Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD

Today’s blog entry is on the 2 (Blu-ray and HD-DVD) competing High-Definition formats vying to replace DVD. If you are not into technology or audio/video standards you may not even be aware of these 2 formats. So far both standards have attracted the niche uses or early adopters. Intent on having the highest quality these “early adopters” are the first people to embrace new technology. Because there are 2 formats, it has created a situation where people (average consumers) who are aware of them are not budging until one format is the winner. They do not want to buy hardware/software that is obsolete (ie. Betamax vs VHS).

A brief history of past formats - VHS, DVD and Television

When DVD came out 10 years ago it increased the resolution you saw on VHS 200 - 230lines (330 x 480) to 400 – 500 lines (720 x 480) for DVD. It provided a big step in quality, sharpness and colour reproduction.

At the same time DVD came out there was movement towards Hi-Definition TV. Standard analogue broadcasts were 330 lines (440 x 480) resolution range.

High-Definition increased picture quality to 720 – 1080 lines. Also changing was the format of the TV to a widescreen format, also known as 16:9 aspect ratio.

Over the past 7 years high-definition TV has been gaining ground as televisions sold became capable of accepting and showing higher resolutions and cheaper to buy.

The next DVD format

Back in 2002 there was work towards a high resolution format/player that would succeed DVD. In 2005 the technology had advanced to the point it became viable to implement. But there was a split between 2 companies – Toshiba and Sony. To spare you all the details, 2 competing products emerged: HD-DVD (supported by Toshiba/NEC/Microsoft) and Blu-ray (supported by Sony/Panasonic/Samsung/Pioneer/Sharp/Hitachi/LG).The first HD-DVD player from Toshiba and accompanying HD-DVD titles were released on April 18, 2006 in North America.

In June 2006 the first Blu-ray player from Samsung and accompanying Blu-ray titles were released.

HD-DVD beat Blu-ray by 2 months. And for the past 18 months there has been a format war between the 2 formats.

Technology (Interactive Features)

These players are capable of displaying 1080 lines of resolution (1920 x 1080) and advanced interactive features. As well as being backward compatible with DVD. They each have different methods and technology for implementing high-definition picture and interactive features. But I will not go into the technology.

HD-DVD and Blu-ray both have advanced capabilities like PIP (Picture in Picture). The ability to have a 2nd video/audio stream (a window on top of the movie) and show things like video commentary from the director or how special effects were done while the movie is playing.

Other advanced features include accessing a menu while the movie is playing, no longer having to exit the movie to go into special features, select a scene or adjust audio functions. Another feature is pop-up windows displayed during the movie, with facts and information. The technology also allows games to be played that have themes similar to the movie.

Side-note:Blu-ray has only started implementing the hardware to do PIP functionality as of Oct 31^st, 2007. Only one player released on Nov 6^th is capable of this function. Because of this no Blu-ray disc has had this function, expect for a select few which used other technical methods to achieve this. But new players announced after Oct 31. will be capable of this. Where as HD-DVD has had the hardware and capability to do PIP from day one.

Software Rules!

Different movie studio’s support different formats and there is only 1 studio that supports both. Here is the break down:

HD-DVD
Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks studio’s exclusively support HD-DVD

Blu-ray
Sony, Disney, Fox/MGM, and Lionsgate exclusively support Blu-ray

HD-DVD and Blu-ray
Warner Brothers and its subsidiary New Line Cinema releases in both formats.

Software sales

For the past 9 months Blu-ray has held a 2:1 sales advantage over HD-DVD. Despite having players that are more expensive than HD-DVD.

Pricing

In the United States particularly, Toshiba has been pricing their player much lower than Blu-ray. Being the only manufacture and main supporter of HD-DVD it’s their prerogative to do so. Currently in the states you can get a player for as low as $198. Some sales of older hardware are selling for $98 (but only for a short time, Nov 2-4, 2007). On the Blu-ray side the cheapest you can get a Blu-ray player for is $400.

Toshiba has been consistently lowering their prices where as the Blu-ray members have started high $1000 and slowly come down to $400-500 range.

Final Thoughts

I have been following this “format war” for the past year and a half. It’s starting to get a bit tiring following it. There are 2 groups, each who really believe in their format and want it to win. I personally want Blu-ray to win because of some of the technical issues and the fact it has 5 studios, 4 exclusively supporting Blu-ray.

My main concern is that neither format succeeds and it turns into a niche product. Most people think DVD is high definition or is good enough. Also most people don’t even have high definition TVs to take advantage of Blu-ray or HD-DVD.

As someone who has enjoyed the big screen aspect of home theatre, I definitely want to experience High-Definition movies at home.

The problem may be that DVD was to successful for its own good. When it reached mass consumption, it drove down the prices for hardware and software. You can now go into to a Walmart or Kmart and pick up a DVD player for $40 and DVD movies (not brand new, but not too old either) for $5-20 dollars.

If people are not perceiving an improved product with high definition media, because their TV cannot display it or they think DVD is high definition, why are they going to spend hundred of dollars on a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player and $30-40 for movies ?

The dilemma that both hardware and movie studio’s face is that they want to start a new revenue steam because prices for DVD players/software have plateau.

The only way around it I see, is education by both the hardware companies and the movie studios. They need to differentiate it from DVD. But before that happens one format needs to win and then I can see a possible future for High-Definition media.