Audio Video News

A Hollywood trade publication suggests that the end may be near for HD DVD, quoting a combination of on- and off-the-record sources. Update: That report has been confirmed by two other news outlets. See last graf.

The Hollywood Reporter quotes Toshiba marketing VP Jodi Sally: "Given the market developments in the past month, Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players."

That's fairly ambiguous. But this anonymous source was more blunt: "An announcement is coming soon. It could be a matter of weeks."

The story added that Toshiba is losing money on each player sold, "a figure sources say could be as high as several hundred dollars."

Another development today that doesn't look good for HD DVD is a company blog by Wal-Mart's video buyer stating "Wal-Mart is going Blu." She adds: "If you bought the HD player like me, I'd retire it to the bedroom, kid's playroom, or give it to your parents to play their John Wayne standard def movies, and make space for a BD player for your awesome Hi Def experience. I am probably going to surprise my husband with BluRay player for Father's Day, so please don’t tell him!"

This latest news comes in the wake of decisions by Netflix to stock only Blu-ray by year-end and Best Buy to recommend Blu-ray to shoppers. Amazon is currently selling HD DVD software at 50 percent off, suggesting a desire to reduce stock in the struggling format.

Addendum: The Hollywood Reporter story was confirmed the following day by two other news outlets: NHK, the Japanese broadcast authority, and Reuters, the wire service. NHK said Toshiba has already closed down its HD DVD manufacturing plant in Japan. According to an anonymous source quoted by Reuters: "We have entered the final stage of planning to make our exit from the next generation DVD business."