Netflix says chooses Blu-ray format over HD DVD

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Online video rental company Netflix Inc (NFLX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Monday it would exclusively stock Blu-ray high-definition DVDs after a decision by some the world's biggest movie studios in favor of the Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) developed format.

Netflix has stocked DVDs using both Blu-ray and the competing HD DVD format developed by Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) since they first came on the market in early 2006.

Four out of six major Hollywood studios have recently decided to publish high-definition DVDs only using Blu-ray.

Netflix said that with such a clear signal from the industry, it will only buy Blu-ray discs going forward and will phase out stock of HD DVD by about the end of the year.

(Reporting by Michele Gershberg, editing by Dave Zimmerman)