Blockbuster goes widescreen! (Digital Bits) (1 Viewer)

[Tony-B]

“We made a decision to purchase the majority of titles we bring in on DVD in the widescreen format,” he said. “We try to follow our customer preferences. As DVD becomes increasingly popular, they become more familiar with the features and with the benefits of letterboxing. They've learned it's a superior format to full-frame."

Wow, someone should check the temperature down in hell!

Amazing! Blockbuster is finally seeing the light of day! I wonder if Wal-Mart will follow along with them. I can't wait to see J6P's reaction to this move. They will say "Hey, who done put dem black bars on my TV?!"

Great move, Blockbuster!

 

[Jesse Skeen]

Check the temperature in hell when Blockbuster carries NC-17 rated movies and porn videos.

 

[Ken_McAlinden]

Here's a link to the article in Video Store Magazine. They refer to Ron Epstein as a "DVD Guru".

This was mentioned in today's "Studio Briefing" over at the Internet Movie database, too.

Life is getting simpler.

Regards,

 

[Matthew Kiernan]

Like most everyone else, all I can say is that this is great news.

Maybe now I'll rent from them everyone once in a while.

 

[Aaron Cohen]

Awesome news. And great job by Ron to point out that kinds DON'T GIVE A DAMN! They watch the movie and enjoy it! They don't care about black bars. It's the parents that are scared to death and trying to protect their children from black bars almost like it's some kind of awful drug! I'm sick to my stomach of Disney releasing some of my favorite films that happen to be kids movies such as Heavyweights, Blank Check, Operation Dumbo Drop, Honey I Shrunk The Kids, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. just because they think kids don't like black bars! It's just ridiculuos.

 

[george kaplan]

I have literally not stepped into a Blockbuster for many years. This isn't going to make them my first choice, but I may now check them out for some titles that I simply haven't been able to find at any of the other stores I rent or on TCM.

 

[Jack Briggs]

Oh my goodness. I report to a "DVD guru."

Great news, though.

 

[Tony Whalen]

And in other news today...

HELL (AP) - Forecasters are predicting a chilly day indeed today, as temperatures on the 9th plane plummet to unforeseen levels.

TheEvilOne(TM) himself was seen purchasing ice-skates at a local shop, and commented "I have to get to work somehow."

More news as it occurs...

 

[Ben Rockwell]

Well, with Blockbuster renting OAR discs, anyone think this means that they'll start selling their PVed discs in original packaging with original artwork and inserts? To me, that's all they are good for anyway. Plus, the one here charges outrageous rental prices.

But, on the upside, it's great that some company out there is actually listening to their customer base. Maybe some other places out there will follow suit and there won't be as many disgruntled consumers.

 

[David Susilo]

The article stated that this move started in the beginning of this year. This is so un-true. At least in my area (about 3 Blockbusters), they are actually phasing OUT widescreen. Everytime a title is available in PS/WS separately, they will ONLY carry the PS.

They used to almost always carry both versions until February 2003, though.

is it a coincidence that "PS" is "PoS"?

 

[Ron-P]

Amazing! Blockbuster is finally seeing the light of day!

Too little too late in my book. I'll never rent from them, my accounts have been closed.

Supporting the WS format is good, but not if it's done through Blockbuster.


Peace Out~

 

[Darko]

Here in my neck of the woods, Blockbuster has always been pretty good in stocking widescreen. Typically, if a title was only available for rent in PoS format, all the video stores, and not just Blockbuster, rented it that way. Also, my local Blockbuster, always has a good selection of indie, and/or obscure titles available for rental. Usually they have widescreen as well as PoS available for rental. Maybe I'm just lucky, and my local Blockbuster didn't follow the corporate edict.

 

[Neil Joseph]

This is good. This means I will have to update my OAR page finally http://webhome.idirect.com/~orange1/oar/index.html

 

[Jesse Skeen]

If today were April 1, I'd post "Blockbuster goes porno!!"

 

[Glenn Overholt]

Been doing it all year huh? Fat chance of that. How come it took five months for this to be news?

Maybe the word didn't get out as well as it should have?
Maybe it's a big pile of crap too.

Methinkss BB is trying to reclaim some of their lost revenues from last year. Why can't they realize that renting out DVD's just isn't going to cut it because the price on DVD's almost makes it cheaper to buy them than to rent from BB and incur their late fees. How long before they fold up?

Glenn

 

[Al Shing]

So pigs really were spotted flying in the midwest last week?

I think the real breakthrough will be when the premium channels on cable get widescreen religion. You know the ones: Starz/Encore, HBO/Cinemax, SHO/TMC.

 

[Carlo_M]

Well I don't really rent, and when I do it ain't from Blockbuster, but this does not change the fact that

This is very good news!

Blockbuster (and places like Walmart) represent the "average" consumer rather than us filmgeeks, so this is definitely a positive sign that the public is moving over, however slowly, to OAR. We have to take our "moral victories" where we can get them, and this is definitely a victory!

 

[Charles J P]

I guess they just cant win. Come on guys. You get something that you've bitched about for years done your way and now you find another reason not to like them. I'd tell the elitest film buffs to piss off if I was blockbuster and saw this thread.

 

[David Susilo]

hey, if they claim that they are going to have Widescreen, I'm all for it, but the claim is FALSE.

the claim:

"We've decided to have more WS version since the beginning of the year"

reality:

less WS version available since February 2003 (to the point I can't rent anymore new release from BB because EVERY SINGLE NEW RELEASE is in PS ONLY)

of course BB can't win, because not only they JUST carry PS (for the new releases since Feb '03), they LIE about it.

When and if they are actually carrying WS, I'll start renting from them again. I still visit them once a week just in case they have any new WS title for me to rent.

(yes, I've rented ALL of their available WS titles that I don't already own; I have about 700 titles at home)

 

[Carlo_M]

David, I think the spread of WS titles varies widely with each and every Blockbuster. At the local one, where I've stepped foot to buy videogames (Mechassault for $19.99 baby!) I've seen quite a few WS versions. Of course this is also a college town in Los Angeles, so there is that. I bet it's still up to the store manager (or regional manager) to decide what hits the shelves based on judgments they make from their client base.