Toshiba may continue HD DVD business

Despite widespread reports that Toshiba will give up the promotion of the HD DVD standard in its competition with Blu-ray Disc (BD), Toshiba is unlikely to give up its HD DVD business operation, Taiwan optical disc drive (ODD) industry sources noted.

Digital Media Network, Toshiba's in-house company responsible for the HD DVD platform, met with domestic makers/suppliers of HD DVD components in Japan on February 18 and emphasized Toshiba's resolution to continue with its HD DVD business, the Taiwan sources explained.

If Toshiba gives up in the battle with BD, it will immediately lose royalty revenues from HD DVD patents, be forced to return already paid royalty charges as well as face risks of customers' returning purchased HD DVD products and launching mass litigation for compensation, the Taiwan source explained.

The sources added that Toshiba will continue to support Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), a global Top-3 ODD maker, so that the maker can offer more inexpensive HD DVD devices to compete with BD products.

[sonarus]

if toshiba dosent announce hd-dvd demise i predict msoft will swoop in with an hd-dvd compatible console and really really put their weight behind it this time. Then off course toshiba shares will fall again lol

[ravinash]

Its too late to update the old console and too early to bring out a new one. So MS won't be bring out anything that will be saving HD-DVDs bacon.

[avacadosnorkel]

HD-DVD players for 20 bucks!

[Kyur4ThePain]

$20, and still no takers.

I wouldn't be surprised if Toshiba stop making standalone players, but continue making PC/laptop drives.

[TheSadTruth]

Automatic upscaling for DVDs for $20 bucks sounds good to me. Who wouldn't want to buy a HD-DVD player just for that?

[BrianC6234]

This guy misses the most important fact though. If Toshiba doesn't dump HD DVD their stock will collapse. Just based on rumors that they will kill HD DVD Toshiba stock rose.

[thedude17655]

would invest in a company who will focuse money and attention to a format that will not last long enough for them to complete their contracts with whome ever.

[Bathyj]

Thats it. I've had enough. Hear my voice people. If Toshiba doesn't drop this crap in the next couple of weeks and do whats right for the comsumer than I will boycott them, never buying a Toshiba product again and will make it my business to persuade other as well.

You still have a good name Toshiba, leave before you lose that too.

[Ureval]

Know when to quit Toshiba. I was on board for HDDVD but you lost sooooo...go away now.

[strongbad1441]

this would be like if Sony had continued to make the Betamax after people lost interest in it due to the convenience of vhs, it just wouldn't make sense.

[Lionsguard]

Betamax never died it only faded from the public. News/television studios preferred to used Betamax over VHS for recordings.

[man0fsteel]

stop the insanity!!

[Fanboy Slaughter]

Something tells me this is just posturing. Sony actually didn't discontinue Betamax (as a storage format) until 2000 or 2001, probably for reasons similar to what this article is saying. I feel as though HD-DVD may stick around, just not as a commercially viable movie format...maybe more as a proprietary storage for business and corporation servers. Hell, I know of companies that still use 20GB/40GB tape data cartridges for weekly/monthy server data. I REALLY don't see HD-DVD staying in the movie business, they've already been declared dead by all major news outlets, and if a $99 player didn't save them...nothing will.

[ThatArtGuy]

Why buy a new HD-DVD backup drive now when Blu-Ray burners have been around for months with a higher capacity rate? Doesn't make much sense.

[Snukadaman]

Ahh well...still not buying hd-dvds still..so whats the difference?

[thedude17655]

true dat holmes

[Monty_The_Great]

believe that HD-DVD is going to win, but I know that on the 19th of Feb. I will be picking up "American Gangster" on HD-DVD an not Blu-Ray.

[Anything but Cute]

I guess now the score is 0 - 0 again.

[Monty_The_Great]

fail

[Anything but Cute]

fail

[Monty_The_Great]

Maybe HD-DVD did fail, but you are obviously only supporting BR, while I support both, you don't get to watch these movies that are only coming out in HD-DVD till there dropped. So. You fail.

[bosels11]

the HD DVD review of it on hidefdigest sucks! It will be out on Blu by summer, so who cares. Oh yeah and this article is bulls!!t. Toshiba is going to quit HD DVD in 1 hour and 10 minutes from now, its already fact!!!!!!!!

[camelio]

American Gangster as well as any new HD DVDs will be Bluray exclsive now...Toshiba has just announced a pullout of HD-DVD business...I guess you can save up for a PS3 sometime this year

[Anything but Cute]

I was getting spoiled now. I wanted to see an embarresing press conference where they surrender, like babies.

Either way, with all the annoucements from retailers. The format war is over. How can it sell if retailers aren't carrying it.

[The Closing]

Because that would be BS not being able to by certain movies. I would not be thrilled with Toshiba to say the least.

[DJ]

Their last hope is personal computers, but even that's limited to just Toshiba computers since so many PC companies support Blu-ray. If they continue to support the format, their stocks will plummet due to investors pulling out. Consumer backlash is inevitable no matter what stance they choose since it's dead as both a movie format and a storage format.

[bootsielon]

"If Toshiba gives up in the battle with BD, it will immediately lose royalty revenues from HD DVD patents, be forced to return already paid royalty charges as well as face risks of customers' returning purchased HD DVD products and launching mass litigation for compensation, the Taiwan source explained."

First of all, that's the freaking point of giving up, GIVING UP TO ROYALTIES. SEcond, why would they have to receive returned players or pay back for the royalties? Anyone that was involved with HD-DVD knew the risk. IT's not toshiba's problem anymore.

[BrianC6234]

Great points. Obviously the guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Anyone foolish enough to buy an HD DVD player the last few months doesn't deserve to get their money back. A lot of companies will end up taking a hit over this but oh well. Companies care mostly about the value of their stock. Killing HD DVD will be a win for Toshiba's stock. Keeping this war going will kill their stock.

[psnDevistator356]

WTF!?

[Loor]

Toshiba QUITS: PRESS RELEASE !!!!

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/ab...

or

http://www.engadget.com/

Format war over. move on.

[deeznuts]

http://www.highdefdigest.co...

[titntin]

no way was this ever anything than sabre rattling and wishful thinking.
I've just noticed they've made the long expected announcement that shows this article is complete bunk....

[killinet247]

I dont think it really matters either way anymore becuase in the consumers eyes there is no more hd-dvd.