Toshiba 'disappointed' by Warner Brothers' decision to drop HD DVD format

Posted on 6 Jan 2008 at 19:29

Toshiba, one of the creators of the HD DVD format, has announced that it is "disappointed" by Warner Brothers' decision to stop supporting the format. Speaking at the company's CES 2008 press conference in Las Vegas, Akio Ozaka, president and CEO of Toshiba America's consumer products said that the company was "surprised by the Warner Brothers announcement".

"We're disappointed by Warner Brothers' decision, which was made despite significant momentum in the HD DVD market," he said.

Ozaka said that sales at the start of 2007 were the strongest yet, and that Toshiba had the largest market share for HD players.

Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba's Digital AV division said, "It's a tough day for me."

Despite Warner Brothers' withdrawal of HD DVD support, Sally still believes that the format is the best for consumers, and that it's the only HD format to deliver on all of its promises, particularly interactive content over the web. She also believes that the fight isn't over.

"Events of the last few days may have led you to believe that the format is dead, but we've been dead before," she said.

Despite the strong words and show of support for the standard, including the launch of five new HD DVD players ranging in price from $300 to $800 (approximately £150 to £400), it was perhaps more telling that no questions were taken at the end of the conference.

Click here for our full coverage from CES 2008

Author: David Ludlow in Las Vegas

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