Blockbuster goes Blu with rental titles

June 19, 2007 In a move that could tip the scales in the format war, Blockbuster Inc. said Monday that it will begin offering only Blu-ray Disc titles among its high-definition rental selections at 1,700 company-owned stores. The Dallas-based No. 1 video rental chain, which operates more than 4,200 company-owned locations among 8,300 stores worldwide, said it will continue to offer rival HD DVD (and Blu-ray) at a select 250 stores that have carried both formats since their November launches. The rollout of more than 170 rental titles in Blu-ray by mid-July comes as a result of new consumer rental trends that apparently have moved away from HD DVD, according to Matthew Smith, senior vp merchandising manager at Blockbuster.

Subscribe to the Hollywood Reporter and see the entertainment industry from its best angle: the inside looking out. Complete access to real-time news and exclusive analysis that goes behind the scenes from film to television, home video to digital media.

   Subscribe now.