Amazon.com Sells Toshiba Entry-Level HD DVD for $125
Amazon.com, the world’s largest online retailer, is selling Toshiba’s entry-level HD-A3 DVD for $125, a week after Toshiba cut the player’s suggested retail price in half to $149.99 to boost sales. The HD DVD format lost a key strategic battle recently, when more studios announced alignment with Sony’s competing Blu-ray system. Best Buy is maintaining the $149.99 price while some Wal-mart stores sell the HD-A3 for $144, according to a Jan. 23 search of company Web sites.
U.S. Home Entertainment Spending Hindered by Format War
U.S. home entertainment spending fell 3.1% to $22.9 billion last year as consumers delayed spending on next-generation DVDs and players amid a format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD, Video Business reported. DVD sales dropped 3.3% while rentals declined 2%, Video Business said.
EchoStar’s Dish Network Will Offer HD-Only Package
EchoStar, whose Dish Network trails only DirecTV among U.S. satellite TV operators, next month will start offering an HD-only package of more than 40 channels for $29.99 a month. Dish, which will include networks such as ESPN, A&E and Discovery HD but won’t have about 30 of its regional sports and premium HD channels in the package, said earlier this month that it will have 100 HD channels by the end of the year. DirecTV, which had 87 HD channels at the end of last year, doesn’t offer an HD-only option for subscribers.
Verizon’s FiOS Service Will Distribute MGM HD
Verizon’s FiOS Internet television service will start showing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios’ MGM HD channel, MGM HD said. MGM HD, a primarily film-archive network that began airing on DirecTV in October, will be shown in all of FiOS’ regions, including California, New York and Florida, starting later this year, MGM HD said.