Netflix CEO asks studios to release films in HD DVD and Blu-ray format

Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix, called on movie studios to release their upcoming films in both HD DVD and Blu-ray formats. Hastings is worried that a long battle between the two formats will only accomplish one thing - late adoption of either of the new formats by consumers.

According to the article Hastings urges end to high-def war, Hasting said in Netflix's first quarter conference call that "protracted competition will hurt the adoption of high-definition DVD." Hastings believes that "if all studios were to embrace both formats agnostically, consumers would be more comfortable making a format decision based on hardware pricing and features."

Hastings solution might help consumers feel more comfortable buying movies in the new formats; however, producing films in both formats will be costly for the movie studios. That said, Warner Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment do plan to release their movies on both formats.