Universal put its support behind Blu-ray Disc on Tuesday in the wake of Toshiba's pullout from the rival high-def format earlier in the day in Japan.

Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms, said, "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. The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for high-def's unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."

Paramount/DreamWorks, the sole other major backing HD DVD, is expected to follow suit soon.

The Blu-ray Disc Association also issued the following statement on Tuesday:

"We in the Blu-ray Disc Association are very happy that this long format war is officially over. Now the task ahead for our member companies is to promote the Blu-ray Disc format as the best way to bring premier quality high-definition content into consumers’ lives." - Andy Parsons, Blu-ray Disc Association U.S. Promotions Committee chairman and Pioneer Electronics senior VP

And Sony said:

"Overwhelming support from all the relevant industries, including Hollywood studios, consumer electronics and IT companies, retailers and video rental stores, is clear proof that consumers have chosen Blu-ray as the next-generation optical disc format. We believe that a single format will benefit both consumers and the industry and will accelerate the expansion of the market."