> WoW! Toshiba LO$T at least $1 BILLION on HD-DVD in 2007!

Major FYI....

> Toshiba Swallows a BILLION on HD-DVD in 2007!

Oh my - this is a greater loss than I remember from 1985, when RCA wrote off about $600-$700 million (in 1980s value!) on their failed CED videodisc system. And Congrats to Skyhawk, who has been right all along, about the losses the company HAD to be taking with these super low-priced players!

In my opinion, probably close to $2 billion total for their entire development/cost/failed format losses for HD-DVD since the format was created several years ago. Incredible!

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Mar 12, 2008]

And yet we have posts like this, Toshiba, MS, and Panasonic started a working commitee on DVD2 format, recreating HD-DVD experience on DVD, thanks LH, you truely know how to apply a nice dose of reality. (WINK)

[Post edited by tony1569 on Mar 12, 2008]

Thanks Tony... And I really think everyone should adopt TRUE HD - Blu-ray - and don't settle for this possible 'DVD2'/Super-Upconversion. Over the next year or so, Blu-ray players will become more affordable, 2.0 profile compliant, even more available titles with FULL STUDIO SUPPORT, and lower disc prices (with sales/discounts), although slightly higher than DVD for the time being. Unless one just hates Blu-ray with a passion, I'd avoid DVD2.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Quote:
Toshiba Swallows a BILLION on HD-DVD in 2007!

Thats Chump Change in the HDM business Hendrix.

Don't forget, Sony paid out HALF that amount alone to Warner for their HD exclusivity deal, and Toshiba threw in the towel in 45 days

Now how does Sony write off that Half-Billion US$$ payment???

Didn't they also pay FOX another $150M to keep them from following Warner to HD DVD???

Format War Won, but I can't begin to imagine Sony's losses from their Blu Ray business, they are still burning R&D money on BRD Profile2.0, they have an enormous advertising budget, and what about the countless $$$ they paid to studios to Stay or Go Blu???

What about the P$3 subsidies, they were supposed to be losing more than $200 per Playstation 3 Console??

Now they need to start hemorrhaging some serious money to battle SD DVD??

I'll bet you that Sony lost at least 5 times that much on Blu Ray over the same time frame, and it only gets them a small shelf space at Wal Mart.

The Blu selection is really hard to find when they have racks upon racks of SD DVD's, which still outsell Blu Ray 100:1

I'd really like to see Sony's financial statements on what they have lost on Blu in 2007, and they still have a long uphill battle to try to defeat DVD.

While that is allot of money.
Its the risk that most company's take with new technology. And 1 billion dollars is not going to kill
a huge company like Toshiba who is heavily diversified.
For example
Sony's game division is expected to report an operating loss of more than $958 million, in the year through March. And they won!

Sony indeed has spent to date over $1 billion itself on Blu-ray and PS3 infrastructure, replication plants, hardware/promotions, etc, but in time they stand to make a profit as more people adopt into a single hi-def disc format (now that the war is over), with increase player and disc sales for many years to come.

DVD will remain the most popular overall, but Sony's profit forecasts will eventually be met, as long as the PS3 and Blu-ray keep steadily growing, with increased adoption. And for this to happen, I believe you will see lower-priced Blu-ray players and discs over the next year - and the format will be successful (profitable) by 2010-11.

Sony will reap the rewards of their HD investment in due time... however, unfortunately for Toshiba, the company has lost a nice sum in their attempt to provide the most popular HD disc format. Sony itself lost over $500 million a year or so ago, being responsible for producing bad quality laptop computer batteries.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)

Quote:
Sony will reap the rewards of their HD investment in due time...

Sure they will, just as soon as the DVD Forum throws in the towel and declares DVD dead.

Oh Wait, that might take another 5 years, but by then both DVD and Blu Ray will have HD Downloads and HD VOD to compete with as well.

Every new Broadband Internet Subscriber with 10-20+ Mbps download capability is another nail in Blu Ray's coffin.

HD DVD's coffin might be nailed shut and buried, but Blu Ray also has it's own coffin, and the nails are already starting to be hammered in.

I see people keep referring to HD-VOD and HD Downloads... Don't think this will be the next format to win everything. I like most people need to have a physical disc or physical something in my possession , and neither of those formats provide that.

Hendrix, is there anything you dont know? You are my personal HD god!

LOL Now tha was funny. When I think of Hendrix, I think of this guy...