SONY has declared victory in the battle over the next-generation DVD standard after Warner Brothers, the Hollywood studio that has been a long-time supporter of rival Japanese group Toshiba, said it would back its Blu-ray disc format in addition to Toshiba's HD-DVD.

"With this, the format war is now over," a Sony representative said last Friday, adding that with Warner Brothers' support "five out of six Hollywood studios are supporting Blu-ray disc, which has a much larger market".

Read about Sony's response to Warner Bros backing the Blu Ray side in the HD DVD vs Blu Ray war at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17010634%255E36375,00.html.