The war is over! - tanTALK

movieking · 02-19-2008, 04:56 PM

The War Is Over!
Author: CHRIS TRIBBEY
ctribbey@questex.com
Posted: February 19, 2008
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The high-definition format war is officially over. Toshiba Corp. Feb. 19 officially announced it will discontinue developing, manufacturing and marketing HD DVD players and recorders.
The announcement ends a two-year-long battle with Blu-ray Disc to succeed DVD.
“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, president and CEO of Toshiba. “While we are disappointed for the company and, more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high-definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”
Toshiba will stop shipments of HD DVD players and recorders by March, and will stop production of HD DVD drives for computers as well. The company added it would continue to provide product support and services for current HD DVD owners.
“Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP,” a press release read.
“Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.”
The decision came much more quickly than industry sources indicated first to Home Media Magazine on Feb. 14, when they predicted Toshiba would stop backing HD DVD by May.
The move came soon after both Wal-Mart and Netflix announced they would only carry Blu-ray product, and Best Buy announced it would give preference to Blu-ray. Warner Home Video’s decision in early January to only support Blu-ray left HD DVD with Paramount Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment as the only major studios supporting the format. Hardware sales data the week after Warner’s announcement showed 93% of high-def players sold were Blu-ray, according to The NPD Group, and Nielsen VideoScan data has consistently shown Blu-ray software outselling HD DVD 3:1 or more.
Toshiba significantly lowered its player prices during the holiday season, and Microsoft dropped the price of its Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on by $50 earlier this month. Toshiba also bought a 30-second Super Bowl ad for a reported $2.7 million, but apparently was not effective in boosting sales or digging into Blu-ray’s lead.
At least one of the two studios exclusive to HD DVD is already gearing up to join the other team.

"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," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

"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."

Thomas K. Arnold contributed to this report.

unity · 02-19-2008, 05:00 PM

Ya! The troops come home!

Oh... wait? huh? Ohhhhhhhh....that war....

Um, kool!

Too bad I digitally download everything (legally).

movieking · 02-19-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unity

Too bad I digitally download everything (legally).

Not a problem. I legally email everyone in your market the links to all the lotion diversion sites.

unity · 02-19-2008, 05:15 PM

Hey now... them fighting words!

Gotta admit, I thought this HD DVD/Blue-Ray thing was gonna be dragged out a LOT longer. Once all the studios started to switch is was like that snowball effect thing.

02-19-2008, 04:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
movieking Team TanTalk Join Date: Aug 12 2004 Location: ITA 2004-2013 / ASA 2013 Posts: 3,444 Rep Power: 30	The war is over! The War Is Over! Author: CHRIS TRIBBEY ctribbey@questex.com Posted: February 19, 2008 Email this Story to Friend The high-definition format war is officially over. Toshiba Corp. Feb. 19 officially announced it will discontinue developing, manufacturing and marketing HD DVD players and recorders. The announcement ends a two-year-long battle with Blu-ray Disc to succeed DVD. “We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, president and CEO of Toshiba. “While we are disappointed for the company and, more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high-definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.” Toshiba will stop shipments of HD DVD players and recorders by March, and will stop production of HD DVD drives for computers as well. The company added it would continue to provide product support and services for current HD DVD owners. “Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP,” a press release read. “Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.” The decision came much more quickly than industry sources indicated first to Home Media Magazine on Feb. 14, when they predicted Toshiba would stop backing HD DVD by May. The move came soon after both Wal-Mart and Netflix announced they would only carry Blu-ray product, and Best Buy announced it would give preference to Blu-ray. Warner Home Video’s decision in early January to only support Blu-ray left HD DVD with Paramount Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment as the only major studios supporting the format. Hardware sales data the week after Warner’s announcement showed 93% of high-def players sold were Blu-ray, according to The NPD Group, and Nielsen VideoScan data has consistently shown Blu-ray software outselling HD DVD 3:1 or more. Toshiba significantly lowered its player prices during the holiday season, and Microsoft dropped the price of its Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on by $50 earlier this month. Toshiba also bought a 30-second Super Bowl ad for a reported $2.7 million, but apparently was not effective in boosting sales or digging into Blu-ray’s lead. At least one of the two studios exclusive to HD DVD is already gearing up to join the other team. "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," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "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." Thomas K. Arnold contributed to this report.

02-19-2008, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
unity I vote for DERF! Join Date: Jan 6 2004 Location: Midwest-ish Posts: 4,400 Rep Power: 22	Re: The war is over! Ya! The troops come home! Oh... wait? huh? Ohhhhhhhh....that war.... Um, kool! Too bad I digitally download everything (legally). __________________ OMG! I made a post! :)

02-19-2008, 05:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
unity I vote for DERF! Join Date: Jan 6 2004 Location: Midwest-ish Posts: 4,400 Rep Power: 22	Re: The war is over! Hey now... them fighting words! Gotta admit, I thought this HD DVD/Blue-Ray thing was gonna be dragged out a LOT longer. Once all the studios started to switch is was like that snowball effect thing. __________________ OMG! I made a post! :)

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