The most cringe-worthy headline in DVDReview.co.uk history comes to you in aid of the fourth face-screwingly nasty instalment in the Saw franchise...

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The End Is Nigh. So says the Blu-ray Disc Association as crashing sales of HD DVD players apparently indicate that Toshiba’s format is about ready to capitulate in the HD war...

 

Sales of HD DVD players plummeted in the week after Warner Bros announced it was dropping its support for the high-definition disc format in favour of exclusively backing Blu-ray.

 

As reported by the New York Times, sales of Blu-ray players accounted for 90 per cent of the market share in the week ending 12 January, according to data from market analysts the NPD Group.

 

That market had been split 50/50 between Blu-ray and HD DVD in 2007.

 

Leading HD DVD manufacturer Toshiba was quick to claim that one week’s sales does not sound the death knell for the format, saying that it was the result of a Christmas discount period ending as well as Blu-ray players being given away free with flat-screen TVs in the US.

 

Still, on 13 January, Toshiba responded by slashing the prices of its HD DVD players, with the entry-level HD-A3 now down to $149.99 from $299.

 

“Consumers have gotten the message loud and clear,” said Andy Parsons, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association. “Lowering prices sends the message that Toshiba is having a fire sale. I don’t see market share going back to 50-50. That I will bet a lot of money on.”

 

Read the original story from the New York Times and as reported by The Times.

 

 

AND IN FURTHER NEWS…

 

As reported by our friends at What Video & HD TV mag, HD DVD has suffered another blow with DVD authorising house Sonic Solutions today announcing that it too has dropped the format. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…

Groundhog Day's getting a splendid new 15th Anniversary release on Region 1, available today via amazon etc, complete with commentary from director Harold Ramis, a featurette on groundhogs and a "Weight of Time" documentary. It's also got a load of newly discovered and previously unseen deleted scenes one of which we discovered over at Movieweb. Have a look here, it's an ice-hog-holocaust!:

Big Hollywood studios Sony Pictures and Warner Bros are finding allies for the HD showdown everywhere, even on the Great British high street. Woolworths, The UK's favourite odds-and-sods peddler, has decided to back Blu-ray exclusively in its 820 stores. So next time you pop in for Superglue and light bulbs you will only be able to get your hands on one type of HD disc.

According to Woolies high-definition formats are enjoying a 40 per cent rise in sales month-on-month, but it was Blu-ray that really did the business at Christmas time, outselling HD DVD by 10 to 1.

"Sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of high definition DVD" said Steve McGunigel, the retailer's DVD buyer. "The main reason is the success of Sony's PlayStation 3 machine. Because it plays Blu-ray discs, there are over three quarters of a million homes in the U.K. that can view the new high definition format. There is nowhere near that number of HD DVD players around.”

Woolworths will, however, continue to offer HD DVD releases online.

Yesterday, DVD Review had the pleasure and privilege of attending the London press junket for the theatrical release of The Bucket List, where we were in the company of not only legendary director Rob Reiner (Stand By Me, This Is Spinal Tap) but two of the most gigantic, face-fryingly incandescent stars in film’s crowded firmament: Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson...

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DVD Review pays tribute to actor Heath Ledger, who died yesterday

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Half of Dixons.co.uk's customers will be disappointed by the outcome of the HD 'format war', says a new survey by the online technology retailer...

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Images of the six-disc Japanese boxset of Grindhouse. It's a filthy beast!

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A few confirmed release dates for Blu-ray titles from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to inform you of:

 

25 February:

Eastern Promises (same as DVD)

 

17 March:

Wall Street

Master And Commander

 

14 April:

The Fly

The Predator

Alvin and the Chipmunks (same as DVD)

 

DVD Review will have reviews of all the above in the relevant issues...

 

DVD goes two-tone with the release of The Specials' Too Much Too Young on 25 February... Read More

Sony BMG release a second batch of music titles on Blu-ray on 4 February, featuring Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion and Shakira...

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Despite the Blu-ray camp proclaiming victory – and, quite honestly, things look heavily stacked in their favour – there is still no let up to the ongoing HD battle. Despite a kicking at CES, Toshiba are valiantly fighting on, ramping up their marketing strategy and announcing ‘record-breaking sales’ in the final quarter of 2007. An aggressive pricing strategy in the US should also build on this success – you can pick up the HD-A3 for as little as $150. That’s about 75 quid in real money and there are still some releases that are HD DVD exclusive.

Paramount and Universal, the two major studios that can put an end to this dust-up, have also shown no signs of jumping ship despite the defection of a number of high profile studio subsidiaries and manufacturers since the Warner announcement. Both parties have denied any gossip that they are going Blu, with Paramount stating that their ‘current plan is to continue to support the HD DVD format’, and although the web is rife with stories of Universal dropping HD DVD exclusivity, there has been no official line on any defection to the Blu-ray camp.

So, is it still best to buy Blu? The fight is definitely nearing the end-game, and Blu-ray remains in charge, however it seems it’s not about the format in the fight, but the fight in the format…

Warner Bros’ decision to drop HD DVD was a result of ‘confusion’ among consumers, according to the studio’s head of home entertainment. Economic uncertainty and rising petrol prices also played their part, apparently...

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It looks like we’re on the verge of a major HD breakthrough. After warming the sofa on Five News last night discussing Warners’ pivotal decision to drop HD DVD, the internet is rife with talk of Paramount following suit...

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Warner’s dropping of HD DVD may have brought the hi-def format war closer to conclusion but according to industry analysts “the consumer does not fully understand the high definition concept”...

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