http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/ Engadget Comments for HD DVD is more popular on Netflix http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
BINGO! This is something I have been arguing for months. Most normal people do not buy tons of DVDs, they rent them. So why should this be any different with HD-DVD/Blue-Ray? Fanboys on both sides get waytoo excited about sales when most people rent.]]>Oct 4th 2007 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
But the argument that people tend to rent more than they buy seems to make sense, too, especially when prices are so high for the discs.

Another stat that would be interesting to see is this: Of all the rental stores that rent out next-gen DVDs, which is more popular overall, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD? I suppose for right now that question would mean "Does Blockbuster rent more Blu-ray discs than Netflix does HD-DVD? And if not, is that because Netflix may do more business than Blockbuster does? (This whole internet movie subscription thing is pretty cool, and brick & mortar rental places are sooo 1990's)

So while this 2:1 HD-DVD on Netflix stats are interesting, there still isn't enough information for us to get a clear picture of what's going on.

But geez... just frickin' pick a format already so we don't have to deal with all this garbage! ]]>Oct 4th 2007 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Of all customers who visited the Netflix site, the Blu-ray movie selection was viewed 2 times more than HD-DVD was. But as the article mentions, when we look down and talk about users who put a next-gen format as their preference, twice as many people put HD-DVD as their preference.

So twice as many people look at the Blu-ray movie selection vs the HD-DVD selection, but twice as many people put HD-DVD as their format of choice vs Blu-ray. Interesting. Betcha cheap hardware might have something to do with that.]]>Oct 4th 2007 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Another factor, unique to the format war, is risk. When you buy a disc, you take an investment risk in addition to the cost of the player; renting has no such risk. By the time one buys 10 HD DVDs, the investment in discs matches that of the player. If you are uncertain, you don't double down.

I support HD DVD, but I can see things for what they are occasionally.

A bright side is that once folks see the risk of HD DVD diminish, sales will go up, on a per-owner basis. Positive feedback leading to the chance of a BIG jump in sales. I suspect this is one of the reasons the BD execs do their monthly "The End is Near" pronouncement. FUD is part of the BD strategy.]]>Oct 4th 2007 5:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
"One might argue that people are more likely to buy an inexpensive HD DVD player and rent movies"

But didn't Blockbuster say that they were going Blu-ray exclusive because more folks were renting Blu-ray disks than HD-DVD's? Either Blockbuster was bushitting us or your theory here is wrong.]]>Oct 4th 2007 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
...Or perhaps the story has changed since Blockbuster made that announcement. As part of their press release that day, they did mention that their decision was subject to change depending on consumer demands.

I applaud them for that; I think by picking a format which, at the time, was clearly winning, they helped speed along the format war and help it end quicker. Too bad Paramount had to ruin all that by throwing a wrench into the works. I like Blu-ray, but at this point, just get the damn war over already, I don't really care much who wins anymore.]]>Oct 4th 2007 5:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
As I pointed out in the post RIGHT above yours, Blockbuster's retail stores ALSO RENT VIDEO GAMES, so they are FAR more likely to get PS3 owners in their stores than either their online store (which still carries HD DVD) or Netflix. Or any other retail DVD rental place, for that matter.]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 8th 2007 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 6:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 5:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Yes, it does seem strange that there are more people selecting HD-DVD as are viewing.
Could be posssible depending how netflix handles these two operations.

I wonder if they have the numbers mixed up?

A more interesting number is how many people are renting Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD

Which both of these stats don't give us, at least from the first number Blu-Ray would probably be higher since I can't see one renting without viewing the catalog.

]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Can we assume that if we add the people who set either a HDDVD or BluRay as a preference that they have both? That would mean about 17k have both, 18k have hddvd and 6k have bluray. ]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Perhaps. But the those sets sell for 3x or more, so it's not that much of a skew, even if true. They deserve to count more.]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
i rent hd through netflix... its great... I'd rather rent than purchase anyways... $1 a disc vs $25+ to own, its a no brainer... And if one format wins, at least i didnt dig a hole so deep...

another point, remember, once technogloy gets cheaper, youre going to see multiformat players... So if Bluray or HD wins, a lot of companies will throw a chip in to play the other format... I.E. divx capable players...]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
I may be wrong on this, but Blockbuster never really had HD-DVD to drop from their store shelves.. They tested it out along with Blu-Ray in select markets only and decided to keep Blu-Ray.. So Joe Blow never had HD-DVD movies to rent in the first place from there.. so He rented them from either Blockbuster Online or Netflix.]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Actually, I think they like to brag about the lower price more, but....

