Super-DVD players spark format war

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Not since the battle between Betamax and VHS has there been a consumer war like it - and there can only be one winner.

Having poured billions into rival high-definition DVD systems two hi-tech giants will finally go head-to-head.

Billed as the future of home cinema the two systems offer identical picture quality and both play standard DVD's.

There is, however, one slight problem - the so-called Blu-ray discs will not work in rival HD DVDs, and vice versa.

With the battle lines already drawn the war will begin in earnest today (Monday) as Samsung's DMP-BD-P1000 - the "world's first commercial blu-ray disc player' - hits UK shelves.

Launched in the US four months ago it will cost British consumers £999.

Despite the price tag a spokeswoman for Samsung said it expected to sell several thousands of the new machines in the UK before Christmas.

Targeted at those who already have HD television - predominantly young men with high incomes - Panasonic will follow Samsung with its own blu-ray version just days later.

But in four weeks time battle will commence when its main rival - the HD-DVD player - is launched by Toshiba costing just £500.

Jason Jenkins, deputy editor of gadget magazine T3, said: "It is Betamax and VHS again, that's the easiest way of explaining it.

"They are two formats that do exactly the same thing but are incompatible with each other," he said.

"We have had a look at both of them. It is very early days, but they are essentially identical in terms of what they do.

"It is a difficult call on the features side, but HD-DVD is about half the price of Blu-ray."

The High Street battle comes just eight years after the first DVD players were let loose on British customers.

Promoted as luxury items with enormous price tags they now cost less than £20 in Tesco - with more than half of British households owning one.

Worldwide, the DVD market is worth a staggering £12 billion every year. But with the advent of high-definition television ordinary DVD's appear to look blurry and dull.

"The time is ripe for HD video discs,' said Hamish Thompson of electrical giant Currys. 'We are now selling one flatscreen TV every 15 seconds at Currys, and 80 per cent of those are HD-ready."

The key advantage of Blu-ray and HD DVD discs is their greater capacity – up to ten times that of a DVD.

But while players for both new formats will accept DVDs, discs of one format will not work in the players for the other.

The discs for the latest models will cost consumers £20 or more each. Experts predict both players and discs will drop to more sensible prices over the next three to four years.

"There isn't much difference between Blu-ray and HD DVD," said Clare Newsome, editor of What Hi-Fi?.

"Both will output in the top resolution of HDTV, like Sky Movies. Blu-ray discs can store more information, but HD DVDs will be cheaper. It's a ridiculous battle."

Blu-ray is the brainchild of Sony whilst HD DVD has been created by Toshiba and Microsoft. After talks between the two broke down last year each vowed to emerge victorious from the "format war".

Whilst marginally more companies - including Samsung and Toshiba - back blu-ray, more movie studios have lined up to endorse its competitor HD DVD.

Blu-ray is likely to get a boost when Sony's Blu-Ray compatible PlayStation3 launches in the UK next year.

"We're agnostic about the formats - we think choice is good," added Mr Thompson. "Both offer incredible picture quality.

"What makes this so-called format war a bit different is that both formats are based around digital content.

"It's quite possible that there will be scope for both formats to coexist in much the same way as games consoles."

 

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