The decision to support DVD ''represents a sea change in our thinking,'' Eves says. DVD was seen as a threat because nearly half of VCR owners say they have some interest in it, according to a VSDA-sponsored survey by Yankelovich Partners to be released Wednesday. Rental store enthusiasm could also boost sales of DVD players. Two-thirds of adults who say they are likely to buy one consider it important to be able to rent DVD disks. Video stores won't carry a DVD variant called DIVX, which will become available nationally in September.
Users pay extra fees via their credit card for additional time.
But DIVX applauds video stores' endorsement of DVD. ''We think we'll get our share of consumers who like DVD,'' says DIVX Entertainment President Paul Brindze.