Toshiba says Blu-ray could still lose format war

[DetroitSportsFan]

Toshiba claims that Sony’s victory in the high definition disc format war will be short lived due to the rise of HD digital video downloads over broadband, which the company claims was one of the key reason for abandoning HD DVD.

In a press conference this morning, Toshiba Australia general manager, Mark Whittard, said that while the US film and retail industries’ recent shift to support Blu-ray sealed HD DVD’s fate, other factors played a role in Toshiba’s abandonment of its high definition video disc business.

Whittard claims the penetration of both next generation disc formats is well below expectations while uptake of digital movie download services is accelerating, and could render HD discs redundant.

“We believe technology developments will soon leapfrog high definition discs, whether it be HD DVD or Blu-ray,” he claimed.

“This step is going to be leapfrogged by the next major format – digital content, internet downloads and video on demand.”

Whittard also identified DVD as a formidable competitor to Blu-ray.

According to figures quoted by Toshiba, total sales of HD movie discs reached a paltry $300 million last year compared to sales of over $23 billion for DVD discs.

Whittard claims Blu-ray will find it difficult to replace DVD in the same way DVD comprehensively replaced VHS.

Toshiba sold less than one million HD DVD players worldwide, and while Blu-ray has achieved higher penetration with the PS3, Whittard claims DVD will be “extremely difficult” for Blu-ray to overcome.

“DVD players still sell in their tens of millions worldwide today,” he said.

“DVD upscaling technology means you get near high definition quality, and to most people there is little discernable difference.”

However, while Toshiba is now moving towards a business model which will see it place more emphasis on other HD video delivery platforms, it has not ruled out joining the Blu-ray camp.

“You never say never, but at this stage there are no plans,” he said.

Toshiba's HD DVD players also have the potential for internet connectivity which gives them the potential to accept HD video streaming over ethernet connectivity, which could be utilised by the company in the future.

http://www.current.com.au/2008/02/20...XGEAZOXNF.html


So that's why Toshiba killed off HD-DVD. They think downloads are the future. I guess it had nothing to do with getting their ass kicked by Blu in hardware and software sales.

[harrynghoman]

But now the web is too slow for them to download a movie, and so that is nothing for Blu-ray. This is only an excuse for toshiba for not being so weak...
Blu-ray is the winner, always.

[Nathan P]

That has to be the biggest pile of bull that i've heard this week.

[u_nick]

Ha! What garbage. Blu-ray was the reason they lost and they know it. What a joke.

And to people who believe the 'upscaling is just as good garbage', I defy them to actually sit down and watch a movie upscaled, and then immediately the same movie on Blu. If they dont see the immediate difference, take them to the hospital. They may have brain damage.

[JTK]

You knew it was coming. There wasn't going to be a graceful and gracious exit.

Of course they're going to go down that same road of "DVD and digital downloads!" like the MS folks and such have done for the last few months.

Screw Toshiba. As long as they're out of the way, I don't care.

[Jordahn]

"Toshiba sold less than one million HD DVD players worldwide, and while Blu-ray has achieved higher penetration with the PS3, Whittard claims DVD will be 'extremely difficult' for Blu-ray to overcome."

Oh... So now they're counting in PS3 sales. For a while, I had no reason to not like Toshiba, but they themselves are giving me more and more reasons to do so.

And why does Blu-ray have to become the next DVD? As long as Blu-ray is profitable and benificial to the content provider and HD consumer respectively, Blu-ray will be fine as viable consumer product. It's sad that the opposers of Blu-ray have to set up worse case scenarios as the absolute criteria to define success for the fomat.

[RUR]

Meh, this is completely predictable and utterly transparent face-saving on the part of Toshiba. Wouldn't expect them to say "Well, we got our arse handed to us, so....."

Originally Posted by JTK

Screw Toshiba. As long as they're out of the way, I don't care.

Exactly!

[Blu As Hell]

Originally Posted by JTK

You knew it was coming. There wasn't going to be a graceful and gracious exit.

