The straw that broke the camel's back...

[stockstar1138]

We would all agree that Warner caused the snowball effect that ended this war. However, Toshiba didn't seem willingly to quit after WB, so what was the final straw that broke Toshiba.

UPDATE: I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ARE MISUNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION. THIS WASN'T WHAT WAS THE CATALYST OR WHAT EVENTS LED TOSHIBA TO FINALLY DROP THE FORMAT. THIS IS WHAT EVENT MADE TOSHIBA SAY, OK, ITS ALL OVER, GET STATEMENTS READY TO CONCEDE.

[darkwing]

Nielsen

[Blu boy]

it was warner

[richard lichtenfelt]

I think that it was WB and that Toshiba knew it was over before CES.
They were probably just trying to unload as many players as possible before conceding.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

We would all agree that Warner caused the snowball effect that ended this war. However, Toshiba didn't seem willingly to quit after WB, so what was the final straw that broke Toshiba.

That would be the release of the "Fireplace" BD. It's been a long winter too, so a big double whammy on Toshiba. Even $99 dollar players and DUD Transformers couldn't compete with that!

[Tim Dawes]

Warner for sure. As they said at the press conference, they thought their relationship with Warner was very good, so when they went BD exclusive they would've lost a lot of faith in the viability of their own product.

[Raphdude]

I remember reading somewhere that Best Buy, Walmart, and Netflix were alerted (by Toshiba) to the possibility that Toshiba was considering shutting down HD-DUD before those three made their announcements, so I think it was Warner's defection to BLU, as their film library is so large, that put the nail in the coffin.

[Polyh3dron]

I'd say that it was Blockbuster.

[Tru 2 Blu]

I think Toshiba don't know what to do. After Warner Bros made it clear they're backing blu ray. Others started to come along. They tryed everything from lower there prices on their hd dvd players to having fire sales. But Blu Ray just didn't ever fade from the market. Lets say a year past and we're in 2009. I still believe blu ray would have won.

[PeteS]

I believe that the writing was on the wall even before the Warner announcement and that Toshiba knew it and was playing out a scenario they knew was unlikely to win but that agreements with Microsoft kept them playing that game. I'm guessing that those agreements included deals in other areas such as supplying HW for media players and XBox, etc. Even if Warner hadn't turned, Blu-ray would still have won.

What was Microsoft getting out of it? HiDef optical media confusion so that they could establish new HD download business.

(Op/stockstar1138, you have no option for this situation even though I believe it's closer to the truth than anything else.)

[sj001]

Toshiba certainly had known that it was pretty much over after WB dropped them. Certainly Walmart jumping ship made them shift into high gear... thank you Wal-mart for that.

[bootman]

Warner was the punch that took the wind right out of them.
Followed by a jab from Netflix, a right from BestBuy...
They tried feebly to cover up, legs shaking and the ropes barely holding them up!
The left from Walmart put them down for the count.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Warner started the death watch.

[crystalline blu]

WB. I'm sure they knew they had the opportunity to end this format war with their decision.

[zipbags]

The straw was me buying a PS3 last November. But, since the OP didn't list that option. I had to go with Warner going Blu.

[KoD7085]

I think it was a combo of Warner, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy/Netflix. However, I firmly believe Warner was the catalyst to the fall.

[GregBlu5]

It was the purchasers--such as ourselves--of Blu-ray disks who were most responsible. Had consumers bought HD DVD instead, Warner might have gone the other way.

However, Warner said they would review sales in Q4. Consumers bought Blu-rays in record numbers vs HD DVD, based on the Nielsens. Warner had no other choice--and the retailers likewise--but to switch to Blu-ray after an entire year, and more, of Blu-ray victories week after week after week.

We bought and they all paid attention.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

It was the purchasers--such as ourselves--of Blu-ray disks who were most responsible. Had consumers bought HD DVD instead, Warner might have gone the other way.

However, Warner said they would review sales in Q4. Consumers bought Blu-rays in record numbers vs HD DVD, based on the Nielsens. Warner had no other choice--and the retailers likewise--but to switch to Blu-ray after an entire year, and more, of Blu-ray victories week after week after week.

We bought and they all paid attention.

I think that is much of it, plus word of mouth is known to be the best advertising out there. I have 5 guys at work that have bought into blu just by sharing my excitment and BD info. And they will tell their freinds and so on... Blu really sells its self.

[RCO]

Originally Posted by GregBlu5

It was the purchasers--such as ourselves--of Blu-ray disks who were most responsible. Had consumers bought HD DVD instead, Warner might have gone the other way.

However, Warner said they would review sales in Q4. Consumers bought Blu-rays in record numbers vs HD DVD, based on the Nielsens. Warner had no other choice--and the retailers likewise--but to switch to Blu-ray after an entire year, and more, of Blu-ray victories week after week after week.

We bought and they all paid attention.

I agree! I feel very proud to have been a part of this history making decision.

[FW585C]

I would agree, it was us the comsumers that made a choice as to which format we wanted to support. I bought a Panisonic DMP-BD30 player on a whim because I liked the overall quality of Blu Ray v.s. HD-DVD BY FAR!!!! I was just into Future Shop last weekend and compared HD-DVD again vs Blu, and it further made me convinced that I have made the right decision. This forum had also made it easier for me to make the final choice because I was keeping informed at the sales per week for each format, turns out my format of choice was winning, so I took the plunge. We the people made the decision, we supported, the studios paid attention and retailers are distributing..... As a second straw, WB and Walmart, Netflix's decision to support Blu absolutely had a large impact on the final decision as to what format the industry was going to accept as a SOLID HD solution. CHEERS....we won!