Toshiba To Pull Plug on HD DVD, Insiders Tell The Hollywood Reporter

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — It appears the format war has ended not with a bang, but with a whimper.

According to a report posted today on HollywoodReporter.com, Toshiba is expected to discontinue the HD DVD format in the coming weeks. Sources told the trade journal that the “widely expected” decision was prompted by the defection of Warner Home Video to the Blu-ray format.

Toshiba America VP of Marketing Jodi Sally told The Hollywood Reporter that no official decision has been made to kill HD DVD but that it would “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.”

Recent data supports that HD DVD is on its way out. After the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North American Promotional Group cancelled its Consumer Electronics Show presentation in January, leading to Sony-backed Blu-ray to raking in 93 percent of sales that week.

According to the NPD Group, sales of Blu-ray players dwarfed HD DVD, 65 percent to 28 percent, even after Toshiba slashed prices on HD DVD players in half. Data from Nielsen VideoScan First Alert shows that the bestselling Blu-ray title for the week ending Feb. 10 sold three times as many copies as the top seller on HD DVD.

Also today, Wal-Mart announced that it would drop HD DVD discs from its inventory, and Netflix earlier this month said that it was discontinuing HD DVD rentals. Big-box retailer Best Buy only stocks Blu-ray and rental giant Blockbuster has thrown its support behind Blu-ray exclusively.

The anticipated death of HD DVD also has powerful ramifications for the adult entertainment industry. Many adult studios initially backed HD DVD because finding a Blu-ray replicator proved to be difficult.

Additionally, in a declining adult DVD market, HD DVD proved to be a considerably cheaper format to author and replicate on than Blu-ray. Mastering a standard definition disc costs around $800 compared to $10,000 for a dual-layer Blu-ray disc.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Tiffani Time Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Newly crowned XMA Creator Awards Rising Clip Creator Tiffani Time stars with her husband Benfit and Jax Slayher in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

Karmen Karma Stars in Latest From Ricky's Room

Karmen Karma stars in the latest release from Ricky's Room, titled "A Long Time Cumming."

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

Cubbi Thompson Makes Her Jules Jordan Debut

Cubbi Thompson has made her Jules Jordan debut alongside Lexington Steele in the studio's latest release.

Seth Gamble Drops Trailer for Upcoming Feature 'Once Upon a Time in the Valley'

Multi-XMAs winner Seth Gamble has released the trailer for his upcoming Wicked Pictures feature, "Once Upon a Time in the Valley."

Ryan Reid Stars in Latest From Brazzers

Ryan Reid stars with Damon Dice in “A Day in the Life,” from Brazzers.

Andylynn Payne Toplines Joey Silvera's 'Trans-Active 30'

Andylynn Payne headlines director Joey Silvera’s “Trans-Active 30” from Evil Angel.

Violet Myers, Megan Faith Star in Latest From Slayed

Reigning XMAs Premium Social Creator of the Year Violet Myers stars with Megan Faith in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint Slayed.

Coco Bae Returns to Brazzers

Coco Bae stars with Danny D. in the latest release from Brazzers, titled “The Cock Collector.”

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Show More