Washington, D.C. (October 3, 2006)
-- Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba have all announced plans
to launch High-Definition DVD recorders.
However, don't expect to see them in the United States.
CNET's News.com reports that the companies say they currently will restrict sales of the high-def disc recorders to Japan.
Why?
"In the U.S.A. you record on TiVo," said Toshiba manager Keisuke Ohmori, referring to the popular Digital Video Recorder, which records on a hard drive.
However, don't expect to see them in the United States.
CNET's News.com reports that the companies say they currently will restrict sales of the high-def disc recorders to Japan.
Why?
"In the U.S.A. you record on TiVo," said Toshiba manager Keisuke Ohmori, referring to the popular Digital Video Recorder, which records on a hard drive.
But Ohmori said that "80 to 90
percent" of the demand for HDTV
DVD players in Japan is for the
player-recorders.
Panasonic last month said it would launch two Blu-ray HDTV DVD recorders in Japan on November 15. The recorders will play back high-def Blu-ray discs as well as record high-def programming on Blu-ray DVDs.
Sony says it will release a similar Blu-ray player-recorder by year's end.
However, prices for the high-end set-tops could discourage the companies from offering them outside of Japan. The Panasonic and Sony HDTV DVD recorder-players are expected to start at around $2,500.
Consumers in the United States are already balking at purchasing the new HD-DVD (starting at $499) and Blu-ray ($999) players.
Panasonic last month said it would launch two Blu-ray HDTV DVD recorders in Japan on November 15. The recorders will play back high-def Blu-ray discs as well as record high-def programming on Blu-ray DVDs.
Sony says it will release a similar Blu-ray player-recorder by year's end.
However, prices for the high-end set-tops could discourage the companies from offering them outside of Japan. The Panasonic and Sony HDTV DVD recorder-players are expected to start at around $2,500.
Consumers in the United States are already balking at purchasing the new HD-DVD (starting at $499) and Blu-ray ($999) players.