Regardless, HD DVD has a MUCH higher attach rate, and does much better at rentals (at Netflix, anyway). Doesn't this just further point to the fact that most PS3s are NOT being used for movies? If you have 5x the players out there, and are only selling two times the movies, and are renting 0.5x the movies, that should be sending up big red flags to everyone in the BD camp, IMHO.

]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 6:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 6:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
So what is it now? I thought it was still 2:1 myself... Although DVD Empire shows that it's more like 1:1 last I checked, I don't know how the overall numbers are doing.
]]>Oct 4th 2007 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
It is true, as of today and last month, Blu-Ray's lead in software sales has been shrinking. Right now by Neilsen numbers it's pretty much 1.5:1 (60:40). I say, before end of the year, we'll see 50:50 if not HD DVD taking the lead. It's absolutely fantastic that with 10 times more BD capable devices Blu-Ray lead has been going 4:1 to 1.5:1. That's what I call "WHEN REALITY STARTS KICKING IN" :)

]]>Oct 4th 2007 7:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
By the way, I'm not new here. Actually, I think most people who regularly visit engadgethd have come to expect it from you. I've been visiting your site long enough to know that I'm not the first person to comment on your bias.]]>Oct 4th 2007 7:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=876174 ]]>Oct 4th 2007 8:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
I know it pains you that Blu-Ray is falling apart all over the place, along with eventual demise of Playstation 3 as the console has absolutely no chance of rebounding, not matter how low they go in price and that you need to use your exposure with Engadget to plant more seeds, but this will not change reality.

Just be at least a bit more sincere and say that you really love Blu-Ray and that it's your prefered format before you make statments that regular folks who don't really know what you wrote before and don't go around watering down the facts as you know pretty well that this issue is not a small one.]]>Oct 4th 2007 7:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 8:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 8:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 8:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Honestly, I just glanced and gestimated, but either way it's close enough.

We'll see if HD DVD gets back some of their market share, but that's what makes this whole thing interesting. ]]>Oct 4th 2007 8:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 8:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 9:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 4th 2007 9:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
And nothing prevents Blockbuster from changing strategy -again- (after the upcoming holiday season probably), and decide to perhaps bring HD-DVD rentals to even more stores, to compliment their existing Blu-ray selection.

I say this because HD-DVD is growing strongly, with more bought discs per owner than Blu-ray [per capita], and once the stand-alone HD-DVD players reach a larger base, then Blockbuster will realize they shouldn't ignore the big block of HD-DVD customers (especially those that prefer to rent the discs), see?

By the way, New Line announced today that PAN'S LABYRINTH will be released Dec 26 on HD-DVD and Blu-ray, here in North America.]]>Oct 4th 2007 9:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
People check the selection of titles for Blu-Ray and HD DVD and they MASSIVELY prefer the selection available on HD DVD. This is the exact reason I'm inclined to go HD DVD when I finally buy a player. The quality of the films released on Blu-Ray is far inferior to that of HD DVD. I know taste is difficult to account for but I think we can all agree that Fantastic Four, for example, is a totally lousy movie. This is true of a large part of the Blu-Ray (perhaps it's just a Sony thing) selection.

The HD DVD camp has been releasing catalog titles and generally more interesting fare. Netflix has a large appeal to people who are interested in quality movies over schlock. I have a blockbuster store less than two blocks from my house and I prefer to wait for Netflix in the mail because I get things I actually want to watch.

Blu-Ray is apparently very appealing to people who like the movies that are released in that format. Everyone else sees that HD DVD has a much broader range of quality titles. Now that it's also passed Blu-Ray in total # of released titles this fact becomes more glaring. Unless Sony can get better movies out on Blu-Ray the format is doomed.


