't see how anyone could feel so neglected by this move that they would cancel. It makes no sense to me, but that's just my opinion. HDM is still too expensive. Aside from must-have Blurays, I've stopped buying HD movies unless there's a good sale. However, I refuse to buy anything on HD-DVD at this point. Knowing there will be an eventual Bluray release, I see no reason to throw money away on a dead format, let alone double dip down the road.

-Brad

[Wondermonkey]

Yeah, as disappointing as it is, Netflix wasn't turning a profit to begin with. And with the USPS demanding higher mailing fees, it doesn't make sense for them to keep a dead format in stock. It sucks, but that's the way the under-promoted, lackluster selling HD-DVD cookie crumbles. I would have loved for it to prosper, but they dropped the ball something hardcore on this one.

[GoatMother]

Hopefully this will lend to better service for blu-ray movies. I've read the wait for HDM in general is too long as they don't keep enough titles on hand. Reading about faster turn around on rentals from netflix may earn a subscription from me and others.

[WormholeXtreme]

Originally Posted by Wondermonkey

Yeah, as disappointing as it is, Netflix wasn't turning a profit to begin with. And with the USPS demanding higher mailing fees, it doesn't make sense for them to keep a dead format in stock. It sucks, but that's the way the under-promoted, lackluster selling HD-DVD cookie crumbles. I would have loved for it to prosper, but they dropped the ball something hardcore on this one.

I thought Blockbuster was losing money while Netflix has been making a profit each quarter?
I know they made pure profit from me for the last year since I usually had my titles for several months before returning them unwatched. I returned my last titles tonight. The Netflix move just pushed me to do what I should have done years ago. For several years I had the 6 or 8 out at a time service, but for the last year I had the 3 or 4 out at time and rarely watched any rentals. Plus I stopped watching DVDs 2 years ago so I really should have dropped them a while ago. The money I spent on Netflix will mostly go to VUDU now for my HD rentals. Xbox Live if they have an HD title that VUDU doesn't.
But without the instant viewing with VUDU,or nearly instant with Xbox Live(20 to 30 seconds), I wouldn't even consider VOD. It's nice to be able to watch something right away while you are in the mood. With Netflix, I would get the title 1 to 2 days after I was in the mood to watch it, so it would sit around for months and i wouldn't be in the mood to watch it so it would be sent back unwatched eventually.

[lovekeiiy]

I can understand why Worm would cancel. It's just not a service he uses well. I've been on the four movie thing the whole time. I watch about ten to twenty movies a month, depending on what's going on. So the $17 a month is cool because it's still less than I would pay if I did the local rental store or the on-demand thing from either XBL or Comcast.

I agree with Wonder that more than likely Netflix did the movie because of profit. I don't think the company itself lost money overall, but the HD DVD division probably did in that not a lot of people rented the HD DVDs enough vs the cost of purchasing, storing, and mailing. Heck, all you had to do was tell Netflix which formats you have, and they would mail the preferred format. I still have several HD DVD movies in my que.

I don't know if I would say it's tell all sign of HD DVD being done, but it's another sign that they're not winning the battle. The fact that major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Walsworth, in conjuction with major movie studios going Blue Ray or dropping the HD DVD exclusivity, and not a major retenal service does seem to indicate the format is close to being done, at least in the US market.

If it does turn out true, than it means we'll be able to buy a really good stand alone player without worry of the format going away. It'll be interesting to see if M$ will make a Blue Ray add-on or not, and if so, what kind of bundling they may do.

[Peench]

Not to encourage derailing but Worm can you post up some info and your thoughts about the VUDU deal? Maybe in a different thread? It looks interesting.

[lovekeiiy]

nice service for what it is. The only thing I'm not found of with the VUDU is the $300 cost for equipment. If one plans to ditch DVD/HDDVD/BR player, than it's not bad.