"Sony CEO Downplays Format War; Sees "Stalemate"
Fri Nov 09, 2007 at 01:07 PM ET

An apparently candid assessment of the high-def format war from Sony CEO Howard Stringer shot across the web Friday morning.

Following months of posturing from execs on both sides of the format battle, Stringer's remarks were surprisingly frank, with the CEO describing a current "stalemate" between the Sony-backed Blu-ray format and its rival HD DVD, even pondering a possible loss.

"We were trying to win on the merits, which we were doing for a while, until Paramount changed sides," Stringer said during an appearance at the 92nd Street Y cultural center in Manhattan.

According to published reports, the exec went on to describe a win for either side as mostly a matter of prestige, saying that if HD DVD ultimately won out, it wouldn't have much effect on Sony other than having to change the harddrive for its PlayStation.

"It doesn't mean as much as all that," Stringer is quoted as saying.

The CEO went on to indicate that there was an opportunity of uniting the two camps under one format before he became CEO, and that "I wish I could go back in time, because I heard it was all about saving face." "

Quoting 8ballMax:

Quote:
This has already been posted in the HD DVD thread.

Oops, sorry.

Quoting lyonsden5:

Quote:

Don't worry. I would have missed it there since I usually avoid that thread. Thanks for the info. 

I agree with that. I also never go on that thread which is really a mess. Thanks.