Official HD DVD News and Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE: Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:50:43 -0600

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. announced today that it has completed a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and, as a result of recent market developments, has decided to discontinue sales and marketing of HD DVD players. Accordingly, Toshiba will begin to cease shipments of its HD DVD products to retail channels.

PRESS RELEASE: Toshiba Deploys New HD DVD Marketing Initiative Based on Strong Fourth Quarter Unit Sales

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("e;Toshiba"e) today announced that it is stepping up its successful marketing campaign for HD DVD as it experienced record-breaking unit sales in the fourth quarter of 2007.

PRESS RELEASE: HD DVD Rallies Consumer Audience in 2007 Driving Nearly One Million Dedicated Player Sales in North America

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the companies of the HD DVD Promotional Group recapped a breakthrough year for the high definition format, reaching nearly one million dedicated HD DVD players sold in North America and delivering on the promise of affordability, quality and a consistent experience on every machine

PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Releases Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator to Help Speed Content Production and Lower Development Costs

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

New tool streamlines development and testing process for HD DVD content, accelerates advancement of next-generation interactivity, including experiences powered by Microsoft HDi technology.

NEWS: Microsoft Releases Xbox 360 HD-DVD Emulator

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

New development and testing tool will aid studios in HD-DVD authoring.

NEWS: New high-def owners may shake up format war

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

While Blu-ray has certainly won the opening salvos, new data suggests those new to HD seemed to have a preference for HD DVD.

NEWS: 'Bourne' Bears New HD DVD Features

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:10 -0600

Universal is rolling out some new features with the Dec. 11 HD DVD/DVD combo release of The Bourne Ultimatum.

NEWS: The State of HD DVD

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Where Blu-ray is a freight train of unrivaled weight and marketing might, backed by 13 of the world's most well known electronics and computer makers, HD DVD is a Little Engine That Could, the product of a much smaller group of collaborators that has gotten over each obstacle by simply thinking it can.

NEWS: Top 10 Reasons to Buy HD DVD

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:40 -0600

Have yet to pick a side in the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war? Here are ten reasons why you should go with HD DVD.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:05 -0600

As the first Warner domestic high-def 'Harry Potter' release to come our way for review, this HD DVD edition of 'Order of the Phoenix' is an excellent start, boasting exceptional video and audio. Even better for HD DVD fans, this next-gen edition of the flick exceeds its Blu-ray counterpart when it comes to high-def exclusives, boasting a unique In-Movie Experience track and several web-enabled features.

NEWS: Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Drops to $130

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

If you're still on the fence regarding the transition to high-definition DVD players, this would be an excellent time to make your move.

PRESS RELEASE: Web Communities Flourish with New HD DVD Titles

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:45:32 -0600

Fans of summer smash hits and groundbreaking TV series are tapping into the web-enabled communities offered by HD DVD. "Transformers" from Paramount Home Entertainment and "Heroes: Season One" from Universal Home Entertainment are among the titles that saw significant online usage of the web-connected features.

NEWS: Par, Uni tout high usage of HD DVD Web features: Transformers attracts 80,000 online users

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Paramount Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment are touting high usage of the Web-enabled features embedded in their HD DVD titles, including Transformers and Heroes: Season One.

REVIEW: HD DVD Player Review: Toshiba HD-A35

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

The picture quality the HD-A35 actually improves on the earlier designs I've seen. The images this new player draws from a good HD DVD transfer on a good 1080p display are consistently superb, with crisp detail, an illusion of depth that is often uncanny for a two-dimensional medium, and rich but natural color.

PRESS RELEASE: HD DVD Surpasses 750,000 Dedicated Players

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Following landmark Black Friday promotions through major retail chains, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group today announced that sales of dedicated HD DVD players exceeded the 750,000 mark.

NEWS: HD DVD Player Sales Pass 750,000

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

More than 750,000 HD DVD high-def disc players have now been sold, according to the North American HD DVD Promotional Group.

NEWS: Q&A: Why HD DVD beats Blu-ray

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:02 -0600

HD DVD's advanced features, completely affordable cost, and that it is a complete specification that every player supports make it is a very easy recommendation...

NEWS: Which is more Consumer Friendly: HD DVD or Blu-ray?

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:01 -0600

No matter what player you buy, it will play all HD DVD titles with full features. Since HD DVD players began shipping, they have had one standard set of requirements for their players.

NEWS: Harry Potter HD DVD to Feature First-Ever "Community Screening" Function

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Promising to bring high-def interconnectivity to a new level, Warner will introduce a first-ever group screening function with its upcoming HD DVD release of 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.'

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Shrek The Third

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Simply put, this HD DVD edition of 'Shrek the Third' boasts a marvelous transfer that easily holds it own with the best animated presentations I've seen so far on high-def. That's high praise indeed.

NEWS: How HD DVD Got its Groove Back

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

ANALYSIS: Sources close to retailers indicate that Toshiba sold over 90,000 $99 HD DVD players over the weekend, and that figure only represents a portion of the retailers that participated in the frenzy.

