In 2006, the release of two next-generation optical disc formats attempted to improve upon and eventually replace the DVD standard. The two formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, are currently in a format war. This article compares their respective technologies, business alliances, hardware support, and sales.

There are two other relatively new high-definition optical disc formats: the multi-layered red-laser Versatile Multilayer Disc and a Chinese variant of HD DVD known as CH-DVD.

Technical details

Template:HighDefMediaComparison

Capacity/codecs

Blu-ray has a higher maximum disc capacity than HD DVD (50 GB vs. 30 GB for a single sided disc). In September 2007 the DVD Forum approved preliminary specification the triple-layer 51GB HD DVD (ROM only) disc. It is still unknown if the triple layer HD DVD will work in current players. Toshiba has confirmed that testing still needs to be done. An example of how capacity is put to use is King Kong: the film is over three hours long, has reference-quality video, near-reference quality audio, includes a picture-in-picture bonus track, and fits everything on a single 30Gb HD DVD disc^[1].

The first 50 GB dual-layer Blu-ray Disc release was the movie Click, on October 10 2006, several months after the Blu-ray Disc format was released. By comparison, the majority of HD DVD titles were released on 30Gb discs from day one (The Last Samurai, for example^[2]). As of September 2007 40% of Blu-ray titles use the 50 GB disc and 60% use the 25 GB disc^[3] while most HD DVD movies are in the 30 GB dual layer format.^[4]

The choice of video compression technology (codec) complicates any comparison of the formats. Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD both support the same three video compression standards: MPEG-2, VC-1 and AVC, each of which exhibits different bitrate/noise-ratio curves, visual impairments/artifacts, and encoder maturity. Initial Blu-ray Disc titles often used MPEG-2 video, which requires the highest average bitrate. and thus the most space, to match the picture quality of the other two video codecs. As of 2007, more and more titles have been authored with the newer compression standards: AVC and VC-1. HD DVD titles have used VC-1 and AVC almost exclusively since the format's introduction. Warner, which releases movies in both formats, often uses the same encode (with VC-1 codec) for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD, with identical results. In contrast, Paramount, before they went HD DVD exclusive, created separate encodings, VC-1 for HD DVD and usually MPEG-2 for Blu-ray.

The two formats also deploy different audio compression standards (codecs). Most titles released on the Blu-ray format include Dolby Digital tracks for each language in the region, and many also include a Linear PCM track for the primary language. On the other hand, most titles released on the HD DVD format include Dolby Digital Plus tracks for each language in the region, and some also include a Dolby TrueHD track for the primary language.

Interactivity

Both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD have two main options for interactivity (on-screen menus, bonus features, etc.), one of which is relatively basic whilst the other is more advanced.

Blu-ray's basic mode known as HDMV or BDMV ("High Definition Movie Mode" or "Blu-ray Disc Movie Mode"), whilst HD DVD's is known as Standard Content. Both offer modest upgrades from standard DVD, such as the use of more buttons on-screen, a larger colour palette, and expanded (but still very limited) programming environment. BDMV is more powerful than Standard Content, and has been used on many Blu-ray disc titles, whereas Standard Content has been used sparingly on high-profile HD DVD. Like the disc formats themselves, HD DVD's Standard Content is a small delta on standard DVD's subpicture technology, whilst Blu-ray's BDMV is completely new. This makes transitioning from standard DVD to Standard Content HD DVD relatively simple -- for example, Apple's DVD Studio Pro has supported authoring Standard Content since version 4.0.3.

For more advanced interactivity, Blu-ray disc supports BD-J, whilst HD DVD supports Advanced Content. Virtually all HD DVD discs have been released with Advanced Content interactivity, whereas support for BD-J has been somewhat spotty due in part to compatibility and performance issues^[5].

Disc construction

Blu-ray Discs contain their data relatively close to the surface (less than 0.1 mm) which combined with the smaller spot size presents a problem when the surface is scratched as data would be destroyed. To overcome this, TDK, Sony, and Panasonic each have developed a proprietary scratch resistant surface coating. TDK trademarked theirs as Durabis, which has withstood direct abrasion by steel wool and marring with markers in tests.^[6] At this point only TDK recordable Blu-ray discs and DVD-R discs use the Durabis coating.^{[citation needed]}

HD DVD uses traditional material and has the same scratch and surface characteristics of a regular DVD. The data is at the same depth (0.6 mm) as DVD as to minimize damage from scratching. Furthermore similar to DVD the construction of the HD DVD disc allows for a second side of either HD DVD or DVD.

