Blockbuster goes Blu-ray, HD DVD=beta?,

And HD DVD is already putting out DVD/HD DVD dual-layer disks, so they're already up on the curve where a single SKU-per-title is concerned.

Still...the difference in studio support in the US (Sony/Comumbia/MGM/UA/Disney/Fox/Warner/Paramount for Blu-ray vs. Universal/Warner/Paramount for HD DVD), and the difference in the number of player manufacturers per format (also in favor of Blu-ray) is pretty intimidating.

My only comment is that all of those companies are competing with each other. I do think that cheap chinese HD-DVD players coming out this fall ( which the AP confirmed last week) seals the deal, because you get a greater bandwidth of buyers. Right now, the masses are locked out because Blu Ray players are all at a higher price point.

If the total volume of hi def titles goes up as far as sales, at some point all studios must follow suit just to go after the sales. Right now, the numbers of Hi Def disks sold is just too small to be significant.

With over 250k discs sold of the movie 300 in the first week not counting Wallmart ect sales as well as many reported shortages of the Blu-ray version, and 163k of these being on Blu-ray, its plain to see were this is headed with exclusive titles like Spiderman 1/2/3, Pirates of the Carribean 3, National Treasure, Closec Encounters, Ratatouille, Cars, Pixar Shorts, Kill Bill 1/2 and Pulp Fiction ect ect coming out for the holiday season as Blu-ray exclusive.
The first year best sales for dvd in a week was 100k so Blu-ray has already beat that despite 300 being a dual release in this so called war.
I believe that the Holiday software sales percentages will be very telling and expect Blu-ray to take 80-90% of the sales between their exclusives, and all dual format releases which will be at least a 2-1 advatage for Blu-ray in disc sales.

Seeings how this is first and foremost an audio board,its very interesting that Blu-ray has HD audio as in uncompressed PCM, DD-THD or DTS-MA on over 90% of its format specific releases and hd dvd has less than 10% of its format specific releases with actual HD audio.

When Warner releases the 18 or so titles on Blu-ray that they have been putting off for picture in picture interactivity, hd dvd will have less than 5% of its format specific releases with actual HD audio.
Which is something most here would have a real use for with all the higher end speakers and gear.

Ears, I'm with you - I bought a Blu-ray player a couple of months - not because I think Blu-Ray is better but because there is more of the new stuff that I want....although I do regret not having Jason Bourne's Ultimatum..,

Rysa, do you have a link to an actual official announcement of Chinese hd dvd players?
This was an internet rumour and picked up by everyone and there brother and posted as fact on blogs and sites acrossed the net.
Wallmart as well as the rumoured Chinese company both denied there was ever a deal or contract.

From what I have read, any Chinese players are not actual hd dvd players but some lessor form of HD player that will be sold only in China.

Blu-ray however does have cheap players coming from Funai and gowell that are contractual.
Funai makes some of the Denon and other brand players.
At any rate, the local Wallmarts have not had HD DVD players since last August but have had the Philips and now the 450.00 Sony player in store.

Target is only selling the Sony player in stores during the upcoming Holidays with a special Blu-ray end cap displaying mostly Disney Blu-rays.

Its interesting to note that neither Target or Costco now have an hd dvd player for sale online but both have BD players.

Its also interesting that BD disc sales are in the lead everywhere on the planet where the formats are sold.