NEWS: HD DVD players hit $99 at Wal-Mart, Best Buy

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Earlier this week it was big news that HD DVD broke the $200 price barrier. Well, in the same week it looks like HD DVD has also broken the $100 price barrier as well.

NEWS: HD DVD Takes Center Stage at Wal-Mart

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Only a week after dropping the price of Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD player to $198, Wal-Mart has revealed more plans to help push HD DVD this holiday season.

NEWS: Transformers fastest-selling DVD, HD DVD this year

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Box-office blockbuster Transformers has proved equally powerful on DVD, according to Paramount Home Entertainment. The studio said Monday that the Oct. 16 release sold 4.5 million DVD copies its first day and 8.3 million copies in its first week, making it the top day-one and first-week seller this year.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Transformers

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Skin tones are perfect, blacks are deep and colors are bold and vibrant. This disc does a fine job explaining why HD is better than any salesman ever could.

NEWS: Getting More From Your High-Definition Movies

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Interactivity is supposed to allow you new possibilities between your TV and high-def movies, but are those features ready for prime time? Plus, the head of Paramount Studios weighs in.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Evan Almighty

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The image is presented with that "e;looking-through-a-window-look"e that the best in HD provides. While the colors in this film are bright, especially in daylight outdoor scenes, they are very natural looking and not over saturated at all.

NEWS: Netflix Statistics Show HD DVD More Popular Than Blu-ray Disc

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

HD DVD are more than twice as popular than Blu-ray Disc at Netflix.

NEWS: HD DVD players lead in HD sales

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

New numbers from NPD put HD DVD stand-alone players in front when it comes to sales. Year-to-date figures say that HD DVD has 53% of all sales with Blu-ray doing 44%. The last 3% accounts for combo HD DVD and Blu-ray players.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Top Gun

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

The image is presented with that "e;looking through a window look"e that the best HD provides. While the colors in this film are bright, especially in daylight outdoor scenes, they are very natural looking and not over saturated at all.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Batman Begins

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

If Batman Begins doesn't look and sound spectacular, and boast tons of supplemental features, the HD DVD format is going to have its first genuine disappointment on its hands. But I'm happy to report that Batman Begins delivers in spades. It is all that I hoped for, and as it stands now, is likely to be the first disc I pull out when I need great demo material to show off my system.

NEWS: Microsoft Forms "Interactivity" Alliance With Toshiba, Hollywood Studios

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Microsoft is teaming up with some major Hollywood studios and its former Zune manufacturing partner Toshiba to launch a forum aimed at developing new, interactive content for games, DVDs and other consumer products.

NEWS: HD DVD to Launch Online Shopping Feature

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Just watched Evan Almighty? Did its environmental message make you want to buy ecologically sound toilet paper? Well, now you can get instant gratification — if you watched the movie on an HD DVD player and are willing to give the remote a workout.

NEWS: Universal builds bridge to Web shop on Evan Almighty

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Universal Studios Home Entertainment will launch its first e-commerce features tied to a high-def disc with the HD DVD Combo release of Evan Almighty

PRESS RELEASE: Universal Studios Home Entertainment Unveils U-Shop with Evan Almighty

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Purchase environmentally-friendly items featured in the movie directly from your HD DVD player.

PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Announces Use of HDi Logo by Toshiba and Major Hollywood Studios

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Microsoft's implementation of HD DVD's interactivity layer to be promoted on HD DVD hardware and packaging for software.

PRESS RELEASE: Acer, Inc. Joins North American HD DVD Promotional Group

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

With HD DVD drives already owning a 70% share of the notebook PC market worldwide, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group today announced that Acer, the world's number four PC vendor, has officially joined the group.

PRESS RELEASE: HD DVD Continues to Deliver the Most Affordable Hardware

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

North American HD DVD Promotional Group is rolling out 4th quarter marketing campaign to support more than 125 movie titles representing $3 Billion in box office revenue.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: Heroes: Season 1

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

This first season of Heroes (the hit show is due back on NBC for a second go-round beginning this September) is an origin tale. As such, there is a lot of explaining going on—even more so in this HD DVD version, which features an extended version of the pilot and (if you're a true fan) over 50 deleted scenes.

PRESS RELEASE: Paramount and DreamWorks Animation Each Declare Exclusive Support for HD DVD

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Movies distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment including Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Animation SKG, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films to be released exclusively in HD DVD.

PRESS RELEASE: Toshiba to Debut Third-Generation HD DVD Players For High Definition Enthusiasts

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Toshiba takes the Hi-Def movie experience to a whole new level with 24 frames-per-second support, CE-Link connectivity, High Bit Rate Audio capabilities and unmatched interactivity functionality.

REVIEW: HD DVD Review: 300

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

There's no debating that this HD DVD edition of 300 delivers—so much so that even a high-def purist like myself, it's possible to ignore the film's intentionally degraded visual design and just enjoy the ride.