Sony will cease all MiniDisc player production in March, reports Japanese site Ashashi. Originally designed to replace casettes, the MiniDisc format never caught on in that way. However, a loyal fan base in Japan has managed to keep the format alive for the past 20 years until now.
Sony's April 12 strategy meeting might see it make its largest job cut to date. Leaks to the historically accurate Nikkei have had it slashing 10,000 jobs, or about six percent of its worldwide employee base. The Japanese trade paper added that seven executive leaders, including chairman and former CEO Sir Howard Stringer, would likely be asked to forfeit their bonuses.
Sony on Friday said it was cancelling sales of its last MiniDisc player, the MZ-RH1. It would "complete" shipments of the five-years-old player in September 2011. The recordable 1GB Hi-MD discs it can use will phase out a year later.
