Sony has announced it will shut down production of recordable Blu-ray Discs in February, marking the end of its nearly two-decade run. This includes MiniDiscs for recording, MD data for recording, and MiniDV cassettes. The company retains production lines for business clients until profitability wanes. With streaming services dominating consumer preferences, Sony’s optical media sales have dried up quickly.
Blu-ray Discs reached commercial viability in 2006 after competing with HD DVD against Toshiba. Sony’s partnership with film studios and the PlayStation 3 played a role in its success. However, as digital media gains traction, traditional methods of storing data are becoming obsolete. Optical media could be viable for decades, but it faces competition from long-lasting solutions like Pioneer’s Blu-ray discs designed for century-long storage.
Alternative storage options include hard drives with a five-year lifespan and archival materials like glass capable of lasting 5,000 years. Despite Sony’s closure, issues with digital downloads persist due to rights conflicts or service closures.
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Source: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/after-18-years-blu-ray-media-production-draws-to-a-close-sony-shuts-its-last-factory-in-feb