The next-generation movie format has been decided by the games console industry, but in China, Shanghai United Optical Disc thinks there's a viable market for a less expensive format (lower rights fees) that is more compatible with the past. It is therefore starting to produce CBHD (China Blue High-definition Disc).
Not surprisingly, it's based on Toshiba's HD DVD, which was backed by the multi-vendor DVD Forum, and was previously known as CH-DVD. It was developed by the DVD Forum and the Optical Memory National Engineering Research Center at Tsinghua University in China. However, while Blu-ray and HD DVD used identical video and audio formats, CH-DVD will use China's own much cheaper AVS (Audio Video Standard), according to Wikipedia
Hideki Ono, general manager of Shanghai United Optical Disc, told The Hollywood Reporter:
"Just as VCDs became enormously successful within China prior to the arrival of DVDs, while being practically unknown beyond Asia, we expect CBHD to have enough leverage to be a convenient alternative to both DVD and Blu-ray formats in China," Ono said.
Unlike Blu-ray, which has alliances with major Hollywood Studios, CBHD has not tied up with any major studios. However, Ono is unfazed by the lack of studio backing.
"The company is not interested in the international markets," Ono said. "Right now we are solely focusing on China."
The motive for China is clear enough: Blu-ray is heavily-patented and expensive, and the country would prefer to avoid making massive payments to foreign IP-owners. However, they already tried the same thing with EVD (Enhanced Versatile Disc) and it didn't take off.
It's hard to say if there is anything in it for us, but cheap recordable CH-DVD drives could certainly find a home in some PCs.
