Audio Video News

Nothing quite like a good old format war. Ten years ago this month we reported on Toshiba’s decision to postpone the U.S. launch of HD DVD from December 2005 to early 2006.

Jim Willcox wrote: “The decision sparked speculation that it was designed to give backers of HD DVD and the Blu-ray Disc more time to discuss unifying the two incompatible formats, reportedly at the behest of Hollywood studio executives.”

We all know the end to that story… Toshiba pulled the plug on the format in early 2008.

Here’s the full text of our report from November 2005:

In the latest episode of the prime-time soap that is the high-definition format war, Toshiba announced that it will postpone its U.S. launch of HD DVD from December until early next year.

The decision sparked speculation that it was designed to give backers of HD DVD and the Blu-ray Disc more time to discuss unifying the two incompatible formats, reportedly at the behest of Hollywood studio executives. But members of the HD DVD camp say the extra time will instead allow them to coordinate a major, attention-grabbing launch event. [And that it was.—Ed.]

News of the delay follows recent pledges of Blu-ray support from 20th Century Fox and Lions Gate (The format is also backed by Sony and Disney.) But according to Mark Knows, adviser to Toshiba’s HD DVD Promotions division, studio support for HD DVD remains unchanged, with commitments from Warner Bros, Paramount, Universal, and New Line. “What is being determined now is simply timing. We are discussing how best to achieve an optimized launch with all of our partners, including studios, retailers, and other interested parties.”

So HD DVD and Blu-ray remain headed for a showdown. But wait, soap fans, there’s a new cliffhanger: Samsung has just announced that sometime next year, it will market a machine that can play both formats. —James K. Willcox