Blu-ray is Standard

The BBC reports that Toshiba has dropped out of the high definition DVD market, and will stop production of its HD DVD players and recorders. This leaves Sony's Blu-ray as the dominant market standard for high definition DVDs.

Toshiba said the tipping point came last month when Warner Bros' followed a number of other film studios in deciding to release its movies only in the Blu-ray format.

"It shows what a highly competitive market it is. When it comes to video, it is the person with the most content that wins," Gartner analyst Paul O'Donovan said.

Warner Bros' decision means an estimated three quarters of new film releases will be available on Blu-ray discs. Other major studios backing Blu-ray include 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney and MGM.

Last week, Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, announced it would sell high-definition discs only in the Blu-ray format at its 4,000 US stores.

It's not good news for anyone who bought a Toshiba HD DVD player or recorder, however.

Wet Weather Brightens Sales

The BBC reports that our very wet summer has contributed to a sharp increase in DVD sales in the UK (and one assumes, Ireland).

In June there was a 38% increase in the sales of DVDs compared to the same month the previous year, according to the British Video Association (BVA).

"Home entertainment has clearly offered some respite to the dreary wet weather," the BVA said.

Overall sales rose by 12.6% in the first six months of the year, during which 108 million DVDs were sold.

"DVD continues to prove its strength as a format and demand from customers keeps rising," BVA director general Lavinia Carey said.

She also drew attention to a 4.7% increase in DVD rentals in June - the first rise in 12 months.