This is even shorter than Toshiba’s comment:
Jan 4, 2008 20:30 ET
HD DVD Promotional Group Statement on Warner Home Video Decision to Back Blu-ray
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ — The companies of the HD DVD Promotional Group today issued a statement in response to the decision by Warner Home Video to exclusively back the Blu-ray format:
“While Warner’s decision is a setback for HD DVD, the consumer has benefited from HD DVD’s commitment to quality and affordability — a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format. We believe widespread adoption of a next generation format will ultimately be determined by the consumer.”
About HD DVD
HD DVD is the next generation, post-DVD standard for high capacity, high definition optical discs, approved by the DVD Forum, which develops and defines DVD formats. The North American HD DVD Promotional Group, Inc. is an organization established to promote the HD DVD format and educate consumers in North America. For more information and a complete listing of HD DVD titles please visit http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/.
Source: HD DVD Promotional Group
CONTACT: Lauren Mayer, lmayer@webershandwick.com, or John O’Brien,
jobrien@webershandwick.com, both of Weber Shandwick,
+1-425-452-5400, for HD DVD Promotional GroupWeb site: http://www.thelookandsoundofperfect.com/
Talk about weak. OK, they admit it is a setback for HD DVD – kind of hard not to. A vague statement about the consumer benefiting from HD DVD’s “commitment to quality and affordability” – translation “We helped drive HD prices down”, fair enough. But closing with adoption being determined by the consumer? In light of Warner’s shift in the market, and BD’s sustained sales lead, that almost sounds like an admission that this could be the death blow to HD DVD. This is the HD DVD Promotional Group, and even they don’t have any fighting words about ‘answering the challenge’ or touting their favorite ‘more standalone player sales’ or the like?
It really seems like the HD DVD camp is seriously stunned and shaken by this, and doesn’t really know what to say or do in response. I don’t think they have any strong cards left to play.
ETA: You know, it is kind of odd the Blu-ray Disc Association hasn’t issued their own press release yet to tout this and gloat.
