Toshiba's HD DVD format is at a disadvantage, now that they have decided they will unlikely launch the format by the holiday season. Originally, Toshiba's early launch would have helped boost the format as by the time Blu-way would have launched, Toshiba would likely have sold enough to make some consumers think twice of going for the competitor.
The main reason for this expected delay is due to Toshiba having talks with Hollywood studios and large scale retailers as Toshiba aims to work out an effective launch time and method of launch. Hollywood studios recently pulled back its support from HD DVD and some other studios have decided to do the same by supporting Blu-ray instead, all of which has put HD DVD at a further disadvantage.
As copy-protection and anti-piracy measures are a main concern for content creators, Blu-ray has recently taken on AACS to bring its anti-piracy measures to at least that of HD DVD. The main thing HD DVD can hope for is to have a large enough selection of movies available for its launch along with reasonably priced players. The HD DVD launch is now expected to happen in early 2006. Thanks to ChiefNuts for using our news submit to send in the following news quote:
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HD DVD and Blu-ray appear to be set for a format war reminiscent of the VHS vs. Betamax battle of the early 1980s. Supporters of the opposing formats had been in talks over the summer over a unified standard, but they ultimately didn't amount to much. Toshiba is now reworking its HD DVD launch schedule. "We are now in talks with Hollywood studios and large-scale retailers to seek the most effective timing of the launch and best way to launch," a Toshiba spokeswoman said. |
It is a bad sign to see studios starting to migrate over to Blu-ray instead, especially with HD DVD originally looking to have a good kick-start. After coming across an article about the HD DVD brand name a while back, the brand name is still another competing advantage for the format as consumers are well aware of what DVD is and would more likely associate HD DVD as being the next generation format than Blu-ray. Then again, if the Blu-ray brand gets spread around enough, it can become just as well known. For example, before the iPod launched, very few would have expected the 'iPod' to be associated with 'MP3 player' or music.
ChiefNuts wrote: in another dissapointment for for the HD-DVD fourm, it seems that things keep slipping and slipping.
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Source: Ars Technica
