HD DVD gets vote of confidence from trade organization, but it is Hollywood studios that hold the power
Jimmy Hsu, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DigiTimes.com [Monday 23 October 2006]
The American Independent Media Manufacturers Association (AIMMA) has voted to support HD DVD as the next-generation blue-laser format at an October 10 general meeting, according to a press release issued by the organization, but Taiwan pre-recorded optical disc makers still see Hollywood studios as being the key decision makers in terms of adoption of next-generation DVD standards.
AIMMA consists of 37 members representing the majority of makers of non-theatrical pre-recorded discs in the North America and AIMMA's preference for HD DVD rather than the Blu-ray Disc (BD) format is simply because the manufacturing equipment for the former is roughly the same as for existing DVD discs while the latter will entails heavy capital investment.
Taiwanese producers of are expected to continue keeping an eye on the development of the competition between HD DVD and BD, the sources noted.
However, U-Tech Media, the largest maker of pre-recorded discs in Taiwan, indicated the real influence in adopting HD DVD or BD for movie discs will come from the top movie studios in Hollywood rather than makers of movie disc makers, including members of AIMMA. For the time being, most top movie studios are having their movies pre-recorded in both HD DVD and BD format as a way of testing the market, U-Tech pointed out. U-Tech expects to produce movie discs for both formats, the company said.
A look at released content on Amazon.com shows there are 116 HD DVD and 106 BD movies available for sale.
