HD-DVD Arrives in the U.S. Today

DALLAS, Tex. — As the next-generation DVD format war heats up, Toshiba launched two models of its HD-DVD player in the U.S. today. The two players are priced at $499 and $799 when purchased through Best Buy, and only four movies are available.

A Best Buy spokesman in Texas was quoted as saying all HD-DVD equipment was sold out almost as soon as it hit the shelves.

The biggest boon to the survival of HD-DVD is that sales of high-definition TVs have skyrocketed. Users would need an HD TV to take advantage of all the functions on an HD-DVD disc. Experts predict the sales of HD TVs will eclipse that of standard TV sets.

Sony’s competing Blu-ray DVDs and hardware are expected to hit stores in May. Many movie studios and retailers are approaching the rival formats with a wary eye, but have publicly supported Blu-ray. Among them are Twentieth Century Fox, MGM, Warner Brothers and Paramount. Microsoft and Intel are among the big players supporting HD-DVD. Microsoft claims to support Toshiba’s format in its forthcoming Vista OS.

In the adult arena, Digital Playground announced earlier this year that it would release movies for Blu-ray, while Vivid CEO Steve Hirsch said his company would put out both Blu-ray and HD-DVD content.

“We feel that Blu-ray is superior technology, but we will support both formats,” Digital Playground publicist Adella O’Neal told XBIZ.

Online DVD rental service Netflix has quietly added HD-DVD choices to its site. The company didn’t make a formal announcement of the addition, but when asked by XBIZ, a spokesperson was quick to say that Netflix is already working on adding a section for Blu-ray movies.

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