A study performed by Home Media Magazine (August 5 2007) concluded that HD DVD discs and Blu-ray discs are essentially equal in production cost. Quotes from several disc manufacturers for 25,000 units of HD DVDs and Blu-rays revealed a price differential of only 5-10 cents. (Lowest price: 90 cents versus 100 cents. Highest price: $1.45 versus $1.50.) ^[7] Another study performed by Wesley Tech (February 9, 2007) arrived at a similar conclusion. Quotes for 10,000 discs show that a 15 gigabyte HD DVD costs $11,500 total, and 25 gigabyte Blu-ray or a 30 gigabyte HD DVD costs $13,000 total. ^[8] For larger quantities of 100,000 units, the 25 gigabyte Blu-ray was less expensive than the 30 gigabyte HD DVD ($1.49 versus $1.55). ^[9]

Hybrid discs

At the January 8 2007 Consumer Electronics Show, Warner Bros. introduced a hybrid technology, Total HD, that would reportedly support both formats on a single disc.^[10]The new discs would overlay the Blu-ray and HD DVD layers, placing them respectively 0.1mm and 0.5mm beneath the surface. The Blu-ray top layer would act as a two-way mirror, reflecting just enough light for a Blu-ray reader to read and an HD DVD player to ignore. But the following September, Warner President Ron Sanders said that the company was putting the technology on hold due to lack of industry interest.^[11]

Security features

The primary means of copyright enforcement on both formats is the Advanced Access Content System (AACS). Use of AACS is optional for HD DVD, but mandatory for Blu-ray, which can add thousands of dollars to production costs.^[12] Other copyright-enforcement strategies include:

Region coding

The Blu-ray specification and all currently-available players support region coding. To date about 68% of Blu-ray discs are region-free and 32% use region codes.^[13]

The HD DVD specification has no region coding, so an HD DVD disc from anywhere in the world will work in any player. The DVD Forum's steering committee has discussed a request from Disney to add it, but many of the 20 companies on the committee actively oppose it.^[14].

Many film titles that are exclusive to Blu-ray in the United States like Sony's xXx, Fox's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Disney's The Prestige, are available on HD DVD in other countries due to different distribution agreements. Because of this film titles that are exclusive to Blu-ray in the US can be bought on HD DVDs by US consumers purchasing them online from Europe or Asia. Since there is no region coding in HD DVDs, there are no restrictions playing these foreign-bought HD DVDs in an HD DVD player^[15] Similarly, European customers can obtain HD DVD discs from American online retailers for titles that are Blu-ray exclusive in Europe.

Studio support

North America: major studios

In North America, three of the Big Six film studios exclusively support Blu-ray, two exclusively support HD DVD, and one, Warner Bros., supports both. In October 2005, HD DVD supporters Warner Bros. and Paramount declared additional support for Blu-ray, putting five of the major studios in the format's camp.^[16] But in August 2007, Paramount withdrew support for Blu-ray for a minimum of 18 months. At the same time, DreamWorks Animation SKG, which had not released any high definition discs, announced it would release exclusively on HD DVD. Explaining their decisions, the companies cited perceived advantages to HD DVD's technology and lower manufacturing costs. The companies together received about $150 million in cash and promotional guarantees, including a Toshiba HD DVD marketing campaign with a tie-in to Shrek the Third.^[17][18]

As of October 31 2007, 332 titles are on release in the United States on Blu-ray and 328 on HD DVD.^[19]

As of November 8 2007 in Japan, 195 Blu-ray titles have been released while HD DVD has 143.^[20]

The table below shows which major film studios support each format in the United States.

