Are Blu-ray HD-DVD format wars over?

Developers at Sony are likely to be celebrating today amid rumours that Toshiba is set to end production of its Blu-ray competitor format, HD-DVD.

Those in the DVD duplication industry will undoubtedly follow the news with interest given its inevitable impact on the market for both production of Blu-ray discs and associated technologies.

According to Reuters, Toshiba intends to continue selling existing players but no longer plans to fund ongoing development.

At present the firm has neither confirmed nor denied press assertions. It released a statement announcing: "Toshiba has not made any announcement concerning this. Although Toshiba is currently assessing its business strategies, no decision has been made at this moment."

A number of major retailers, who have significant influence over the fortunes of the DVD duplication and manufacturing market, have plumped for Blu-ray in preference to its rival in recent weeks including Wal-Mart, owner of UK store Asda.

Walt Disney, Fox, Warner Bros, Sony, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have all plumped for Blu-ray as the format war has been played out, Mac World reports.

Meanwhile, in the UK this month Woolworths announced that it also planned to phase out sales of HD DVDs.