Netflix defects to Blu-ray

ONLINE movie rental outfit Netflix has nailed its colours to Blu-ray's mast and decided to abandon the HD-DVD format.

In a press release Netflix said the move follows four major movie studios in selecting the Sony technology over one pushed by Toshiba.

Walt Disney, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have blessed Blu-ray. This leaves just Paramount and Universal Studios using Toshiba's HD DVD format.

Netflix has sat on the fence and stocked both formats. But with four out six major studios issuing films only in Blu-ray format means that Sony will win the format wars.

A Netflix spokesman said that hardly anyone bought high def DVDs anyway and focusing on one type will be better in the long run.

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