¹ Sony owns a 20% stake in MGM. The rest of the share is held by members of consortium in which Sony is a member; the biggest share is owned by Providence Equity Partners (29%)

² Although Warner Bros. is officially backing both formats, its support thus far has been unequal. Warner has released over 20 more titles for HD DVD than for Blu-ray, including high profile titles like The Matrix Trilogy and Batman Begins, though some titles like these are still proposed for Blu-ray, which includes Troy: Director's Cut^[21] (released) and The Polar Express (already has an official release date).^[22]

³Because of the lack of region coding in HD DVD, some New Line Cinema titles, the first being Hairspray, will have their HD DVD release delayed while the movie is in the first few weeks of its release in theaters around the world, while Blu-ray version will be released day-and-date with DVD version.^[23][24][25] Catalog titles will be released day-and-date for both formats.

European independents

Talking during an IFA 2007 press conference held with Toshiba, Ken Graffeo - vice president for marketing at Universal Studios Home Entertainment and co-chairman of the HD DVD Promotion Group - said that the HD DVD format now has the support of 75% of European independent film studios.^[26] These include 2 Entertain Video, Ascot Elite, Concorde Video, DeA Planeta, DVD International, EMS, Filmax, Galileo, Highlight, Imagion, Monolith Films, Moviemax, Nixbu, Optimum, Pathé, Pinnacle Vision, SHV, SPI and Studio Canal.^[27][28]

Adult studio support

As of October 2007, adult film studios had not yet played an influential role in the format war, collectively releasing fewer than 20 titles in either format. But the industry reportedly leaned towards HD DVD because of perceived difficulties in contracting replication services from Sony-led production facilities. For example, Digital Playground, originally a Blu-ray supporter, had released at least five titles on HD DVD.^[29] Sony dismissed the claims, saying there is no prohibition against adult content. The Blu-ray Disc Association, which handles all licensing for Blu-ray technology, said in a statement that the group is "an open organization that welcomes the participation of all companies interested in using and supporting the format, including those that represent the full spectrum of genres in the content industry." ^[30]

Hardware support

Standalone players and recorders

Prices listed below are United States MSRP, U.S. street prices are also listed if lower.

Prices in other countries are often much higher. For example, the Samsung BD-P1000 has a UK street price of GBP£538 [2], making its ex-VAT cost about 60% higher than in the U.S.

Blu-ray Disc

HD DVD

Dual-format (Blu-ray & HD DVD)

Games consoles and accessories

Personal computers

Prices for dual format PC drives are approaching $300, which is making the format war less of an issue^[34]. Drives can be added to any PC and supported by the drive manufacturer.

• Blu-ray and HD DVD are both supported in select Hewlett-Packard desktop models. HP uses dual-format drive (Blu-ray reader/writer and HD DVD reader).^[35] Both, Blu-ray and HD DVD are available as choice in some Acer laptops, formerly exclusive to HD DVD^[36]. During IFA 2007, the Blu-Ray Association announced that Acer had joined their ranks, followed by CEDIA 2007 announcement that they are officially joined North America HD DVD Promotion Group. ASUSTek, commonly known as ASUS, also a formerly exclusive HD DVD supporter, has begun releasing notebooks with Blu-ray drives included, such as ASUS Lamborghini VX2^[37] and W2W^[38], in addition to HD DVD models.
• Blu-ray Disc drive is the only high definition media drive supported by Dell, Lenovo and Sony. Hewlett-Packard's business laptop range, unlike the Pavilion consumer line, features Blu-ray drive as the only high-definition drive available to choose from.^[39]
• HD DVD drive is the only high definition media drive available on Toshiba personal computers, as well as on Hewlett-Packard consumer line notebook (HP Pavilion). According to HP, the Blu-ray Disc drive will be available on some of its notebook models, although not in the near future.^[40]

Rental company support

• Blockbuster, the largest U.S. movie rental company, offers Blu-ray exclusively in 1450 stores. Previously, the company test-marketed both formats at 250 stores and found that more than 70% of high definition rentals were Blu-ray discs. Blockbuster continues to offer both formats at those initial 250 stores, as well as on its online rental service.^[41][42]

• Netflix, the largest online video rental service, provides both Blu-ray and HD DVD disc rentals at no additional charge^[43]. In September 2007, Netflix released statistics from the months of June thru August, showing that customers viewed Blu-ray discs nearly twice as often as HD DVD discs and were 2.4 times more likely to set HD DVD as their preferred HD format^[44]. Also only 0.3% of users viewed either format during that time frame.

