[wbassett]

This is kind of what I expected to hear from them.

Before I say anything else, I do prefer HD DVD over Bluray because up until now more of the titles I personally like to watch were on HD DVD. I am format neutral as I have mentioned several times, so what I am about to say is going to sound negative towards HD DVD, but I am not just blindly bashing Toshiba and HD DVD...

Warner has one of the biggest movie libraries. Their announcement to go Bluray exclusive was a major blow to HD DVD. With only two major studios still in camp with HD DVD (and I do think it is safe and fair to say their loyalty and allegence to HD DVD is strained at this point) that doesn't leave an impressive content list for consumers... whatever is out there now, and only new releases from Universal and Paramount. Paramount has already post poned the release of some highly anticipated HD DVD exclusive titles, so it looks like new releases even from the remaining studios may start to slim down.

Without content, Toshiba can advertise and cut prices all they want, it won't matter to the consumers. I said this before that Warner was a bit premature in their statement that they made the move solely based on player sales and movie sales... 4th quarter 2007 information would barely have been in, if it was even fully compiled by the time Warner made their announcement. Their timing and announcement was done to hurt HD DVD plain and simple. It took Toshiba totally by surprise to the point they had to cancel their press conference because they were unprepared for what happened.

So although I think it's a noble effort on Toshiba's part, what really lacked in that article was any mention of any possibility of HD DVD getting a studio to cross the lines and even release in both formats let alone declare they would become HD DVD exclusive. Without that commitment or even the hint of some new studio backing, I honestly can't see how Toshiba can pull this off. Yes 4th quarter 2007 was a record high for HD DVD sales, and yes Bluray was fast becoming concerned. Sony had to do something, and the Warner deal was really all they could do, and that was pretty big.

This won't be the first time that a superior format lost, Beta was a superior format than VHS. I think though that the buy offs and smear campaigns were a little more public this time around which has turned some people off to both formats. I've heard some people say Toshiba deserved it because they bought Paramount off, but the reality is Toshiba did nothing and is guilty of nothing that Sony hadn't already done themselves. In fact both sides made deals with the studios that originally sided with each format, don't anyone fool yourself into thinking otherwise. Money talks, and Warner walked, it's as simple as that.

So to repeat myself, without a substantial library of future releases, Toshiba could start giving players away and it isn't going to matter as long as the general public percieves that it is over. Fact is HD DVD was selling like hot cakes, perception is Bluray won. Anything other than a major announcement that HD DVD has gotten additional studio support is only going to be veiwed perception wise as they are trying to dump their inventory.

Toshiba needs something more substantial than this and what they just said... that's my opinion on this.