Hardly surprising that the Blu-ray Disc Association is now calling for a swift end to the high definition disc format war.
Apparently, "there has been a palpable feeling of relief amongst the crowds attending CES in Las Vegas. This relief is down to a feeling that the supposed format war between Blu-ray Disc and rival HD DVD is close to coming to a conclusion."
Hmm, did anyone ask Toshiba if they're feeling palpable relief?
Of course, the BDA aren't jumping to any early conclusions — oh no, of course not.
“Nobody likes format wars. If it’s over — and the BDA is not saying that the format war is over — but if it is, then it will be a lot easier for everybody from consumers through to the entire industry," said Andy Parsons, Chairman of the BDA US Promotions Committee.
He then continued to talk up the Blu-ray format — again — just as you'd expect anyone in his position to do.
“Format wars can be costly and time-consuming. Most importantly they are distracting for consumers: they create confusion and discourage people from investing in new technology. If we can resolve it soon it will be good for everybody.”
"When you look at the High Definition disc space as it currently stands, it fairly closely resembles DVD at the same stage. It took three years for DVD to become mass market and the view was expressed on the BDA booth that a new market dynamic where Blu-ray Disc does not have to compete with a rival format could help progress the entire market."
“If we can get the format war behind us then we have every expectation that Blu-ray Disc will kick off with the same kind of trajectory that DVD in the late 1990s. There is a good reason why so many companies have supported Blu-ray Disc technology since day one — it was the technology which attracted so many companies.”
“We started with a clean sheet design — we didn’t take an old technology and stretch it into something it was never intended to be. Blu-ray Disc was designed to be the very best HD disc format. Some of the new features, which are just coming on stream are a very good illustration of the advantages of our BD design philosophy,” he concluded.
(Picture is Andy Parsons and Bob Chapek at the BDA booth at CES)
"Nobody likes format wars." Well, I liked this one, for certain.