Rich Fiscus
7 Jan 2008 12:53
The biggest question at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which opened in Las Vegas today, is what Warner's decision to join the Blu-ray camp exclusively means. Based on predictions from industry analysts at the end of 2007 it means Blu-ray will become the dominant format by the end of 2008, but Akiyo Ozaka, president of Toshiba America Consumer Products, isn't so sure, and he said as much at a CES press breifing.
Ozaka said "We have been declared dead before." He also said of the Warner Bros. decision, "We were very disappointed with Warner Brothers' announcement. Sales of HD DVD were very good last year, especially in October to December." However, he didn't have any comments about what the company's next move would be.
Although apparently on the side with the upper hand right now, Sony CEO Howard Stringer wasn't much more talkative. At a press conference yesterday he said “All of us at Sony are feeling Blu. But that is a good feeling. We thank Warner to release only in Blu-ray."
He declined to make any other specific comments regarding Warner Bros., but thanked all the companies currently backing Blu-ray for being "true blue all the way through."
Sources:
Reuters
PC World
Video Business