DVD killed the video star

One of the largest video chain stores in the US has announced it is to phase out VHS videos in favour of DVDs.

Circuit City Stores is the first national retailer to stop selling movie videotapes at some stores and will soon discontinue sales at others.

Videotape has been the dominant form of home video entertainment for almost two decades.

A company spokesman said people have happily embraced DVDs and sales have been moving toward DVD for quite some time.

Circuit City's rivals, however, have said they are not planning to phase out VHS yet, but are expanding their DVD operations.

Best Buy, the company's chief rival, is cutting its stock of videos while expanding the number of titles it offers on DVD.

And Blockbuster has said it is to remove 25 per cent of its less-popular and older videotape rentals from stores to make room for DVD movies and video games.