Best Buy and Netflix Backing Blu-ray

Best Buy and Netflix have joined the Blu-ray camp in the high-definition video format war dealing another blow to the HD DVD format that is backed by Toshiba. Best Buy said that it would predominantly showcase Blu-ray hardware as well as DVD titles and software products in its stores throughout the U.S.

Netflix lined up right behind rival video rental chain Blockbuster in support of the Blu-ray format and plans to completely eliminate all of its HD DVD stock by the second half of 2008. Customers with requests in their queues for HD DVD formats will receive email from Netflix starting Monday stating that the company will no longer support the format.

Consumers have been hesitant to go all out and buy HD DVD players because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the format wars. The Blu-ray format has been supported by Sony and the PlayStation 3 which has been selling much better since the pricing adjustments by Sony. Toshiba has retaliated with pricing reductions on its HD DVD players though that has not worked as well to move the stock as the format has not seen the backing that the Blu-ray format has of late.