Hollywood backs Blu-ray with 75 movie releases in Japan

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 30 August 2006 16:33

Your IT - Home IT

Hollywood studios are getting behind Blu-ray in a big way, announcing 75 movie releases on the Blu-ray high definition video format for Japan before the end of the year.

Studios such as Disney, Warner Bros, Fox and Sony, as well as many others plan to release movies such as Da Vinci Code and Pirates of the Carribean in what is looking to be a show of force backing the Blu-ray format.

With most of Hollywood on its side, plus a swag of big name electronics and computer companies, Blu-ray appears to have an edge in industry support, although with Microsoft and Toshiba firmly behind HD DVD nothing is cut and dried as to which format will win out.

Although HD DVD was first to market, is a considerably lower cost technology and is more closely compatible with its predecessor DVD technology, Blu-ray appears to be succeeding in gaining widespread acceptance.

The release of double sided discs with 50GB capacity last month has also given Blu-ray a significant edge in storage capability over HD DVD which can only store 30GB.

The release of the Sony PlayStation 3 games console in November will also give the market its first more consumer affordable Blu-ray player, which the technology's proponents are hoping will further boost its stocks.