Sales promotions

Blu-ray

Since 2007-10-01 the Blu-ray Disc Association has offered five free Blu-ray movies with the purchase of an eligible Blu-ray player. This mail-in rebate is available to customers in the United States and Canada. (Movie selection is limited. Choose 5 by categories from a total list of 18.)^[45]

HD DVD

From October 1 2007 to February 28 2008, Toshiba and Microsoft have a mail-in rebate for five free HD DVD movies with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player, Toshiba HD DVD notebook, or Xbox 360 HD DVD player. (Movie selection is limited. Choose five titles from a total list of 15. Selecting one movie from each of five categories containing three possible selections in each category.) This offer is available to customers in the United States and Canada.

A similar offer is available in western Europe, although details vary from country to country.[65] United Kingdom and Ireland buyers can choose five titles from a total of 13 in three categories.[66]

Sales data

Discs/titles

United States

According to a market research company Nielsen VideoScan, U.S. sales of Blu-ray discs were ahead of HD DVD with 65% of the market for the week ended November 11 2007. In 2007 US sales, Blu-ray leads with 65% of the market. Since inception, US market share was 61% for Blu-ray and 39% for HD DVD.^[47][48] Nielsen also releases normalized sales data (presented in the table to the right). For every 100 Ratatouille Blu-ray Discs sold, 26.04 Transformers HD DVDs were sold. The 2007 sales numbers are in contrast with much of 2006 (before the release of the PlayStation 3) when HD DVD had the lead. Although Blu-ray has sold more discs, the HD DVD group claims that the attach rate (the number of movies bought per player) is higher for HD DVD than for Blu-ray.^[49]

Movies on high definition discs are commonly priced above their standard DVD counterparts^{[citation needed]}.

Europe

In Europe, a study by Gfk revealed that Blu-ray lead with 70% of titles sold with 650,000 titles for Blu-ray and 332,000 titles for HD DVD.^[50]

Japan

In Japan, according to Nikkei, the sales figure as of October 2007 is approximately 9:1 in favor of Blu-ray Disc. ^[51]

Players

United States

For November and December 2006, the NPD Group tracked sales of 92,000^[52] HD DVD add-on drives for the Xbox 360 in the United States. On January 8 2007, Sony reported that it had shipped a total of 1,000,000 PlayStation 3 consoles to North America.

In February 2007, the NPD Group (a consumer electronic marketing firm) reported that the total market share of all stand-alone HD players (i.e. excluding games consoles and computer drives) in the United States totaled 52% for HD DVD and 48% for Blu-ray.^[53]

A non-scientific daily poll on GameFAQs, a video game website, found that many of their readers were not interested in high definition DVD players.^[54]

On April 17 2007, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group said that over 100,000 stand-alone HD DVD players had been sold in North America.^[55] The number of units sold increased to over 150,000 on June 11, 2007.^[56] The number for stand-alone Blu-ray players is at 100,000 units.

On July 25 2007, Target Corporation announced they will carry Sony Blu-ray stand-alone players in stores as their exclusive high definition player during 2007 holiday season, and they will expand the selection of Blu-ray movies.^[57] Target sells both Blu-ray and HD DVD movies in stores, and both Blu-ray and HD DVD players online. The LA Times reports that the deal to promote Sony Blu-ray Disc stand-alone players was the result of a bidding war, in which Sony and three studios reportedly paid a "jaw-dropping" sum for the end cap displays. ^[58]

On November 2 2007, Kmart affirmed it would support both the HD DVD and Blu-ray platforms, with no plans to support either platform exclusively.^[59]For the 2007 holiday season, the retailer offered Toshiba HD DVD players and the Sony PS3 but no standalone Blu-ray unit.^[60]

During the first weekend in November 2007, several US stores dropped the price of Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player to around $99. Over 100,000 players were sold during this promotion.^[61]

Europe

In Europe, a study by Gfk revealed that HD DVD leads the stand-alone market (i.e. excluding games consoles and computer drives) with 70% with 83,000 players sold.^[62]

Retail price of consumer-writable discs

References

External links

• The Authoritative FAQ for Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD by Hugh Bennett
• DVD/ Blu-ray vs. HD DVD article by cdfreaks.com