Toshiba Deploys New HD DVD Marketing.
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A new Toshiba Press Release confirms the new list prices on players and indicates that they do not intend to declare HD DVD dead anytime soon.
Press Release:
WAYNE, N.J., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("Toshiba") 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. Major initiatives, including joint advertising campaigns with studios and extended pricing strategies will begin in mid- January and are designed to spotlight the superior benefits of HD DVD as well as the benefits HD DVD brings to a consumer's current DVD library by upconverting standard DVDs via the HDMI(TM) output to near high definition picture quality.
As Toshiba achieved the #1 sales volume in the next generation DVD category with an approximately 50 percent market share in 2007, HD DVD is proven to be the format of choice for consumers. Coupled with an 80 percent plus market share of all next generation DVD equipped notebooks for the 4th quarter 2007, the HD DVD format has already paved the way to a high definition digital AV solution by eliminating the boundaries between the consumer's living room and on the go.
HD DVD not only creates the ultimate high definition entertainment experience, leveraging all of the promise of the format such as superior audio/video performance, Web-enabled network capabilities and advanced interactive features - it also has a high-level of compatibility with DVD. With DVD upconversion via the HDMI output, HD DVD players instantly make a movie lover's existing DVD library look better than ever.
"HD DVD is the best way to watch movies in high definition," said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "Our HD DVD players not only play back approximately 800 HD DVD titles available worldwide and deliver an entirely new level of entertainment but also enhance the picture quality to near high definition on legacy DVD titles by all studios. In short, we added high def to DVD which already is the de facto standard format created and approved by the DVD Forum that consists of more than two hundred companies."
New Marketing Strategy for Mass Market Adoption
Taking the holiday season sales based on promotional prices into full consideration, these new manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) are designed to meet the potential demand for HD DVD players in the U.S. market. Effective on January 13, 2008 the MSRP of the entry-model HD-A3 will be $149.99, the HD-A30, with 1080p output, $199.99, and the high-end HD-A35, $299.99.
"While price is one of the consideration elements for the early adopter, it is a deal-breaker for the mainstream consumer," said Yoshi Uchiyama, Group Vice President Digital A/V Group. "Consumer sales this holiday season have proven that the consumer awareness of the HD DVD format has been elevated and pricing is the most critical determinant in consumers' purchase decision of the next generation HD DVD technology. The value HD DVD provides to the consumer simply cannot be ignored."
Extended Advertising Campaign
Toshiba plans to execute an extended advertising campaign that will further enhance consumer awareness of the benefits of HD DVD and drive sales to retail among potential consumers. Advertising strategies will include television, print and online media channels. Toshiba will also work with its dealers and studio partners on joint marketing and promotional initiatives to promote HD DVD. Current promotions include "The Perfect HD Offer" - a mail-in offer allowing consumers to select five HD DVD titles for free from a selection of 15 with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player.
Consistent Viewing Experience and More
With advanced interactivity and Web-enabled network capabilities built into every HD DVD player through a dedicated Ethernet port as mandated by the specifications approved by the DVD Forum, Toshiba delivers on the promise of a consistent entertainment experience through firmware updates as studios launch new applications. HD DVD allows studios to flex their creative muscle in ways never before seen. The latest of these new experiences is online streaming. Now, when consumers connect their HD DVD player to the Internet, they can stream new content or trailers, as available, directly from a movie studio's server.
Universal Home Video, Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG have reported that an average of 30 percent of HD DVD owners have accessed Web- enabled network features and continue to do so regularly.
Ongoing Customer Commitment
In order to ensure that its customers will receive complete satisfaction from their new players, Toshiba introduced the "HD DVD Concierge" earlier this month. Consumers can now call 1-888-MY HDDVD (1-888-694-3383) for answers to general questions about HD DVD, for operational assistance or for assistance with various promotions.
About Toshiba HD DVD Players
With the HD DVD format, select HD DVD players allow consumers to experience true high def 1080p for extraordinary resolution that matches the latest state of the art 1080p HDTVs. These same players display images at 24 frames per second, the same frame rate used by directors when using film to create motion pictures, for a smoother, more film-like, viewing experience.
