Blockbuster dumps Warner

Blockbuster, Britain's biggest video rental chain, is refusing to stock a string of Warner Brothers' hit films - including Ocean's Eleven and Training Day - because of a row over prices.

The video rental giant is in dispute with the film company after the latter's parent company, AOL Time Warner, raised the prices it charges rental dealers for its films.

The chain, with 700 stores across Britain, has already boycotted Training Day, the police thriller starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke which was released on 15 July, as well as the heist movie Ocean's Eleven, starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon.

Other films unavailable for rent include Mel Gibson's Vietnam epic We Were Soldiers and the award-winning Mexican film Y Tu Mama Tambien.

A Blockbuster spokesman said: "In response to AOL Time Warner's most recent decision, Blockbuster will not be stocking selected movies by AOL Time Warner, to rent or buy on both DVD and VHS in any of its stores.We do not believe it is in customers' interest to support the AOL Time Warner strategy, and we apologise for any inconvenience to our customers."

But a spokeswoman for Warner Bros defended the changes in pricing. She said: "UK copyright law allows a higher price to be charged to rental dealers.

"We believe that our new pricing structure should allow the rental dealer to continue to offer a competitive price to the end consumer."

Many other smaller video chains are also signing up to the boycott. These include Primetime, Apollo, Choices, Global and Movie Express.

Primetime is displaying posters in all of its branches explaining to customers what the row is all about.

A Primetime worker, who did not want to be named, said: "From what I understand, every film that has come out of the Warner studio since Training Day will not be stocked.