]]>Oct 5th 2007 4:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Still a dumb statistic if you ask me. I'd be more interesting in the ration of rentals.]]>Oct 5th 2007 8:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
How is this a dumb statistic? You go to format preference and then you have to choose which one you want first and then second. There are no defaults here that I could find.]]>Oct 5th 2007 8:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
On the select preferences page you get 2 drop downs. Each drop down including Blu-ray, HD-DVD and DVD. When you have no preferences set the order is HD-DVD, Blu-ray then DVD. That's called a default setting. ]]>Oct 5th 2007 9:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 10:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
I'm not sure what you're talking about. I use Netflix, and have never had to reset my preference throughout the sixth months that I've had the service.

Anyone else have the same problem?]]>Oct 5th 2007 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
1) Mainly because every dual release I've seen has been equal or better quality on HD-DVD.
2) HD-DVD is also my format of choice since the beginning.

Honestly, I don't care who wins since I have both and I own very few movies.

I will be owning one more in less than two weeks though, TRANSFORMERS!!!!]]>Oct 5th 2007 8:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/ HD-DVD -> DVD on Netflix and I've never had it reset to HD-DVD first.]]>Oct 5th 2007 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
Before this I could not stand Blockbuster or similar stores myself because you had to give your DL to get a membership, which is why I signed up for NetFlix. But Blockbuster is a real winner for Blu-Ray and regular DVD because of the B&M stores where you can do a 1:1 in store exchange and the speed of online exchanges in my town. I realize the speed may differ between the two in different towns, but it's worth testing.]]>Oct 5th 2007 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/Oct 5th 2007 10:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
To say renting doesn't help is false as well. Obviously buying the movies is the best option but really isn't feasible for many people.]]>Oct 5th 2007 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/04/hd-dvd-is-more-popular-on-netflix/
As you see since April the YTD percent has slowly gotten closer and has gone from 70.4 vs 29.6 to last week it was 66 vs 34 and the last week or two HD DVD sales have been slow cause some HD DVD fanboys are waiting to buy movies on their buy date when Transformers comes out. I said this hurts their numbers but if a customer doesn't want to buy knocked up when it is released..but wait and buy it the same time they by 3 other movies..i guess it's their choice.


Day Week YTD SI
01/07 63.3/36.7 63.3/36.7 41.2/58.8
01/14 68.2/31.8 65.7/34.3 43.2/56.8
01/21 67.8/32.2 66.4/33.6 45.1/54.9
01/28 68.8/31.2 67.0/33.0 46.7/53.3
02/04 69.0/31.0 67.4/32.6 48.1/51.9
02/11 69.6/30.4 67.7/32.3 49.3/50.7
02/18 65.0/35.0 67.4/32.6 50.3/49.7
02/25 68.5/31.5 67.4/32.6 51.5/48.5
03/04 65.7/34.3 67.2/32.8 52.2/47.8
03/11 68.7/31.3 67.9/32.1 52.8/47.2
03/18 81.7/18.3 69.2/30.8 54.3/45.7
03/25 n/a 70.4/29.6 55.6/44.4
04/01 n/a 69.9/30.1 56.2/43.8
04/08 62.4/37.6 69.4/30.6 56.4/43.6
04/15 61/39 69/31 57/43
04/22 52/48 68/32 57/43
04/29 71/29 68/32 58/42
05/06 60/40 68/32 57/43
05/13 62/38 68/32 57/43
05/20 58/42 67/33 57/43
05/27 69/31 67/33 58/42
06/03 61/39 67/33 59/41
06/10 66/34 67/33 59/41
06/17 64/36 67/33 59/41
06/24 70/30 67/33 59/41
07/01 65/35 67/33 60/40
07/08 66/34 67/33 60/40
07/15 61/39 67/33 60/40
07/22 74/26 67/33 60/40
07/29 66/34 67/33 60/40
08/05 62/38 66/34 60/40
08/12 66/34 66/34 61/39
08/19 71/29 67/33 61/39
08/26 68/32 67/33 61/39
09/02 56/44 66/34 61/39
09/09 60/40 66/34 61/39
09/16 61/39 66/34 61/39
09/23 63/37 66/34 61/39]]>Oct 5th 2007 11:22AM