DVD rivals in talks

Sony and Toshiba have announced that they are in negotiations to agree on a common next-generation DVD format.

Sony has thus far been heading up an international group favouring its Blu-Ray format, while Toshiba has been leading the charge on the HD-DVD format. Each has the support of several big electronics makers and Hollywood movies studios.

The two Japanese giants say a common format is in everyone's interests, and they hope to agree on some form of hybrid.