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Toshiba formally announced on 19 February 2008 that it would stop developing, manufacturing, and marketing HD DVD players and recorders. It aimed to end those businesses by the end of March 2008, while continuing support and after-sales service for people who already owned its products.
What Toshiba announced on 19 February 2008
Toshiba said it would end its HD DVD player and recorder businesses, including new product development, manufacturing, and marketing. It planned to reduce shipments to retail channels and target cessation by the end of March 2008. Toshiba’s formal announcement described the decision as a response to major changes in the market.
President and CEO Atsutoshi Nishida said Toshiba had assessed the long-term effects of the “next-generation format war” and concluded that a swift decision would best help the market develop.
Why Toshiba discontinued HD DVD
The decision followed the prolonged competition between HD DVD and Blu-ray. A significant development came on 5 January 2008, when Warner Bros. announced that it would support Blu-ray exclusively. Toshiba said it would assess the impact of Warner’s decision with its HD DVD partners. Toshiba’s statement on Warner Bros.’ announcement documents that earlier response.
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By 19 February, Toshiba said market changes had altered the outlook for HD DVD. Its stated rationale was to make a swift decision rather than continue the format conflict; the announcement did not identify a single event as the sole cause.
What ended—and what continued
| Business or service | Toshiba’s announced plan |
|---|---|
| HD DVD players and recorders | End development, manufacturing, and marketing; reduce retail shipments and target cessation by the end of March 2008. |
| Support for existing HD DVD products | Continue product support and after-sales service for existing owners. |
| Conventional DVD players and recorders | Continue this business; the announcement did not discontinue standard DVD products. |
Toshiba’s plan to end new HD DVD business therefore did not mean that existing owners would immediately lose support, nor did it mean that Toshiba was quitting conventional DVD products. The company also noted that the DVD Forum involved more than 200 international companies. The formal announcement gives the company’s details on its exit and continuing support.
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How the 18 February reports differed from the formal announcement
Media reports circulated before Toshiba made its decision public. In a statement on 18 February, Toshiba said that no decision had yet been made at that moment. The company formally announced its withdrawal the following day, 19 February. Toshiba’s 18 February statement records its position before the formal announcement.
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