Although Toshiba’s HD DVD format has just been embraced by industry giants Microsoft and Intel, Toshiba has said it will be pushing back the introduction of HD DVD players in the U.S. market from the end of 2005 until February or March of 2006. The reason? Content.
Toshiba has been in talks with content providers about the availability of HD DVD content in the U.S., and they believe the best route to maximize sales is to introduce HD DVD players on a wide scale and have a more diverse range of HD DVD content immediately available to consumers, rather than gradually roll out the players with only limited content immediately available. Currently, several major Hollywood studios support HD DVD, including Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema, Paramount, and Universal. Studios supporting Sony’s rival Blu-Ray next-generation DVD standard include Walt Disney, Twentieth Century Fox, and (of course) Sony itself.
Toshiba currently plans to begin mass production of HD DVD players in December, and it would likely take a few months to ship the units and for U.S. retailers to develop inventory and promotional campaigns.
Toshiba says it still plans to roll out HD DVD players in Japan by the end of 2005.
