AP Exclusive: Blockbuster to favor Blu-ray high-definition discs over rival HD DVD format

LOS ANGELES (AP) Blockbuster will rent high-definition D-V-Ds only in the Blu-ray format in more than 14-hundred stores when it expands its high-def offerings next month.

That deals a major blow to the rival H-D D-V-D format.

The move being announced Monday could be the first step in resolving a format war that has kept confused consumers from rushing to buy new D-V-D players until they can determine which format will dominate the market.

Blockbuster has been renting both Blu-ray and H-D titles in 250 stores since late last year. It's found that consumers choose Blu-ray titles more than 70 percent of the time. A Blockbuster executive says consumers "are sending us a message." All major studios except one are releasing Films in Blu-ray.

The North American H-D DVD Promotional Group says Blockbuster's decision is shortsighted and skewed by the success of films released by Blu-ray studios in the first three months of the year.

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