Universal Studios Home Entertainment has been one of the most loyal exclusive supporters of HD DVD format and a key member of its promotional group. However, due to the fact that soon HD DVD players from their primary manufacturer Toshiba Corp. are set to disappear, Universal has to start releasing its movies on Blu-ray disc format.

“The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate. While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms, reports Reuters news-agency.

Universal did not reveal whether it would release already planned HD DVD titles in 2008 and when exactly it plans to stop creating new HD DVDs. Besides, the company did not announce when it plans to stop manufacturing of already available HD DVD titles. Most importantly, General Electric-owned Universal did not unveil when it plans to release its first Blu-ray title and which title will it be.

Last week an executive from Warner Bros. said that despite of the plan to publish new high-definition movies exclusively on Blu-ray disc (BD) starting from the middle of 2008, the company would still make available HD DVD titles that are in demand and even had intentions to create new HD DVD movies if there is market demand.

Viacom-owned studios, such as Paramount and Dreamworks, are the only among major Hollywood studios who have not announced plans to switch to Blu-ray disc after Toshiba Corp. decided to withdraw from the war of high-definition video formats by ceasing manufacturing of HD DVD-supporting equipment.