I was waiting on it myself. With Toshiba's actions throughout this whole "format war", we knew it wasn't going to be a simple handshake, better man won scenario. Saving face...sounds like a bunch whining bit*ches to me. All I really have to say is F*CK TOSHIBA!!!!!

[JTK]

http://www.contentagenda.com/blog/15...840022084.html

The spin smokescreens are starting go out. We'll see plenty more drivel like this.

I expect to see Enderle come out soon with something simillar to this and a very strong pro digital downloads message along with how Sony really lost their asses on the PS3 and BD even though they "won" the format war thanks to Toshiba standing down.

That's the new spin. Now you can see it and prepare for it.

[radagast]

It's this kind of BS that confirms that I will never feel anything but hatred for Toshiba.

[EvolutionCherry]

Thats just pathetic! It's like that kid despite the fact his noise and ribs are broken and has a swollen eye while the opponent only has a bruised lip, saying he didn't lose the fight.

[sj001]

On one hand Toshiba finally does the right thing by pulling the plug, but then on the other hand they make statements like that, sounds like a child, throwing a temper tantrum because they lost. We all know digital downloads are not going to take off in the near future.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Sour grapes or what... ... Toshiba

Downloads

It took me over an hour to download a movie from Sky Movies Anytime... and that was in SD and I have a 16 Mbps connection connected to Skys own broadband service. Downloads are a non starter unless you are directly connected with a fibre optic connection... so you're Ok if you are in Singapore or somewhere like that, but elsewhere... Forget it!!!

[MrXpress]

Not to sound like a Toshiba apologist, but I wonder if there's some sort of contractual thing that's preventing Toshiba from endorsing Blu-ray or joining the BDA, especially since we haven't heard from P/DW as well.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

http://www.current.com.au/2008/02/20...XGEAZOXNF.html


So that's why Toshiba killed off HD-DVD. They think downloads are the future. I guess it had nothing to do with getting their ass kicked by Blu in hardware and software sales.

Volley #2.

The next war starts my droogies.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Originally Posted by MrXpress

Not to sound like a Toshiba apologist, but I wonder if there's some sort of contractual thing that's preventing Toshiba from endorsing Blu-ray or joining the BDA, especially since we haven't heard from P/DW as well.

Mmmmmm... Good point... maybe there is some entanglement with the HD-DVD equivalent of the BDA.

Anyone have any info' ???

[tron3]

Hmm, Toshiba bowed out gracefully enough but then they come back with parting shots. Parting shots designed to create FUD for the winning format. Talk about sore losers.

So they stand there with quivering voices and shakey hands, "Ohh, no. We won't build a blu-ray player. That market is closing soon." So what the hell were you doing selling HD DVD!?

Ok, everyone repeat after me as I'm tired of repeating it alone.

"There will always, always, ALWAYS, be a market for hard media." Did I mention the word, "always"?

[camper]

Blu ray will not lose to downloads, not unless a president goes all Eisenhower and mandates that the 'information superhighway' in the Unites States be upgraded on a massive scale akin to the interstate highway system. Even then, it would take at least 5 years to get the project completed.

Blu Ray's danger comes from within, meaning they will loose unless they take steps to get the prices down to a level where it makes sense for the average person to upgrade. The media must come down in price, and there needs to be fewer options in the Standard DVD selection.

~Camper

[york weir]

Originally Posted by camper

Blu ray will not lose to downloads, not unless a president goes all Eisenhower and mandates that the 'information superhighway' in the Unites States be upgraded on a massive scale akin to the interstate highway system. Even then, it would take at least 5 years to get the project completed.

Blu Ray's danger comes from within, meaning they will loose unless they take steps to get the prices down to a level where it makes sense for the average person to upgrade. The media must come down in price, and there needs to be fewer options in the Standard DVD selection.

~Camper

I don't think downloads will top a tangible media but every one of my friends that have an HDTV also has broadband. My guess is downloads will simply run alongside blu-ray similar to how downloaded music didn't replace CD's.

[Banjo]

Now it's the digital downloads argument Toshiba is using, eh?