Four studios support HD DVD, Toshiba says

No_Style · Nov 29, 2004, 04:20 PM

Toshiba said Monday that it has won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema, advancing its cause in the battle for the next-generation DVD.

Toshiba is promoting HD DVD, a next-generation DVD technology, with NEC and Sanyo Electric, while Sony and several other giants of the electronics, computer and movie industries are backing a competing standard dubbed Blu-ray.

Support from U.S. film studios is seen as vital in this format battle, just as it was when the VHS standard prevailed over Sony's Betamax two decades ago.

"After extensive research and careful consideration...we have determined that HD DVD has the highest quality of performance and offers key advantages in the areas of durability and reliability," Warner Bros. said in a statement.

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema are units of Time Warner. Universal Pictures is a division of General Electric, and Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom.

They represent about 45 percent of Hollywood's prepackaged DVD sales in the United States, Toshiba said.

Those studios are expected to release movie titles in the HD DVD format in time for the planned launch of HD DVD players in the last quarter of 2005.
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Read More/Source: C|Net Tech News
Additional Source: Reuters
Thanks to Wunderchu for the submit.

Nov 29, 2004, 04:20 PM	#1
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Four studios support HD DVD, Toshiba says Toshiba said Monday that it has won support for the HD DVD optical disc standard from Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and New Line Cinema, advancing its cause in the battle for the next-generation DVD. Toshiba is promoting HD DVD, a next-generation DVD technology, with NEC and Sanyo Electric, while Sony and several other giants of the electronics, computer and movie industries are backing a competing standard dubbed Blu-ray. Support from U.S. film studios is seen as vital in this format battle, just as it was when the VHS standard prevailed over Sony's Betamax two decades ago. "After extensive research and careful consideration...we have determined that HD DVD has the highest quality of performance and offers key advantages in the areas of durability and reliability," Warner Bros. said in a statement. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema are units of Time Warner. Universal Pictures is a division of General Electric, and Paramount Pictures is a unit of Viacom. They represent about 45 percent of Hollywood's prepackaged DVD sales in the United States, Toshiba said. Those studios are expected to release movie titles in the HD DVD format in time for the planned launch of HD DVD players in the last quarter of 2005. _______________ Read More/Source: C\|Net Tech News Additional Source: Reuters Thanks to Wunderchu for the submit. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here