War is Over: Toshiba to exit HD-DVD, end format war

LookingFor

Reuters, relaying a report from the Japanese national broadcaster, NHK:

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL1627196120080216

Toshiba Corp is planning to stop production of equipment compatible with the HD DVD format for high-definition video, allowing the competing Blu-Ray camp a free run, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

Toshiba is expected to suffer losses amounting to tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) to scrap production of HD DVD players and recorders and other steps to exit the business, Japan's NHK said on its website.

No one at Toshiba could be reached for comment.

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

When NHK reports something in Japan, it's all but official. A Toshiba VP told another Japanese newspaper that a decision should be finalised by next week. So we should probably get an official announcement then, hopefully.

eoin2nc

Sad day, this will see the end of buy one get one free sales for Blu-Ray and other low pricing tactics

LookingFor

eoin2nc wrote: »

Sad day, this will see the end of buy one get one free sales for Blu-Ray and other low pricing tactics

Why? It's not like DVD never saw promotions and price reductions just because it was the one standard.

When Amazon ran its promotions on Blu-ray, it also ran promotions on HD-DVD. It, as a retailer, wasn't just doing it to promote one format over the other. It was doing it to attract customers to a higher premium product.

That'll be the motivation for Blu-ray now - promoting and discounting to attract new customers.

eoin2nc

Yes but the problem is you can't import Blu-Ray titles from the US. Amazon.com has great prices and deals on Blu-Ray but its no good to anyone here.

Doctor DooM

Quite a few blue rays have no encoding.

LookingFor

And it's official now. Toshiba had a press conference earlier.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i3LIL6dBGDGSJKaC2z7Z0mnBrZow

revileandy

eoin2nc wrote: »

Yes but the problem is you can't import Blu-Ray titles from the US. Amazon.com has great prices and deals on Blu-Ray but its no good to anyone here.

What makes you think you can't import US blu-rays???? I've been doing it for the last 11 months. The majority of US blu-ray's are region free - if it wasn't for the amazon offer's I wouldn't have half of collection I've got right now!

Check this site

http://bluray.liesinc.net/

iMax

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080219a.php

LookingFor

That was quick - Universal has announced their intention to support Blu-ray.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=1007

"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."

He continued, "The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def's unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."

I hope for some gladiator and some bourne ASAP.

savemejebus

Now paramount http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/DreamWorks/Paramount/Industry_Trends/Paramount_Goes_Blu/1496. Wonder how they'll be received back after literally selling out last year.

Wolff

i buy bluray all the time from amazon.com !

311

Wolff wrote: »

i buy bluray all the time from amazon.com !

I eat sausages!:D