CBHD challenges Blu-Ray

According to Znet blogger Robin Harris, Blu-Ray is faced with a new competitor in the high-def video market: a revitalised Toshiba HD DVD, marketed by a Chinese company as the China Blue Hi-definition Disk (CBHD). Toshiba has licensed its HD DVD to them and Harris predicts it will be the unit world leader in HD optical technology in just 12 months.

The Times Online reports that the CBHD players are already outselling Blu-ray in China by 3-1 and the CBHD disks cost a quarter of Blu-ray.

Like HD DVD, CBHD discs have a capacity of 30 GB and can use existing DVD production lines. Warner Bros plans to release 100 CBHD titles in China this year, such as the Harry Potter, The Golden Compass and Speed Racer selling for between $7.25 and $10.15 (50-70 Yuan).

Harris says: "CBHD is a double win for the Chinese government: billions saved in royalties; and a much cheaper, locally manufactured, luxury item for the restless masses. Blu-ray is simply collateral damage.

"English is the #2 language in Asia, so English-language CBHDs will be popular. Shanghai vendors will happily sell CBHD players and disks on Ebay. The economics are irresistible and, other than the studios, who will turn down HD content at DVD prices?"

His conclusion: "CBHD will be the world’s #1 format in unit volume by next year."

Who'll be first to launch a CBHD writer? Toshiba launched an HD DVD writer two years ago, but is it still available? And, if so, will it play CBHD discs?

* Meanwhile
Pioneer is promising a 400Gb Blue-Ray disc that will play back on regular Blu-Ray players (though some firmware upgrade may be necessary, since the new discs will be 16-layer, compared with today’s dual-layer discs, and will utilise a smaller pitch and beam wavelength).