Toshiba Hoping To Save HD DVD January 14, 2008
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After been dumped unceremoniously last week by numerous Hollywood movie studios, the HD DVD high-definition (HD) format is hoping more advertising will help it survive.
Toshiba has announced a bigger advertising campaign in the US to help boost the HD DVD format against Blu-ray, which is still celebrating the sudden decision by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema to abandon HD DVD for Blu-ray.
Toshiba is also slashing prices in the US with the entry level HD-A3, HD-A30 with 1080p output and the high-end HD-A35 now priced at a bargain basement $150 (£75), $200 (£100) and $300 (£150) respectively. The company claims that it had a bumper Q4 in sales terms and now controls 50% of the HD market – something Blu-ray supporters and some market analysts might disagree with.
Yoshi Uchiyama, Group Vice President Digital A/V Group, commented: “Consumer sales this holiday season have proven that the consumer awareness of the HD DVD format has been elevated and pricing is the most critical determinant in consumers' purchase decision of the next generation HD DVD technology. The value HD DVD provides to the consumer simply cannot be ignored.”
With only two studios now supporting HD DVD and one of those, Paramount, having an opt out clause in its contract, the future for HD DVD is hazy indeed.-Margin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
Comments
That title should read "Microsoft hoping to save HD DVD".
Toshiba should have dumped it back in 2005 when they had the chance, but the now retired Mr Gates just wouldn't let it lie.
The games over for HD DVD, Blue-ray has it's place, but downloadable content will win in the end.
I agree with "MarGin Lynch", it seems like the HD war is coming to a close with Blu-Ray prevailing! Robsta