HD DVD news stories on Newser

DreamWorks in Limbo over HD DVD Format

Jim O'Neill — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:34:19 CST

Despite the fact that Toshiba lost its war with Sony’s Blu-ray disc technology, DreamWorks Animation says it plans to release its upcoming movies in the HD DVD format, unless it hears otherwise from Toshiba, Reuters reports. DreamWorks’ “Bee Movie” is scheduled for release in March. The studio said it asked...

Toshiba Throws in HD Towel

Katherine Thompson — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:30:00 CST

Toshiba is quitting the HD DVD player business after taking a licking in the protracted market competition, the company announced today. Toshiba's exit, which leaves Blu-ray's technology alone at the vanguard of digital video, comes after Warner Brothers joined the crowd of Blu-ray backers, leaving HD DVD in the cold,...

Toshiba May Pull HD DVD Plug

Nick McMaster — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:08:00 CST

Toshiba has temporarily halted production of players and movies in the HD DVD format, and is contemplating dropping the format altogether, PC World reports. The move would cost the company tens of billions of dollars, but the defection of several studios and retailers to the rival Blu-Ray format has left...

Wal-Mart Chooses Blu-Ray Over HD DVD

Nick McMaster — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:24:00 CST

The blows just keep coming for HD DVD: Wal-Mart announced today that it will sell Blu-Ray high-def movies and players exclusively, CNET reports. A buyer for Wal-Mart disclosed the decision on her blog, saying that the company had been influenced by Netflix and Best Buy's recent announcements by they will...

Netflix Goes Blue

Sam Gale Rosen — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:36:44 CST

The Netflix DVD rental service has decided to go exclusively with Blu-Ray as its hi-def format for customers, rather than HD DVD. By the end of the year, Netflix will no longer offer HD DVDs, reports CNET. The service made the decision based on the momentum towards Blu-Ray by Hollywood...

Porn Goes Both Ways in HD Format War

Nick McMaster — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:01:23 CST

The adult film industry cast a deciding vote in the VHS/Betamax tape format wars of the ‘80s, and porn may yet influence the hi-def contest between Blu-Ray and HD DVD, Daily Tech writes. But currently the industry is split between the popular view that the U.S. film industry is...

Toshiba Fights for HD DVD Market Share

Laila Weir — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:10:00 CST

Toshiba is stepping up efforts to keep HD DVD a contender in the battle between high-def formats, the company said today. Toshiba will cut prices and increase advertising, reports MarketWatch. It's battling rival Sony’s Blu-ray technology, which doubled HD DVD's US sales last year and scored a major win recently...

Is the Xbox 360 Going Blu?

Lev Weinstein — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 07:29:07 CST

Microsoft could be changing roles in the HD wars, as the corporation may consider switching from Toshiba's HD-DVD players to rival Sony's Blu-ray technology in the Xbox 360 if the warning signs of HD-DVD's demise prove true, reports Reuters . The announcement comes in the wake of Warner Bros. last week...

HD DVD Not Dead Yet: Toshiba

Sam Biddle — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:24:01 CST

Toshiba executives claim the company's HD DVD platform hasn't yet lost the heated format war, despite the recent announcement from Warner Bros. that the studio will release film titles exclusively in the rival Blu-Ray format. Backers of the HD DVD format will exhibit their wares at the Consumer Electronics Show.