China Develops New HD-DVD Format

China has gone ahead and launched its own high definition format called CH-DVD, an abbreviation for China High Definition DVD.This is a little different form the regular HD-DVD, but now we can safely place our bets on the fact that cheap players and cheaper discs are going to be out soon, maybe even in our markets.

The Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center (OMNERC), a laboratory dedicated to optical disc research in Tsinghua University, announced CH-DVD, a new-generation high definition DVD format developed in collaboration with research institutes and manufacturing enterprises at home and abroad. The physical format of CH-DVD includes Chinese-owned intellectual property, and is based on HD-DVD, the next-generation high definition DVD approved by the DVD Forum.

The realization of CH-DVD was supported by the Chinese government, and will pave the way for the localization of blue-laser, high-definition DVD in China. On Sept. 7, 2007, OMNERC established CHDA – the China High Definition DVD Industry Association – in cooperation with the DVD Forum and Chinese and international partners. CHDA will play a leadership role in the promotion of CH-DVD, and will make a big push to launch CH-DVD player into the Chinese market in 2008.

The emergence of CH-DVD as a high definition format integrating Chinese-owned intellectual property clearly demonstrates that a Chinese optical disc technology is already at the world-class level. In the near future, all related industries in China are expected to make the transition from standard definition DVD to high definition DVD. CH-DVD is designed to play a central role in the sound development of the content industry, and adopts advanced copy protection technology that effectively thwarts piracy.

Many content holders have confirmed their support for CH-DVD and will launch movie titles in the format. In the next year, China will start broadcasts of high definition TV programs. In combination with HDTV, CH-DVD is expected provide a wide variety of HD content that will enrich the lives of viewers.