Netflix to carry HD DVD and Blu-ray from launch
01-24-06, 08:19 AM
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Netflix to carry HD DVD and Blu-ray from launch
Press release
Online DVD Rental Leader Embraces 'Next Wave of Consumer Excitement'
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix Inc.
(Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largest online movie rental service, today
announced it will carry the first movies available in HD DVD when the new
high-definition format launches in late March, according to plans recently
outlined by several major movie studios, and said it will similarly offer
titles in the Blu-ray format when that product launches, expected to be later
this year.
"High-definition DVD is the next wave of excitement in home entertainment
and we'll be there at its inception," said Netflix Chairman and CEO Reed
Hastings. "With far sharper images, better sound and more features, we expect
high-def will greatly enhance DVD's consumer appeal and extend its popularity
over the next decade or more."
With Toshiba's new high-def DVD player now available to be ordered for
March delivery at several leading online and big-box retailers, a number of
Hollywood studios have announced plans to launch both new and catalog titles
on HD DVD beginning late that month. Warner Home Video said at the recent
Consumer Electronics Show that it will introduce 24 titles in HD DVD on March
28. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures Home
Entertainment and The Weinstein Company made similar announcements.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment,
Lionsgate and Paramount also said at the Consumer Electronics Show that they
have each selected between 10 and 20 titles to launch concurrent with the
debut of Blu-ray hardware later this year.
Netflix said it will make the high-def DVD titles available at launch as a
way of supporting the next-generation DVD format and signaling its belief that
while initial adoption may be limited the market will eventually migrate to
high-definition.
"For those subscribers who have an immediate interest in renting movies in
high-def, we're committed to making the full range of titles available at
Netflix the moment they're introduced," said Mr. Hastings.
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netflix Inc.
(Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largest online movie rental service, today
announced it will carry the first movies available in HD DVD when the new
high-definition format launches in late March, according to plans recently
outlined by several major movie studios, and said it will similarly offer
titles in the Blu-ray format when that product launches, expected to be later
this year.
"High-definition DVD is the next wave of excitement in home entertainment
and we'll be there at its inception," said Netflix Chairman and CEO Reed
Hastings. "With far sharper images, better sound and more features, we expect
high-def will greatly enhance DVD's consumer appeal and extend its popularity
over the next decade or more."
With Toshiba's new high-def DVD player now available to be ordered for
March delivery at several leading online and big-box retailers, a number of
Hollywood studios have announced plans to launch both new and catalog titles
on HD DVD beginning late that month. Warner Home Video said at the recent
Consumer Electronics Show that it will introduce 24 titles in HD DVD on March
28. Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures Home
Entertainment and The Weinstein Company made similar announcements.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment,
Lionsgate and Paramount also said at the Consumer Electronics Show that they
have each selected between 10 and 20 titles to launch concurrent with the
debut of Blu-ray hardware later this year.
Netflix said it will make the high-def DVD titles available at launch as a
way of supporting the next-generation DVD format and signaling its belief that
while initial adoption may be limited the market will eventually migrate to
high-definition.
"For those subscribers who have an immediate interest in renting movies in
high-def, we're committed to making the full range of titles available at
Netflix the moment they're introduced," said Mr. Hastings.
01-25-06, 07:03 PM
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DVD Talk Limited Edition
This might entice me to get a next gen player sooner than I would have planned. Knowing that I wouldn't have to buy every title I wanted to see like in the old days of DVD is a good sign.
01-26-06, 03:57 AM
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Originally Posted by sdcrym
Do they plan on having a separate plan for the HD formats, or will you be able to add them to your existing account's queue mixed in with regular DVDs for the same price?
01-26-06, 12:42 PM
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Beautiful. Was looking at the site the other day hoping for some news on this. Sounds like it will even be the same price, you just have to specifically chose the HD format disc. This might even entice me to upgrade my Netflix subscription to 4 titles (which is $24 a month). New Releases, day and date, from now on in HD or Blu-Ray. That is where its at. Fantastic news. Shows that Netflix, unlike Blockbuster in the past, understands what is good for them and to move with the times. A tip of the cap to Netflix. I love the enthusiasm from the CEO, shows they are behind it all the way.
03-12-06, 03:47 PM
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I just noticed that Netflix now has an option on the "Your Account" page to "Set up your account for HD-DVDs." It seems that if you follow through to the next page and proceed with the set up, they'll send you an HD-DVD version of the next movie on your queue instead of the DVD version, if the HD-DVD version is available, of course.
I didn't follow through to the next step, as an HDTV is still in a ways off for me, so somebody else will have to give us the details.
Here's the text from the set up page:
I didn't follow through to the next step, as an HDTV is still in a ways off for me, so somebody else will have to give us the details.
Here's the text from the set up page:
What are HD DVDs?
HD DVD is a new type of high definition DVD format that will make watching movies at home even better! With far sharper images, better sound and more features, HD DVDs will greatly improve home entertainment.
HD DVD movies will be available to you at no additional cost!
There is another type of high definition format called Blu-ray, which is not yet available. We will carry movies in this format as well, so check back later this year!
How do I get HD DVDs from Netflix?
1. First, you'll need a DVD player that can play HD DVDs, special cables and a high definition TV. HD DVD players will be available in March, though in limited supply.
2. Once you have the proper equipment, follow the link below to enable your account for HD DVD.
3. Add movies to your Queue like you always do and if it's available on HD DVD, we'll automatically send it to you just like we do with standard DVD movies.
How do I get started?
Click here to set up your account:
HD DVD is a new type of high definition DVD format that will make watching movies at home even better! With far sharper images, better sound and more features, HD DVDs will greatly improve home entertainment.
HD DVD movies will be available to you at no additional cost!
There is another type of high definition format called Blu-ray, which is not yet available. We will carry movies in this format as well, so check back later this year!
How do I get HD DVDs from Netflix?
1. First, you'll need a DVD player that can play HD DVDs, special cables and a high definition TV. HD DVD players will be available in March, though in limited supply.
2. Once you have the proper equipment, follow the link below to enable your account for HD DVD.
3. Add movies to your Queue like you always do and if it's available on HD DVD, we'll automatically send it to you just like we do with standard DVD movies.
How do I get started?
Click here to set up your account:
03-14-06, 02:11 AM
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Interesting way to handle it, both in terms of promoting the feature for account holders (a small link in a place many wouldn't ever see it) and in the way the discs chosen to ship (no ability for customers to choose whether they want the HD-DVD of a particular title or the DVD of it. If it's at the top of your queue, you get what they decide to send you).
Better than no availability at all, though.
Better than no availability at all, though.
03-20-06, 07:24 PM
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I hope they'll list HD DVDs seperately. I'd be interested in re-renting certain titles just to see the improved resolution, but I wouldn't want to sit through the standard DVD again just because the high-def discs are out of stock. Hopefully, we can choose to have the high-def version sent, or none at all. From their website instructions, it sounds like this will not be an option.
03-20-06, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Gabbo
I hope they'll list HD DVDs seperately. I'd be interested in re-renting certain titles just to see the improved resolution, but I wouldn't want to sit through the standard DVD again just because the high-def discs are out of stock. Hopefully, we can choose to have the high-def version sent, or none at all. From their website instructions, it sounds like this will not be an option.
