Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / BUSINESS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

Tuesday, 12 June 2007, 11:48 GMT 12:48 UK

Sony upbeat in DVD format battle

Rival DVD format stands Sony says shipments of its Blu-ray high definition DVD players in the US could jump sixfold this year, to 600,000.

It attributes the growing demand to some films coming out on its format and not the rival HD DVD technology, according to Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, Toshiba has lowered the sales target for its HD DVD devices in the US to 1 million from 1.8 million.

The battle of next generation DVD formats has been likened to the competition between VHS and Betamax.

Sony's Playstation 3 games consoles come equipped with a Blu-ray drive while Toshiba plans to put HD DVD drives in all its laptop computers next year.

Sony is relying on exclusive films to spur its growth, after selling fewer than 100,000 units in 2006.

Out of the top 20 blockbusters "there were 14 or 15 that were exclusive to Blu-ray", Sony's Randy Waynick told a meeting in San Francisco, according to Bloomberg.

Blu-Ray is also promoted by Matsushita (Panasonic) in the US.

The 44% cut in predicted sales of HD DVD devices in North America is attributed to a Toshiba executive, quoted by Reuters, who also said the global target would be cut.

"Obviously we are going to have to lower our previous global estimate," Toshiba's Yoshihide Fujii said.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
Sony price cut for Blu-ray player (04 Jun 07 |  Business )
Toshiba raises stakes in DVD wars (10 Jun 05 |  Technology )
Your Blu-ray questions answered (20 Oct 06 |  Technology )
November launch date for HD-DVD (04 Sep 06 |  Technology )
Next generation DVD war hots up (22 Jun 06 |  Technology )
Next-generation DVD battle begins (19 Apr 06 |  Technology )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Sony
Toshiba
Blu-ray Disc Association
HD DVD Promotion Group
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©