Toshiba's Comment on Announcement from Warner on Blu-ray Exclusivity

[darrylr]

Toshiba's Comment on Announcement from Warner Bros. Entertainment of Its
Exclusive Support for Blu-ray Disc Format

TOKYO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.'
decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there
are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of
HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close
partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize
the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its
next-generation successor.
We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of
the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other
regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market
in 2007.
We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD
DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm in
our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the
consumer.

http://www.reuters.com/article/press...08+PRN20080104

[SensualPoet]

It will be very interesting at CES this weekend! Is anyone here going as well?

[james99]

If the HD DVD camp truly found out about this today than it shows a lack of class and respect by WB.

Sunday night is the HD DVD press conference.

[eightninesuited]

Warner would've shown even less class if they went to the HD DVD conference on Sunday and told them of their new choice.

At least they'll still release titles until May, which is more than I can say for Paramount and the chumps who cut off Blu-ray completely - despite having titles ready to go.

[oilblue]

Sorry, but supporting a format for a few months means nothing considering WB quite possibly killed the format. As a recent HD DVD adopter, I find absolutely no solace in the fact WB has decided to sell their HD DVDs for a few more months. Of course WB is selling them. They're in various stages of production, so they may as well sell them rather than junk them.

[oilblue]

At least Paramount didn't pull a 180 mere weeks after denying such a move...just after Christmas buying season to boot. Yeah, total class, this announcement by WB.

[darrylr]

It wasn't WB that stopped people from buying lots of HD DVD titles. WB went all out on trying to make it work and I don't see how anyone can fault them for their efforts. For some unknown reason people just did not seem to want to buy many HD DVD titles. It is a bit of headscratcher why not but you can't blame WB.

[oilblue]

Not sure what you're responding to there darrylr...

[darrylr]

Sorry, but supporting a format for a few months means nothing considering WB quite possibly killed the format.

Well you said the WB killed HD DVD.

[Tezster]

I think that any move by any of the major studios is bound to upset one side or another - it is a format *war* after all.

I like HD-DVD quite a lot, but not so much as to continue to root for both sides to co-exist at the detriment of the adoption of HDM at large.

In what manner could this move by WB have been made less painful? There'll be someone somewhere complaining about it regardless of when they did it. I'm not exactly jumping for joy myself - it sucks for HD-DVD adopters, but in the long run (if indeed BR does emerge as the winning format), it's good for HDM capturing a larger pie vs. SD DVD.

[james99]

Late last year WB went out of their way to state that in the short term they had no plans to drop any format.

I can understand folks being ticked at the change of action a few weeks later.

The timing shows a lack of respect if the HD DVD camp just found out today. This is like your girlfriend calling off the wedding the night before.

Who knows the truth though.

[oilblue]

Originally Posted by darrylr

Well you said the WB killed HD DVD.

Still confused by your post @7. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough in the post you were responding to, so I'll try to give more details.

As someone that finally jumped in last month--after the WB release denying they'd go all-Blu anytime soon--I feel completely duped by WB. I bought in, after all factors indicated both formats would survive for a long time to come. I bought in, to both a player, and multiple titles (including the major WB HD DVD titles last month). Only to have them pull the rug out already, effectively killing the format with today's announcement. And I'm supposed to give them credit for "supporting the format" for a few more months? As if.

[darrylr]

Of course they have to deny things like that. Every big company does the same thing.

[oilblue]

Um, no darryl. They could have kept quiet. Simple. Effective.

GM didn't deny they were mothballing Oldsmobile before they did. They just did it. Of course, just months after we purchased an Alero (say goodbye to resale value). I said elsewhere my timing sucks...and there's further proof.

However, GM did offer rebates on future purchases, etc. WB has done nothing for recent HD DVD adopters other than give the finger, and rake in sales on HD DVD titles during Christmas. Nice racket if you can get it.

[darrylr]

Maybe we can agree to disagree then?