Toshiba shares surge ahead of HD DVD abandonment
While owners of new HD DVD gear might be miffed at Toshiba's plans to scrap their HD DVD format, investors are stoked. Toshiba's shares are up nearly 6% in mid-day Tokyo trading on unusually high volume. A clear sign from investors that it's time for Toshiba to cut its HD DVD losses and run. Now go ahead Toshiba -- investors, consumers, retailers, and the content owners all agree that it's high time to end this format war once and for all. We're all just waiting for you to make it official.[Thanks, Karl]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jouten @ Feb 18th 2008 4:53AM
Please Toshiba, please make it official. We can all move on. Don't worry, as you can see, even the investors will love you for it! =)
Nfinity @ Feb 18th 2008 5:09AM
Or maybe there's a shocker news on Monday?! LOL
Mark @ Feb 18th 2008 6:57AM
The answer to that is plainly and obviously no. Obvious to the non-deluded that is.
Nfinity @ Feb 18th 2008 5:13AM
But seriously Engadget.. what's going on with you guys.. you have like 5 posts about Toshiba abandoning HD DVD.. Seriously.. get a grip.. if it comes it will come.. if they say they'll still fight.. well hey that's good too..
I mean can we just get some more relevant news then Toshiba this and HD DVD that.. you sound like you are scared of something or whatever..
I'd so laugh if on Monday Toshiba announces Xbox 360 coming out with HD DVD LOL... and SD DVDs being replaced by HD DVD/DVD combos.. what 180 degree flip would that be LOL..
There might be a reason why their shares are up.. :)
benny boy @ Feb 18th 2008 5:30AM
Yes Nfinity. I'm sure thats what they're planning. :|
Mark @ Feb 18th 2008 6:58AM
I'd laugh too because Toshiba will be throwing good money after bad. HD DVD is dead, get over it Nfinity.
Jnas @ Feb 18th 2008 8:08AM
Guys, its humanly impossible for someone to be thick headed enough to make these comments Nfinity is making. He is obviously just trying to wind up the Bluray fanboys, and it's working. Don't give him the satisfaction.
He knows it's over as much as the next guy. Probably knew it when Warner made the Bluray move.
GhostDoggy @ Feb 18th 2008 5:48AM
Hey, if Sony's PS3 does really well the next 4-6 years then Toshiba should make a pretty dollar since Sony handed over the cell processor manufacturing to Toshiba last year. But for consumers, I still have to wonder if the marketplace will see permanent sub$300 Blu-ray players of decent quality in 2008.
Killer @ Feb 18th 2008 6:23AM
@GhostDoggy
If Toshiba can get a player out soon. It'll be around $250, with 2.0 profile, ethernet input, and all the bells and whistles. I have trust in Toshiba to 1. Finally recognize that the Format war has come to an end and and to discontinue HD DVD and 2. Come out with a cheap Blu-ray player to drive down the prices. Toshiba can make it happen.
Mr. E @ Feb 18th 2008 9:28AM
HD DVD fans still fail to realize that their format was never truly the "cheaper" option Toshiba tried to make it seem. Toshiba just kept lowering the prices on their players and taking losses to try and raise their market share. Now that they won't have licensing income from the winning format, there will be no incentive for them to subsidize a future Blu-ray player. If they create such a player, they will sell it for a profit, which means pricing will almost certainly fall right in line with the rest of the current Blu-ray hardware.
Interesting fact: Blu-ray hardware is at the equivalent pricing DVD was, two years after its introduction. Give it until the end of this year and we'll almost certainly have $200 BD-live standalone players.
Ryan @ Feb 18th 2008 10:31AM
Don't expect those prices to fall nearly as quickly as DVD's did.
Sony has already said they "don't plan to make the same mistake as DVD by letting the price of players drop too quickly".
Blu-ray will be an expensive option for quite some time going forward. Hopefully it will eventually drop, and won't miss its opportunity to put DVD away by being too stubborn with prices.
Vince @ Feb 18th 2008 6:45AM
It looks like it's finally over. I'm going to miss the format war - it was a lot of fun.
Hans Martin @ Feb 18th 2008 7:50AM
According to the media, Toshiba is mulling "pulling out of the HD player market". If that is true, I think a cheap Blu-Ray player from the company is a few years in the future.
The other bad news for HD DVD-fanboys this morning is that according to The Wall Street Journal, following Toshiba's announcement expected in a couple of days, Warner, Universal and Paramount will automatically be released from all obligations to publish titles on HD DVD. That means no more June deadline for Warner -- they can go Blu-Exclusive by Friday if they want.
PPeter @ Feb 18th 2008 8:15AM
What about the hundreds of companies who are manufacturing DVD-ROM (DVD-Video) discs around the globe? Most of them invested in DVD technology in the past 5-8 years because they were expecting HD DVD to conquer and their manufacturing equipment is able to produce HD DVD with little modifications. Until Sony cant convince them to build and buy expensive new manufacturing equipments, the backgorund battle of the optical disc industry is far from over. Sony is not able to make all discs. They have to convince the present optical disc industry (hundreds of companies and independent investors) to switch to BD. The marketing battle is over, thats clear. Now its time to change the whole industry.
Mr. E @ Feb 18th 2008 9:20AM
As Blu-ray manufacturing ramps up, new plants will be built to press them. Simple economics--where there's a buck to be made, investors will follow.
Michial @ Feb 18th 2008 9:40AM
Keep the con on Toshiba. It makes you look great. Your stocks soar today, but the longer you keep this charade up the more your stocks will plummet as investors grow weary of your stalling tactics.
Ryan @ Feb 18th 2008 10:39AM
So I'm a total stock market noob, but can someone explain to me why their stock would rise due to the anticipation of them officially killing HD DVD?
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 18th 2008 11:10AM
Because they were taking losses in their HD DVD division. Cutting their losses from HD DVD means they stand to make a profit in a year or less from their other divisions, instead of diverting profits to the sinking hole that HD DVD turned out for them. Always know when to fold em.