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Toshiba Delays Final HD DVD Decision
by David Jenkins [PC, Console/PC]
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February 18, 2008
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Despite numerous press reports over the weekend, officials from Toshiba have denied that the company is planning to cease ongoing support for the HD DVD format – although the company has admitted it is currently “assessing its business strategies”.
Sources from the Wall Street Journal to Kyodo News in Japan have been reporting that Toshiba is to stop new HD DVD drive production, after major U.S. chain Wal-Mart announced on Friday that it would only sell Blu-ray discs in the future.
The Wal-Mart statement has followed a string of retail announcements in favor of Sony’s competing Blu-ray format, with companies including Netflix, Target and Blockbuster all confirming that they would no longer stock the HD DVD format.
Another major blow to the format came earlier in the year, when Warner Bros. Entertainment announced that it would release future content only on the Blu-ray format, rather than both. Current HD DVD exclusive supporters Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures are not contractually able to switch support until after Toshiba exits the market.
Although some press reports suggest an official announcement will be made by Toshiba this week a new statement today from the company indicates only that: "The media has reported that Toshiba will discontinue its HD-DVD business. Toshiba has not made any announcement concerning this. Although Toshiba is currently assessing its business strategies, no decision has been made at this moment."
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