Important Notes:
HD DVD with high-definition content required for HD viewing. Up- conversion of DVD content will result in near HD picture quality. Viewing high-definition content and up-converting DVD content may require an HDCP capable DVI or HDMI input on your display device. 1080p capable display required for viewing content in 1080p. Firmware update may be required for some interactive features depending on content, which may also require an always-on broadband internet connection. Some features may require additional bandwidth. To take advantage of web-enabled network content, installing the latest firmware (ver.2.4 for HD DVD player models HD-XA1, HD-A1, and HD-D1; ver.2.7 for HD-XA2, HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-D2, HD-A2C, and HD-A20; and ver.1.3 for HD-A35, HD-A30, and HD-A3) is required. Web-enabled network features require an always on broadband connection along with specific movie titles that include this form of content. For 24p output, content that was created in 1080p/24 frames/sec is required. Viewing 24p output requires an HD display capable of accepting a 1080p/24Hz signal. Use of REGZA Link, which is a feature based on HDMI-CEC, requires an HDMI-CEC compatible display device. Depending on the specifications of your TV, some or all REGZA Link functions may not work even if your TV is HDMI-CEC compatible. Dolby(R) Digital Plus, Dolby(R) TrueHD and DTS(R) support for up to 5.1 channels (DTS HD(R) support for DTS(R) core only). MP3/WMA audio files not supported. HDMI audio output requires connection to a PCM capable device. Because HD DVD is a new format that makes use of new technologies, certain disc, digital connection and other compatibility and/or performance issues are possible. This may, in rare cases, include disc freezing while accessing certain disc features or functions, or certain parts of the disc not playing back or operating as fully intended. If you experience such issues, please refer to the FAQ sections of http://www.toshibahddvd.com or http://www.tacp.toshiba.com for information on possible work- around solutions or the availability of firmware updates that may resolve your problem, or contact Toshiba Customer Solutions. Some features subject to delayed availability. While every effort has been made at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice.
About Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C.
Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, a world leader in high technology products with subsidiaries worldwide. Toshiba is a pioneer in HD DVD, DVD and DVD Recorder technology and a leading manufacturer of a full line of home entertainment products, including flat panel TV, combination products and portable devices. Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. is headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey. For additional information, please visit http://www.tacp.toshiba.com.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
January 2008
January 2008
It ain't over yet
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
January 2008
January 2008
U said it, aint over...
with movies like BEE MOVIE, BEOWULF, HELLBOY 2, CLOVERFIELD just to name a few and bargain price cuts, HD DVD will rule...
with movies like BEE MOVIE, BEOWULF, HELLBOY 2, CLOVERFIELD just to name a few and bargain price cuts, HD DVD will rule...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
November 2007
November 2007
I think Tosh may be mad because of WB's backstabbing and instead of bowing gracefully will go out Spartan-like.
Be pretty funny to see Toshiba flip this back their way...might even make Michael Bay cry.
Be pretty funny to see Toshiba flip this back their way...might even make Michael Bay cry.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
January 2008
January 2008
I love Toshiba. I have a xbox 360 add on HD DVD drive but sometimes its buggy. Probably will pick one of these drives up since they are higher quality. I will not buy Blu Ray unless HD DVD totaly loses. Cannot help but be anti Sony with all the arrogant quotes they have made about their technologies even though they charge the most and have all kinds of hardware issues in their products. I really don't understand why consumers support a company that doesn't cater to affordability. Maybe because the consumers that have bought thus far are rich.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
June 2006
June 2006
Well, maybe Warner will see the light and back off their decision, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that. Hopefully Invasion and Jessie James will make it to HD DVD before March but I don't think there is any chance of seeing 10000BC on HD DVD. 10000BC is one movie which may come back to haunt Warner. They are going to lose a lot of HD DVD sales on that one.
[Post edited by StevePro on Jan 14, 2008]
[Post edited by StevePro on Jan 14, 2008]
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
November 2007
November 2007
Steve: Actually, I think the decision overall will hurt WB, not because they made a decision, but because it came right after they lied and misled their customers. I've seen several WB movies advertised the past few days that I thought hey I'd like to see that, then I see the WB logo and decide not to go see it. I've begun boycotting them, and am about to order another 15 movies from amazon on HD DVD to bring my collection above 60 movies.
A lot of HD and Bluray early supporters were movie buffs, I think its bad to mislead them and piss them off....
A lot of HD and Bluray early supporters were movie buffs, I think its bad to mislead them and piss them off....
