Toshiba Ends the Format War by Stopping Production of HD DVD Players

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.

The format war between the Toshiba-backed HD DVD and Sony Corp's Blu-Ray, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has slowed the development of what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high-definition DVD industry.

Toshiba was dealt a blow on Friday when Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would abandon the HD DVD format, becoming the latest in a series of top retailers and movie studios to rally behind Blu-ray technology for high definition DVDs.

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.


Sources: Reuters

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Comments (4)

  1. meow24

    Oh no ... Blu-ray retard brigade!!! Lots of Sony dick sucking goin on here. Put your\poppers back in your BUTTHOHES cos Sony's gonna get his big c*ck into Kaya's BUTT WOOAAHHHH!!!

    4 years agoby @meow24Flag

  2. Space101

    Well it wouldn't make any sense if they would continue to produce hd dvd players if they lost alot of cash...But I agree with you Kaya that I ain't believe anything officially until Toshiba tells themselves that it's over...which I sure will be announced soon enough...

    4 years agoby @space101Flag

  3. Brian

    Everyone is sleeping a little snugger in their beds.

    4 years agoby @brianFlag

  4. Kaya Savas

    Is this official? I want to here those sniveling worms from Toshiba tell the public themselves! Tell them that they lied and cheated themselves into an early grave.

    Goes to show, it doesn't matter how much money you throw around. If you lie to your consumers and cheat them then this is what happens. GOOD RIDDENS! Took them long enough. Now this 2 year stall in HD adoption is over and people can go about with Blu-ray and feel safe about spending money on it.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

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