Sony, Toshiba Step Up Talks on DVD Technology Standard

Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. are working on an agreement that could come as early as this month to jointly develop a unified standard for next-generation DVDs, a Japanese newspaper reported.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its online edition that Sony and Toshiba stepped up closed-door negotiations around February to find a resolution to the standoff between their competing products. As the leaders of the two camps supporting rival standards, Sony and Toshiba have waged a three-year battle that involves nearly 200 companies worldwide.

After reaching a basic agreement that a unified standard would be desirable, they are now looking to develop a hybrid standard that takes advantage of each standard’s strengths, the newspaper said.

Sony is said to have proposed using Blu-ray’s disc structure and HD DVD software technology. Toshiba has presented the idea of using HD DVD’s disc structure, which is closer to that of current DVDs, and employing Sony’s multilayer data-recording technology, the report said.

A Sony spokeswoman declined to confirm the report but said, “Sony’s focus is and has always been to provide the best consumer experience. In the area of next-generation optical discs, we continue to be open to discussions with supporters of other formats consistent with this focus.”

A Toshiba spokesman declined to comment.

Although the companies have yet to forge a detailed agreement, the talks are expected to produce a workable solution since both are likely to be eager to avoid a repeat of the VHS-Betamax videocassette war.

The report said Sony and Toshiba had already begun briefing Walt Disney Co. and Time Warner Inc., as well as Hollywood movie studios, for approval of a unified standard and to pave the way for the signing of an official agreement between the rival camps.