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
November 2007
November 2007
dguisinger said,
I really don't think Warner actually cares if early HDDVD adaptors boycott their movies. The HD market as a whole represent a small percentage of the home video market. With that said Warner Bro. considers early HDDVD as collateral damage, because they know that at least 30% of early HDDVD adopters will buy a Blu ray player when they go Blu ray exclusive. Coupled with the fact that a good percentage of HDDVD owners also own Blu ray, and the ones sitting on the fence are well informed about this format war will now jump of the fence into the Blu ray yard.
Studio support is a must. Paramount and Universal do not release as much as Warner alone. And with Disney, Lion's Gate, Fox, MGM, and New Line in the Blu ray camp, sales reps will not likely recommend HDDVD to any person that's not informed. With all of that said that represents alot of money generated from Blu ray versus HDDVD. 50% of the stand alone player maket share is nice and that's only because hardly no one makes HDDVD players but Toshiba vs. a vast number of Blu ray manufactures (seems more are joining everyday). Blu ray leads in software sales across every HD region in the world. The PS3 plain and simple is the reason for Blu ray success. Yes, it is a video game system but one hell of a Blu ray player and can upconvert DVDs as good as any HDDVD player.
Alot of people don't like SONY but make no mistake about it they marketed Blu ray until they were dry in the mouth so much so that they neglected the PS3 as a video game system. HDDVD marketing is too late. What pisses me of is that Toshiba wants to drag this out for (and this word has been used past legal limits) CONSUMERS.
[Post edited by tony1569 on Jan 14, 2008]
Quote:
Steve: Actually, I think the decision overall will hurt WB, not because they made a decision, but because it came right after they lied and misled their customers. I've seen several WB movies advertised the past few days that I thought hey I'd like to see that, then I see the WB logo and decide not to go see it. I've begun boycotting them, and am about to order another 15 movies from amazon on HD DVD to bring my collection above 60 movies.
A lot of HD and Bluray early supporters were movie buffs, I think its bad to mislead them and piss them off....
I really don't think Warner actually cares if early HDDVD adaptors boycott their movies. The HD market as a whole represent a small percentage of the home video market. With that said Warner Bro. considers early HDDVD as collateral damage, because they know that at least 30% of early HDDVD adopters will buy a Blu ray player when they go Blu ray exclusive. Coupled with the fact that a good percentage of HDDVD owners also own Blu ray, and the ones sitting on the fence are well informed about this format war will now jump of the fence into the Blu ray yard.
Studio support is a must. Paramount and Universal do not release as much as Warner alone. And with Disney, Lion's Gate, Fox, MGM, and New Line in the Blu ray camp, sales reps will not likely recommend HDDVD to any person that's not informed. With all of that said that represents alot of money generated from Blu ray versus HDDVD. 50% of the stand alone player maket share is nice and that's only because hardly no one makes HDDVD players but Toshiba vs. a vast number of Blu ray manufactures (seems more are joining everyday). Blu ray leads in software sales across every HD region in the world. The PS3 plain and simple is the reason for Blu ray success. Yes, it is a video game system but one hell of a Blu ray player and can upconvert DVDs as good as any HDDVD player.
Alot of people don't like SONY but make no mistake about it they marketed Blu ray until they were dry in the mouth so much so that they neglected the PS3 as a video game system. HDDVD marketing is too late. What pisses me of is that Toshiba wants to drag this out for (and this word has been used past legal limits) CONSUMERS.
[Post edited by tony1569 on Jan 14, 2008]
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
January 2008
January 2008
In my opinion, this is a good announcement. As the prices of the HD player keep on going lower and lower the HD players will become more affordable to the average consumer and the HD Format will have a chance to move from the niche market to the mainstream market where the sales volumes can produce economies of scale. Hopefully, the Blue ray camp will follow by lowering their prices too.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
January 2008
January 2008
its over and out for Hd dvd, warner is producing exclusive for blu ray!
is dominating 
the future is blu
red lose
end of story
peace
is dominating the future is blu
red lose
end of story
peace
Monday, January 14, 2008
Member since:
October 2007
October 2007
What is funny is how all the Blu Ray hipe has kinda gone ASTA LA VISTA BABY!!!! I am truely convinced that HD DVD will make a comeback, and shock the New Format World. You know what guys, this is FUN once again, thank God I am involved in this War I AM LOVIN IT!!!!
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