Toshiba ISD General Manager Mark Whittard and HD DVD Consortium spokesperson said, "In Australia, Toshiba launched its AV business in July this year, including the full HD DVD player line-up, together with the local formation of the HD DVD Consortium.
"Since then, HD DVD has experienced many milestone successes, such as Paramount's move to join Universal in exclusively producing HD DVD films, and now JB Hi-Fi's decision to sell HD DVD hardware and software. The HD DVD Consortium is excited that this latest announcement adds to HD DVD's momentum and market share gain."
Retailer JB Hi-Fi previously stocked the full line of Toshiba notebooks including HD DVD models, and now its range of HD DVD products extends to include Toshiba HD DVD players and HD DVD software from Paramount Home Entertainment, DreamWorks, Warner Home Video and Universal Pictures.
HD DVD titles to become available over summer include box office hits Transformers, Bourne Ultimatum and Shrek the Third - all exclusive to the HD format. Christmas will also see the availability of Harry Potter, and TV series Heroes Season 1 and Star Trek – The Original Series.
Globally, Toshiba claims HD DVD sales are strong with United States showing 54% of all stand-alone HD player purchases are in the HD DVD format (NPD) and in Europe, HD DVD has 69% market share (GfK).
