Game Over for HD-DVD

[FM-77AV]

Warner leaves the HD-DVD camp:

Reuters:
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Warner Bros studio on Friday said it would exclusively release high-definition DVDs in Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) Blu-ray format, dealing a big blow to Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rival HD DVD technology.

Warner Bros, Hollywood's biggest seller of DVDs, representing about 18 to 20 percent of sales in the United States, was one of the few studios that backed both formats.

All sides of the format war had agreed it was confusing to consumers and a stumbling block for a potential multibillion-dollar industry.

Total DVD unit sales fell 4.5 percent in 2007, the first major year-over-year decline since the disc format debuted in 1997, according to Adams Media Research. Sales fell 4.8 percent to $15.7 billion.

"The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers," Warner Bros Chairman and Chief Executive Barry Meyer said in a statement.

News Corp's (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research), and Lionsgate (LGF.N: Quote, Profile, Research) are among studios backing the Blu-ray format. Viacom Inc's (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Paramount studios and General Electric's (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) NBC Universal release movies in HD DVD format.

Warner said it would continue releasing in the HD DVD format until the end of May, although those releases would follow the standard DVD and Blu-ray releases.

CES HD-DVD event cancelled because of this news:

Notice of CES Press Conference Cancellation by North American HD DVD Promotion Group

“Based on the timing of the Warner Home Video announcement today, we have decided to postpone our CES 2008 press conference scheduled for Sunday, January 6th at 8:30 p.m. in the Wynn Hotel. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are currently discussing the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps. We believe the consumer continues to benefit from HD DVD’s commitment to quality and affordability – a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format.

We’ll continue to keep you updated on new developments around HD DVD.”

New Line drops HD-DVD support as well:

It is now clear that New Line (Owned by Warner Bros.) will also drop HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray. The announcement comes on a day that can only be described as a nightmare for the HD DVD camp.

This means that from May 2008 no titles from New Line and Warner Bros. will be released on HD DVD.

The reason for the May 2008 date is that Warner Bros. is currently under contract to deliver titles on the HD DVD format. The contract ends on that date.

Looks like the format war is finally settled. Great news!

[sideshow]

Well blu ray does hold more GB on a single disc so it should be the successor.

[FM-77AV]

They've managed to make 200 GB Blu-ray discs whereas HD-DVD only supports 51 GB (three layered disc, not supported by most players). The 50 GB Blu-ray discs have two layers.

[Adol.Christin]

well with paramount still backing HD-DVD, I think the war is far from over. but I hope it's over, two formats both with exclusive companies sucks!

I want Heroes on Blu-Ray!!!

[Arjak]

Whew! Glad that's pretty much over with! My family hasn't bought an HD player yet, but my money was going to be on blu-ray. I too heard that it can hold more data. Good to see that the debate is mostly done!

Too bad some other companies are still being pricks.

[Adol.Christin]

Blu-ray should use the PS3 cases, those are much nicer and more durable than the ones they use now. I got my Casino Royale (from registering my PS3) and the little blue flap was broken off. luckily they replaced my copy

[FM-77AV]

willem said:

well with paramount still backing HD-DVD, I think the war is far from over. but I hope it's over, two formats both with exclusive companies sucks!
I want Heroes on Blu-Ray!!!

Blu-ray has 70% market share. The other companies will move over very soon, no doubt. War = over.

[afiqys]

Blu ray is the coolest...eventhough i havent watched any movies on it just yet. but to think....if blu ray wins...then this is the 1st sony's own format to win the format war.

congrats sony!

[Stan]

Toshiba won't go down without a fight, though. Which will make HD-DVD's failure that much more spectacular. Morale of the story: know when to quit.

[Inochi 命]

I've been totally ignoring this whole HD-DVD vs Blu Ray thing. I'm ready for neither. I'm still getting used to DVDs. The new formats can all too suddenly for me...

anyways, I don't think I have the TV to properly utilize those yet either.

[FM-77AV]

I think it is interesting. But I have no intention of getting a HD-DVD or Blu-ray player. I don't even have a DVD player (nor a VCR). I very rarely watch movies, and when I do, I download them for free on the computer - the way it's meant to be watched.

[FM-77AV]

So it has finally happened! HD-DVD is now officially 100% dead and buried.

Toshiba just bailed. It's over.



www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/dailynews7.html

Japan's electronics giant Toshiba Corporation will withdraw from high-definition DVD production.

Sources say Toshiba plans to stop producing HD-DVD players and recorders at its plant in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, and further development of the products.

The plan will probably be officially decided at the company's board of directors extraordinary meeting early this week.

Toshiba is expected to continue to sell HD-DVD products for a while, and announce support measures for users as soon as the decision is officially made.

Toshiba has been struggling with its version of DVD format, called HD-DVD, in a fierce battle with the Blu-ray format backed by Sony, Panasonic, and Hitachi.

The wide adoption of the Blu-ray format by US movie studios and retailers apparently prompted Toshiba to decide to withdraw from the HD-DVD business.

Electronics firms expect the end of the high-definition DVD race to boost sales of the products.

[FM-77AV]

Finally the official statement from Toshiba.

Now if Blu-ray would also die off, I would be very happy. Optical discs are not the future.

[afiqys]

Isnt it good the war is over? I mean...i am a supporter of Blu Ray....especially that they didnt include HD DVD as the xbox360 optical drive that is...
Just think....the format war might still go on if they did include it in every xbox360 out there....and games for it could be on an even higher spec than they are now.
what do you think is a future format then? if you say that optical discs are not.

[FM-77AV]

Well this format war is about the movies rather than the games. As a storage media, HD DVD is of course a good option as it can contain a lot of data. But as a movie format, it has failed. All the movie studios have dropped their support for HD DVD.

And, the industry needs to understand that the the idea of selling things on a physical media is dead. Just look at the music industry. CDs are becoming obsolete. People are downloading MP3s either from services like Itunes or illegally, and are listening to it in their MP3 players and computers. Who listens to CDs in a CD player these days?

The same applies to the video game industry of course... services like Steam are immensely popular, big-name titles like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be a Steam exclusive - solely because it is pointless to release a game on a disc these days. Also look at Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network - two very popular services where you can download games and game demos. On PSN, you can even buy some of the best PS3 games directly online and download them, rather than buying them on a disc (Warhawk, Little Big Planet).

On Xbox Live Arcade you can "rent" movies online - i e you pay for a one-time download and you don't need to go out to the store and rent or buy a disc.

One big reason why piracy is so incredibly popular is that it is so much more convenient than buying stuff in stores. Some people believe that it would be pointless to have paid downloads, because people would rather pirate, but that simply isn't true. Just look at the popularity of Itunes and the like. It's a huge business, and yet nobody dares to adapt it completetly.

No, the era of optical discs is over (at last! The CD format was launched in 1985). The industry just hasn't realized it yet. The consumers have, though. At least most of us.

[FM-77AV]

And there goes Universal. Now Blu-ray has it all.

Click!

"Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced that it will release its titles on Blu-ray.
Though details of the studio's transition away from HD DVD were still sketchy at press time, Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau officially confirmed the move in a just issued statement:
"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. 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."
Universal's statement this morning comes only hours after primary HD DVD-backer Toshiba announced that it would drop its support of the format. Universal was the format's most ardent studio backer, having released titles on HD DVD exclusively since the format's inception."