RPT-NEWSMAKER-Sony's Mr Blu-ray finally gets to forget Betamax

(Repeats, unchanged, story first published late on Monday)

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - For Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) head of video businesses, Kiyoshi Nishitani, Blu-ray's impending victory over Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) HD DVD format is something he has been working at for more than two decades.

Nishitani, a 35-year company veteran, helped develop Sony's Betamax video tape system but the technology lost out in the 1980s to the competing VHS format, supported by JVC (6792.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

This time around, however, Nishitani, 57, and other company executives have made certain Sony joined hands with Matsushita and many other global electronics makers.

They also tied up the majority of Hollywood film studios, laying siege to Toshiba's HD DVD camp, whose short list of supporters include Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

The reward for his employer may include the salvation of its loss-making PlayStation 3 game console, although it may now face a battle for supremacy with other Blu-ray backers including Matsushita.

Toshiba said on Monday no decision had been make on HD DVD, but a company source told Reuters on Saturday that the company was in the final stage of planning its exit.

On a personal level, winning the format battle is music to Nishitani's ears since it means he will be able to enjoy his collection of movies for years to come.